“Let’s pray,” I said, as JoAnna and I arrived downtown for the Saint Patrick’s Day outreach. The crowds were all over the place to “celebrate.” This “holiday” was in full swing and sin was abounding. We started walking toward Public Square, our first evangelism target, with plans to give away Gospel tracts and open-air preach.
The square was jammed with groups from every age and race. I looked toward the monstrous sea of people and exclaimed, “I have to open-air in that?!” We began our trek into the mass of citizens and realized that there was a big empty space in the middle of the multitude… perfect for preaching!
While sharing the Gospel, a heckler came by that was kind enough to wait quietly until I was finished to talk with me. I can’t remember his name, but he was a very nice guy that had a problem with religion. I agreed that religion is a problem. I told him that religion is man’s attempt at getting to God, while Christianity is God’s attempt at getting to men. He was dragged away by friends, but not before getting a Gospel tract and my email address. I hope he messages me because I would love to continue our talk.
Shortly thereafter, a gang fight broke out 100 feet away from us and the crowd started to get frantic. We decided that it might be time to leave and took shelter inside of Tower City Mall. While we were walking to a different exit so that we could meet the rest of our group, another fight broke out inside of the mall, this one being less than 20 feet in front of us. Thankfully, a Cleveland Police Officer got there in a flash to disperse the “contenders” with pepper spray.
As JoAnna and I were walking to meet the group from Parker Outreach, we began placing Gospel tracts on the windshields of parked cars. These tracts, however, look like parking violation tickets, which I’m sure were a big hit to the vehicle owners when they came back from partying. We met the others and began distributing tracts at E. 9th and Prospect. The passersby didn’t seem too interested at this intersection, so we walked down to East 4th Street. This is a major bar and partying section in the city.
We started working across from an Irish pub and people were much more receptive to our tracts. This corner was like gold! Within minutes, one team member was in a 1-2-1 conversation, and the rest of the team got “lucky” soon after. Channel 5 News was even there recording some of the activities.
Our group of four probably shared the Gospel with a minimum of 1,000 people during the three hours that we were on the streets. How many decisions were made? Ultimately, every single person that we witnessed to made a decision… to accept the gift of eternal life or to accept the eternal punishment in Hell. We do not evangelize with numbers in mind, because numbers aren’t what are important. The Bible says, “There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents” (Luke 15:10). Let God keep track of the numbers… we’ve been commanded to just sow the seed!
While writing this blog, I came to realize a stunning truth… Halloween isn’t the devil’s holiday; it’s Saint Patrick’s Day! Nonetheless, it was a great God glorifying outreach! We enjoyed being able to share the Gospel with so many people on a day that was created to honor a man that brought the Gospel to Ireland.
Before you call Saint Patrick's Day the "devil's holiday" I suggest you do some research on Saint Patrick. The world, just like Halloween, Christmas, New Years has just used it as another excuse to party.
ReplyDeleteIt was probably in the summer months of the year 433, that Patrick and his companions landed at the mouth of the Vantry River close by Wicklow Head. The Druids were at once in arms against him. But Patrick was not disheartened. The intrepid missionary resolved to search out a more friendly territory in which to enter on his mission. First of all, however, he would proceed towards Dalriada, where he had been a slave, to pay the price of ransom to his former master, and in exchange for the servitude and cruelty endured at his hands to impart to him the blessings and freedom of God's children. (The Druid part reminds me of the gang fight and the fight at the mall and unreceptive people and you moving to a safer place).
Basically, long story short, St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. Here is a conversation he had with the daughters of one of the monarchs.
"Who is God?"
"And where is God?"
"Where is His dwelling?"
"Has He sons and daughters?"
"Is He rich in silver and gold?"
"Is He everlasting? is He beautiful?"
"Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of this world?"
"Is He on the heavens or on earth?"
"In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
"Make Him known to us. How is He to be seen?"
"How is He to be loved? How is He to be found?"
"Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found?"
But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:
"God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things."
"The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers."
"The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars."
"The God of the high mountains and of the low-lying valleys."
"The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven."
"His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein."
"He gives breath to all."
"He gives life to all."
"He is over all."
"He upholds all."
"He gives light to the sun."
"He imparts splendour to the moon."
"He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean."
"He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights."
"His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself."
"The Son is not younger than the Father."
"And the Father is not older than the Son."
"And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them."
"The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided."
"But I desire by Faith to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you are daughters of an earthly king."
The maidens, as if with one voice and one heart, said: "Teach us most carefully how we may believe in the Heavenly King; show us how we may behold Him face to face, and we will do whatsoever you shall say to us."
And when he had instructed them he said to them: "Do you believe that by baptism you put off the sin inherited from the first parents."
They answered: "We believe."
"Do you believe in penance after sin?"
"We believe."
"Do you believe in life after death?" Do you believe in resurrection on the Day of Judgement?"
"We believe."
"Do you believe in the unity of the Church?"
"We believe."
Then they were baptized, and were clothed in white garments. And they besought that they might behold the face of Christ. And the saint said to them: "You cannot see the face of Christ unless you taste death, and unless you receive the Sacrifice."
Shalom!