Started Off Slow But Didn’t Stay That Way
Ministry Update July 23, 2017
Friday night witnessing downtown in Springfield, MO started off slow but didn’t stay that way. Joe, Darlene and I got there first and handed out tracts. Most of the people that walked by rejected tracts, but a few took them. Then Kelly joined us, but it was still going slowly at that time. But even before we started preaching, there were some good conversations. Joe and Kelly both were really good at getting into conversations.
I’m Catholic
One guy walked by and asked what denomination we all are and Kelly replied “we are followers of Jesus Christ. Are you a follower of Christ?” The man replied, “I’m Catholic.” I can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard this over the years. Are you a Christian? No, I’m Catholic. That should tell you right there that Catholics see a difference in their religion than Christians.
Joe talked to a homosexual that attends a church in Springfield that is not known as “a gay church or a gay friendly church.” But Joe had a good conversation and the gay person left with a Gospel tract. Darlene handed out several tracts during the night. Kelly and I handed out tracts in between messages.
I brought the first message about fearing God, giving Him glory and worshiping Him (based on Revelation 14:6-7). Right off the bat a young man riding a bicycle rode up and kept yelling f God, over and over again. He was chanting it, trying to get others to join in. I don’t think anyone did. But the guy in the green shirt from last week was wearing a white shirt and he came over and yelled again. This time he said that he’s also a Christian, yet he yelled and cussed again. I don’t think the man understands that his actions are un-Christ-like. He’s not bearing fruit of a true follower of Jesus.
Professing Christians
This is what compels us to do street ministry. So many people are professing Christians, yet they are still living for the pleasures of the flesh. In fact two different guys came over from across the street and shook my hand and Kelly’s hand and said they are believers. One of them said that he was a member of one of the death metal bands that were playing that night. Again, they don’t see the discrepancy of living for the world, loving the world, the things of the world while also claiming Christ. Since I was bringing a message, I just reached in my back pocket and pulled out tracts and handed them to both of them. May they read them later and may God convict and truly convert them.
Then Kelly preached after me from Luke 3. A young woman walked up to Joe earlier and wanted to pick a verse at random to read. She happened to pick Luke 3:1 which has some hard names to pronounce it. But Kelly took it from there and preached about John the Baptist and the need for repentance. I’m pretty sure he drew the same mockers, the kid on the bicycle came back around and the guy in the white shirt across the street mocked him too. Kelly drew some other mockers too.
Death Metal Band Member
But Joe, Darlene and I handed out tracts and Joe got into several more conversations. After Kelly finished up, a guy was locking up his bicycle and he said that he was a member of a metal band and that he was going in there to drink and lust. Kelly asked him what he thinks happens after he dies. The man didn’t know for sure. Kelly tried to witness to him and Joe tried several times to press a tract into his hand, but he kept saying that he didn’t need it. (Obviously, he was wrong about that).
The man kept accusing us of being downtown just so we could lust after women walking by. All three of us assured him that we were not there to lust. He wondered out loud why would we be down there then? He really couldn’t understand why we would be downtown, not to drink and not to lust. To those who are pershing, the Gospel seems foolish to them. We hope and pray that God was glorified and that He will draw lost souls to Himself as only He can do.
Two Professing Christians
At Planned Parenthood on Wednesday, while I was bringing a message a woman walked into the building and came right back out. I couldn’t see her when she walked behind a vehicle, but she looked over at Doug holding a sign and she flipped him off with both hands. He also had four drivers flip him off again. Several cars honking against us, some people mouthing off as they drove by, but we also had a few honk that were for us.
While we were there we had two professing Christians come up and talk to us. A woman who lives in the apartments behind Planned Parenthood came up to me as I was finishing up my message and said that she works nights and that I was keeping her awake. I told her that I was done and she walked away satisfied. A man walked out with a little girl who told us that he’s a believer and he liked the John 3:36 sign that Doug was holding.
Doug and I were getting ready to leave, so I didn’t get into a conversation of why his daughter was inside. I’m sure they heard the Gospel and how Planned Parenthood kills 900 babies each and every day, this according to their own statistics. Why would any true Christian darken their doors? There was a man standing beside the building next door to Planned Parenthood who heard most if not all of the message. May God convict and convert him as well as others who heard God’s truth that day.
(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others)