4 Squad Cars

It's been a long time since I last posted a recent update of our street ministry. I was gone on vacation visiting family, but Josh and a few others remained faithful and spent a few days on the streets preaching the Gospel of salvation.

Yesterday was yet another day filled with many encounters. Josh, Steve, Val and Erik Larson came out to Canal Park from 4ish until 9:45.

It started with the same guy POTATO CHIP GUY from before, within minutes of us getting there, spreading potato chips all around us so the birds might poop on us. We tried to hold a conversation with him but all he did was swear at us (he told us he "loves Jesus").

I got into a pretty heated conversation with about 10+ homosexuals. I was approached by one that asked me, "If I'm a homosexual, am I going to hell?" I informed him it's sin that sends us to hell and homosexuality is one such sin. From that point on it was "fireworks" between him, me, and his buddies.

1 Corinthians 6:9
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Regardless of what else was said, the message of Repentance and Faith (the Gospel) was delivered. Now it's up to God to cause the seed to increase. Remember, our job is not to save people, it's to plant seeds and/or water. When/If God saves them, we are to make Disciples of Jesus out of them.

Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

At one point the potato chip man came out and got very loud, "violent", and had to be restrained by several people because he was getting very angry with Val. It got pretty hot and heated but Val did a great job keeping his cool, even "blessing" the man that hates our message so much.

Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

It wasn't long after that that 3 squad cars (a fourth came later) pulled up and questioned us. I guess the "manager" from Little Angies called saying we were loud, our sign was offensive, and we were "harassing" people as they walked by. Our sign may be offensive, but the other 2 are simply not true. We talked with the Police for about 20 mins. or so, and they concluded that we were well within our rights and left us alone. At one point, one of the homosexuals asked that I be arrested for being against his lifestyle and telling him he was going to go to hell if he continued to practice homosexuality. Go figure. He asked me...I told him...then he wants me arrested??

The day continued with many great conversations, questions, encouragement, anger, and curiosity. All those emotions/reactions come with the territory. Hopefully, as time goes on, we will be able to video these encounters and use them as a learning tool and encouragement. Many things can be learned from watching others proclaim the Gospel.

My final hour or more was spent "debating" with a dispensational christian (I hate debating with professing believers on the streets, I need to learn not to do it). I had this same type of encounter before with a dispensationlist, very frustrating, seemingly non-productive esp. in light of unbelievers standing around watching us "debate". In fact they were encouraged by one of the homosexuals to come up to us and talk to us. I wonder if Satan was involved in any of this? Josh had a long conversation with a non-believer and it seemed to go well. She said she planned on looking into the things we are preaching.

May God continue to use this ministry, how He sees fit and may He get ALL THE GLORY!

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.