Fellow gospel herald and friend, Jeff Mardling, of Ridgetown, Ontario, joined Kim and me this past weekend to herald the gospel of Jesus Christ at this year's 'Help Santa Toy Parade' in downtown Ottawa.
Hundreds of tracts were handed out, a portion of a Christmas carol recited a couple of times (one much better than the other) and one conversation following an open air gospel presentation that resulted in a young woman breaking into tears expressing her desire to know more about God and finding a solid church that preached the right gospel. After a few words of encouragement, we gladly pointed her in the right direction.
Christmas or Santa parades, however they are called, are one of those public events in the year that are a no-brainer when it comes to going out to spread the gospel truth.
The theme, the birth of Jesus, is the obvious springboard to the preaching of the gospel even though it may take a born again Christian or two to dig it out and proclaim it aside the guise of a jolly fat man, commercialism and man-made religious traditions. Keeping the name of "Christ" in the word "Christmas" is not a issue with me. Putting "Christ" in the hearts and minds of the lost who celebrate Christmas but know not Christ, is.
Not that Christians had ever been commanded by God's word to commemorate the birth of Jesus, but Christmas is an opportunity where we can set the record straight to the world, religious and nonreligious, as to why He had to come. Sometimes in creative ways as our dear friend, Jeff, demonstrated.
What a privilege it was to serve the Lord with him again this weekend.
GLORY TO GOD!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
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Paul,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this video. Beautifully done as usual. I love to see the gospel message proclaimed, and you (and the gang) always give me new ideas on how to do that. I like what both you and Jeff did with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". I'm going to put that in the idea arsenal. Know you're being prayed for.
Wonderful!! Praise the Lord for Jeff and the girl at the end of the video! Keep it up....maybe you will sing next year on your own church float! HA! Love you guys!!
ReplyDeleteKatrina: Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and especially your prayers. Really appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteVernon: if I sang, people would run for the hills! :D)
I loved this short clip, and I will be praying for the specific work that our gracious God and Savior has you doing! And yes I almost fell out of my chair cracking up with the rewind on the lds float..with the "Nevermind" look forward to following Christ work through you all.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and your marriage and family