Calvary Chapel

Usual Mockers and Wicked Mockers

Ministry Update November 3, 2019

There were a lot of people downtown Friday night. The country singer Frank Foster had a concert at the Gillioz Theatre and it was also Art Walk. I handed out New Testaments and brought a message. Lifting up Jesus in the open-air typically draws mockers. In fact, you just pretty well expect to have some mockers. But this Friday night, there were the usual mockers and wicked mockers.

Several mockers were just the usual type of mockers. In fact, I can’t really recall anything significant that any of them said. They just yelled or made noises as they passed by. The wicked mockers started off just giving a thumbs-down. The woman did so first, then the man that was with her followed suit. Next, they flipped me off. Then they moved on to making sexually suggestive gestures. I just kept pleading with people to repent and trust Jesus and this couple just kept ramping it up until they reached their car and drove off.

Highlight Of The Night

But the highlight of the night was Nicholas. He walked up to me when I was first handing out New Testaments and asked if I was part of the “Go Team?” I told him no and that I didn’t know what the Go Team was. He then told me that they are part of Calvary Chapel. Then I told him, “Yes, I now know who you are talking about. They hand out water downtown and get into Gospel conversations with people”.

I hadn’t seen them this Friday night, so I suggested that he walk to the square and see if his friends are there. I told him that they typically pass by me when they come out and they usually walk toward the square. Later on while I was open-air preaching, Nicholas came back by and asked if he could witness with me. I told him sure thing.

So this bold brother started asking people as they walked by if they had a Bible. Many said, yes, so then he asked them if they read the Bible. Not only that, he asked them if they listen to the Bible. More than once, he gave the good person test. About the time I was finishing up my message, his friends showed up, so he joined them, heading off toward the square. But it was quite encouraging to meet such a bold brother in Christ who was out sharing the Gospel.

I Call God The Universe

It really wasn’t raining on Wednesday at MSU, but it was misting and the wind was cold. It was 38 degrees and felt colder. Because of the cold weather, I didn’t expect much interaction and didn’t get much. One student walked by and said, “I call God the Universe”. It’s unfortunate the young man missed the first part of the message because I addressed how some people worship the created rather than the Creator. I just shared with him that his opinion isn’t important.

What’s important is what the Bible says and the Bible tells us that God made us to glorify Him, not the created, not the universe. Psalm 19:1 says: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. It’s young people like the young man that worships the universe that compels me to share the Gospel at MSU and other places. God call all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30-31). We are to repent and trust the one true Savior – Jesus Christ the Lord.

Are You Going To Answer My Question?

Then the polite mocker walked by and asked, “Did you ever answer my question?” “Are you going to answer my question?” Then he ended with “I guess you aren’t going to answer my question.” He had one thing correct, I wasn’t going to answer him and I didn’t. The polite mocker didn’t ask his question this week, but I assume he was referring to the question he asked last week which was, “You never learn do you?” Maybe I do learn after all. I have learned that it is futile to argue with this guy whose heart is so hardened. I pray that God will save him, but I see no reason to continue casting pearls before swine (Mathew 7:6) when it comes to this particular mocker.

(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)