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Psalm 33:5
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Evangelism in Downtown Dayton, OH (Part 2)
Evangelism in Downtown Dayton, OH (Part 2)
Without a doubt the environment we were in for the night was the most spiritually dark place I have ever been witnessing before. We set up in the bar section of Dayton that was also the home of a number of porn shops. In fact, we set up directly across the street from a large bar and right in front of a sex shop (can you see why this place was so spiritually dark?). I cannot begin to describe to you the spiritual heaviness present in this place. Satan had a strong hold in this part of the city, and we had just walked right into the middle of it. That is what we are called as Christians to do: let our light shine in darkness.
Judah opened up the preaching using amplification by reading a passage from Revelation 20 and using that to springboard into the gospel. While he was preaching Tim and I were handing out gospel tracts and talking to people. I struck up a conversation with an Asian gentleman named Ken who classified himself as a, “Christian Buddhist.” When I told him there was no such thing because they contradict each other he agreed and said he was, “Spiritual.”
We had a wonderful, 45 minute conversation about eternity. He was curious about what I believed and asked me a number of questions about Christianity, including if we can communicate with the dead. Ken was very into a New Age philosophy popular today that holds that we are all part of a ‘force’ or ‘energy’ that ultimately connects us all to a larger spiritual force.
“What will this energy do for you when you die?”
“When I die, I will go to the source of life.” He did not have Almighty God in mind when he said that, but I could not help but agree.
“I agree Ken. The Bible says everyone will die and then stand before God, the source and creator of life, and be judged. Are you good enough to go to heaven?” Ken admitted to being a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. I shared with him the good news of the gospel and encouraged him to consider his sin and what Jesus had done on the cross. We parted ways with Ken still curious about spirituality and a gospel tract in hand.
Remember folks, there are a lot of people who live spiritual lives who are in hell right now. Spirituality will not help you on the Day of Judgment. Only Jesus Christ can save us.
I was particularly struck by one statement Ken made. He asked me, “So you are a Christian?” I told Him I was. “Christians never talk to people about their faith like this. That is something Mormons do. They talk all the time!”
That is the sad, but true state of the American Church. A Christian talks to a stranger it is a surprise. A Mormon talks to a stranger, and that is what Mormons do. Isn’t it sad that most Mormons are much bolder with their lie than many Christians are with the truth of Jesus Christ?
After Ken and I parted ways, Judah stepped down for a moment and allowed me to open air preach. As terrifying as it was, praise God the gospel went forth. Throughout the evening we had people swearing, mocking, and even revving their vehicle engines to drown out the preaching, but the gospel went forth, to the glory of God.
Before closing I’d like to mention one other incredible event that took place that night. While Judah was preaching, he did something I had never seen before. He started singing praises to God on a public sidewalk while open air preaching. Can you imagine this sight? In the middle of a bar section of the city, located directly across from hundreds of drunken people and standing right in front of a porn shop, a man begins to sing praises to the Lord!
Keep in mind; this is not a scarcely populated area. It is a Saturday night, and there are hundreds of people everywhere. Many people mocked Judah. Many laughed at Him. Many cursed at him and gave him strange looks. But what a blessing to see a man of God praising the Lord unashamedly in such a dark place! I remember looking at Judah, his eyes closed and his hand in the air, smiling radiantly and full of joy. Folks, that is a man who will be getting some crowns in heaven. And I was honored and blessed to see it.
After packing up and heading back to the car, we had a time of prayer for those who had just heard the gospel. As I left, I hugged Judah and thanked him for the joy filled evening. What a blessing it is to be obedient to Jesus Christ with brothers and sisters in Christ there doing it with you! This is an outreach that will be taking place every Saturday night. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to do in the future.