Ministry Update May 29, 2016
Who Is The Real Psycho?
Brian and I were joined by Jeri witnessing at Planned Parenthood. It was great having a new person join us. Brian brought a passionate message first and then Jeri finished up by pleaded with the workers to think about what they are doing. She pleaded with them to repent and trust Jesus. Sandwiched in between my friends I brought a message from Amos about the abomination of worshiping Molech (Amos 5;27) and how abortion is the modern day version of that horrendous practice of child sacrifice.
A couple of young women came out of Planned Parenthood while I was preaching and the one woman flipped us off the whole time they walked to their vehicle. I pleaded with them to repent and that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). It breaks my heart to see arrogant people being so flippant about something so important. Life is precious. God makes each and every one of us after His own image. It’s not something to be taken lightly. All life is precious and every child should have the chance to be born. It’s such a basic thing that there shouldn’t be any controversy at all over it all. Abortion is wicked.
After we finished pleading for the lives of the unborn, we finished up by singing Amazing Grace. Mind you, we were just singing at this point when a young woman comes walking up from the apartments behind Planned Parenthood and she’s recording us. One soul is just as precious as the next, so I started pleading with her to get right with God. She smiled the whole time and at some point she pulled out a small sign that said You Are Psycho. She kept recording and I kept preaching that she needed to turn from her sins and turn to Jesus. But she just kept mocking us. Now I ask you: Who is the real psycho? The three people standing in front of Planned Parenthood, pleading for life or the God mocking girl, recording us, holding the You Are Psycho sign?
New Blood
In addition to Jeri joining us on Wednesday for the first time, Friday night we were blessed to have Chris come out and stand with us while we witnessed downtown on Friday night. Chris joined Diana, Elise and I singing hymns and street preaching. Chris was nervous, but he joined us while we sang hymns. Then I brought a message that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). It was awesome to watch Chris while I was preaching. He went around the square and handed out tracts and talked to people. He ran into his first Pantheist and couldn’t believe that some people thing God is in everything.
While I was bringing a message a young man came right up to me and asked if I ever just pray for people. I said sure I do. He suggested that I do that instead of open-air preaching. I asked him if he’d been drinking because it appeared that he had been, but he just walked off. I asked him if he ever reads the Bible. I reminded him that the Bible says we are to lift up our voice like a trumpet in the street (Isaiah 58:1) and that Jesus said what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim from the rooftop (Matthew 10:27). Oh, how I wish I could get on top of one of the buildings in downtown Springfield. I would be there in a heartbeat, literally obeying my Lord and Savior. But since I can’t do that, I stand on a stool on the square and lift up the name of Jesus.
I can’t tell how encouraging it was to have new people come out and stand with us this week. Yes, many of us go out every week, but it’s so encouraging when God convicts others to join us. These updates are given to encourage Christians to go share their faith in Jesus with others. Go stand with others who street witness. Even if you are too afraid to join in, you can stand there and pray for others. You can hand out a tract to someone. You can ask a stranger what they think happens after they die. The days are evil and the time is short. Please brothers and sisters in Christ, go. Go, stand and speak (Acts 5:20). Share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord while you still can. Evangelism is one thing you can’t do in Heaven. Go. Call sinners to repent and put their faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21).