SO MUCH TO EDIT, SO LITTLE TIME

It's weird. The last 3 weeks have been full with not much else on my schedule than street evangelism and nearly no time to post anything on my blog about evangelism due to the fact I've been out doing evangelism. Now it's time to do some photo/video editing. 

My last blog was posted on the 15th day of my 23 day commitment to standing on street corners throughout Ottawa with my 'Are You Ready' cross reeling in fish after fish who were nibbling at the bait and telling them of the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. My 3 week 'vacation', enabling me to do this, is over and the project complete.The above photo is one of 23 I will be showcasing soon in a video.

And through the middle of that, Mission Ottawa 2012 has also and already come and gone.  With Vernon Costolo flying in from Georgia, Bill and Jenny Baker from Toronto, they joined the faithful from Emmanuel Baptist Church in our annual 5 day evangelism blitz on the streets of Ottawa. The photo above is only some of those who participated here and there over the 5 day period.

The Lord was gracious to bless both projects with many, many people hearing and/or receiving the saving gospel of Jesus. I have much to share but now that I am back at "work" work, but little time to edit and produce what I would like to share with you in the time frame that I would prefer.

So off to the Word Street Journal editing room when I have a moment here and there and, hopefully soon, you will be able to view all that has been taking place in the name of Christ on the streets of Ottawa in June.

Stay tuned!

VACATION CROSSWALK

As some of you might know, I happen to be nearing the end of my second of three weeks off work. The reason is due to something called "vacation". I'm not sure exactly what the word means or what I'm supposed to do but whatever I do do I can do it without worrying about having to report to work for 23 days in a row. 

So I decided I was going to do something I love to do, as that's what one is supposed to do while on vacation , right?

"Hello, street evangelism!"

I have done some open air preaching in the past couple of weeks but my focus is more on standing on the street with my "Are You Ready" cross. I have 23 days and, therefore, 23 reasons to go to 23 different locations around Ottawa one day at a time where there is pedestrian traffic and/or vehicle traffic to be a witness for Christ. That's the goal, anyway. God willing, I will be able to complete it.

So far I am 14 for 14. The Lord has been kind to bless me with many gospel conversations with curious people who are drawn to the question on the cross. Discussions ranging in time from 2 minutes to an hour and a half.

All kinds of people of all ages from all walks of life and religious stripes. Jews, Muslims, Catholics, agnostics and even atheists (though we all know that no such animal exists). To say these discussions have been interesting would be a grand understatement. "Divine appointments" as we like to say.

I have been posting my daily reports on Facebook but without photos. I am visually documenting my daily walk with the cross but I'm saving the images for a compilation video of my gospel adventures on the street during my 23 day vacation time, so stay tuned and please pray that I'll be able to finish the rest of my vacation the way I started it, for the sake of lost souls and the glory of God.

 FYI: If you are wondering where my lovely wife and gospel giving partner, Kim, is these days, well she's not on vacation. She is hard at work where she works during the busiest time of the year for her company. She is working long hours and, for the most part, is not available much these days for evangelism. I'm looking forward to the end of this busy season for her so she can be back on the streets with me again.  

WESTFEST 2012

Though not officially summer yet, our evangelism team at Emmanuel Baptist Church considers the local annual music and art festival known as "Westfest" to be the one event that marks the beginning of our busy summer season of street evangelism here in Ottawa.

Gospel tracts are purchased. Gospel tracts are made. Crosses at the ready. Backpacks packed and off we go.

This past Saturday, seven of our team members were able to make it to spread the gospel at Westfest where a long stretch of Richmond Road (the main street that runs through the "Village of Westboro", as it's known) is closed off to vehicles and is used for the attending thousands to walk along as they peruse the various attractions and venues.

Westfest is a great opportunity to hand out a plethora of gospel tracts in a short period of time and this year's event was no different from past years as we are faithful in attending annually to hand out the good news of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ  to the multitude of people there.

Next week will see us busy with Mission Ottawa 2012 as street evangelists from Georgia and Toronto join us for a four or five day gospel blitz throughout the city. Before we know it, that be followed another tract giving extravaganza at the Canada Day celebrations on July 1st where we will be situated and spread out not far from Parliament Hill.

After that, well, let's just say the list is long. What a great summer it's going to be!

Emmanuel. God with us. How great is THAT?

    

SEED SOWING SATURDAY

Got an hour or two to spare on a Saturday afternoon? If you're like me, probably not. Life is busy. Most Saturdays are "catch-up" days to do the things we could not do during the busy work week. Sometimes, it's the only time of the week we have to catch up on some needed rest.

So where does evangelism fit in? How high on the priority list is going out to share with people the saving gospel of Jesus Christ? Sadly, for most Christians, it never makes it to the "things-to-do" list. Ever. And, yet, Jesus encouraged (commanded) us to "go out into all the world and preach the good news to all creation".



Like everything else we have on the go in life, we have to priorize and MAKE TIME for the important things. The trick is to get evangelism on the "important things" list and consider it a duty to be filled. You would be amazed how much evangelism work can be done is a space of an hour, as seen here in this 2 minute video, even if you're doing something so simple as handing out gospel tracts. Or simply standing out in public at special events or non-events with a cross.

The best thing about making time for spreading the good news is experiencing the joy that comes with it when done. We walk away from every gospel outreach filled with the joy of the Lord knowing that we have done the work He has called us to do and feeling privileged to be counted worthy to be His ambassadors and fellow builders of His glorious kingdom.

Yes, life is busy. But we only have one kick at the can to be a vital part in the saving of lost souls as we all once were and that's while we are here on earth. This is our only opportunity. There will be no need of it in heaven so let's make the best of it while we can.

There has to be something on our list of priorities during the week that can be put aside, even temporarily, in order to make time for sowing some seed. Do so and be blessed. Be very blessed.