This update is to inform all of you that since my last neighborhood visit, the next day Wednesday 26th I was contacted by the "Bread for Life Food Pantry and advised that because of the "negative perception" of this woman Evelyn I told you about in my last post, they had decided that they din't want me to share the Gospel any longer while I was doing the food drive. Interestingly, even though the neighbor Deanna's testimony had completely exonerated me of all the false and negative accusations of Evelyn, the food pantry decided that they were more interested in keeping there public image "untarnished".
Nancy Bendall was more interested in maintaining the mission policy of the food pantry of non-evangelistic efforts by any and all volunteers. I discovered in the conversation that the food pantry is very ecumnenical in their minsterial alliances (Mormons, Catholics, mainline Protestants,etc..) and they wanted to share their faith exclusively by meeting the food assistance of those in the community. Sadly, this one woman's (Evelyn) call that she had threatened she would make was all it took to convince the food pantry to disallow me to share the gospel in conjunction with the food drive efforts.
Consequently, I am in the process of trying to find a compatible ministry/church in the Troy area that I can "partner with" to continue with the minstry vision the Lord origanally showed me.I will not compromise the message of the gospel and soften it for anyone just to placate the conscience of those I speak with.
I have contacted the Calvary Chapel church here in Troy,MO. Their youth minsters have completed the WOTM evangelism training and have used it to some degree. I had convinced the pastor of this church to contact Living Waters minstry about 5 years ago and that reulted in Mark Spence (dean of the School of Biblical Evangelism)peaking at the church. The church has a community food bank of their own and are partially aware of my proposed plans and methods for continuing to open doors for Jesus in Troy,MO.
Please pray that I remain steadfast in my resolve to wait upon the Lord to open up new venues of ministry partnerships so that I can resume this vision.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Matthew 5:11 encounters
Last evening on the 25th I went back to Bluffview Estates to continue canvassing this subdivision. I picked up 31 food items, O prayer requests, had 8 one-one witnessing sessions, and distributed 10 gospel Tracts.
I ran into 1 for sure Born-Again Christian on the route this evening. I was encouraged by the brief conversation I had with her and gave her tract and encouraged her to give it away as the Lord directed her.
One of the next houses I went to a man started the survey questions and followed up with the start of "the Good Person test". I got through 1 commandment and then his demeanor changed. I sensed that he realized where I was going with the questions and he became very defensive and said that he wasn't goint to argue with anyone over the 10 Commnadments and turned around, slamming the door behind him. I thanked him for his time and then left. Sadly he had just admitted to being a liar, so I'm sure that he wasn't comfortable looking into the "mirror" of the law.
I was able to give a full gospel presentation to a 17 yeare old man at another home. He was very polite and receptive and assured me he would certainly consider what I had told him. He like many I encounter was trusting in his good works to get him to heaven.
Persecuted for righteousness sake...
My Matthew 5:11 encounter happened with a middle-aged woman named Evelyn. She was in her yard when I approached her. I was able to secure a food donation from her and then asked her if I could conduct the survey questionnaire. She seemed hesitant but then consented. After asking the first few survey questions, I started the "Good Test" questions. After asking her the 9th commandment question, she abruptly ended the questions and voiced her disagreement with the direction the questions were heading. I respectfully left her premise and gave her a tract as I left.
I went across the street to her neighbor Deanna's home. After getting a food donation and completing the survey questions I was able to conclude that Deanna was a believer in Jesus Christ and had accepted him as her savior. Suddenly we were interrupted by Evelyn whom had come over unexpectedly and interrupted Deanna and I. She was very irrate that I was talking to her neighbor and insinuated that I had no right being there. I was accused by Evelyn of manipulating she and her neighbor by "using a food drive to lure people into talking about my religious beliefs". I tried to reason with her and she started cursing at me, calling me a liar and demanding that I leave Deanna's property. I asked her to observe my motives for being out there in her neigborhood. I assured her that I was only concerned abou her eternal destiny.She said that was "none of my d--n business". I said your right that is between you and God.She then said that I was "full of s--t" and I'd better leave before she called the police and have them make me leave. I said I welcomed her call to the police. She mockingly said "you'd probably try to spew your religious craziness to them also, wouldn't you?" I replied that I most certainly would not be ashamed to since they need Jesus just as much as anyone else. She threatened to call Nancy Bendall of the Bread for Life food pantry and complain about what I was doing.
Her neighbor Deanna was in shock and was silent during the whole incident. I quickly diffused the situation by apologizing to Evelyn (to no avail, she was very bitter) and especially to Deanna for having this take place on her property. They both went into Deanna's home as I was leaving for the next home. I no sooner got 2 doors away and Evelyn coomes barging out of Deanna's home telling me I needed to get the Hell out of her neighborhood.
I ended the evening speaking with a woman for about 1hour and was able to answer many questions that she had.I sensed that she may of had a false conversion based on a few of the answers to my questions. I strongly encourage d her to be bolder in her walk with the Lord by sharing he faith and reading her bible everyday. I saw how the Lord was using me to clarify the biblical gospel to her and I could see that the Holy Spirit was really revealing some things to her.
I ran into 1 for sure Born-Again Christian on the route this evening. I was encouraged by the brief conversation I had with her and gave her tract and encouraged her to give it away as the Lord directed her.
One of the next houses I went to a man started the survey questions and followed up with the start of "the Good Person test". I got through 1 commandment and then his demeanor changed. I sensed that he realized where I was going with the questions and he became very defensive and said that he wasn't goint to argue with anyone over the 10 Commnadments and turned around, slamming the door behind him. I thanked him for his time and then left. Sadly he had just admitted to being a liar, so I'm sure that he wasn't comfortable looking into the "mirror" of the law.
I was able to give a full gospel presentation to a 17 yeare old man at another home. He was very polite and receptive and assured me he would certainly consider what I had told him. He like many I encounter was trusting in his good works to get him to heaven.
Persecuted for righteousness sake...
My Matthew 5:11 encounter happened with a middle-aged woman named Evelyn. She was in her yard when I approached her. I was able to secure a food donation from her and then asked her if I could conduct the survey questionnaire. She seemed hesitant but then consented. After asking the first few survey questions, I started the "Good Test" questions. After asking her the 9th commandment question, she abruptly ended the questions and voiced her disagreement with the direction the questions were heading. I respectfully left her premise and gave her a tract as I left.
I went across the street to her neighbor Deanna's home. After getting a food donation and completing the survey questions I was able to conclude that Deanna was a believer in Jesus Christ and had accepted him as her savior. Suddenly we were interrupted by Evelyn whom had come over unexpectedly and interrupted Deanna and I. She was very irrate that I was talking to her neighbor and insinuated that I had no right being there. I was accused by Evelyn of manipulating she and her neighbor by "using a food drive to lure people into talking about my religious beliefs". I tried to reason with her and she started cursing at me, calling me a liar and demanding that I leave Deanna's property. I asked her to observe my motives for being out there in her neigborhood. I assured her that I was only concerned abou her eternal destiny.She said that was "none of my d--n business". I said your right that is between you and God.She then said that I was "full of s--t" and I'd better leave before she called the police and have them make me leave. I said I welcomed her call to the police. She mockingly said "you'd probably try to spew your religious craziness to them also, wouldn't you?" I replied that I most certainly would not be ashamed to since they need Jesus just as much as anyone else. She threatened to call Nancy Bendall of the Bread for Life food pantry and complain about what I was doing.
Her neighbor Deanna was in shock and was silent during the whole incident. I quickly diffused the situation by apologizing to Evelyn (to no avail, she was very bitter) and especially to Deanna for having this take place on her property. They both went into Deanna's home as I was leaving for the next home. I no sooner got 2 doors away and Evelyn coomes barging out of Deanna's home telling me I needed to get the Hell out of her neighborhood.
I ended the evening speaking with a woman for about 1hour and was able to answer many questions that she had.I sensed that she may of had a false conversion based on a few of the answers to my questions. I strongly encourage d her to be bolder in her walk with the Lord by sharing he faith and reading her bible everyday. I saw how the Lord was using me to clarify the biblical gospel to her and I could see that the Holy Spirit was really revealing some things to her.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Making Religion your God
I Got back out tonight for the first time on a Tuesday in a couple of weeks.The bad weather and just physical fatigue kept me away for a short time. I did go out for about 1 hour last Saturday by myself. As you know I usually go on Tuesday evenings from approximately 4:30pm -7:30pm. I have found that most people are at home during the weeknights and I have really had a high number of one-one conversations because of it.
We collected 31 food items for the Bread for Life Food Pantry.There are several churches and "minsistarial alliances" in Troy, MO that are reaching out to the homeless and other needy families.I'm amazed at the generosity that people have in helping out their "neighbor". We knocked on another 17 doors,distributed 16 tracts,11 one-one conversations. No prayer requests this time out.
I took my 12 year old son out again. We were praying last night and after we were finished, he said "Dad I want to go out door-to-door witnessing with you again tomorrow." You can imagine the joy that this brings to me as a parent trying to instill Godly values and establish a firm Christian worldview in his life.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of prayer in evangelism outeach efforts. When you witness you plant seed of the Gospel, but it is God who causes the increase (1 Cor.3:6-7). I mentioned going out by myself this last Saturday. I was in a hurry that day and I left without the prayer cover needed when doing the spiritual warfare of sharing the gospel. Consequently, I felt no real peace inside, nor compassion for those I was speaking to (Romans 10:1).The one good conversation that I had seemed awkard to me and it was only by God's grace that I was able to have the youn man's attention for so long. A great way to pray for the lost is by praying the scripture. I intercede for those neighborhoods I'm canvassing in using the prayer closet ministries prayer guides.
Tonight I spoke with 2 Born-again Christians at my 1st 2 doors. It was encouraging to share with them and they thanked me for what I was doing.The next door I went to was a self-professed agnostic women. She didn't want to discuss spiritual matters, but was polite and took the gospel tract from me anyhow. I asked if she had a bible inside and she said yes, so I encouraged her to please read it and reference the scriptures from the tract. Here is a picture front and back of the tract I distribute.
The next door I went to was a Catholic women (non-practicing) whom was very generous in her food contribution. I asked her the spiritual survey questions and then transitioned into a witnessing encounter with her. After getting a works based answer on the "How do you get to heaven?" question, I was able to take her through the Law and then share the with her. My son even commented to me that after I showed her the "mirror of the law" her countenance was visibly changed from light-hearted and carfree to one of conviction and guilt. Those weren't his exact words but it was obvious anyhow. Please pray for Kim's salvation. She admitted that her eternal destiny was something she was concerned about.
I had another great conversation with a Catholic man (trusting in good works of course) whom was very appreciative of what we were doing and thanked me after the one-one witnessing conversation. He admitted that not everyone will go to heaven, but didn't know for sure how to avoid it.
I ended the night speaking with a Jehovah Witness woman named Mary at her home. Her husband answered the door but he was on the phone and passed me off to her. She was of course quick to let me know that She was a JW at the beginning of the spiritual survey.I asked her questions about the day of Judgement where everyone will receive either heaven or hell for all eternity. It was an interesting conversation from the beginning. She went from talking about the original sin of Adam and Eve, the JW doctrine of only 144,000 true believers, Jesus being a created being,to hell not being a place with real and literal suffering, her belief that the soul doesn't die (I quoted her Ezek. 18:20 in reply) to a faith without works is dead quote (as an attempt to justify a works-based salvation in addition to the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.) I told her that I had many reasons to disagree with her based on scripture, but quickly steered the conversation back onto track. I asked her how she would answer the question of "What must one do to be saved?". She skirted around the question and appeared very uncomfortable.She had no discernable understanding of biblical repentance and when I told her that Jesus said that "unless ye repent,ye shall all likewise parish", she was just silent. I explained to her that Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God whom took away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and that Jesus came to fulfill the requirements of the Law and by living a sinless perfect life while here on earth he was an acceptible substitute for us to meet the requirements of being a lamb without blemish.I told her that the bible claims that Jesus was the God in the flesh and that he was the risen Son of God.She said that Jesus went to hell. I explained that because he rose again, he had defeated death and the grave. She only believed that Jesus was a Son of God and Not THE son of God. Mary earlier had admitted that good works alone wasn't sufficient to obtain eternal security with God in heaven, but as the conversation neared an end her false JW doctines betrayed her as she leaned on a missaplication of James 2:18-20 as an attempt to claim works were partially necessary to obtain Salvation. I stated that she had many doctrinal positions that were not scriptural and reiterated that no man made religion that has a works based solution to obtain eternal life was a biblical substitute for
Repentance of Sins and Faith in Jesus Christ alone. She refused to accept a tract from me. Unforunately,I may not have an additional opportunity to witness to this family again. She was adamant that the JW's was the right religion. I would have liked to had a more productive conversation, but this was my first encounter with a JW in a very long time, and admittedly I wasn't quite prepared. Please pray that Mary is delivered from her false religious doctrines and that the Holy Spirit will lead her to genuine repentance and Salvation in Jesus Christ alone.
All in all it was a very productive evening with several good gospel seeds that were sown. To God alone be the glory. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit uses my son and I to faithfully to perform the minstry of reconciliation to the lost people in Troy,MO.
I took my 12 year old son out again. We were praying last night and after we were finished, he said "Dad I want to go out door-to-door witnessing with you again tomorrow." You can imagine the joy that this brings to me as a parent trying to instill Godly values and establish a firm Christian worldview in his life.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of prayer in evangelism outeach efforts. When you witness you plant seed of the Gospel, but it is God who causes the increase (1 Cor.3:6-7). I mentioned going out by myself this last Saturday. I was in a hurry that day and I left without the prayer cover needed when doing the spiritual warfare of sharing the gospel. Consequently, I felt no real peace inside, nor compassion for those I was speaking to (Romans 10:1).The one good conversation that I had seemed awkard to me and it was only by God's grace that I was able to have the youn man's attention for so long. A great way to pray for the lost is by praying the scripture. I intercede for those neighborhoods I'm canvassing in using the prayer closet ministries prayer guides.
Tonight I spoke with 2 Born-again Christians at my 1st 2 doors. It was encouraging to share with them and they thanked me for what I was doing.The next door I went to was a self-professed agnostic women. She didn't want to discuss spiritual matters, but was polite and took the gospel tract from me anyhow. I asked if she had a bible inside and she said yes, so I encouraged her to please read it and reference the scriptures from the tract. Here is a picture front and back of the tract I distribute.
The next door I went to was a Catholic women (non-practicing) whom was very generous in her food contribution. I asked her the spiritual survey questions and then transitioned into a witnessing encounter with her. After getting a works based answer on the "How do you get to heaven?" question, I was able to take her through the Law and then share the with her. My son even commented to me that after I showed her the "mirror of the law" her countenance was visibly changed from light-hearted and carfree to one of conviction and guilt. Those weren't his exact words but it was obvious anyhow. Please pray for Kim's salvation. She admitted that her eternal destiny was something she was concerned about.
I had another great conversation with a Catholic man (trusting in good works of course) whom was very appreciative of what we were doing and thanked me after the one-one witnessing conversation. He admitted that not everyone will go to heaven, but didn't know for sure how to avoid it.
I ended the night speaking with a Jehovah Witness woman named Mary at her home. Her husband answered the door but he was on the phone and passed me off to her. She was of course quick to let me know that She was a JW at the beginning of the spiritual survey.I asked her questions about the day of Judgement where everyone will receive either heaven or hell for all eternity. It was an interesting conversation from the beginning. She went from talking about the original sin of Adam and Eve, the JW doctrine of only 144,000 true believers, Jesus being a created being,to hell not being a place with real and literal suffering, her belief that the soul doesn't die (I quoted her Ezek. 18:20 in reply) to a faith without works is dead quote (as an attempt to justify a works-based salvation in addition to the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.) I told her that I had many reasons to disagree with her based on scripture, but quickly steered the conversation back onto track. I asked her how she would answer the question of "What must one do to be saved?". She skirted around the question and appeared very uncomfortable.She had no discernable understanding of biblical repentance and when I told her that Jesus said that "unless ye repent,ye shall all likewise parish", she was just silent. I explained to her that Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God whom took away the sins of the world (John 1:29) and that Jesus came to fulfill the requirements of the Law and by living a sinless perfect life while here on earth he was an acceptible substitute for us to meet the requirements of being a lamb without blemish.I told her that the bible claims that Jesus was the God in the flesh and that he was the risen Son of God.She said that Jesus went to hell. I explained that because he rose again, he had defeated death and the grave. She only believed that Jesus was a Son of God and Not THE son of God. Mary earlier had admitted that good works alone wasn't sufficient to obtain eternal security with God in heaven, but as the conversation neared an end her false JW doctines betrayed her as she leaned on a missaplication of James 2:18-20 as an attempt to claim works were partially necessary to obtain Salvation. I stated that she had many doctrinal positions that were not scriptural and reiterated that no man made religion that has a works based solution to obtain eternal life was a biblical substitute for
Repentance of Sins and Faith in Jesus Christ alone. She refused to accept a tract from me. Unforunately,I may not have an additional opportunity to witness to this family again. She was adamant that the JW's was the right religion. I would have liked to had a more productive conversation, but this was my first encounter with a JW in a very long time, and admittedly I wasn't quite prepared. Please pray that Mary is delivered from her false religious doctrines and that the Holy Spirit will lead her to genuine repentance and Salvation in Jesus Christ alone.
All in all it was a very productive evening with several good gospel seeds that were sown. To God alone be the glory. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit uses my son and I to faithfully to perform the minstry of reconciliation to the lost people in Troy,MO.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A fool for Christ.
Today my son Nathan and I went back into the Bluffview Estates subdivision to continue canvassing the neighborhood. We distributed 17 tracts, I had 5 one on one witnessing encounters, and we collected 19 more food items for the food pantry.We did not get any prayer requests this time.
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Out of the 5 people I had one-one conversations with, only 1 man was able to give me solid proof that he was trusting completely in the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of his past and future sins. He also had a firm grasp of what biblical repentance was (i.e. he knew that just confessing your sins and being sorry wasn't the same as Godly Sorrow).I thanked Ben for his time and gave him a tract to pass along to a lost person he may encounter.Sadly the other 4 people I spoke with were solely depending on a head knowledge of Jesus' Sacrifice on the cross. Their answers to the survey questions revealed that they did not believe that God was a just God that will punish sin. One man even believed in hell and that it was a place of punishment, but believed that everyone would eventually go to heaven. I challenged him to examine his beliefs in light of the scripture.After a lengthy conversation, it was obvious that his conscience was excusing him rather than accusing him (Romans 2:16). I left him a tract and left for the next house.
Karen was a woman I spoke to that started out expressing doubts about the reliability of scripture becuase it was written by men. I explained the authorship of the Holy Spirit and after the survey questions she allowed me to share scriptures straight out of the bible. As I was refuting the "good enough to go to Heaven" claims she had I witnessed the conviction of the Holy Spirit visibally on her face. At one point I had almost seen a tear in her eye. I ended the conversation by giving her an RBC ministries booklet entitled " Can I really trust the Bible" and a gospel tract.
Isaiah 28:15-17 (King James Version)
"Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
One man I spoke with named Leonard believed that God punishes sin and that there is a hell, but he steadfastly held onto his claim that he would avoid hell by living a good life to the best of his ability. I communicated several scriptures to him to show that his beliefs were contrary to scripture but he would not believe that God would punish sin or send him to Hell. He stated that confessing sins was all that was necessary because that is what the Luthern Church taught him. He did admit to having broken God's 10 commandments but felt he would be forgiven based on his "belief" in God' forgiveness of sins. Sadly he had no understanding of repentance ( said he only needed to confess sins) and could not make the connection between Jesus death on the cross to his need to apply that sacrifice to his own life. I strongly urged him to read the scriptures on the tract I gave him. By the end off the conversation he was so stubbornly holding to his false doctrine, that he was accusing me of judging him.I assured him that God and not I was his judge. I said that I was concerned for his soul based on the unscriptural responses he was giving to my questions.By the end of the conversation he was accusing me of arguing with him and said he was just going to have to end the conversation; He then abruptly closed the door on me. Please Pray that Leonard will see his need for the Savior and relinquish his false security of good works and Luthern doctrine.
1 Corinthians 1:18
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Out of the 5 people I had one-one conversations with, only 1 man was able to give me solid proof that he was trusting completely in the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of his past and future sins. He also had a firm grasp of what biblical repentance was (i.e. he knew that just confessing your sins and being sorry wasn't the same as Godly Sorrow).I thanked Ben for his time and gave him a tract to pass along to a lost person he may encounter.Sadly the other 4 people I spoke with were solely depending on a head knowledge of Jesus' Sacrifice on the cross. Their answers to the survey questions revealed that they did not believe that God was a just God that will punish sin. One man even believed in hell and that it was a place of punishment, but believed that everyone would eventually go to heaven. I challenged him to examine his beliefs in light of the scripture.After a lengthy conversation, it was obvious that his conscience was excusing him rather than accusing him (Romans 2:16). I left him a tract and left for the next house.
Karen was a woman I spoke to that started out expressing doubts about the reliability of scripture becuase it was written by men. I explained the authorship of the Holy Spirit and after the survey questions she allowed me to share scriptures straight out of the bible. As I was refuting the "good enough to go to Heaven" claims she had I witnessed the conviction of the Holy Spirit visibally on her face. At one point I had almost seen a tear in her eye. I ended the conversation by giving her an RBC ministries booklet entitled " Can I really trust the Bible" and a gospel tract.
Isaiah 28:15-17 (King James Version)
"Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
One man I spoke with named Leonard believed that God punishes sin and that there is a hell, but he steadfastly held onto his claim that he would avoid hell by living a good life to the best of his ability. I communicated several scriptures to him to show that his beliefs were contrary to scripture but he would not believe that God would punish sin or send him to Hell. He stated that confessing sins was all that was necessary because that is what the Luthern Church taught him. He did admit to having broken God's 10 commandments but felt he would be forgiven based on his "belief" in God' forgiveness of sins. Sadly he had no understanding of repentance ( said he only needed to confess sins) and could not make the connection between Jesus death on the cross to his need to apply that sacrifice to his own life. I strongly urged him to read the scriptures on the tract I gave him. By the end off the conversation he was so stubbornly holding to his false doctrine, that he was accusing me of judging him.I assured him that God and not I was his judge. I said that I was concerned for his soul based on the unscriptural responses he was giving to my questions.By the end of the conversation he was accusing me of arguing with him and said he was just going to have to end the conversation; He then abruptly closed the door on me. Please Pray that Leonard will see his need for the Savior and relinquish his false security of good works and Luthern doctrine.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Day Two -15 more houses
My son got off the School bus today excited to go back out. The Spring weekday evening hours of 4:30pm -7:30pm are ideal to catch many people at home. Nathan and I headed out again to continue in the subdivision we had started last week. We knocked on 15 doors, distributed 15 gospel tracts, obtained 3 prayer requests, collected 40 food items for the Local Bread For Life food pantry,and had 10 one-one witnessing encounters.
The neighborhood I'm in now (and for probably the next 4-6 weeks) is predominantly Roman Catholic. My goal is not to argue doctrine with anyone out here in the community. I am quickly realizing that the Matthew 13 concept of the seed sower and the different types of soil are coming into play every time I speak with someone. A large percentage of the people I've spoken to in the last 2 weeks have a good head knowledge of the fundamentals of the gospel message. However,they were also ignorant or deficient of the scriptural fact of the existence of hell, the justice of God's punishment of sin, and the need for personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.I had prayed before going out this evening that the people in this neghborhood would not be content witht he appearance of righteousness but will seek the Father for the Transformation of their whole lives.(Matthew 23:27-29).I plead with our Father in heaven that the people I speek with will see that their good works are as filthy rags in his sight and that they cannot save them.(Isaiah 64:6).
The neighborhood I'm in now (and for probably the next 4-6 weeks) is predominantly Roman Catholic. My goal is not to argue doctrine with anyone out here in the community. I am quickly realizing that the Matthew 13 concept of the seed sower and the different types of soil are coming into play every time I speak with someone. A large percentage of the people I've spoken to in the last 2 weeks have a good head knowledge of the fundamentals of the gospel message. However,they were also ignorant or deficient of the scriptural fact of the existence of hell, the justice of God's punishment of sin, and the need for personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.I had prayed before going out this evening that the people in this neghborhood would not be content witht he appearance of righteousness but will seek the Father for the Transformation of their whole lives.(Matthew 23:27-29).I plead with our Father in heaven that the people I speek with will see that their good works are as filthy rags in his sight and that they cannot save them.(Isaiah 64:6).
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Ministry Vision and results of first day of visits.
Troy Missouri has 2,623 houses (2,494 occupied: 1,611 owner occupied, 883 renter occupied). It will take my son and I approx. 2 years to canvass all these households. I plan on visiting a minimum of 15-35 households per week on an average.I have chosen to start at the eastern most side of town and work in "slice" sections progressing towards the western border. I will go north to south in each cross section of the city.
I have partnered with Carl Kalbfleisch of Bezeugen Ministries from Carollton, Texas. Carl helps supply me with the tracts I leave at each household. If you'd like more details about how I will be approaching each household you may visit the Carrollton for Christ BLOG. The information there is how I've patterned my methods used in this door to door ministry.
On Tuesday April 20th, I took my 12 year old son Nathan with me. This was the 1st day of the outreach. We knocked on only 14 doors but talked with 8 people. 3 were Christians. 5 were uncertain of there eternal destiny and were given the clear unadulterated gospel message. 14 gospel tracts were distributed. I gathered 3 prayer requests .I also collected 21 food items for the Bread For Life food pantry.
My son Nathan knocked on the doors and manned the portable cart used for food items and ministry resources. He was excited to be along with me. I was in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighborhood. Surprisingly, I had only encountered 1 woman whom thought that she could avoid Hell by living a good life. I wasn't able to conduct a full survey with her, but I did leave her a tract.
One Catholic woman whom did give a Faith in Jesus Christ response to the spiritual survey said she would pray for my efforts, she was having a bible study at her home as came to her house. I also went to the home of a Missouri State Trooper whom has a burden for the citizens he encounters every day. Please pray that he would develop wisdom and discernment in reaching his coworkers and fellow citizens.
I had 2 prayer requests for individuals that were experiencing unemployment and financial hardship. Consequently, I was able to extensively share the gospel with these 2 families.
I have partnered with Carl Kalbfleisch of Bezeugen Ministries from Carollton, Texas. Carl helps supply me with the tracts I leave at each household. If you'd like more details about how I will be approaching each household you may visit the Carrollton for Christ BLOG. The information there is how I've patterned my methods used in this door to door ministry.
On Tuesday April 20th, I took my 12 year old son Nathan with me. This was the 1st day of the outreach. We knocked on only 14 doors but talked with 8 people. 3 were Christians. 5 were uncertain of there eternal destiny and were given the clear unadulterated gospel message. 14 gospel tracts were distributed. I gathered 3 prayer requests .I also collected 21 food items for the Bread For Life food pantry.
My son Nathan knocked on the doors and manned the portable cart used for food items and ministry resources. He was excited to be along with me. I was in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighborhood. Surprisingly, I had only encountered 1 woman whom thought that she could avoid Hell by living a good life. I wasn't able to conduct a full survey with her, but I did leave her a tract.
One Catholic woman whom did give a Faith in Jesus Christ response to the spiritual survey said she would pray for my efforts, she was having a bible study at her home as came to her house. I also went to the home of a Missouri State Trooper whom has a burden for the citizens he encounters every day. Please pray that he would develop wisdom and discernment in reaching his coworkers and fellow citizens.
I had 2 prayer requests for individuals that were experiencing unemployment and financial hardship. Consequently, I was able to extensively share the gospel with these 2 families.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)