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Whatever Happens, Happens

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Whatever Happens, Happens

Ministry Update April 13, 2024

Conner, Doug and I witnessed downtown on March 29th. Doug got into a couple of conversations, but I couldn’t hear what they said. Conner talked to a guy who says that he grew up in a home where one parent was a Christian and the other one was a Muslim. He basically believes in Chrislam, that all roads lead to the same God. Conner tried to speak truth to the man, but he wouldn’t listen. Sadly, he only wanted to spout off his twisted beliefs. I only had one real conversation that night and it was with three skaters. The one that did the most talking said the he believes “Whatever happens, happens.”

All three of them were standing next to each other. I could tell the guy in the middle was around 6’3 or 6’4. So I asked him how tall he is and he said 6’4. The young man to his right was 6’2” and the guy to his right was much taller. So I looked up at the tall one asked how tall he is and stated that he’s 7’1” tall. I knew he was tall, but didn’t realize that he was that tall. After that, I asked them if they grew up in religious homes. The kid in the middle said that he grew up in a Christian home, but that he didn’t really believe anything. When I asked him what he thinks happens after we die, he replied, “Whatever happens, happens.”

I gently told him that Jesus says in Revelation 21:8 that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone. That waiting until we die is too late. I kind of went through the good person test and they all admitted they had lied, etc. I could tell that they wouldn’t stick around long, so I shared the Gospel with them. Then I asked them if they would read a Bible if I gave them one. Sadly, they all admitted that they wouldn’t read it. But then Doug handed them all Million Dollar tracts and told them it had a summary on the back of what I had just shared with them. They politely thanked us and skated off.

Different Christian Reactions

The following Friday, April 5th, the three of us witnessed downtown during Art Walk. Conner talked to someone trying to get people to sign petitions. But other than that, it was really hard to get anyone to stop and talk to us. The woman that Conner talked to was out seeking people to sign a petition to ban the current Missouri Abortion Ban. She claimed to be a Christian, but believes in a woman’s right to choose. Conner talked with her for quite a while, but she didn’t budge. I didn’t get into any conversations. But Doug had some interesting interactions while he handed out tracts, especially with professing Christians.

Two ladies that go to the largest church in the area, both refused tracts. So while they waited for the light to change at the cross walk, Doug suggested that they take the tracts, read them and pass them on to someone who needs them. The both refused. One woman said that her hands were too full. She was holding a cup of coffee along with an Art Walk flyer in one hand and the other one was empty. The other woman also refused to take a tract. It’s always sad when professing Christian can’t think of one person to hand a tract to. We all have unsaved family, friends, co-workers, etc.

But then Doug had a couple of different reactions. A young couple also said no to the tracts and told us they go to Hill City Church. So I said, “Oh, the one that used to meet here at the Gillioz Theatre (right down the street from where we were).” They both smiled and said yes. But then Doug suggested that they take the tracts, read them and hand them to someone else and they both gladly accepted his offer. (This reactions seems more normal for a true believer). Then we walked around later on and a lady refused the tract because she didn’t need it. She said something to the effect that Jesus is already her Lord and Savior. When Doug stated that she should take it and read it and then before he could finish she interjected, “And then hand it to someone else.” Yes! This is a Christian who gets it. Handing out tracts isn’t the only to share your faith in Jesus, but it sure is an easy way to do so.

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

Am I Welcome At Your Church?

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Am I welcome at your church?

Photo by Katherine Hood on Unsplash

Am I Welcome At Your Church?

Ministry Updates for March 22, 2024 and March 15, 2024

Conner, Joshua, Michael and I witnessed downtown on Friday March 15, 2024. We were out there for about two and a half hours and mainly handed out tracts. Joshua got into a couple of conversations and I had a short one with one young man. But we spent most of the night talking to one guy. He was out trying to get signatures for a petition, but none of us wanted to sign it. He got into a conversation first off with Joshua, then Conner and myself and then kept bouncing back and forth between us. His main contention was that the Bible was written by men and his other burning question was, “Am I welcome at your church?”

Joshua engaged him first in a conversation. The young man wanted to know how the God of the Bible was the real one when there are so many gods out there. I think he said that he worships the Norse gods. He kept going down one rabbit hole after another. Conner also engaged him in a conversation, but he kept going back to these same things. Finally, I told him that I’m really out here talking about Jesus Christ and I started witnessing to him. That’s when he told us that he’s bisexual and lives with a man. He wanted to know if he’d be welcome to come to my church. I told him that he is welcome to come there. I will call the young man C. He said that he’d be there Sunday morning. Sadly, he didn’t show up.

I wanted to make sure that he didn’t misunderstand me, so I pointed out that God doesn’t approve of his lifestyle. The Bible doesn’t, I don’t and my church doesn’t. But everyone is welcome to worship at church.  Then he wanted to know where the Bible condemns homosexuality (not counting Leviticus). So I read to him Mark 10:6-9 where Jesus says that marriage is between a man and a woman. Conner directed him to Romans 1:18-32. Later on, we also had him read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Written By Men

He kept going back to the Bible was just written by men. But the Bible was written by men that were inspired through the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16). I point out that we know the Bible is true because we see it time and time again when we are street witnessing. He kept denying God and the Bible, so I kept pointing him back to Romans 1:18 where he suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. At one point he said that he lost someone really close to him and that he begged God to show him a sign. He said even if the wind had blown, he would have counted it. But nothing. Then he brought up how God gave Gideon a sign three times. I gently reminded C that Jesus said an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign (Matthew 12:39).

I told him that I was sorry that he lost someone close to him and that God didn’t comfort him through that time. I told C that I also lost someone close to me and I know it isn’t easy to go through. Then I asked him if I could pray for him and he said yes. We all gathered around him and I prayed for him and for his salvation. C told us that he grew up in a Christian home but was no longer a Christian. We pointed out to him that we don’t believe that he was ever truly a Christian because you can’t walk away from Jesus if you are truly saved because Jesus never leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). Then I asked him if he had a Bible at home and he said no. I asked if he’d read it if we gave him one and he said yes. Michael quickly handed him a Bible.

We had C read Scripture several times after that. I told C that I was praying that he’d start reading the Bible that very night. He replied that I would have an unanswered prayer then if he didn’t read it. I pointed out to him that he was correct. That I would have an unanswered prayer, but that if he continues  rebelling against God, that he’d be the one who dies in his sins and would spend eternity in Hell. I pleaded with him to read Romans since we had quoted from there and then I encouraged him to go back and read the Gospels starting with Matthew. We hope and pray that he will read the Bible and that God will save him and his friend.

Hope I Go To Heaven

Friday the 22nd of March was quite windy and cold. Anand, Michael, Conner, one of his daughters and I witnessed downtown. We were handing out tracts and I handed them to a couple of Hispanic guys who said they live in Carthage. They wanted to know what I handed them and I told them, “They are Gospel tracts. They tell you about Jesus.” I asked if they know Jesus and the one wearing a cross said yes, they know Him. So then I asked them if they are saved and they both said yes. Then I asked if they are going to Heaven and one said yes, but the other one said, “I hope I go to Heaven.”

I told him that I wasn’t picking on him, but I wanted to know how hope gets you to Heaven. He shrugged his shoulders. His friend said that you get there by going to church. So I gently said, “I’m not picking on you either, but how does going to church get you to Heaven?” Then he replied that we get there by doing good. At that point, I asked them if they had kept the 10 Commandments. They both acknowledged that they had broken them. So you really can’t go to Heaven by being good since we’ve all sinned against God and we’ve all broken the 10 Commandments. At that point I shared the Gospel with them. I asked them both to read the tracts. They shook our hands and headed on their way.

Not long after that, Conner got into a conversation with another guy out trying to get petition signatures. This time it was for “Women’s Reproductive Healthcare”. Conner engaged him in a conversation. The young man kept talking about rape and abortion being necessary sometimes to save the life of a mother. Conner was the only one he talked to, so I didn’t interrupt. But I’ve heard several doctors say that they never once had to kill a baby in order to save the mother’s life. I would also point people to the Bible where Joseph’s wife Rachel, died during child birth (Genesis 35:16-19). God didn’t tell Joseph to kill Benjamin in order to save Rachel’s life. It’s very sad when a woman dies during childbirth, but murdering a child is never right. Michael got into a long conversation with an older gentleman. I didn’t get an update on that conversation, but we pray that God will save both men as well as others who received tracts.

(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share their faith in Jesus with others)

Is That A Christian Thing?

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Is That A Christian Thing?

I handed out the Why Christianity booklets from Living Waters at MSU last Wednesday at the third witnessing spot. There were only 100 left, but all of them were taken. One student told me that he didn’t need it because he’s a Christian. When asked if he could hand it to someone, he really thought about it, but said, “No, I’m good.” One girl refused the booklet and said that she’s a Buddhist.

When I ran out of the booklets, I switched to the What’s The Meaning Of Life tracts (also from Living Waters). Several students who spoke broken English took the tracts. One girl of Indian descent took one and read it while she waited for her two friends. I didn’t realize they were together until after both of her friends took tracts and walked over to her. One guy said, “Is that a Christian thing?” and when I replied yes, he said he didn’t need it because he’s already a Christian. Then I asked if he could hand it to someone else and he really thought about it, said, “Hey, that’s a great idea!” and took it. May God bless the booklets and tracts that were handed out.

Few Great Conversations

I’m having health issues and may not be able to witness again for a while. But praise God, Joshua and Michael made it out Friday night to witness at Art Walk. I asked for an update and Joshua replied back, “Had a few great conversations. God be the glory. Seeds were planted and we had good fellowship.” I love these brothers in Christ who go out witnessing Friday nights. They are young and bold for the Lord. I thank God for sending them my way.

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

I Hate You

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I Hate You Mocker

I Hate You!

Ministry Update July 10, 2022

Praise God there were nine of us witnessing downtown Friday night. It was really hot out, but it wasn’t too bad in the shade. Trevor and his family brought new witnessing signs that had just arrived the night before and they are great signs. Trevor started off open air preaching after we all prayed and right off the bat he had a mocker that said something before ducking into a store. A little while later the mocker walked by with a group of his friends and yelled at Trevor, “I hate you. I hate someone telling me what to do.” This didn’t shock us because non-believers don’t want to submit to the authority of God. They don’t want anyone telling them what to do. Nevertheless, as Christians, it is our duty to share the Gospel with this lost and dying world. Hell awaits all who die in their sins; who die without Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Elly And Trevor With Their New Signs

Uptight About Drinking

Keven ended up talking to two different guys that needed prayer. So he brought them over (at different times) to where Elly and I were standing. The first guy wouldn’t give us his name. Keven prayed for his prayer needs. Before I could pray the guy prayed for us. After he finished praying, I asked him if he was a Christian. He proceeded to say yeah f-ing aye. I told him that I wouldn’t have put it quite like that and that as Christians we aren’t supposed to let any corrupt communication proceed from our mouth (Ephesians 4:29). Then he said curse words in the bible didn’t mean cuss words today. I didn’t go down that rabbit hole.

Keven Talking To A Guy Before He Asked For Prayer. Reed, Trevor And Elly’s Youngest Daughter Holding Signs, Tyail Holding Her Jesus Sign and Trevor And Ellly’s Oldest Daughter.

We talked some more and Elly quoted him Scripture about how we aren’t to be sexually immoral, drunkards, etc. He got a little uptight about the drinking part, but she explained that the Bible doesn’t say you can’t drink, you aren’t supposed to get drunk. Keven had given him a tract before we all talked and Elly was able to get a tract into the woman’s hand that was with him. I just kept circling back to repentance and faith in Jesus and talked to the man about Psalm 51, where David writes about true repentance. But instead of receiving this, the man goes off on what a sinner David was. Yes David sinned, but he greatly repented. David was a man after God’s own heart. But instead of understanding that part, the man just wanted to justify himself by saying David sinned. We pray that the man and the woman will read the tracts and that God will open their eyes to their need of Jesus.

Keven Talking To Christian

Christian In Name Only?

Then shortly thereafter, Keven brought Christian over for prayer. Keven prayed for his prayer needs, better housing, a better job and some sort of transportation. I prayed that God would save Christian if he isn’t really saved. After we prayed, I asked him if he was a Christian, not in name, but truly a follower of Christ. He said that he had been closer to God in the past, but when life is tough, he drifts away from God. I pointed out that we live in a fallen world and we aren’t promised an easy path. That our salvation doesn’t depend on our physical circumstances. We talked about repentance and surrendering our lives to Jesus. Keven had also given him a tract already and I encouraged him to read his Bible daily.

Trevor Talking To Guy That Says Christians Twist Scriptures

Trevor got into a long conversation with a man. The guy said that he believed in the Bible, but then tried to twist everything that he said was from the Bible. Joshua was there with them at first and heard the guy say that the problem with Christians is they twist Scripture to say what they want. As the guy started doing that, Joshua called him out on it he was doing exactly what he accused Christians of doing. But Trevor patiently shared truth with the guy. At the end of the night, Joshua got into a good conversation with another man toward the end of the night.

Joshua In A Conversation With A Man At The End Of The Night

Mockers And Encouragers

We had some drive by mockers as well as one drive by encourager. One passenger yelled from the back of the car and even got half way out of the vehicle to keep yelling as the car drove away from us. I gave a tract to a guy on a bicycle. He stopped and I asked him if he knew Jesus. He said he was from Afghanistan. So again I asked him if he knew Jesus and replied that he knows a little English. I just encouraged him to read the back of the tract. But while I was asking him if he knew Jesus, a guy walking by spoke up, “Jesus is Lord.!” I said Amen to that. The same guy that said Jesus is Lord came back by later on and had a conversation with Elly. The guy appeared to be a fellow believer.

At one point, I was holding one of Trevor’s signs and a guy was walking in my direction. Before I could hold out my arm to give him a tract, he walked toward me and reached his hand out for one. That rarely happens. Elly offered tracts to several women and they all refused. Following them was a little girl and Elly asked her mom if she could give the girl a tract and the mom said she could. Praise God for that. As usual, the fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ was as sweet as the evangelizing. Thank God for Trevor, Elly, their girls, Keven, Joshua, Tyail and Reed for coming out to share the Gospel Friday night.

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

 

 

Went Around The Block And Came Back

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Went Around The Block And Came Back

Ministry Update December 6, 2020

It was cold Friday night, so Keven and I discussed walking around and handing out tracts after the message. So as soon as I finished open-air preaching, I grabbed my witnessing bag and off we went. To our surprise, a man chased us half a block away. When he caught up with us, he thanked me for open-air preaching. He said he was driving by and heard the message, went around the block and came back to listen to the rest of it. The guy said we need more preaching on the streets. Keven told him some other guys were going to do the same thing in about 30 minutes. Keven asked him if we could pray for him and he said yes. As they talked a little bit, the man said that he hoped he was a Christian. [Read more…]

Only God Can Judge Me

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Only God Can Judge Me

Ministry Update July 26, 2020

Toward the end of the message on Friday night a guy was yelling from behind me, walking down the sidewalk. As I finished up, he reached the corner I was at and he said, “Judge not lest ye be judged. Only God can judge me.” Instead of stopping and having a real conversation he, continued across the street. So I affirmed that only God can judge him and that God will judge him one day. Is he ready for Judgment Day? I also pointed out that I was merely quoting Scripture, so if he felt judged, maybe God was the one convicting him. [Read more…]

God Is Not Indifferent

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God Is Not Indifferent

Earlier tonight a young lady told us that she’s a Christian and that’s not uncommon. Sometimes people tell us they are an atheist. Also while out street witnessing, sometimes we hear people say that they really aren’t for God and they aren’t against Him. They are just neutral to God; they can take Him or leave Him. But this simply isn’t true. No one is neutral to God. You are either for Him or against Him. Oh, you either love God and obey Him or you are an unrepentant sinner still spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins. You are not indifferent to God and God is not indifferent to you. [Read more…]

Blessed Night

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Kelly Open-Air Preaching

Blessed Night

Ministry Update June 21, 2020

Kelly and I had a blessed night of witnessing. It started off slow, but picked up later on. A college student named Tia took a Gospel tract from us as she walked her dog. Kelly asked about her dog and that led to a conversation. The young lady says that she is a Christian. We asked her to read the tract and pass it on to someone else and she said that she would. I brought the first message and had mocker right of the bat. He walked out of a convenience store heading the other direction, but turned around and cussed real loud. A couple of cowboys were walking near us and the first one said, “just ignore him” to which I said “Amen” and the second one stopped and shook my hand. [Read more…]

I Want To Talk To You How You Got The Way You Are

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I Want To Talk To You How You Got The Way You Are

Ministry Update December 8, 2019

While I was open-air preaching at Missouri State University on Wednesday, a student politely interrupted me and said, “I want to talk to you about how you got the way you are.” I assured him that I’d be happy to talk to him, but I was just getting ready to share my testimony and that would answer his question. Since I wanted all the students nearby to hear, I would go ahead and tell everyone how I became a Christian and then we could talk one to one. Surprisingly, he agreed and stood around for the next few minutes. [Read more…]

What Time Is Purple?

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What Time Is Purple?

Ministry Update April 14, 2019

Six of us participated in the What Time Is Purple? Outreach at Missouri State University on Wednesday and we praise God that 1,174 students took the booklets. The weather was great and I’m very thankful that Carla, Connie, Sebastian, Vinton and Jerry joined me for the outreach. We pray that God will use the booklets to reach unbelievers and also to encourage believing students in refuting evolution. [Read more…]