Repent and Turn Ministries

Learn how to share your faith...Simply...Effectively...Biblically                                                            RepentAndTurn.com

Eric Church 5-3-12
Eric Church Concert Outreach

JQH Arena
Springfield, MO
May 3, 2012

TRY THE TEST





Today we went to Springfield, Missouri to the John Q Hammons Arena.  Country music star, Eric Church, was in concert.  We had approx. eight Christians who came out to be a witness for Christ at this event.  We passed out gospel tracts, witnessed one-to-one, open air preached and I held my gospel sign. 

There were many people who attended this concert.  It wasn't sold out, but the people just kept coming.  It was packed out.  I'd say probably 90 percent who attended were under the age of 30 years old, and most under 25. 

There were so many people who were walking and driving by, I really like holding the gospel sign.  For those who receive a gospel tract and/or hear the open air preaching, it's a double-whammy.  For those who don't get a gospel tract or hear the preaching, they can still read the sign.  One side of the sign says, "Trust Jesus" and the other side says, "Jesus Saves From Hell". 





As I was holding the sign, I was watching closely and looking many people in the eye, to see if they were actually paying attention and reading the sign, and what their reaction would be.  Many people looked at the sign.  You could tell they were thinking about it.  I had many who read the sign and nodded their head to me, gave me a thumbs up, or said "Yes He does", in regards to the "Jesus Saves From Hell" saying. 

One man, named Zach, in his mid 20's, walked right up to me and said, "What does that mean?" and pointed to the sign.  I said, "Which side are you talking about?".  He said the "Jesus Saves From Hell" side.  We probably stood there and had a 10-15 minute witnessing conversation.  Zach was a nice guy and was open to talking about God, Jesus, heaven, hell, etc. 

I asked Zach if he believed in heaven and hell.  He said he did.  He talked like he was a Christian, but said that he doesn't go to church because he's noticed there are a bunch of hypocrites in the church.  He doesn't believe he has to go to church to be a Christian. 

I explained that the "Body of Christ" was all true believers, not necessarily the church "building" or the people who attend.  There are many people who go to church who are not Christians.  A Christian is someone who has repented (had a change of mind of what sin is, hates it and has turned away from sinning), and who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior - someone who has been born-again. 

If someone is truly born again, they will want to live for Christ and hate sin, and want to live for God.  They aren't the people who attend church on Sunday morning and party and act like the devil the rest of the week. 

I wanted to make sure Zach knew what sin was and how to be born-again in case he wasn't.  We went through some of the 10 Commandments.  He admitted to lying, stealing, lusting and blaspheming.  I explained that the bible says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire, that no thief or adulterer will inherit the kingdom of God, and that the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 

Zach could see how he would be guilty before God on judgment day.  I explained that Jesus paid our fine on the cross, it was a penalty that we could not pay ourselves.  We must repent and believe / trust in Jesus to be saved. 

Zach thanked me for talking with him.  I gave him a gospel booklet and he said he'd try to read it.  We shook hands and he went back to the crowd of people getting ready to go into the concert.  I pray the Holy Spirit will convict his heart and that he will be saved.  If not now, this was a good seed that was planted into his life.  The bible says that God's Word will not return void.  It will accomplish that which it was meant to do.  God is in control.  We just have to be faithful and be a witness for Christ. 




The crowds were growing and the line was coming out of the building.  People were all over the place.  Greg set up his loudspeaker and a couple people open air preached to the crowds.





As Dennis and Brandon open air preached, the music from the local country music station was being broadcast in the area around the JQH Arena.  As the guys began preaching, they turned up their music!  It was very loud, but the message still got out to those walking by and those who were closer to this speaker than the country music. 

Some of the Christians who came out had good one to one witnessing conversations with the concert attendees.  We had  a fruitful time of witnessing for the Lord today. 

If you are a Christian, I pray that you are convicted to share your faith in Christ and be a witness as Jesus commands you to be. 

In Christ,

Brad St. Clair