Nowhere in the rules and guidelines of street evangelism does it say that you cannot go out to talk with people, hand out gospel tracts and have a lot of fun at the same time.
Saturday's Ottawa St Patrick's Day Parade, and events like it, offer that opportunity. That being said, however, serving the Lord at any event in any capacity is always a joy.
Have fun!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
GOD'S HANDIWORK - A BIRD'S EYE VIEW
I stand on a box on a street corner from time to time and, along with proclaiming the gospel, I sometimes engage people in discussion of the existence and the infinitely supreme intellect, sovereignty and power of God in creation.
Next time, I think I'll just show them this.
Warning: prepare to catch thy jaw.
Next time, I think I'll just show them this.
Warning: prepare to catch thy jaw.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
ANOTHER GREAT DAY - SAME GREAT GOSPEL
Sunday's glorious weather gave us another glorious opportunity to share the glorious gospel in the unglorious (God-lacking) public square.
There is something to be said about reading from the Bible in public. It is so out of the norm and it catches peoples' attention whether some hear a few verses as they pass by or, as some did here, they actually stop to listen.
Soon after Kim was done, it was my turn to take to the stand and preach the Law and the Gospel. The dolly that I use to cart our gear around operates as a perfect stand for the "Are You Ready" cross which is placed in front of us while we are on the box reading or preaching.
The cross is an ever present symbol and indicator to the public of what is behind our purpose for being there. It easily catches the eye and curiosity of many. We cannot say enough of its effect and usefulness in various ways as we evangelize on the street.
Not long into the gospel presentation, people started to take notice of, and an interest in, what was being said from the street pulpit. For a few, what was being preached was of enough interest to cause them to stop and listen.
But it wasn't until this young, pleasant, professing atheist showed up and started asking really good questions that a larger crowd started to gather.
I am convinced that the young man was asking questions many in the crowd were wanting to ask but were too shy to do so. It was like he was their representative.
Meanwhile, another fellow from the crowd spoke up with questions about what he had heard in the gospel preaching which allowed me to reiterate in detail what I had said. New arrivals got a chance to hear what they had missed.
I preached the Law and the Gospel which took about 15 minutes. I focused on the gospel portion for a while after that. But thanks to couple of courteous hecklers and the larger crowd God provided for me through them, I didn't step down from the box for another 40 minutes.
And, as always near the end of our session in the Market, Kim and I spent the rest of our time speaking one to one with some who came to us after our presentation. Following that, we later took time to hand out a boatload of gospel tracts before going home.
Many people heard word of God being read and the gospel being preached in the Market this past Sunday. We are so grateful to the Lord for giving us this wonderful privilege of serving Him this way and we look forward to many more gospel giving opportunities as the even warmer weather makes its way in.
With cross and gear in tow, Kim and I headed down to our favorite fishing pond, the Byward Market, where we were not surprised to find the place abuzz with a great number of people out enjoying the unusually warm March weather.
Kim started things off by standing up on the box and reading chapter 3 of the Book of John.
There is something to be said about reading from the Bible in public. It is so out of the norm and it catches peoples' attention whether some hear a few verses as they pass by or, as some did here, they actually stop to listen. 
The cross is an ever present symbol and indicator to the public of what is behind our purpose for being there. It easily catches the eye and curiosity of many. We cannot say enough of its effect and usefulness in various ways as we evangelize on the street.
Not long into the gospel presentation, people started to take notice of, and an interest in, what was being said from the street pulpit. For a few, what was being preached was of enough interest to cause them to stop and listen.
But it wasn't until this young, pleasant, professing atheist showed up and started asking really good questions that a larger crowd started to gather. 
I am convinced that the young man was asking questions many in the crowd were wanting to ask but were too shy to do so. It was like he was their representative.In our very public discussion, I happened to stump him on a point as he tried to argue that the universe came from nothing. What I found amusing was, at that point, he politely asked if he could stand aside for awhile to think about what I had countered his argument with and come back - which he did!
I preached the Law and the Gospel which took about 15 minutes. I focused on the gospel portion for a while after that. But thanks to couple of courteous hecklers and the larger crowd God provided for me through them, I didn't step down from the box for another 40 minutes.
Many people heard word of God being read and the gospel being preached in the Market this past Sunday. We are so grateful to the Lord for giving us this wonderful privilege of serving Him this way and we look forward to many more gospel giving opportunities as the even warmer weather makes its way in.Wherever you may be, Christian, if you are not out sharing your faith in any way, would you prayerfully consider joining us on the street to bring the same great gospel that brings the message of eternal salvation to the likes of what we once were?
"...devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching."
(1 Timothy 4:13)
Friday, March 5, 2010
DOCUMENTARY FILM ON OPEN AIR PREACHING
Aahhh...TV worth watching! Rare air.
There is a new documentary film to be released in June by Go.Stand.Speak Ministries and The Apologetics Group regarding the not-so-easy, but very necessary task of open air preaching. It promises to be a revealing and encouraging look at the biblically age old method of preaching the gospel to the lost in the public square.
Here from the Go.Stand.Speak. website:
"With 'preaching to the lost' being such a basic foundation of Christianity, why do many in the church seems to be apathetic on this issue of preaching in highways and byways of towns and cities?
Is it biblical to stand in the public places of the world and proclaim the gospel, regardless if people want to hear it or not?
What does the Bible say about public preaching? And does the Bible really call church pastors, leaders and evangelists to proclaim the gospel in the public square as part of obedience to the Great Commission, or is public preaching something that is outdated and not applicable for our day and age?
The film 'Go. Stand. Speak' delves into the doctrine of public preaching with experts such as Dr. George Grant, Paul Washer, Greg Gordon, Pastor John Reuther, Rusty Lee Thomas, David Legge, Ray Comfort, Stuart Migdon, Michael Marcavage, Jeff Rose, Shawn Holes, Sean Morris and other Christian leaders… and uncovers the big question…
...is this quiet, new move of public preaching something that is simply a trend, or is it again the beginning of a move of God where He is simply doing what He always has done…calling His ministers to go and preach His message of repentance and faith where the people gather in the public, regardless of culture, current trends, or the popularity of the message and method?"
I highly recommend anyone who has any interest in the field of street evangelism to support this worthwhile project by going to the above link, order the DVD and view it in hope that it would educate, edify, and encourage those who sense a calling to step out of their comfort zones and boldly go out to proclaim the Good News in the public square.
WHY? Well, one reason is because: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." (Matthew 9:37)
There is a new documentary film to be released in June by Go.Stand.Speak Ministries and The Apologetics Group regarding the not-so-easy, but very necessary task of open air preaching. It promises to be a revealing and encouraging look at the biblically age old method of preaching the gospel to the lost in the public square.
Here from the Go.Stand.Speak. website:
"With 'preaching to the lost' being such a basic foundation of Christianity, why do many in the church seems to be apathetic on this issue of preaching in highways and byways of towns and cities?
Is it biblical to stand in the public places of the world and proclaim the gospel, regardless if people want to hear it or not?
What does the Bible say about public preaching? And does the Bible really call church pastors, leaders and evangelists to proclaim the gospel in the public square as part of obedience to the Great Commission, or is public preaching something that is outdated and not applicable for our day and age?
The film 'Go. Stand. Speak' delves into the doctrine of public preaching with experts such as Dr. George Grant, Paul Washer, Greg Gordon, Pastor John Reuther, Rusty Lee Thomas, David Legge, Ray Comfort, Stuart Migdon, Michael Marcavage, Jeff Rose, Shawn Holes, Sean Morris and other Christian leaders… and uncovers the big question…
...is this quiet, new move of public preaching something that is simply a trend, or is it again the beginning of a move of God where He is simply doing what He always has done…calling His ministers to go and preach His message of repentance and faith where the people gather in the public, regardless of culture, current trends, or the popularity of the message and method?"
I highly recommend anyone who has any interest in the field of street evangelism to support this worthwhile project by going to the above link, order the DVD and view it in hope that it would educate, edify, and encourage those who sense a calling to step out of their comfort zones and boldly go out to proclaim the Good News in the public square.
WHY? Well, one reason is because: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." (Matthew 9:37)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
It was Sunday. There were all kinds of worship going on this past Lord's Day, just not all to the Lord.
One of the biggies all over Canada and the United States was the gold medal hockey game between our two countries at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Not surprisingly, this gets the attention of millions and unites sports minded patriots, if but for a moment in time.
I am a Canadian. Kim is an American. We thought we would join in the fray, but in a different kind of way.
I stood on a corner with my cross for the better part of the first 40 minutes as streams of people passed by. Many glanced but were seemingly in a rush to get to the bars and capture a seat for the game.
In between hockey periods, smokers would step out of the bars and onto the street for a few puffs before the game resumed. We took that opportunity to hand out gospel tracts as they puffed away. (Gasp!)
Kim got into a gospel discussion with one hockey fan draped in a Canadian flag having a smoke before he went back inside to watch the game with his buddies.
In one way or another, many Olympic hockey revelers received the gospel on Sunday afternoon.
One of the biggies all over Canada and the United States was the gold medal hockey game between our two countries at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Not surprisingly, this gets the attention of millions and unites sports minded patriots, if but for a moment in time.
I am a Canadian. Kim is an American. We thought we would join in the fray, but in a different kind of way.
For many people, the CanAm showdown was a golden opportunity to flock to the downtown bar and restaurant districts to watch the big game on big TVs. For Kim and me, it was a golden opportunity to bring the gospel to those making their way there.
One older fellow obliged me with an "Are you ready for what?" question that opened up a door for a ten minute discussion. He professed to be an atheist but something in our chat told me he had a conscience that bugged him, though he would not admit it.
At one point a car pulled up by the curb and I heard the driver speaking French on his cell phone. There were three others in the car with him. When he finished his call I leaned into his open window and handed him four French gospel tracts. He took them and asked me what they were for. I was able to converse with him about the gospel for a minute and he listened intently. Grateful, he asked if he could have a couple more tracts to give to some friends he had in mind.
In between hockey periods, smokers would step out of the bars and onto the street for a few puffs before the game resumed. We took that opportunity to hand out gospel tracts as they puffed away. (Gasp!) 
Kim got into a gospel discussion with one hockey fan draped in a Canadian flag having a smoke before he went back inside to watch the game with his buddies.
In one way or another, many Olympic hockey revelers received the gospel on Sunday afternoon. The Lord also blessed us with an opportunity to speak with at length and encourage two young fellows who are professing Christians but have both claimed to have backslidden due to habitual sin. They left us admitting deep conviction and expressed their gratefulness for having spoken with them. Please pray for them.
Kim and I are so grateful to the Lord for giving us this golden opportunity via the Olympic hockey event to serve Him on what would have otherwise been a quiet day. I had opportunity to display the questioning cross; we spoke with many, encouraged a few and dispensed of a load of gospel tracts.
It is so good to be back on the street doing what we most love to do for Him. All glory to God!
Monday, March 1, 2010
SPOT THE FOOL
Somewhere in this myriad of people, signs, lines and shapes, is a fool.
If you can't spot him, let me give you a couple of hints so you might find him:
1) You may have seen him before but not recently as he has been out of great commission recovering from an 8 week bout of sciatica.
2) He is back on the street and carrying a rather large heathen magnet.
First one to spot the fool wins a crisp genuine million dollar gospel tract. More about this picture in the next post. Have fun!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A SAMPLE OF COMPASSION
You want to talk about compassion for the lost? This is compassion.
Wayne Dawg is an evangelizing brother in Christ, a friend and fellow blogger from Georgia. His latest post on His Feet On The Street blog moved me and I thought it good to post it here.
Though this witness encounter Wayne describes here did not end the way he would have wanted it to, I believe this story has more to do with Wayne's heart than it does about the end result.
May we all share the same depth of concern for those who are without Christ.
One of the last witnessing conversations we had In New Orleans was with a couple self-professing lesbians who were sitting down in a little area between business buildings along Canal Street.
As we approached the girls I got out a couple tracts while my partner was reaching for the video camera to film the encounter.I asked him not to film the encounter. I felt God leading me to these girls and I knew, somehow, that if we were to start filming the encounter these girls would have got up and walked away.
I asked the girls if they had got their Million Dollar Bill yet and after a little chit chat starting asking them about their thoughts on eternity, God and the characteristics / attributes of God.
One of the girls (the one whom would be the focus of my conversation) said she didn’t think there was a God. I went through the building/builder, painting/painter and creation/Creator with her and she didn’t say to much to that.
I asked her, “If” there was a God, what kind of attributes do you think He would have?
Kind. Loving. Not full of hate like those people down the street.
She was referring to what most people down there called the “Turn or Burn” preachers who were holding large colorful signs that pointed out what God hates in big bold letters while almost yelling in a megaphone or P.A. system what happens to those folks who die doing those things God hates.
She was obviously turned off and repelled by these preachers. The only conversation she was ever going to have with that kind of preacher would be to tell him what she thought of him and his message.
I asked her if she thought God would be a just God. Would He punish those who deserved to be punished? Like murderers who never got caught? Like rapists who evaded the law?
She said yes; God, if He existed, would punish those kinds of people.
Once we started talking, I realized how beautiful this girl was. Oh, she had crazy colored spiked hair. She had a piercing through the top of her nose and other places on her face.
Her face was even painted different colors to match her clothing.
But while we talked, all I could see was her humanity.
As we were talking, her eyes never left my eyes. She never looked around. She almost literally stared right through me. She was intelligent, sharp and serious.
Through my years of witnessing I have never had someone to seem to hang on every word I said and be that focused during a conversation.
She had questions for me too.
She asked where a five year old would go if she were struck by a car and was killed.
She asked where a fifty year old woman in the deepest jungle in Africa would go if she never heard about Christ before she died.
I answered her questions by telling her God was a just God and could not be unjust in dealing with mankind. The child, I reasoned with her, based on King David’s experience with the death of his own child, would be in Heaven; in a place where David was confident he himself would be re-united with his son.
The fifty year old woman in Africa was a different story. I told her that no one goes to hell because they never hear about Jesus Christ. I told her that Scripture says that ‘all’ have fallen short of the glory of God and have sinned against Him. I explained that the woman is condemned to hell because she has sinned against the God of the Universe by breaking His laws.
This was my opening to tell her that she had sinned against God too.
She admitted to being a liar; transgressing the 9th Commandment.
She admitted to be a thief; transgressing the 8th Commandment.
She admitted to blasphemy; transgressing the 3rd Commandment.
By her own admission, she is a liar, thief and blasphemer.
I told her that when she died, she would face God and stand before Him guilty of transgressing His law.
My partner, who also was kneeled down beside me, was in prayer during the conversation. He told me that she was visibly shaking at the end of our conversation (I did not see this as my eyes never left hers either).
I believe that God was trying to wake her up from the dead through the proclamation of His law. On and on we talked and I discerned that she was ready for God’s grace so I expounded on the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ:
God becoming a Man through the virgin birth.
Jesus walking a perfect sinless life.
His sacrificial death on a cross.
His glorious resurrection on the third day.
She had broken God’s perfect law but the perfect Jesus Christ paid her fine in His life’s blood. If she would only repent and put her faith in Him and Him alone for her salvation, He would save her; make her a new creation in Christ.
I pleaded with her. I had tears welling up in my eyes because of my concern for her soul.
But it was not to be……..
She shook my hand and her and her girlfriend got up and left.
I was heartbroken.
I have witnessed to hundreds of people over the last four to five years. I have given out thousands upon thousands of tracts.
I thought I had a high level of compassion for the lost.
When my partner and I got up and walked away I stopped, turned back to watch them walk away, and just started crying.
I’m not ashamed to admit that.
My buddy put his arm around me and said that was the most amazing witnessing encounter he ever saw. It wasn’t me, of course; it was the Holy Spirit pouring out of me.
I wanted her to repent and trust Christ so badly that I felt like grabbing her by the arms and shaking her until she woke up.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Matthew 23:37.
But I can’t grab and shake her. I can only preach the gospel and let God do the rest. It’s not up to me to save anyone; it’s just up to me faithfully proclaim that which God has commanded all believers to proclaim; the glorious gospel.
Thank you, Father, for giving me a new level of compassion to seek and save that which is lost.
Forbid it Lord that I should ever lose my concern and alarm that the lost are going to a real place called hell and You have given us believers the task of bringing the gospel to them.
Wayne Dawg is an evangelizing brother in Christ, a friend and fellow blogger from Georgia. His latest post on His Feet On The Street blog moved me and I thought it good to post it here.
Though this witness encounter Wayne describes here did not end the way he would have wanted it to, I believe this story has more to do with Wayne's heart than it does about the end result.
May we all share the same depth of concern for those who are without Christ.
One of the last witnessing conversations we had In New Orleans was with a couple self-professing lesbians who were sitting down in a little area between business buildings along Canal Street.
As we approached the girls I got out a couple tracts while my partner was reaching for the video camera to film the encounter.I asked him not to film the encounter. I felt God leading me to these girls and I knew, somehow, that if we were to start filming the encounter these girls would have got up and walked away.
I asked the girls if they had got their Million Dollar Bill yet and after a little chit chat starting asking them about their thoughts on eternity, God and the characteristics / attributes of God.
One of the girls (the one whom would be the focus of my conversation) said she didn’t think there was a God. I went through the building/builder, painting/painter and creation/Creator with her and she didn’t say to much to that.
I asked her, “If” there was a God, what kind of attributes do you think He would have?
Kind. Loving. Not full of hate like those people down the street.
She was referring to what most people down there called the “Turn or Burn” preachers who were holding large colorful signs that pointed out what God hates in big bold letters while almost yelling in a megaphone or P.A. system what happens to those folks who die doing those things God hates.
She was obviously turned off and repelled by these preachers. The only conversation she was ever going to have with that kind of preacher would be to tell him what she thought of him and his message.
I asked her if she thought God would be a just God. Would He punish those who deserved to be punished? Like murderers who never got caught? Like rapists who evaded the law?
She said yes; God, if He existed, would punish those kinds of people.
Once we started talking, I realized how beautiful this girl was. Oh, she had crazy colored spiked hair. She had a piercing through the top of her nose and other places on her face.
Her face was even painted different colors to match her clothing.
But while we talked, all I could see was her humanity.
As we were talking, her eyes never left my eyes. She never looked around. She almost literally stared right through me. She was intelligent, sharp and serious.
Through my years of witnessing I have never had someone to seem to hang on every word I said and be that focused during a conversation.
She had questions for me too.
She asked where a five year old would go if she were struck by a car and was killed.
She asked where a fifty year old woman in the deepest jungle in Africa would go if she never heard about Christ before she died.
I answered her questions by telling her God was a just God and could not be unjust in dealing with mankind. The child, I reasoned with her, based on King David’s experience with the death of his own child, would be in Heaven; in a place where David was confident he himself would be re-united with his son.
The fifty year old woman in Africa was a different story. I told her that no one goes to hell because they never hear about Jesus Christ. I told her that Scripture says that ‘all’ have fallen short of the glory of God and have sinned against Him. I explained that the woman is condemned to hell because she has sinned against the God of the Universe by breaking His laws.
This was my opening to tell her that she had sinned against God too.
She admitted to being a liar; transgressing the 9th Commandment.
She admitted to be a thief; transgressing the 8th Commandment.
She admitted to blasphemy; transgressing the 3rd Commandment.
By her own admission, she is a liar, thief and blasphemer.
I told her that when she died, she would face God and stand before Him guilty of transgressing His law.
My partner, who also was kneeled down beside me, was in prayer during the conversation. He told me that she was visibly shaking at the end of our conversation (I did not see this as my eyes never left hers either).
I believe that God was trying to wake her up from the dead through the proclamation of His law. On and on we talked and I discerned that she was ready for God’s grace so I expounded on the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ:
God becoming a Man through the virgin birth.
Jesus walking a perfect sinless life.
His sacrificial death on a cross.
His glorious resurrection on the third day.
She had broken God’s perfect law but the perfect Jesus Christ paid her fine in His life’s blood. If she would only repent and put her faith in Him and Him alone for her salvation, He would save her; make her a new creation in Christ.
I pleaded with her. I had tears welling up in my eyes because of my concern for her soul.
But it was not to be……..
She shook my hand and her and her girlfriend got up and left.
I was heartbroken.
I have witnessed to hundreds of people over the last four to five years. I have given out thousands upon thousands of tracts.
I thought I had a high level of compassion for the lost.
When my partner and I got up and walked away I stopped, turned back to watch them walk away, and just started crying.
I’m not ashamed to admit that.
My buddy put his arm around me and said that was the most amazing witnessing encounter he ever saw. It wasn’t me, of course; it was the Holy Spirit pouring out of me.
I wanted her to repent and trust Christ so badly that I felt like grabbing her by the arms and shaking her until she woke up.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Matthew 23:37.
But I can’t grab and shake her. I can only preach the gospel and let God do the rest. It’s not up to me to save anyone; it’s just up to me faithfully proclaim that which God has commanded all believers to proclaim; the glorious gospel.
Thank you, Father, for giving me a new level of compassion to seek and save that which is lost.
Forbid it Lord that I should ever lose my concern and alarm that the lost are going to a real place called hell and You have given us believers the task of bringing the gospel to them.
Monday, February 22, 2010
GO TO THE STREET CORNERS
Rob-roy Nelson is a street preacher in Arizona who delivers the law and the gospel in the public square with a compassionate heart and in a very matter-of-fact style.
He is featured here in this video which was produced as a montage of street evangelists preaching, giving out gospel tracts, having one-to-one gospel conversations and praying for receivers of the message.
This video, first posted on the Streetfishing blog a couple of weeks ago, is of great encouragement to me and should be to anyone sensing a desire to obey our Lord's calling to evangelize the world around us.
He is featured here in this video which was produced as a montage of street evangelists preaching, giving out gospel tracts, having one-to-one gospel conversations and praying for receivers of the message.
This video, first posted on the Streetfishing blog a couple of weeks ago, is of great encouragement to me and should be to anyone sensing a desire to obey our Lord's calling to evangelize the world around us.
Monday, February 15, 2010
THE MISSION WILL SUCCEED
“I asked myself the question, "Why is the harvest plentiful?"
The mission is guaranteed to succeed because Christ has accomplished the success through His own blood.”
Pastor Randy Alston
HT: 5pt Salt
Here is the answer I believe the Scriptures give in Revelation 5:9, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."
The reason the harvest is plentiful is because Jesus, through His death on the cross, through His shed blood, through His wrath bearing sacrifice, purchased a people for God. He has guaranteed through His death that people from every tribe and language and people and nation will respond in faith.
Pastor Randy Alston
HT: 5pt Salt
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
WE HAVE THE GOSPEL !
Yes, "We have the gospel!".
If you are a Christian, then YOU are are part of the "WE".
YOU have the gospel!
Question is: Aside from having it, what are YOU doing with it?
"And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (2 Cor 5:19:20)
HT: Faith Defenders
If you are a Christian, then YOU are are part of the "WE".
YOU have the gospel!
Question is: Aside from having it, what are YOU doing with it?
"And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (2 Cor 5:19:20)
HT: Faith Defenders
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