You Guys Should Have A Podcast
Ministry Update January 14, 2017
Friday night was cold; it was 22 degrees and felt like 8 degrees with the wind chill. I thought it might be good practice for the Super Bowl Outreach coming up the first part of February, since the Super Bowl is going to be in Minneapolis, MN this year. I’m glad I got get a chance to see a little of what it might be like, because just having my fingers uncovered for 5 minutes made them so cold and stiff that I couldn’t turn the pages of the Bible. So, I do need to work on finding some better gloves.
Conner and I both handed out a few tracts and we both brought messages. But while Conner was preaching, two guys walked by. I offered them tracts, but they both refused them. The guy nearest me said as he walked by, “You guys should have a podcast. Then you would be way more effective.” I just thanked him for his comment and they walked on.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard comments about how open-air preaching isn’t effective (this is the first time someone suggested a podcast as an alternative). Pretty much since I started street witnessing nine years ago, I’ve heard many people suggest that this isn’t how you reach people. Or they’ll say this isn’t effective or the most effective way to reach people.
I May Be Fooled
Now I may be fooled, but when I get to the judgment seat of Christ, I really don’t think Jesus is going to look at me and say, “Why in the world weren’t you more effective in your ministry? Why did you and Conner waste your time witnessing to just a few people on that cold night on January 12, 2018?” I truly don’t believe that I will hear those words from my Lord and Savior. You know why? Because Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus is the one who talked about how a shepherd will leave the 99 and go search for that one, yes, that one lost sheep (Luke 15:4).
Christ Jesus also was walking into Jericho, surrounded by a crowd of people, when He sought out Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-10). Jesus sought lost souls. He came to save lost souls. When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two, to preach the Gospel and heal the sick, He didn’t give them a quota. Jesus didn’t tell them, “Don’t come back unless you are effective in doing the kingdom work.” No, He sent them out. We are commanded to share the Gospel. Some plant, others water, but God gives the increase. Salvation is of the Lord. He gets all the glory. God gets all the credit, and rightly so. We are just told to go, stand and speak. So effective or not; whether a podcast is more effective or not, Conner and I were obedient to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. May the Lord be glorified above all because He is Lord of all.
Much Warmer And Very Windy
On Wednesday, I held a sign at the corner of Glenstone and Battlefield in Springfield, MO during the lunch hour. One side has John 17:3 on it and the other side has John 3:36. Amazingly, it was 55 degrees that day. But there was a 20 mile per hour wind. I had committed to holding the sign that day and I did. But I have to admit, it was tough. My arms were tired by the time I headed back to work. The wind blew really hard and kept whipping the sign back and forth in my hands. One driver honked in support and in another vehicle, both the driver and passenger waved as they drove by. Others may have been positive too, but I may have missed them because I was busy holding onto the sign and fighting the wind. I could see some people reading the Bible verse as they drove by.
(These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the glorious Gospel with others. Redeem the time while you can because the days are evil.)