Last Saturday evening at around 11:30pm, we broke the sound barrier in the Old Town area of Wichita. Only a few people were disturbed by it and the police didn't even seem to notice. What I'm talking about is "open air" preaching to the partiers and clubbers who frequent the bars and clubs in Old Town.
For the most part, my partner warned people that sin is enjoyable for a season, but it ends in death. I stuck with reading John 3:16-18 repeatedly to whomever was passing by. Believe me. You must break the sound barrier to stand up on a footstool or other source of elevation and preach loudly. It's a barrier of nervousness. Like many things, the more you do it, the less nervous you are.
The best part of open air preaching may be the least expected. It tends to result in good one-to-one evangelism opportunities. That's exactly what happened Saturday evening when I was preaching. My partner acted as a heckler in the middle of a small crowd of people to draw attention. He acted like an atheist and asked me to prove the existence of God. I answered him just as I would a real atheist.
Two young women in the crowd yelled at him that, of course God exists. That's when things got exciting in the crowd. Several people began loudly saying that God exists while others argued with them. The two young women began speaking with me and the Lord let me take them through the "Good Person Test" (see www.goodpersontest.com ) Both readily agreed that they would be found guilty of breaking God's law (the Ten Commandments) and would be on their way to hell if God were to judge them by that standard. That was my opportunity to give them the gospel and encourage them to repent and place their complete trust in the atoning, suffering death on a cross of Jesus Christ. Yea for God! Did they drop to their knees sobbing and weeping in repentence right there? Nope. Only the Holy Spirit can draw them into the Kingdom.
In other news, a big evangelistic opportunity hits Wichita this week. It's called the "Blacktop Nationals" and is a four day car show, auction, cruise, etc. About 50,000 people are expected, so I'm hoping to be busy on the streets. God bless you!
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