Repent and Turn Ministries
Learn how to share your faith...Simply...Effectively...Biblically RepentAndTurn.com
Autumn Daze 091711
Autumn Daze Festival
Historic Downtown Branson, MO
September 17, 2011
Historic Downtown Branson, MO
September 17, 2011
We had two events to attend today. My friend, Michael, who comes out witnessing with us at times, bought a large sign/banner that we took out for the first time. Along with the sign, we received shirts that have a bold saying on them.
You never know what to expect when doing something like this. Will people look at you like you're a "weirdo", a "radical", a "Jesus freak"? Well, this went through our minds as well, but we weren't going to let it deter us.
In Mark 8:38, Jesus says, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
One side of the sign shows, "Trust Jesus" and the other side, "Jesus Saves From Hell". Both of those are very Biblical statements. The shirts we got along with the sign says, "Jesus Saves From Hell" on the front and "Repent or Perish" on the back.
Before you comment to tell me it's offensive or such, read Luke 13:3, "I tell you, no; but unless you REPENT you will all likewise PERISH." It's Biblical.
The world is so used to the "Jesus loves you" message they hear all the time, that many times they don't understand the attributes of God. Yes, He loves them. Yes, he wants them to repent and believe in Him and be born-again. But God also hates sin and is very angry with the sinner who commits the sin.
What? Brad, did you just say God hates the sin and is angry the sinner? Doesn't God love the sinner? Let me ask you this: If God just hates the sin and loves the sinner, why will he cast both into hell? Why not just cast the sinners sin into hell and save the person?
God loves all of mankind and Jesus died for all of our sins. However, the one who is rebellious towards Him is not in His love or a recipient of His love. John 15:10 says, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love."
Psalm 5:5 says, "You hate all workers of iniquity." Psalm 45:7 says, speaking of God, "You love righteousness and hate wickedness". Proverbs 6:16: "These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him". God is a God of love. But at the same time, in His perfect love, He hates sin. To present the true love of God, we must let the world know that God loves them, but if they don't repent, they will suffer God's wrath.
But many of these people we talk to on the streets will say something like, "I know I'm guilty of sinning against God and deserve hell, but God loves me, right? Jesus died for my sins so I'm going to heaven. Jesus forgave my sins." They all know that Jesus loves them, but how many of those people are converted?
The problem with that thinking, is that there are different types of love. Imagine I see someone driving towards a washed out bridge and I just let them drive on and plunge off the edge. I did this because I didn't want to yell and wave my arms to get their attention to warn them, thinking it wasn't very "loving". What kind of person would I be? A loving person? I think not.
Ezekiel 3:18 says, "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand."
Sometimes the lost must be confronted with the stronger love of God. It takes this to get them thinking, and then the Holy Spirit will convict their hearts, causing them to repent and believe in Jesus.
Autumn Daze Festival
At the Autumn Daze Festival it was raining the entire time we were there. Sometimes just a slow rain and other times a heavier rain. Those who attended this event were me, Chris (from my church), Michael and Teresa.. 
We stood on the street corner, holding the sign and passing out gospel tracts to folks walking by.
We would have people walk by and say, "That's a good thing you're doing, thank you". We also received a lot of "thumbs up" from folks, waves, and even drivers driving by rolling down their windows and giving us words of encouragement. The sign was very visible, both to pedestrians on the sidewalk and the cars on the street. Teresa was able to get into some good one to one witnessing conversations.
As Chris and I were standing on the street corner with the sign, a man named Larry came up and shook our hands and told us we are doing a good work for the Lord. He is with the Gideons. He said he goes out with the Gideons and pass out bibles to folks. There are times that people threaten him for just offering them a bible. John 3:20 says, "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
As Chris and I were standing on the street corner with the sign, a man named Larry came up and shook our hands and told us we are doing a good work for the Lord. He is with the Gideons. He said he goes out with the Gideons and pass out bibles to folks. There are times that people threaten him for just offering them a bible. John 3:20 says, "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
After a while, it started raining, thundering and lightening pretty hard, and here I was holding onto a tall metal rod. I told Michael that if I get struck by lightening, a crowd will gather and he can then open air preach to them, while waiting on the ambulance to show up. ;-)
Some of our group were able to get under the the covered walkways to keep from getting too wet. I wouldn't fit with the sign and still be visible. Chris went in and got me a poncho that I then wore for the rest of the time there. Here is a picture of Chris and I. I look like an angel...or a big marshmellow.
Some of our group were able to get under the the covered walkways to keep from getting too wet. I wouldn't fit with the sign and still be visible. Chris went in and got me a poncho that I then wore for the rest of the time there. Here is a picture of Chris and I. I look like an angel...or a big marshmellow.
We only had one issue come up in Branson. Michael had been standing over on one corner passing out gospel tracts for quite a while.
I walked across the street from where I had been standing, and stood next to Michael with the sign, as he was passing out tracts. A lady that was working in the corner store came out and asked us to move to another corner. I'm sure it was because of the sign, as Michael had been there a long time before I arrived and she never said anything. She was very polite about it, and said it was because pedestrians were asking him questions and directions instead of coming into their business. Which isn't really true.
We went ahead and moved to another corner. However, it was a public sidewalk and we have the legal right to be there.
We also wore the shirts with the "Jesus Saves From Hell" and "Repent or Perish" on the back. We got a lot of people staring at the shirts to read the message. We are like walking billboards with these shirts on. They are a great witnessing tool.
To see all pictures of this event, Click Here or see the end of this newsletter.
In Christ,
Brad St. Clair
We went ahead and moved to another corner. However, it was a public sidewalk and we have the legal right to be there.
We also wore the shirts with the "Jesus Saves From Hell" and "Repent or Perish" on the back. We got a lot of people staring at the shirts to read the message. We are like walking billboards with these shirts on. They are a great witnessing tool.
To see all pictures of this event, Click Here or see the end of this newsletter.
In Christ,
Brad St. Clair
cache/wst.opf.1144267.xml