This page is a record of the street preaching ministry of First Bible Baptist Church of Plainville, CT.
What a blessing it is to have men working in this ministy whose hearts are in God's hand! Late last year Harry came to me with a vision for a specific design for a banner. With a little help from Pastor Getto and Virginia H., Harry put together an awesome pictoral presentation of the gospel! View the picture above.
Six men were out today, and three of us preached, while the rest canv
assed
the area with tracts. We had several encounters with people that
were trying to get us off track and to delay or hinder the preaching,
but at the end of the day, Jay and Rob were able to speak to a man that
confessed his need for salvation. While he did not bow his knee on
the street today, he admitted he needed to and would do so when he got
home. He also was given a Bible. Pray that he would not put
off receiving the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray for fruit from the tracts, preaching and even the banner that was used today. We know God will bless them, and we pray that He will get all the glory from what was done on the street today.
It was five men out on a snowy day today. We had a short, but, I believe, profitable day on the street.
We began preaching immediately today in front of the Gold building. I really felt like I had nothing ready, but the Lord guided both my and Harry's words. I felt much liberty in preaching today. That is one answer to prayer we experienced.
Another answer was a young lady who introduced herself and professed salvation. She was excited to see us doing the work on the streets and stated that it encouraged her to do the work of the Lord. We specifically prayed for God to encourage any saved folks we met today--and He did! Praise the Lord!
One gentleman name Osvaldo responded to the preaching by coming up to us and asking us for a tract. Harry was able to briefly deal with him in Spanish about his need for salvation. He, unfortunately, had to catch a bus, but the Spirit of God must have been working in his heart through the preaching for him to respond on his own like that.
God also allowed us to briefly speak with several others and, in different ways, challenge and encourage them in seeking the Lord's salvation. We pray every time we go out that the Lord would allow us to not only generally preach the gospel, but also deal individually with people.
To God be the glory--He truly did great things today. His word had free course, He gave us boldness, we had open doors to minister the gospel, we were delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, and God gave us safety in our travels on the still-snowy roadways today. The credit goes to Him alone, but thanks to those of you who intercede to Him on our behalf. God bless.
1.12.2008 Update
Because of an event at the (newly renamed) XL Center, we were able to get out a few more tracts than normal this weekend. We also preached briefly by the Old State House again.
We were handing out the tract "For Sinners Only." People don't like that one. I offered one each to a young couple at the bus stop, and they both declared to me that they weren't sinners. I challenged the man once again on the question of whether he was a sinner, quoting Romans 3:23 to let him know God's opinion. He again denied it. I asked him if he had ever lied, and he began to hem and haw, and finally his girl said, "Yeah, you lie all the time!" Nailed! Anyway, that broke the ice, and I re-offered the tract to them, explaining that it was God's plan to save them from the penalty of their sin. They then willingly accepted the tract. Praise God!
We also met a Muslim woman whose name was Naima. (That's my best English equivilant.) We were able to talk with her for quite some time, though she adamantly defended her religion. Jay was able to use some of the knowledge gained in his Arabic and Muslim classes, and we directed the conversation to what was necessary to cleanse her from sin. Though she believed that confession of sins to her god was necessary, she had no answer to what could be done about the judgement necessary to atone for sin. They believe in forgiveness, but understand nothing of atonement. THEY HAVE NONE! Thank God I know my sins are not only forgiven, but also PAID FOR!
"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." I John 2:2
Please pray for this woman. She is a teacher at the Berlitz language school in West Hartford. Please continue to pray also for God's leading and direction in this ministry.
We have been out a few times since the last update, and this is the last time of this year, so I figured an update would be in order.
We have had no hindrances in our efforts to pass out tracts or preach. Reception has been good, but the occasions to speak at length one-on-one with folks have been sparse. We were able to have two encounters this past time that I hope and pray will affect the lives of those involved for eternity.
The first were a group of three teenagers whose names were Gray, Alexis and Jordan. The first two testified that they had been saved, but Jordan did not. They provoked the discussion by some mild verbal harrassment of Harry while he was preaching. Harry dealt with them for some time before I came over and joined the conversation. Today's youth are sincerely seeking truth, but are having a hard time finding it amongst the garbage this world is constantly heaping upon them. We have such a small amount of time, in comparison, to influence kids and adults who are lost, without Christ, without hope... Outside of the power of God moving in this ministry and in these foks, there will be no hope to be able to "turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God..." (Acts 26:18) Pray for God to guide and lend His power to every word that is spoken by us on the streets of Hartford!
We also had a brief, but powerful moment of opportunity with a man who informed us he held some office in the UCC (United Church of Christ). When I asked him, ignoring his stated "pedigree," whether he was sure he would go to heaven when he died, he gave the usual "hope so" answer. When told that the Bible said that he could know he had eternal life, he retorted that the Bible did not say that. I challenged him to let me show him, and, though informing me that his bus had just arrived, he asked me to quickly show him! Usually they book for the bus! I John 5:11-13 was shown and read to him. He left quite literally speachless. Just a few verses of scripture can do more than any words we could say. Pray that God uses those scriptures to work in his heart. We do not know his name.
In closing, I just want to thank God for allowing us to work in this ministry, as feeble as we are. I thank God for the other men upon whom he has laid the burden of this ministry. Without their help and fellowship, there would be no ministry, such as it is. And, of course, thank you all who support us with your prayers and encouragement.
Well, we're back to chilly weather again. I don't think it
got above freezing the whole time we were out. I think God
tried to encourage us, though, with a fairly receptive audience
today.
We were first able to talk with a man named James. He gave testimony of being saved, but was, as is usually the case out there, dealing with various issues in his life. He did not ask for anything but encouragement from the scriptures. Once we were sure he knew the gospel, we prayed with him and encouraged him in the Lord. We also left him with a Bible.
Later on we preached, focusing on the fact that there is hope in
Jesus Christ. While the preaching was going on, several folks
stayed and listened. One in particular caught my eye and I was
able to spend some time in the scriptures with him. His name
was Angel. I sometimes forget how many preconceptions,
misconceptions, traditions and other barriers we, that is, the Lord,
has to overcome in people's minds. You could see his
astonishment as he read with me the scriptures that state that "all
liars" deserve hell (Rev. 21:8). The fact that Christ suffered
the cross and went to hell for him gave him great
pause and it seemed as though he might be beginning to understand
his need. His bus came, however, and that was the end of the
conversation. Pray that God continues to work in his heart.
We earnestly desire that you continue to pray for us in this ministry to those on the streets of Hartford, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (II Cor. 4:7)
10.13.07 Update
The Hartford Marathon was the main event today. With over 1600 runners and many more spectators, Bushnell Park was a crowded area. It took us quite some time to get going because of the traffic jams created by the event. Once we were inside the city, the Lord provided an ideal parking space, saving us from wandering around to find one. God works in the big AND the small things!
The atmosphere of a marathon crowd has a certain feel. An air of man's achievement pervades the day, and I believe it turns off many to receiving the word of God.
God, however, can break through any barrier. When all was said and done, the four of us had passed out several hundred tracts in less than an hour. Though most were distracted by the event, music, food and other activities, we had a few opportunities to speak with folks about the gospel. Someday, one of those several hundred people may reach into their pocket, or rifle through the junk on their dresser and find the gospel tract from First Bible Baptist Church at just the time they need it. THAT is why we continue to go out there and do what we do. And THAT is why we ask you to continue to pray for this ministry. Thank you all for praying.
7.28.2007 Update
Never listen to the weather forecast before going out on the streets--it didn't rain a drop while we were out.
It was just two of us today, and the people were, for the most part, receptive.
Harry had the opportunity to meet two different couples that he had previously met. The one couple showed interest in attending church; they live in New Britain. The other couple, the woman in particular, had harassed him in the past while he was preaching. They received a tract this time around. They showed on their faces the desolation that sin has caused in their lives, and admitted they needed a change. Pray that both these couples would come to know the Lord.
We were able to have a lengthy coversation with a 77 year-old man named Burton. He was of Jewish upbringing, a very intellegent and lucid man. I've met him before, but today he was willing to engage us in conversation. His focus was mostly dismay at the world situation, but we kept bringing it back to his personal relationship with his Creator. It's hard to say if anything got through, but he did see several scriptures for himself.
The last man we dealt with was a man named Garner. He wanted to make casual talk, but seemed a bit stand-offish about spiritual things until he asked if we were Mormons. We assured him we weren't. (I noticed before we went out today that both Harry and myself were dressed in black pants, white shirts and ties-oops!) Anyway, he professed to have accepted the Lord, but his knowledge of salvation was shaky. Pray for him as well. The Lord knows his situation.
I do have to mention one interesting event that happened today. We had stopped to give one man a gospel tract. When asked what it was, we told him that it was how he could get to know God. The man, with thick English accent, immediately went into a dissertation, saying, "God? God is a term for an object of worship. There are MANY things that can be worshipped. India has over 350-MILLION gods. I believe that here in America, we have EVEN MORE." (I had to agree with him on this point, but I had no idea where he was going with this.) He continued, "When you talk about God, he has a name." I thought, "Oh, here it comes. He's a Jehovah's Witness, or a Muslim or something." He said again, "God has a name, and when you talk about Him, say the name! And that name is: the LORD-JESUS-CHRIST!" Let me tell you, that was the LAST name I expected him to say! Regardless, we realized he was a Christian, and fellowshipped with him briefly. It was a great blessing to be encouraged by a fellow believer, especially one who realized the importance of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for God has ordained that "...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11
7.14.2007 Update
What a great day to go out street preaching: beautiful weather conditions, and a group of guys all charged up from a week of Camp Meeting!
We started out in front of the Center Church on the corner of Gold and Main Streets. God allowed us to preach the gospel there for a good amount of time. Why preach directly in front of a church? Well, beside the church stands a statue of a man named Samuel Stone; a Puritan man who, along with Thomas Hooker, founded the city of Hartford. The neat part is that he is holding an open Bible in one hand, and pointing with the other, creating a visual strikingly similar to that of our own street preaching! So in front of the perpetual street preacher we began the work today.
We had the opportunity to talk with many people today. Most were open to the gospel, though none accepted Christ as their Saviour. If you would help us remember them in prayer, that would be appreciated. Their names are Calvin, Carlos, Michael, Donovan, Minto, Milan, and another man whose name we did not get.
To close out our day, the Lord crossed our path with a follower of Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda. (For those of you who don't know who this guy is, he is a man claiming to be an incarnation of Jesus Christ, teaches that there is no sin and no hell, and encourages his followers to tattoo his number-666 on their bodies.) We spoke with this woman for a length of time, showing her from the Bible how this imposter does not fulfill any prophecy of Christ's coming, and how he does fulfill Matthew 24:23-26. This man had filled her head with misinterpreted scriptures and convinced her that he was Christ. Even though she left unconverted, she did leave expressing doubt about her misguided beliefs. It wasn't our arguements that disuaded her, it was her seeing for herself what the Bible said about these types of men. Pray that God would give her light. She promised to read the Bible and sincerely ask God to show her the truth-- a significant change of attitude from when we first met her. Remember, we are "...born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God..." I Peter 1:23 --it is the BOOK that will do it.
Street Preaching - Hartford, CT
5.12.2007 - 5.26.2007 Update
I apologize for the delay in updates this last month.
The Lord has continued to bless us with good weather and liberty to witness and preach.
On the 12th I was able to talk to a gentleman named Dermont who I believe was saved, but whose pastor had convinced that he needed baptism to gain victory over sin. Since he felt and saw no difference since his baptism, he was quite disallusioned. I was able to direct him to several verses about the blood of Christ cleansing us from all sin, and that victory is gained through Christ.
This past week we were able to deal with a few men personally whose names follow.
Jay met a man named Nelson who requested a Bible. Unfortunately we happened to be without our Bibles to give away and were unable to provide him with one at the time. He is often around the area we preach. Pray that the Lord would lead him to us or us to him this coming Saturday so that we might be able to get the Book in his hands. He was unsaved as far as I know.
I also talked briefly with a German man named Marion who received a tract after engaging him in a discussion about his assurance of a home in heaven. As a Catholic he was, typically, unsure, but he took a tract. Pray that the Lord would give him understanding of the English language in the tract.
Harry engaged a man named Diablo who was entrenched in voodoo. He invited Harry to come see what kind of power he could experience by participating in that wickedness. Harry reasoned with him out of the scriptures, but the man practically recoiled every time Harry physically opened up the Bible to him. "...greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." I John 4:4. The world is searching for power, but the devil only offers temporary power as he did to Eve in Genesis 3. It ALWAYS ends in destruction. GOD has told us that He has "...not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind." You can't beat that! That's something the world or the devil can not manufacture.
We were also to get some video of our work on the street this past week. I have compiled it into a short "presentation" of sorts. If you would like to see what your prayers are being poured into, see the video here.
Thanks so very much for your prayers.
4.14.2007 Update
The photo is of the location where we preach. In the future, I'd like to have our own shots of the ministry, but this will have to do for now.
Well, today started with a stop just short of our destination where I discovered that my catalytic converter was about to fall off my car. As the Lord would have it, he stopped us a couple hundred feet from an auto parts store where we were able to get some metal tape and patch it up enough to get us to Hartford and, once we were finished, back home. God is so good! His timing is perfect!
As far as the work today, Harry, Chris and I made it to Hartford despite said auto problems. God really directed the preaching toward "repentance," and gave us great liberty to do so. The weather was most commodious, and the people seemed receptive for the most part.
One man we met today served as an example to us of how the devil is destroying the lives of individuals. The devil is for some reason interested in destroying the body. Though we know he desires to damn the soul, he has "invested" billions of dollars to destroy the body. We believe this is because the Lord says to glorify God in our body and in our spirit, and the devil does all he can to corrupt and pervert the ways of God. This man testified to us that he had been not only a drug user, but a transvestite prostitute. He was mildly under the influence of alcohol and desired us to provide him with a meal, which we did. We used the entire time we were with him to preach to him the gospel of Christ, and left him with two gospel tracts. Whether he will remember anything once his inebriated state wears off will be hard to determine, but you see how viciously the devil has destroyed him, making it difficult for him to receive the word of God.
In closing, I would also like to pass on our burden for this country by providing this link http://samgipp.com/GippEssay59.html to a relevant article and asking you to join us in seeking God's mercy and His Spirit to revive our nation, starting with us.
UPDATE - 3.24.2007
I usually save this for last, but it MUST be mentioned first. THANK YOU ALL who were praying for us today as we ministered in Hartford during the St. Patrick's Day parade. God cleared away any hindrances and distractions today and allowed us to not only preach, but to hand out well over 1000 gospel tracts! Praise the Lord!
The reception was incredibly positive today. Pastor Getto had printed up over 1000 tracts which used the testimony of the words of St. Patrick himself to present the plan of salvation. These were very well received; God obviously had prepared the hearts of people well beforehand. NOW we must pray for fruit from the seed that was sown.
Another blessing was having a recently-saved friend of mine, Doug, accompany us in the work today. This was his first time experiencing anything like this, and he was a great asset in helping us get out all those tracts today.
Harry was also able to give a Bible to a man that he had know from his former years. The man professed salvation, but needed victory over some things in his life.
All in all, God was very gracious to us today in all aspects of the work, even including the weather. May He receive ALL the GLORY and HONOUR He deserves from us. "He hath done all things well." Mark 7:37
UPDATE - 2.10.2007
"What Can Wash Away My Sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
Today started out as chilly as last time, but warmed up quickly when the sun came out, thank the Lord.
We had a good day today. Quite a few tracts were passed out, and we received much encouragement from a variety of professing Christians.
We've had much liberty in the preaching these past few times; it has been a blessing to see the Lord strengthening us in this way. The title of this update was what the Lord gave me as a spring-board to begin preaching. Harry preached on "Adam, where art thou?" Rob preached out of I Corinthians 15, the last several verses.
Among the people we dealt with today, we encountered a couple men who both professed salvation, but had drifted away from the Lord. The one we were able to encourage in the way of the Lord, and gave him a Bible that we had on hand for the purpose. His name was Robert. Another man with whom we spoke did not have as clear of a testimony of salvation. His name was Mark.
The day ended with prayer on the sidewalk, as we are wont. During the prayer, a woman passing by commented, "That's an interesting place to pray!" In any case, it gave another opportunity to get a gospel tract into someone's hands!
All glory to God that, in spite of us, the word of God has had free course, and we have been free from hinderances thus far. As always, thanks to everyone who participates in going out or in prayer. God bless.
UPDATE - 1.27.2007
Our first time out on the street this year was brutally cold, but, thank the Lord, He got us through it!
It was otherwise a pretty normal day street preaching. There were five of us today. We had good liberty to preach. I preached out of Hebrews 2 on "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation." Harry let it rip as usual with his testimony as well as numerous scriptures to back up his point. Rob had an interesting take during one of his preaching sessions when he blasted the theory of evolution and preached on Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning GOD created the heaven and the earth." We even got Chris to lift up his voice and proclaim John 3:16!
God answered our prayers, and there was nothing in the way of hindrances to the word getting out. We had, in fact, quite a number of people who professed salvation encouraging us in our work. That is always a blessing.
As always, pray for the blessing of God on the seed that was sown today. Also, pray specifically for wisdom to figure out the logistics of using chalk-drawings along with the preaching.
Thanks for your prayers. God bless.
UPDATE - 11/25/2006:
Thank God for the liberty to preach and speak with people today on the street!
We were able to speak one-on-one with a good number of folks today. The preaching went on unhindered, and there were many people that stopped within the sound of the preaching and heard the whole counsel of God.
Of the people we talked to, there are a few whose names I will bring up.
Two of the men we dealt with today would not receive the message. The first, whose name was Fred, and the second, who would not give me his name, were unwilling to submit to the truth of the gospel, especially the latter with whom we dealt for quite some time. He did not want us praying for him, and he attempted to use his intellect to cast doubt on the word of God. Pray that the verses we spoke to him would convict his heart and draw him to the Saviour.
One young man, named Edwin, had a dificult time submitting to what he had to do to be saved. He acknowledged that he believed everything I showed him from the Bible, but would not make a decision. Another man with whom Rob spoke was also very close, but did not receive Christ at this time. His name was Carlos.
One man the others spoke with, whose name was Bob, had a testimony of salvation. He expressed interest in coming to church. Pray that he would take the opportunity to come out.
We also had an interesting experience at the end of our day. We all knelt on the sidewalk to pray for God's blessing on the work done. While we were praying, we were joined by an unidentified man who wanted to pray with us. When we were done, three kids on skateboards came over and asked if they could pray with us. I asked what they wanted prayer for. The one responded, "Uh... luck?" I said, "How about eternal life?" To which he responded, "Yeah, that's cool, too!" In any case, we were able to give the plan of salvation to them not only through the prayer for them, but also with the tracts they received.
In closing, pray that the word of God brings forth fruit, and that God receives all the glory for what was done today.
UPDATE - 11/11/2006:
"Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out..." Job 24:12
These are the people we are called to minister to in the city of Hartford. They are wounded, abused and oppressed by the devil. Men and women whose lives have been taken advantage of by vice and other sins. They are hurting, fearful, without hope and without God in this world.
We haven't had an update the last few weeks, but they have been a blessing. Two outings ago was the Hartford marathon. We exhausted our entire supply of tracts that day. The last time the weather was forebodding, but we went anyway to New Britain where there was a covered walk in front of the shops. There was still plenty of people to share the gospel with. Specifically, there were two men who were very close to salvation.
TEN men joined in the effort to spread the gospel today! What a blessing and encouragement. There was much liberty to preach, and one man named Leon who accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour!
I also had the opportunity to speak with a young man who was getting his life back together after being wrapped up in sin as described above. He had a testimony of salvation, but was homeless and struggling to get back on his feet. He had some questions about the Bible that we were able to answer. We were able to pray with him and encourage him to stay in the Book, and keep doing right. His name is Brandon, and I'm sure he would appreciate your prayers for him.
Please keep praying for God to move and work in this ministry. Specifically pray about new outreach methods that God has laid upon our hearts, one of which is using drawings as a ministry tool. Thank you for praying, and may the Lord Jesus Christ receive all the glory through this ministry. As He is lifted up he will draw all men unto himself.
UPDATE - 9/9/2006:
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:58
What a beautiful day to be out proclaiming the gospel on the streets of Hartford! We had a combination of opposition and support from the hearers today, but in any case the Lord gave us the liberty and power to preach.
We did not have as many opportunities to deal one-on-one with folks today, but we DID have a larger, although "captive," audience! There was a group of volunteers from a non-profit organization replacing trees in the sidewalks by the bus stops. They heard the gospel preached for at least 45 minutes! Although it was under their breath, we could hear a little of their banter back to us, not all of which was negative. They definitely got the message, and we pray God that they RECEIVE it. Almost all of them took tracts when they left.
We, unfortunately, ran out of English tracts sooner than expected, but we were able to use up the last of them at the beginning of the Connecticut Pride Block Party that was being set up for a sodomite gathering.
In closing, I would like to thank God for blessing this ministry with some faithful, zealous men to help in the work. As well, thanks once again to those of you praying for this ministry.
UPDATE - 8/26/2006:
ALL glory to God for what He has done in this ministry!
Two ladies came to know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour this Saturday! Their names were Sasha and Luz. We were told this same day that preaching on the street doesn't work. Well, God ordained that by the foolishness of preaching He should save those that believe; and He did! That is found in I Corinthians 1:21, and any departure from that method is a departure from God's method.
We were able to have eight men out on the street this week; five of which preached. We had many opportunities to speak one-on-one with folks, with the results above, as well as several people who went away with a better understanding of what the Bible has to say about salvation. Pray for one gentleman named Brian with whom Ralph spent a good amount of time in the scriptures. He was a Jew, and seemed genuinely interested and convicted by what the Bible had to say. Pray for his understanding to be opened, and his subsequent salvation.
On another note, I had the opportunity two street preaching weeks ago to talk to a Jehovah's Witness gentelman named Kareem. I had left him with a challenge to look up the prophesy of who John the Baptist prepared the way for. (At the time, I didn't know which passage in their New World Translation specifically said that John prepared the way of Jehovah.) Well, I was able to run into him again and had the prophetical passage along with the fullfilment ready. Talk about being blinded; he couldn't admit that his own revision of the Bible said that John the Baptist prepared the way for Jehovah, and therefore Jesus Christ is Jehovah! (For those interested, the passages are Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3 in the New World Translation.) In any case, this man needs Christ like the rest of us. Please pray that God would deal with him and open his eyes.
Thanks to all of you who came out this week, as well as those of you who "stayed by the stuff" and prayed for us. May God richly bless you.
Personal Observations Concerning Street Preaching
1. God accomplishes what HE purposes with the word that is preached. (Isaiah 55:11)
2. It is a ministry with few visible results.
3. It is a necessity to go two-by-two for the purposes of accountability, protection, and backup. (Mark 6:7, Acts 3, Acts 13:2, Acts 15:39,40)
4. It is likely the most hostile recipients of any other ministry.
5. Be above reproach. (I Peter 2:12-16, Romans 14:16, I Thessalonians 5:22)
6. Have a working knowledge of the laws: loitering, trespassing, breach of peace, etc.
UPDATE - 7/22/2006 - 8/12/2006:
I apologize for the tardiness of this update; especially when considering the following good news!
We have had the privelege of leading a soul to the Lord on each of the last two street preaching days! Rob was able to deal with a man named Jim on the 22nd. He accepted the Lord that day. The greatest part about him was that we were able to see him again last Saturday and do some follow up work. What a rarity that is! One of the greatest concerns I have about the street preaching ministry is the difficulty in following up on new converts or even those whom we have dealt with who didn't come to know the Lord. It was a blessing to be able to minister to Jim with some of his questions.
This past week Rob was again able to lead a woman named Madeline to the Lord. I don't have any other details on her, but she will need prayer to be able to grow in the Lord.
God has really blessed this ministry this year with some visible fruit. Not only the souls that have been saved, but the men that have become involved. All I can say is praise the Lord, may HIS name be magnified, and thank you again for your prayers. God Bless.
UPDATE - 6/1/2006:
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." I Corinthians 3:6
We are praising the Lord for one soul that came to know him as their personal Saviour! To God be the glory! A young woman named Lydia had been listening to the preaching. Harry noticed her attentiveness and we were able to sit down and share with her the gospel. Though her father was a reverend and she knew of the Lord Jesus Christ, she was unaware of the deity of Christ and salvation by grace through faith, and not of works. She willingly prayed to the Lord for her salvation right there at the bus stop. She will need much prayer now as the devil will be trying to hinder her new life in Christ through his various devices.
This soul is to the account of all you who bring this ministry before the Lord in prayer. Thank you.
Continue to pray that we would be diligent in this work, and sensitive to the need of the lost. So many people are searching, but will not make the initial step to speak to you. Pray for wisdom for us to engage them where they are, and bring to them the news of the wonderful grace of Jesus Christ. As well, pray for us, that our lives may be holy, living testimonies of God's grace in us.
UPDATE - 4/22/2006:
Praise the Lord for his mercy and grace! That is the only reason that we have this opportunity to spread the gospel as we do on the streets of Hartford.
We have gone out three times this year, but I have not been able to write an update until today.
The first time in 2006 out on the streets coincided with the St. Patrick's Day parade. The news media estimated 30,000 people present that day! Daunting, to say the least! With four men it would be hard to put a dent into that crowd. Thank the Lord, we were able to put out almost 1,000 tracts that day! We planted, Lord willing, someone will water, and God WILL give the increase.
Today three of us went out. It was a blessing to see brother Harry Torres preach in Spanish again. One gentleman came up to him afterwards to speak with him. It was apparent he was listening, along with the others in the captive audience sheltered in the People's Bank alcove. Several others stopped to talk with us today. Some sincerely seeking the truth. Others simply trying to hinder the gospel being spread. In either case, we hope that Christ Jesus was glorified and lifted up.
So many out there have their eyes blinded to the gospel by the god of this world. We need your prayers to have compassion on them, and to have the wisdom to turn them from darkness to light. Pray for us! Thanks to those of you who do. God bless.
*EXTRA*
12/18/2005 - The Lord gave us a special blessing this Sunday morning when a lady whom we had met on the street back in the Spring came to church. She was new in the area when we met her, and was looking for a church. Because we have so many people tell us they will come out, and then never show, this was a pleasant change from the norm. The Lord always gives something to rejoice about just when you start to wonder if your work is having any effect at all. Praise the Lord for His goodness!
UPDATE - 11/26/2005:
Well, it was another brisk one this Saturday, and yet we still had those who were willing to give of their time and effort to spread the gospel on the streets of Hartford. We had set this week up to do some Christmas caroling in conjunction with the normal street work. I was joined by my wife and son, as well as my sister-in-law. Brother Ralph and his wife came out, as well as the rest of our regulars.
The caroling went well, and we interspersed some preaching between songs. Much of the preaching focused on the "gift of God."
We were able to deal directly with two individuals that I know of. During the last round of preaching there was a gentleman standing not ten feet away from where I was preaching. Because he hung around so close the entire time, I felt compelled to ask him if he believed what he was hearing. I discovered that, although he was Catholic, he was involved in a Jehovah's witness "bible" study. He didn't seem to have been involved in any depth in their doctrine, and stated that he needed to "find something else." I offered to show him from the Bible how he could know he had eternal life through Jesus Christ, and he allowed me to show him the scriptures. Similarly to last time I dealt with someone, he was waiting for a bus, so I think he was a bit distracted. However, I know the Lord can use His word, and give him understanding of the gospel through the word of God that he saw, and through the scriptures in the tract he received. Please pray for this man whose name was Nick.
Ralph, in the meantime, had been dealing with another individual named Raoul who was also involved in a Jehovah's Witness study. (What an odd coincidence! It made me realize what an effort the JW's are making to indoctrinate people.) In any case, Raoul really picked up on what Ralph was showing him in the scriptures about true doctrine. He took a list a verses that Ralph gave him concerning the JW teachings. Pray that this man would have his eyes be opened, and be turned "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." (Acts 26:18)
Thank you all again for your prayers.
Update 11.12.2005
- "How beautiful are your feet!" That's the phrase brother Harry Torres met me with on the street this past Saturday, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
What a blessing it was to have NINE people with us to do the work on the street! Included in those nine were three teenagers. We also had another man who is interested in starting a street preaching work out of his own church come out to observe the work.
Brother Curt and I both preached with Harry as our interpreter for the first round. Later on, Harry and George went on up to Park street and spread the gospel up there while Curt and I preached again down on Main street. I say this every time, but I truly appreciate those of you who pray for us and this ministry. I haven't felt the liberty to preach like I did this Saturday in a long while.
There are two individuals to pray for this week. Jay met a homeless man named Jerry who professed salvation, and also a man name Javi who is probably not saved.
UPDATE - 10/22/2005:
Praise the Lord for all his blessings this Saturday! The weather was a bit gloomy with the threat of rain, but 6 men showed up anyway to come and help on the street! Some for their first time! Thankfully, the Lord held off the rain until just before we were ready to leave.
We had the opportunity to use a couple new methods of outreach.
The first was having Pastor Getto bring his accordion out to play on the street. It's amazing the effect music has on people. One woman with her little boy was walking by Pastor Getto as he was playing. The boy was looking back towards the music and I could hear the woman quietly singing along to "Amazing Grace." Music definitely is the handmaid to the preached word. I sincerely believe it softens the hearts of the people to receive the gospel. It also occurred to me that I have an accordion at my disposal, and I probably should implement it in the ministry. So I would appreciate prayers for me to, 1- get it repaired (the straps are broken), and 2-get brushed up on playing it.
The second method we employed was the use of a translator for the preaching. We had the blessing of having brother Harry Torres along to translate in Spanish. He had his first opportunity to preach on the street in his, shall we say, "native" tongue. He was also able to deal with the Spanish speaking people directly in their language.
Just before we closed up, all the men joined to sing "Victory in Jesus" under the People's Bank area of the gold building. The whole day was such a blessing to see so much activity for the cause of Christ on the street.
There were three men that were dealt with specifically this week. The first was a man named Sims who I would probably term as a skeptic. He believed in nothing at all. The second was a man by the name of James who professed salvation but was unsure on the doctrine of eternal security and assurance. The last was a young man named Antoine. He heard the entire plan of salvation, and when asked if he had ever had a time when he bowed his knee to Christ to ask for that "free gift," he admitted he hadn't. Unfortunately his bus arrived at that pivotal moment, but he was left with the verse "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Please pray for all of these men, but especially for this one who seemed so close.
As well, pray for those men involved in this ministry. Pray for us to have a concern and compassion for the people on the street. Pray for the men who came this Saturday for the first time, that God would bless them for their labour and sacrifice, and that his will would be clear to them about their involvement in this ministry.
Thank you to all who prayed for this special day. The Lord reward you according to your labour.
David
UPDATE- 9.24.2005
The participation in the street preaching ministry has been encouraging as of late. Mike has had a change in his work schedule allowing him to join us on Saturday mornings. We have also had several teens joining us the past few weeks. That is encouraging on many levels.
This past week, the Lord blessed us with beautiful weather to go preach the gospel. There were a couple events taking place in Hartford, so the crowds were slightly larger than normal. Many tracts were handed out, and the gospel was preached again. We had the privilege of meeting two deaf people, and gave them the tract "A TTY Call From God." Mike, being fluent in French, noticed a woman having a cell phone conversation in French and presented her with the French translation of the Chick tract "Last Rites." It's incredible the diversity of languages out there in Hartford! We were able to deal one-on-one with three individuals this past time. Please pray for them: José and Gene are not saved as far as we could tell. Also pray for one gentleman named Joe who professed salvation, but was without a home.
Pray for the date of October 22, 2005 as we are trying to gather a group of people to sing, play guitars and preach. I would like to see it encourage others to join in the work on the streets of Hartford.