Day 7: Drive Thru Evangelism

Day 7 did not offer as much excitement as yesterday, but still provided an opportunity as everyday does with probably just about one of the easiest ways to share your faith there is. "Drive Thru Evangelism."

On the way to my in-laws for a day of swimming and playing golf on the Wii, I decided to take the few bucks and stop by McDonald's for a cheap burger and fry for the kids and I. After my food was ordered and I was waiting in line, I added a Million Dollar Bill tract to my bill.

As I pulled up to the window and paid for my food, I told the cashier that this was for her, quickly explaining that it was a gospel tract and has a good message on the back. She smiled and said thank you.

One way of doing Drive Thru Evangelism, is to ask about the price of the person behind you and tell the cashier that you would like to pay for their meal and give them a tract to hand them as they drive up to the window to get their food.

Just another way of practicing sharing your faith. Below is a video from Fish With Trish where she practices Drive Thru Evangelism herself. Check it out and I hope it brings you some encouragement to do the same.

I look forward to Day 8 of this journal and hope that you are encouraged by this journal as I have been with the opportunities given to share such good news.

Lighting the darkness~

David

EvangelizeYourCity.org

Day 6: Witnessing To Those That Had been Drinking

On Day 6 of this journal, the opportunities given to practice sharing the gospel was again nothing short of interesting and a learning experience. There was preaching, tract passing, one two one conversations, bibles slapped out of hands and people cursed out. As well as some that seemed to come to the knowledge that they were sinners in need of a Savior.

I was joined this night by a group of friends as well as about 20 youth from Operation Impact that had been traveling around the country in a bus preaching on campuses, streets, parks, wherever given the opportunity to, they were there. I watched as these young people preached and witnessed, it was pretty amazing to see young people carrying conversations with people on things other than music or the latest fad of the day, but that of the good news of Jesus Christ.

As I mentioned, this was a learning experience for myself, even though I normally go out in this area weekly and preach and witness. As I go, I typically stray from those that a had been drinking. Personally, I find it very hard to reason with one whose mind is intoxicated so much that they even have trouble standing. I would rather just give them a tract and prayerfully after they sober up, read it them and repent and come to Christ.

These young people though, had no issue with it. I watched them speak to a few people that had been drinking that had gotten upset with the preacher. To them, the preacher was condemning and judgmental them for preaching repentance and to put off all ungodliness ~ Titus 2:12

Those that were sober either walked away or stood around as the drunk people, just brought attention to themsleves by yelling, cursing, and making excuses for themselves.

One man, who said he was a Christian that was indeed drunk, became so angry at a young man witnessing to him, that he slapped the Bible out of his hand. While another cursed profanities at those preaching and witnessing that again professed to know Christ and that no one can judge him.

Later on, I would get a chance to share Christ with those I normally stray from. Walking with Rafael, a good buddy, we came across about 5 people sitting across the Alley Bar downtown. As we walked toward them, I mentioned to Rafael that I hate dealing with drunk people and thought about going the other way. Little did I know, God had different plans.

As we approached the small group, I started by giving each of them a tract. One man had indeed had way to much to drink. Cursing profanities as if he had no other words in his vocabulary. All in a calm manner by the way thankfully, not a mean drunk.

Somehow, I found myself speaking and explaining to them the tract instead of a drop and go tactic. They all, as usual professed to know Christ, but I explained to them that if we love Him we would obey Him and turn from all sin~ John 14:23. I continued to explain the importance of repentance, a turning from sin and shared an illustration that I use on the consequences of sin and how we should have nothing to do with it.

Imagine later tonight as they shoot fireworks off, they let your mom or your child participate by lighting them. As your child or mother lights a firework, you realize that they had just lit a stick of dynamite. Well you take that dynamite from them and throw it as far away from them as possible. Then you wrap your arms around them and run as far away in the other direction as possible. Why did you do that?

"To save their life." They replied. Indeed, because if you are anywhere near the dynamite when it goes off, it will destroy you. Sin is the same way. It will destroy you. For the wages of SIN is death I continued ~ Romans 6:23. Not to just leave them with bad news, I made sure they were ready for the gospel. As I tried to explain what Christ had done for us and why, one man kept butting in cursing, but everyone else listened hard. I just ignored him and continued with the gospel. That although, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. I encouraged them to examine their hearts, to repent of all sin and to turn to Christ as the only hope for their salvation.

Each of them, even the loud cursing man, thanked each of us for sharing this with them. It is my prayer for them and all who heard the preaching, received a tract or had a conversation with someone would indeed be drawn to Christ. It was a great night filled with lots of encouragement.

Dealing with drunk people is still tough, I would still rather pass a tract and go. If the spirit leads me to continue with a one two one, I pray I take it. Other wise they make great hecklers to draw a crowd.

I look forward to Day 7 of this journal and hope that you are encouraged by this journal as I have been with the opportunities given to share such good news.

Lighting the darkness~

David

EvangelizeYourCity.org

Day 5: Project Ezra

As part of Project Ezra, a project started to encourage believers to take to their communities with the public reading of the Bible, I went out this afternoon to the court-square downtown and set my mic and amp up and proceeded to read from the book of Jeremiah chapter 7.

In this particular chapter, God is calling Jeremiah to stand in the door of His temple and confront pretenders to the faith. If your reading the Bible publicly, this is a great book to read. As you read the text, you will see many similarities between the way Israel had forgotten God and the people of today.

Many people fear public speaking and I am one of them. Many times I am "kicking up rocks" per-say when I stand in front of a crowd for some open air preaching. Praying and praying before that first word rolls off my tongue.

It doesn't matter how nervous ones is, if God has given you a word to share, you will not be able to keep it in. Like Jeremiah, it is like fire in your bones. Jeremiah 20:9

During our reading, we passed out some tracts and had some one two one conversation. One man we spoke with was Calvin. A drug addict that needs Christ desperately as we all do. Please remember him in your prayers.

Also check out Project Ezra by following the link attached for more on taking part in the public reading of scripture in your area. There is a participation map that those who read each week and just may be some in your area.

If your into Facebook, there is a page as well for that. Check that out by clicking this link.

Thanks very much for letting me share this with you. I hope you find these opportunities an encouragement to you as I do finding and writing about them. I hope they lead you to do the same and share your faith in your own city.

Lighting the darkness~
David
EvangelizeYourCity.org

Day 4: Let Me Live

Today offered one opportunity to share the gospel that made my heart sink and become angry at how the power of sin and how it destroys life.

I had been out only once today and didn't get the chance to witness, so I was anticipating the telemarketers that call to offer a great deals to eliminate my debt so that I could share with them much the same thing, if you you get me.

However to prove that God is the one who gives opportunities to witness, a different phone call came. It was a parent of a young girl that I knew and shared the gospel with many times. As the parent and I talked, first it was good news and glad to hear from you, then words about the daughter that made my eyes swell and my heart sink.

The parent placed the girl on the phone and our conversation began with good to hear from you and some reflecting on some past memories. Then the news no parent looks to hear to hear. That she was with expecting a child.

She discussed with me the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, un-married, the father, and fear of bring a child into this world and being unable to care for it.

Careful not to focus simply on the fact that she had done something she should not have been doing, I tried to offer her encouragement on the fact that this child is no mistake. That God's word declares that He has formed this child's inward most parts and knitted this child in the womb and how wonderfully made the child is ~ Psalm 139

She told me that she thought of adoption as an option but was fearful that ten years or so down the road, having a child that hates her because she gave the child up. I assured her that at any point down the road, if that child thinks of it's mother, even if that child is upset over being placed in the care of another family, the joy that, that child has simply to live will over shadow any emotion that may arise. Simply that she chose life and let her daughter or son live.

I offered her ever example or scenario that I could think of that I have learned while standing at abortion clinics in town. That the child at only 21 days after conception has a heartbeat and if it could express to its mother, all it would say would be to, "Let me live, let me live."

As our conversation progressed, my heart continued to be torn to shreds, I had no magic wand or words to just made everything better. I could not imagine what she is going through.

While not trying to ignore the real issue of the situation, she knew what she had done and knew the consequences of it very real. I spoke to her about sin and how each of us have committed numerous crimes/sins against God and have fallen short of God's glory ~ Romans 3:23

That each of us are guilty and in need of a Savior that can only be found in Christ.
Having witnessed to her in previous times, I told her her biggest problem is not being pregnant, but more of a heart issue; that God's ears are tuned to a repentant heart. That every situation is given by God to draw us to Himself. That if we would turn from our sins and repent, He would be our God and we would be His people. He would save us because he loves us.

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear Isaiah 59:1-2

The best I could, I continued to offer her encouragement that as God provided a way for His people to be saved, as He showed in the sending of His Son, He would indeed provide a way for this child. That as this may be a surprise to us, it was not to Him, He knew long before we did the situation concerning the child.

As I mentioned, no magic wand or words to simplify the situation. She is in a tough spot and many young girls out fear, shame, uneducation about abortion make the terrible decision everyday to end the life of their child.

My prayer is that God would use this to save her and her baby and those involved. Plain and simple. She could keep her child, give the child up for adoption or sadly abort it. Without Christ, any decision she makes, still ends her separated from God for eternity in hell.

Please pray for her and her family. I knew it was just a few days before she was to decide on what decision to make. I plan to send this to her and I pray she reads it. If you see fit, share your comments on the bottom as if you were speaking to her.

To my friend, I love you as does God more than you know,your not alone...

Thanks you,
David
EvangelizeYourCity.org

Day 3: In Need of Gas

While out running errands today, my van began making a pinging noise, alerting me that my "gas-aholic" van needed a drink at $2.52 a gallon. Knowing this was coming, but like the thoughtful husband I am, I had hoped I could make it home and let my wife do it later.

However with two kids in the back, the last thing I wanted was to run out of gas and be stranded on the side of the road with a 3 year old reminding me over and over she needed to go potty and a 15 month old that already did.

With that said, I steered toward the nearest gas station and drained my wallet as I filled up my van. As the gas pumped, I reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a few tracts to give to a guy pumping gas next to me. As I gave him the tract, I briefly explained to him that it was a gospel tract and had a good message on the back. His only response was a few glances at me and the tract, as if I had given him a speeding ticket.

Back at my van, I placed a tract on the sign over the pump and finished pumping gas and got my receipt and off I went. While this doesn't sound at all exciting and to some not worth mentioning. I mean, where was the open air preaching, where was the one two one conversation, or the discussion on evolution and Darwinism. All it was, was simply one man giving a piece of paper to a stranger with the gospel written on the back, which Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

And also trusting in God's word that whatever God's says will not come back void, always accomplishing what He desires and without succeeding in the matter in which God sends it . Isaiah 55:11

That tract also can go places I can't. If the guy were to take it home and lay it down, possibly someone else could read it and God could use it to draw them to Himself, saving them. Or the guy I handed it to, could read it, see his need for a Savior and place his trust in Christ.

Then repent of all his sins and be so overwhelmed with gratitude that God, the Creator of the universe would go to such great lengths to save him by sending His Son to die in his place, that he gets some tracts himself and goes out witnessing sharing the good news. How great would that be!

As simple as today was, as I mentioned, it was nothing spectacular by some degrees, but seriously, that one tract could possibly be used to save someone. You don't always have to go witnessing per-say or need a special even to practice witnessing. The best practice comes in our every day lives, going to the store, work, school, or simply pumping gas.

Below is a short and fun video I saw on passing out tracts and how easy passing out tracts truly are. I hope you enjoy it and that it brings some encouragement to you.

I look forward to Day 4 of this journal and hope that you are encouraged by this journal as I have been with the opportunities given to share such good news.

Lighting the darkness~

David

EvangelizeYourCity.org

Cartoon by Richard Gunther

Day 2: Ever Been To Prison?

I set out last night after dinner and headed to Troy Montgomery, a local night school downtown. I had been through this way before and saw such an opportunity to practice witnessing with people going to and from classes.

I found my spot and placed my stool and just let it out, "Turn or burn, be sanctified or french fried!" Just kidding, it was nothing like that. I did preach to the crowds and did some public reading of the Word. Using a springboard that people typically spend 12 years in school, then if they go to college, maybe another 2 to 7 years. Simply to prepare for this world.

To get a nice job, a nice house, family and all the fix-in's. In turn spending up to 19 years in college simply to prepare for this world and doing so little to prepare for the next. Where we will be dead a lot longer that we will be alive. Continuing making the point that we all die with a 100% chance of it. So when that happens what next? Where will you be? Then preaching the Law & the Gospel. (Click the link to watch a video on what I mean when I sat the Law & the Gospel)

To my surprise, a few people came up to me thanking me for proclaiming the Word. Thanking them, I gave them a tract and encouraged them to do the same as we all should.

One young man that I tried to give a tract to freaked out a bit from me and turned and ran into a nearby building standing inside till his ride showed up.

After about an hour, the crowds had gotten pretty low and it was getting late. I was about to pack up when Ken, a young college student walked by. I handed him a " 2+2 =" tract that I got just today "FREE" from The Bezugen Tract Club and spoke about no matter what we do, 2+2 will always equal 4, no matter how you look at it. In turn it is an absolute as is the fact that we all will die.

In my conversation with Ken, a father of an eleven year old son, told me that he has spent some time in prison 3 years ago. I asked him which one, all of them, he said. Ken mentioned to me some issues he carries but believes he is saved. Since I do not know his heart, for only God knows the hearts of man, I gave him the Law and the Gospel and the Law proved to be a schoolmaster as it is intended to do. (Galatians 3:25)

Ken saw his sin through the mirror of the Commandments and I then gave him the gospel and he admitted that he should be more grateful as seeing what a great price our Lord paid for us on the cross.

Continually speaking with Ken and sharing some truth with him, He tilted his head and asked me if I had ever spent time in prison as well. I mentioned to him that I had once taken some of my boys from my group home, showing them where they needed to stay out of, but never locked up thankfully. When I asked him why does ask, his reply was...

He said that the only type of people he knows that only goes on the street and preaches on corners and witness are those that have been in prison and that normally the other church people are to comfortable where they are at to do such a thing.

Are people that don't share their faith to comfortable? If you don't share your faith, you tell me. His other statement however was as truthful as the sun is hot.

I know personally, that I never shared my faith until I saw how bad my sin was. That I was guilty of breaking His Laws and just how serious my crimes were. I saw the prison of hell before me and was terrified. Did I want to go there? No way... Did I deserve it? Every inch of it.

Being able to understand how great and hideous my sin truly was enabled me to really see and appreciate the great length that God went to save me. By sending His son to die on a cross for me, even while I was still a sinner. ( Romans 5:8 ) For each of us, sharing our faith is simply out of gratitude for the freedom and salvation Christ gives. As we witness, a reminder is that if not one person shows interest or gets saved, God was glorified that some one, cared enough to share His good news.

As a prisoner, once locked up and only dreams of freedom, we now have it. Don't be comfortable, look at the great price our Lord went to save us! Then go out and share your faith.

Ken and I spoke a bit longer. He allowed me to pray for him and his son. I told him that I plan to return to this area and hoped to run into him again. I gave him some contact info for me and on his was he went.

I hope you enjoyed Day 2 of the journal and that somehow, it is an encouragement to you to boldly step out in your own city and communities and share this great news of the gospel of our Lord. I myself look forward to the opportunities that wait as I set out on Day 3 of my own Road to Decapolis.

Lighting the darkness~
David
EvangelizeYourCity.org

Day 1 : Opportunites For Evangelism

After church on Sunday, Kevin a friend and witnessing buddy, came by our house for some lunch and afterward, some fellowship with the family. Before he left, I had gave him a sign for his car that I was given to me by WatchmanGospelSigns.com and he was seeing how it would appear on his rear window.

( Opportunity 1 ) We had some new neighbors moving in next door and the wife saw us and came and sparked a conversation and asked about the sign we had. Kevin & I showed her the sign and what it read in bold letters on top ," Seek the Lord while He may be found~ Isaiah 55:6"

( Opportunity 2 ) She then asked each of us, what church we attended and that she was non denomination. She shared with us, some likes and dislikes with church that many of us have. Her husband came over as well as a family friend that was assisting them in moving in. My new neighbors seems to be some really nice people so far. No telling what they think of me, as my dear wife would says.

I never once shared the gospel with them or passed a tract. On my first day of this blog, I failed to do what I had intended to do. Was the opportunity given? Indeed, at least 2 times.

My point for this first day, is that opportunities are given to each of us each day, we just aren't always looking. Will there be more opportunities, for sure.

I hope you would continue to pray for those opportunities and the people I witness with and that you may be encouraged somehow to be bold and to seek out those opportunities in your own Decapolis to share the gospel with all you can and bring glory to our Lord and Savior.

Let me share this blog post with you, "How to be bold in witnessing~ 2 Timothy 14-18

Lighting the darkness,
David
EvangelizeYourCity.org