NIGHT OF THE LIVING WORD

It was too good to pass up. The line up that is, not the movie.

There are only two movie theatres in Ottawa where patrons must line up outside the theatre to wait for the doors to open. Both feature independant films, old films and so-called "cult films".

Saturday night's "cult classic" horror film at the Mayfair Theatre was 'Night of the Living Dead', produced in 1968. Murder, gore, bloodshed and cannibalism only begins to describe the kind of "entertainment" that was being offered. And, of course, people are still lining up to pay and view horrific merriment on the screen.

Kim and I thought this would be a good opportunity to preach the gospel to an organic congregation and hand out some tracts. It was an opportunity to tell people the truth as to what happens after people die and what Jesus did so that they may be granted eternal life in Heaven.

There wasn't much time. We took off from home and got there just minutes before the doors opened.



Now, I'd like to say a word about the preaching. Looking back at this evening's offering from the box, I wasn't too pleased with my presentation. Hindsight is always 20/20 and there is so much I know I could have said had I had the time to prepare. I had a goldmine of a theme to work with and I just feel I could have been better. 

I was in a rush because I knew the doors were about to open. I, therefore, missed out on some key points, flubbed some of my sentences, suffered a brain derailment halfway through, didn't quote Scripture enough and I goofed on my closing line.

And the reason why I am telling you this is to encourage you who may be new to open air preaching and/or are praying about doing it. I'm here to say: don't worry about making mistakes. It happens. What I have experienced in the past is that when I feel I didn't preach up to par, God still uses the effort for His purposes.

If you think you need to be or are waiting to be like a professional public speaker, you will never get on the box. Always pray before you step up. We are broken vessels that God uses for His good "as is".

The apostle Paul was fully aware of that:

"I came to you in weakness and fear, and in much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on man's wisdom, but on God's power."  (1 Cor 2:3-5)

So even though I know I could have done better, it was still effective enough to grab the attention of some and well enough to be told that they appreciated what they heard. And, as you saw in the video, about 60 people still took gospel tracts and we had two meaningful gospel conversations with patrons.

God is still amazing, even when we are not.