THE FRENCH CROSS

I believe this to be a first. A first since the inception of fellow street evangelist and blogger Tony Miano's "Are You Ready" cross in July of 2009.

Behold a cross that asks the question in French: "Etes-Vous Prets".

(Phonetically, it's pronounced "et-voo-pret" with a roll in the "r" that French people speak with.)

The French cross was the genius idea of one Vernon Costolo, of West Virginia, USA. When planning his mission trip to Canada with sidekick Sean Borca, of Florida, they had originally planned to evangelize in Montreal, Quebec, (a major city in Canada's all French language province) following their evangelism stints in Toronto, Ontario, and with us here in Ottawa, two weeks ago.

Vernon came up with the idea and made an "Are You Ready" cross in French to use as a witnessing tool while in Quebec so the inhabitants of "La Belle Province" could read what it said in their native language. Novel idea, n'est ce pas?

Now Vernon is a talented furniture making woodworker guy. Vernon has made "Are You Ready" crosses for many people. So have we. But there is a difference. We slap-dash our crosses in nearly no time at all and for about 7 bucks a pop. Vernon, however, with such precision and skilled craftsmanship, painstakingly makes crosses worthy of display in the Smithsonian Institute.

As it turned out, on the fourth day of street evangelism with us in Ottawa, logistics proved the Montreal trip to be not a plausible thing. But we did not give up as the bridge to Gatineau, Quebec, is but a 10 minute drive from our home. All French there, too.

So, in the course of the day that we spent evangelizing on the French side of the Ottawa River handing out French gospel tracts, Vernon had his opportunity to stand with "la croix francais" for a time at a Gatineau intersection. Some driving by responded with a friendly wave.

I hope this encourages other cross bearers throughout North America in areas where there is a second language to contend with to follow suit. How about a custom made cross to be held in Spanish sectors of some U.S. cities? Any takers?

Having no French people in any area of West Virginia, Vernon offered us the French cross to keep for our use whenever we cross the bridge to do some street evangelism there. We gladly accepted.

God bless you, Vernon.

Great idea and " merci beaucoup ! " 

ZOMBIES AND THE GOSPEL

Zombie: "the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose." - Dictionary.com

WARNING: due to the graphic nature of the event featured here, this post contains disturbing imagery, albeit depictions. Thus, viewer disgression is advised.

Several hundred people participated in this year's Zombie Walk through the streets of Ottawa last Saturday, in synch with millions of other "zombies" around the world who held their walk through their respective cities as they celebrated and glorified the voodoo based tradition that zombies exist.

Whether or not one believes in the existence of zombies is not the issue in this annual gathering. This practice, stemming from the influence of worldwide publications and cult movies about zombies, is all done in the name of "fun". It was even touted at "family fun". 

Murder, violence, bloodshed, gore and cannibalism. A walking testimony to the depravity of man. Family fun.

So much fun that some people actually brought their little children in tow all marked up like their parents and others with grotesque make-up depicting open wounds, fake blood splattered all over them, cradling and licking realistic blood dripping severed limbs, crying out for brains to eat, etc.

They marched several kilometres from the gates of a cemetery in the east end of the city to Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa parading their gorefest to the shock and/or delight of those they passed by.

For Kim and I, this was a "no-brainer" (much to the disappointment of many a brain seeking zombie) to conclude that the gospel had to make an appearance at this macabre event in order to shine a ray of light within the darkness that was being celebrated.

I got home from a 10 hour work shift behind the wheel, had a quick bite with Kim, packed our 'stuff' and raced out the door as we knew the event was already a few hours in progress. We arrived on Parliament Hill just in time as the gathering was breaking up at the end of their event.

Not knowing which way most people would be exiting the grounds, I placed my stand near the Centennial Flame, stood up with my cross with a boatload of tracts (homemade ones, suitable for the occassion) and waited. As usual, the cross was an effective beacon drawing the attention and curiosity of tourists, the curious...and zombies.

They came. Of course I was mocked and laughed at by some and had the odd foul word thrown at me. But I was pleasantly surprised to hand out as many gospel tracts to the zombie-wannabees as I did. Many were willing to take them from my hands. I watched as they walked away, or stood nearby, as they read their tracts before putting them in their pockets and going home.

In essence, they really are the walking dead as we once were. They exist physically, but are dead spiritually and are in need becoming "born again" by the power of God. They need to receive the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. They need to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. They need to have their eyes opened and see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. They need to repent and place their trust in the Lord, alone, for their eternal salvation.

But how can these people hear the gospel if someone is not sent to preach it to them, as the apostle Paul asks in Romans 10:14-15? The world is in dire need of dedicated gospel harbingers of all sorts, everywhere, local and overseas, in our city streets and to the farthest jungles - to bring the Good News to all creation. Where do you fit in, Christian?

The people you see here are not zombies. They are common everyday people pretending to be zombies, unaware of what they are playing with, all the while demonstrating their dire need of Jesus Christ, the Lord, in their lives that they may be saved. 

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20)

We who know the love of God should be out there warning them and telling them of the truth and wonder of God's love, mercy, grace and eternal life offered to them through Jesus Christ, ours and their only hope.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

It's over ! Mission accomplished!

Vernon Costolo, of West Virginia, and Sean Borca, of Florida, have completed their whirlwind gospel giving mission tour of duty in Ottawa. This, following a three day evangelism venture in Toronto.

The four day long American-Canadian coalition gospel blitz upon Ottawa is over. The American soldiers have gone home. The Canadian soldiers wish they could have stayed longer. But they know how much their families are happy to have them back.

Their Canadian comrades in arms, Bill and Jenny Baker in Toronto, along with Paul and Kim in Ottawa, were more than pleased to meet these dedicated soldiers of the Lord and were privileged to serve alongside them on the streets of their respective cities.

The Lord was so kind.

In teaming up with Vernon and Sean over a 7 day period, the gospel was faithfully preached in the open air in various busy locations many times over.

The number of gospel tracts handed out was just shy of 10,000. A good number of Bibles were handed out to those who desired one.

There was a multitude of fruitful gospel conversations with people. We had cross-witness opportunities and we believe we were witness to at least two genuine conversions while we ministered on the street. God be praised!

All gospel tracts and most Bibles were stamped with contact information that would lead the receiver to assistance for local church searching and/or discipleship.

Aside from the Ottawa Police being called on us for preaching in front of the University of Ottawa gates and being asked to leave the premises of a shopping mall in Gatineau, Quebec, by security for passing out gospel tracts, the mission was a successful one.

The fellowship that was shared over these few days, considering these intrepid gospel harbingers were strangers at first (aquainted only through the blogosphere), was prayerful, edifying, warm and very, very funny. These fellows have a wonderful sense of humor.

A special note of thanks to Pastor Bob Doble and his wife, Marie-Josee, for joining us in our efforts at the U of O on Wednesday and for putting up (with) Sean in their home for 5 nights. 

We enjoyed each others' company to the max. Such is the fruit of our common bond in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom we live and love to serve.

Please come alongside us in prayer that, within the multitudes who received the gospel this past week by the spoken word, God's written Word or gospel tracts, there would be some whom the Holy Spirit would move toward genuine repentance and faith in Jesus, our Lord.

And pray a prayer of thanksgiving for men like Vernon and Sean, and their families, for sacrificing (financially and otherwise) a week of their "vacation time" to faithful service in the building of the Lord's Kingdom. It was an honor and privilege to serve alongside them. Not to mention a whole lot of fun.

They came as strangers, left as friends and are appreciated by us as dear brothers in Christ.

Yes, it's over.

But the countdown to a similar mission here in Ottawa next year has already begun as we believe the Lord is calling us to make this an annual event.

Only 358 more days left. We can't wait.

Glory to God!

MISSION OTTAWA UPDATE

We have joined forces with our intrepid gospel missionary soldiers from the States, Vernon and Sean, and there has been not much in the way of time wasted.

Though only two out of four days so far, we have been very busy on the streets of our downtown core.

Ottawa University, bus stops, pedestrian malls and street corners were our fields of battle.

Open air preaching, Scripture reading, thousands of gospel tracts handed out, several Bibles given and a multitude of gospel conversations were the norm for each day.

Pastor Bob Doble and his wife, Marie-Josee, showed their support for this mission by joining us in tract distribution and engaging conversations with students at Ottawa U on Wednesday.

Please keep us in prayer as the four of us march out tonight to give the gospel in the Byward Market area.

Tomorrow is Vernon and Sean's last day here before heading back home to West Virginia and Florida, respectively. We will be spending most of the day on the Quebec side handing out French gospel tracts in Gatineau - not Montreal as first planned.

A more detailed visual report of the mission in Ottawa will be forthcoming. Until then, here are some photos from our work on the street just to give you an idea of our experience in the last couple of days.

Sean open air preaches at Transitway bus stop at rush hour.

Vernon shares the gospel with a passerby on Rideau Street.

Kim reads passages from the Bible just outside the University of Ottawa gates.

The "Are You Ready" cross, not far from where Kim reads Scripture.

Pastor Bob and Vernon in gospel conversation with students of Ottawa U.

Marie-Josee shares the gospel with a couple of students.

Vernon, Kim and Sean in lengthy conversation with passersby on a downtown street corner.

SOLDIERS ARRIVE IN OTTAWA

Well, following a three day successful tour of duty in Toronto, our fearless U.S. gospel giving comrades have arrived in Ottawa. 

From this point in this venture, Kim and I will be assisting Vernon and Sean in their Spirit-led mission here during their 3 day stay before heading off to Montreal on Friday.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: as you can understand, we are going to be busy in these next few days.

Please be in prayer for us as we hit the streets of Ottawa proclaiming the Good News of Jesus via tract distribution, one-to-one conversations and open air preaching. Your prayers would be most appreciated.

Reports to follow.

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD !

U.S. SOLDIERS INVADE CANADA !!

This just in:

Our sources have received word from the front that an army of 2 American soldiers, yes, all both of them, are presently crossing the US border into Canada. They are not soldiers as we know soldiers. They happen to be loyal soldiers of the King, the Son of the Most High! Soldiers of the cross. Soldiers of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is reported they are heavily armed with a cache of weaponry consisting of Bibles (said to be sharper than two edged swords) and, reportedly, about 10,000 gospel tracts. They have been identified only as 'Vernon', from West Virginia and 'Sean', from Florida.

Their mission: to preach the scandalous, some say "downright dangerous", gospel of Jesus Christ on the downtown streets of 3 major Canadian cities within a period of a week.

Our informers believe they will be spending this weekend on the streets of Toronto preaching the gospel in the open air, handing out gospel tracts and speaking with passersby on a one-to-one basis.

On Monday they are supposed to move on to Ottawa, Canada's capital, where they will be utilizing the same tactics with some military assistance from certain Canadian allies already infiltrated there.

They plan to leave Ottawa for Montreal on Friday. Apparently, they will not open air preach there due to fact they have not been trained to speak in the city's predominant language of French. Instead, their mission is to hand out 4,000 French gospel tracts to French Canadians in the downtown core.

Added to their strategic arsenal to be used in Montreal is a wooden cross with a question on it that asks "Etes-Vous Pret?", which when translated into English means "Are You Ready?" Following their assault on Montreal, they head back over the US border and to their home base again.

Though just an army of two, do not underestimate the power in which their weaponry can yeild. The King whom they serve is always with them in Spirit. The strength of this particular mission raid has the potential to turn untold numbers of peoples' hearts from stone into flesh, bringing them to their knees in repentance and saving faith and claiming their own allegiance to Jesus Christ from there on in.

Despite some expected resistance, it is said that these two faithful soldiers are
supported, motivated and encouraged to press on with the public proclamation of the gospel on these urban Canadian battlegrounds by the heartfelt prayers of fellow faithful comrades who are safe in the confines of their homes and churches.

Further updates as they come in.
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Check out Vernon Costolo's blog at  Proclaiming the Truth

GIVE THIS GUY A STREET CORNER

Hip-hop or rap.

Not sure if it's an age thing or not but I'm not even sure if they are one and the same. I guess that reveals that I don't ascribe to that kind of music.

I do, however, admire the talent in anyone who can take a theme and rhyme off words to a beat like there's no tomorrow and actually make sense articulating the topic at hand...if you can make it through the rappish lingo, of course.

Like it or not, it's what is being said as opposed to how it's being said that's important, right?

Then there's the argument of whether or not this unique genre of music should be included in the realm of the Christian music scene given that rap music has taken a rap for being pridefully thematic in sexual sin, lust for money, "bling",violence, murder, gang warfare, self worship, alcohol, drugs, materialism, crudeness, blasphemy, greed, power, etc.,  just to name a few.

But there happens to be hip-hop/rap artists like this guy named "shai linne". Their message is different. They  have something to proclaim that is really not much different from what certain truth bearing harbingers proclaim on street corners in cities and elsewhere around the world.

What you are about to see is more about what you are about to hear. It is not a music video. It is not a performance. There is a poetic part at the beginning, but then "shai linne" just speaks.

Regarding mankind's dire need for redemption through Jesus Christ alone, he speaks the truth. The only truth.

So, rap or no rap, I say: "Give this guy a street corner!"