Showing posts with label evangelism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evangelism. Show all posts

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sharing the Gospel at "The 99" *UPDATE*


*UPDATE* We decided to head out to The 99 on the last evening of the event. What has been so interesting about this event is that even though it is being hosted by a church, there is an overt non-Christian atmosphere that has been intentionally put in place BY THE CHURCH!

Picture this, if you will: the line outside waiting to get in is longer than any amusement park line you've ever stood in. People at the back of the line are expecting to wait over 3 1/2 hours to get in, or longer. There is a DJ playing secular music to the tune of Queen, Vanilla Ice, Rick James, Michael Jackson, and many others whose very lyrics represent things that The 99 is trying to warn against (drunkeness, drug use/abuse, promiscuity, bullying, suicide and more).

Our idea was that by putting the gospel into people's hands, they would have something to read and think about before, during and after walking through the presentation. As we were getting close to wrapping it up for the night, a security person approached one of our team members and suggested that he cease from handing out tracts to the people in line. His reasoning was that there were many attending this event who were not Christians and were unaware that this was a Christian event. Their goal was to walk people through the various themes, and then at the end present them with a gospel message. (On a side note, we learned that in order to be a counselor for this event, all one had to do was walk up and ask to do so, and basically, you were given a table to sit at with some forms to fill out for those who had just finished walking through.) We were told that we could stand near the exit door and hand tracts out to people as they were leaving, but they preferred that we not engage those in line.

Naturally, we obliged and finished that work that the Lord had sent us there to do. All in all, well over 1,000 tracts were handed out over 2 nights, and our prayer is that God would save even one person. But above all, that He was glorified. Church, we must remember this: what you draw them with, you must keep them with. Preach On!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sharing the Gospel at "The 99"


Since the Scriptures command that Christians preach the gospel to everyone, we need to be looking for every opportunity to do so. There has been an event at a nearby church called The 99 that has been drawing crowds by the thousands each night that it is open. The 99 is a dramatic presentation of the five leading causes of death in teenagers and young adults, and the number 99 represents how many in this demographic die each day due to these causes.

While the presentation itself is very realistic and sobering, the theological elements were found to be lacking in a few areas. With the crowds that have been showing up there, it only seemed right that we should be giving people the biblical gospel. So with tracts in hand (and in pockets), off we went. What a great opportunity to serve our King...and all it took was a little time, a little effort, and a little obedience. In less than an hour's time, hundreds of tracts were handed out. Please pray for all those who received the Law and the gospel tonight, and we pray that our awesome God was most glorified! Please Christian, look for opportunities to share the gospel...this is not a calling, it is a command! Preach On!