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Street Witnessing 041709
Street Witnessing
Downtown Springfield, MO
April 17, 2009
Tonight I met up with the Jericho Riders and Steve Williams to go street witnessing in the downtown Springfield, Missouri.
Some of the group that came out
It was a nice evening, approx. 68 degrees. It started raining later in the night. It was a good night to be out.
Witnessing to the Concert Attendees
When we first arrived, we noticed a crowd of mainly young people waiting in line to get into a concert. It was a loud, thrasher band of some sort. 
Steve walked on the outside of the sidewalk passing out gospel tracts, while I walked right through the middle of the crowd passing out million dollar bill gospel tracts.
I just got in my brand new custom made million dollar bill gospel tracts before I went downtown. I had these custom made with my contact info and custom message on the back. Very eye catching.
I was passing these tracts out. The crowd waiting in line for this concert was more outspoken and angry at the gospel message than those we witnessed to at the "Disturbed" concert a while back. Some threw the gospel tracts on the ground, some refused them, and one loud man took it and ripped it up in front of me. Praise God anyway.
John 15:18-20 says, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
I walked up to one group during this time and a young man asked what it was. I told him it was a gospel tract. He said, "Which one? There are four of them...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". I explained the gospel is the "Good News". Part of the "Good News" means that Jesus came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins. We've all sinned. I asked them how many lies he has told? Have you stolen, lusted or used God's name in vain? Yes, he admitted he was guilty of all. I told him that is why Jesus came to earth, to take our sins upon himself. We need to repent and turn from our sins and believe in Jesus to be born-again.
Steve Williams Witnessing to Wesley
As Steve and I were walking around downtown, we walked up on some guys standing near the bus station. Steve started a conversation with a young man named Wesley. Wesley said that he is a Christian, but he keeps messing up and sinning. He said he knows he is a Christian, so Steve asked him how often he shares Christ with others. Wesley said that he doesn't do that very often at all, and that he doesn't really know how.
Steve asked him if he could show him how we witness to someone and share Christ. Wesley agreed. As Steve walked him through some of the Ten Commandments and explained how to bring the knowledge of sin, Wesley was nodding his head. Steve explained why Jesus died for us, to take our sins upon himself. Wesley said that he did know about some of that, so Steve encouraged him to share his faith in Christ with his friends. He shook our hands and we left him.
Steve asked him if he could show him how we witness to someone and share Christ. Wesley agreed. As Steve walked him through some of the Ten Commandments and explained how to bring the knowledge of sin, Wesley was nodding his head. Steve explained why Jesus died for us, to take our sins upon himself. Wesley said that he did know about some of that, so Steve encouraged him to share his faith in Christ with his friends. He shook our hands and we left him.
Brad Witnesses to J.J., Susan and Shelby
As Steve and I walked around Park Central Square, we walked up on three teenagers. I handed them gospel tracts and asked them if they thought they were a good person. They said yes, so I took them through the Law. As I went through grace and what God did for us so that we could be forgiven, Susan seemed to really be listening to what I was saying.
Kevin Thompson Witnessing to Phillip & Justin
Kevin and I walked up on Phillip and Justin, two teenagers. They were there to go to the thrasher band concert that was downtown. Kevin went into great detail, witnessing and sharing the gospel to them. Phillip was listening to him very intently. Kevin explained to them how important it is that they make a decision, because once they die it's too late. Kevin told them that even though they are young, death can come at any time. They need to seriously think about this when they go home tonight. Later, Justin's mother came up to Kevin and told him that she's glad that he talked to her son. She said that he just got saved a couple of nights before tonight.
Brad Ran Into Joshua, Our Former Friendly Pagan
As we were walking around Park Central Square, Steve and I heard someone yelling to me. It was Joshua, who started out a couple years back as one of our hecklers as we open air preached. Josh was into Paganism, a self-proclaimed heathen. After hearing us preaching for a while, he heard another preacher and went down to get saved. I haven't heard from him in a while. He is still studying the Bible, and actually had his "evangelism kit" with him. Josh explained that he is attending a Catholic church. We discussed some of the differences between Christianity and Catholicism. I encouraged him to continue studying the scriptures to be able to make right decisions. He said he would. He is teaching 5th and 6th graders in his Sunday School class and he loves it, he says.
Stood Outside a Gay Bar Passing Out Tracts
Jim and the guys were headed down to a bar named, Martha's Vineyard. We all went with them. It is a gay bar. I didn't even know there was a gay bar in Springfield. I want to be very clear here. According to the Bible, homosexuality is very clearly a sin. Those who practice homosexuality will go to hell, just as the Bible says. However, homosexuality is just one of many sins that will cause a person to go to hell.
We stood outside the bar, and when someone walked by, we passed out a gospel tract to them if the opportunity came up. Kevin handed a tract to a man named Jonathan, who appeared to be gay, and talked to him for a couple of minutes.
Right above the bar, there is an apartment with a balcony. They were playing loud music, drinking and having a party. You can see them in the upper right hand side of the pic below.
We stood outside the bar, and when someone walked by, we passed out a gospel tract to them if the opportunity came up. Kevin handed a tract to a man named Jonathan, who appeared to be gay, and talked to him for a couple of minutes.
Right above the bar, there is an apartment with a balcony. They were playing loud music, drinking and having a party. You can see them in the upper right hand side of the pic below.
Steve was wanting to witness to them. He walked across the street on the sidewalk and lifted his voice to began asking them questions and witnessing to them.
Steve was asking questions and they were answering him. He was telling the folks about sin, and then we heard a woman yelling very loudly. She was very upset and screaming that God loves her and that she is a Christian. We've seen this happen before. When the Holy Spirit is convicting someone of sin, they normally have two choices. They can either repent and turn from their sin or to lash out at the person who is the instrument that God is using to bring the conviction. Steve happened to be that person.
This is a good thing. We would rather hear someone get upset and lash out, than to just stay quiet and have no reaction at all. At least if they lash out, we know that God is working on their heart. I thank God for Steve and his boldness.
This is a good thing. We would rather hear someone get upset and lash out, than to just stay quiet and have no reaction at all. At least if they lash out, we know that God is working on their heart. I thank God for Steve and his boldness.
Kevin Witnessing to Andy, Jake & Mike
Kevin and I were walking through Park Central Square. I handed these three guys a gospel tract and Kevin began talking to them. This conversation lasted a good while. Mike was a professing Christian, Jake was "just chillin" in regards to the things of God, and Andy didn't believe in God. Andy believes that we are all children of "god", that there are energy forces all around us and runs through us. Things that we say are not really literal, they are reverberations. He believes Jesus was a good man and teacher, but not the Son of God, as we are all "sons of god" in his opinion.
As Kevin continued to witness and answer Andy's various questions and objections, his friend Mike would step in and give Bible verses to assist in the witnessing conversation. We believe that God is working on Andy's heart, as he has really been thinking about these things. Kevin challenged him to read the Book of John and ask God to show Himself to him.
After the conversation, Mike told Kevin, Jim and I that he has been witnessing to Andy, but he kept asking so many questions that he didn't have answers to. Mike prayed that God would bring someone along to talk to Andy. God answered his prayer later this night, as we walked past and handed them tracts and Kevin began witnessing to them and answered many of Andy's questions. This really encouraged Mike, seeing how God answered his prayer and his friend appeared closer to knowing more about God than he did. We gave him our ministry cards to keep in touch with us. He was interested in learning more about how to share his faith in Christ.
We had a good night of street witnessing tonight. I thank God for each person He put in our path that we gave a gospel tract to or who we talked to. Please pray for these folks, especially those who we named.
May God bless you,
Brad St. Clair
NOTE: As of June 20, 2009, I am no longer a member of the Jericho Riders. God has me going in somewhat of a different direction in ministry than they are going. We still plan to attend street witnessing events together at times.
As Kevin continued to witness and answer Andy's various questions and objections, his friend Mike would step in and give Bible verses to assist in the witnessing conversation. We believe that God is working on Andy's heart, as he has really been thinking about these things. Kevin challenged him to read the Book of John and ask God to show Himself to him.
After the conversation, Mike told Kevin, Jim and I that he has been witnessing to Andy, but he kept asking so many questions that he didn't have answers to. Mike prayed that God would bring someone along to talk to Andy. God answered his prayer later this night, as we walked past and handed them tracts and Kevin began witnessing to them and answered many of Andy's questions. This really encouraged Mike, seeing how God answered his prayer and his friend appeared closer to knowing more about God than he did. We gave him our ministry cards to keep in touch with us. He was interested in learning more about how to share his faith in Christ.
We had a good night of street witnessing tonight. I thank God for each person He put in our path that we gave a gospel tract to or who we talked to. Please pray for these folks, especially those who we named.
May God bless you,
Brad St. Clair
NOTE: As of June 20, 2009, I am no longer a member of the Jericho Riders. God has me going in somewhat of a different direction in ministry than they are going. We still plan to attend street witnessing events together at times.