Woman Saying Amen
One Encourager After Another
Ministry Update February 9, 2020
Friday night witnessing started off really quiet, then I had a couple of mockers in a row. I couldn’t hear the first one. The second one said something and I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly. So I asked him what he said. He replied, “I’m going to Hell.” I responded, “You sound like you are proud of that.” “I am” he said. So I explained that he really doesn’t understand what Hell is really like. He may think people are partying and having a great time there, but they are not. The rich man begged for a drop of water 2,000 years ago because he was in torments. He’s still in torments today. The mocker just got in his car and didn’t say anything else. But after that, I had one encourager after another in about a 10-minute span.
Man Proud That He Is Going To Hell
Man Donating To The Ministry
Girl Saying Amen A Second Time
The first encourager was crossing the parking lot across the street and yelled “Amen”. A few minutes later, a second person crossing the same parking lot also yelled “Amen”. Then a group of people were walking toward me and one young woman said “Amen”. One of the men in the same group walked over and handed me a donation for the ministry and thanked me for sharing the Gospel. As they crossed the street in front of me, I said, “As true Christians, we love to hear the name of Jesus lifted up. We love to talk to other people about Jesus.” The young girl that said “Amen” raised her arm in the air and said “Amen” again!
Believer That Said He’s Praying For Me
Still More Encouragers
Right after that a young man walked by me and said, “I’m a believer”. I have to admit, I thought, here we go again. I’m a believer, but this isn’t how you reach people. No, instead, I was pleasantly surprised as the young man continued, “keep doing what you are doing and I’m praying for you.” Stunned, I just thanked him and kept open-air preaching. That was toward the end of my message, so after I wrapped up, I crossed the street and handed out some Gospel tracts. A lot of people took tracts. There was one group of five guys and four of them took tracts.
The last guy in the group asked, “What denomination?” I told him that I’m Southern Baptist and he told me that he is Southern Baptist too. So I asked him where he goes to church and he said that he’s between churches right now. I invited him to Crossway Baptist Church. I tried to hand him an invite card, but my fingers were so cold from when I was holding the Bible, open-air preaching, that I dropped a couple of cards on the ground. One was the Crossway card and the other was a Freeway card. He picked them both up and looked at the Freeway card and said “I’ve heard of them.” So I asked him if he knew anyone that needed that card and he said, “Yes I do!” His name is Byron and I hope he visits Crossway and hands out the Freeway card.
Encouragers Are A True Gift From God
That was the end of one encourager after another, but what a rapid succession of great encouragement they all were. I have to admit that I didn’t feel like witnessing that night. I was really tired, knew it was going to be cold and that none of my friends were going to make it. But I’m so glad that I went. I thank God for Him graciously sending one encourager after another during that 10-minute stretch. I realize that if I get spit on, heckled, cussed, shoved around every single time that I witness it would be worth it for Jesus my Lord and Savior. He suffered, bled and died on the cross for a rebellious sinner like me. So what a true gift it is when God sends encouragers our way.
As I walked back to my car there was a group of college students walking in front of me, but I couldn’t catch up to them. I was disappointed but walked on to my car. To my surprise, as I drove to the next corner, there they were. So I quickly pulled into the parking lot and drove to the farthest edge of it. I jumped out and said, “I want to give you one of these.” Thankfully, the first guy took one, so every single one of them took a tract. I laughed and said, “I saw you earlier, but I couldn’t catch up with you. You guys are young and I’m old, so I had to drive to reach you.” They just laughed and I told them to have a good night and they walked on. What a great way to end an encouraging night of witnessing.
Back In My Day
We’ve all heard those stories from parents or grandparents about back in my day. Back in my day, I walked six miles, uphill each way to and from school. When you are young, you laugh when you hear people talk like this. Even though I’m in my mid 50’s, I guess I’m old. On Wednesday, the meteorologists were predicting about 4 ½ inches of snow. Thankfully it didn’t materialize. But Missouri State University still cancelled classes. Here it comes: back in my day (35 years ago), they hardly every cancelled classes. I clearly remember trudging through five or six inches of snow to get to my classes. I remember doing this because at the time I was sorely disappointed that they didn’t cancel classes.
Since I was already at the campus, I walked to the student union and thankfully, as I suspected, hungry students were going in and out of the student union to get lunch. Most students graciously took tracts. It was freezing cold though, so no one stood around to talk. The most interesting student was a young lady that was near the student union and she had made a six-inch snowman. She was putting sticks on the snowman when I walked by. I commented on her snowman and she said that it was mainly ice and sleet. She was greatly disappointed that we didn’t get the predicted snow. I told her that I hated to interrupt her, but I wanted to “give her one of these.” Thankfully she took the tract and I moved on to the next student.
(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others. Please, tell others how Jesus saved you when you repented of your sins and put your faith in Him. If you are shy or nervous about witnessing, hand out a Gospel tract. You can find many good tracts at Living Waters and Chapel Library.)