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.
I told him my name and asked what his name is and he said Chris. Then I said before we pray, let’s go back to your comment that you hope you are a Christian. The apostle Paul says we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. I asked Chris how you become a Christian and he said believe in Jesus. Yes, we believe in Jesus, but it’s more than intellectual belief. The bible says we are to repent and believe. I briefly shared my testimony with Chris and told him that I was sharing it to show that a person can intellectually believe in Jesus and not truly be saved. I said if you are truly saved, I’m not trying to get you to doubt your salvation. But the question is are you truly saved?
Hopes To Go To Heaven
These questions were being asked because previously I asked Chris if God forbid, he died that night, would he go to Heaven or Hell. His answer was he hoped that he’d go to Heaven. After I shared my testimony with Chris, Keven also witnessed to him. Then we both prayed for Chris. We prayed that if he isn’t really saved, that God will grant him repentance and faith in Jesus. After we prayed, Keven gave Chris a Gospel tract. I asked Chris if he reads the Bible and he said that he had started reading the Bible and that he had just finished reading Exodus. I encouraged him to keep reading the Bible.
Keven asked him if he had a Bible and to my surprise, Chris said that he didn’t have one. He’s been reading the Bible on his phone. I didn’t think of this question since Chris said he was already reading the Bible. So I’m really glad Keven asked him about it. Even though I had a New Testament with me, I told Chris that I had a Bible in my car and if he’d walk back down to the corner where he saw us witnessing, I’d run to my car and get the Bible. He wanted it. So I went ahead of them to get the Bible. (By the way, this was a Bible a friend had purchased and given to me to hand out to someone that needed one).
Wants To Quit Drinking And Give Up Smoking
Keven and Chris talked as they walked back to the corner. During that time, Chris told Keven that he was trying to quit drinking and quit smoking. So when I met back up with them, Keven and I both prayed with Chris again. That not only would God save him, but that God would set him free from alcohol and cigarettes. Chris told Keven that he doesn’t go to church and since Keven lives in Marshfield, I invited Chris to visit Crossway Baptist Church. We thank God for having Chris drive downtown at the exact moment that he did. May God save Chris and I hope he comes to Crossway.
Demon Possessed Man?
After this, Keven and I walked around downtown handing out tracts. Several people took tracts, but we didn’t get into anymore conversations except for one. Unfortunately, it was with a guy that appeared to be demon possessed. The guy was across the street ranting and raving at a couple that had just passed him. The guy spotted Keven and I and immediately made a bee line toward us. He was pretty much talking nonsense and at that point we had said nothing spiritual to him at all. Then all of a sudden, the guy says, “You’re going to kick my a___.” Then he turned around and shook his fanny in front of us.
Then he started saying, “Father forgive me” (as to Father God) then he trailed off laughing like crazy. This is why I think the guy was demon possessed. I’ve run into people like this before and they talk crazy, tend to cuss and then they’ll quote Bible verses or something that sounds spiritual. The guy followed us about a half a block around a corner. During that time, Keven managed to press a tract into his hand. Then someone else caught his attention and off he went. I felt sorry for the next person, but frankly, I was glad to get away from him. May God save him and relieve him of the demon (if he really is demon possessed) or may God heal his mind if he just has mental issues.
(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share their faith in Christ Jesus with others. Please, hand out Gospel tracts or Bibles. You can usually purchase Bibles from dollar stores for just a dollar. We are called to share the Gospel. God does the saving.)