An Evangelistic Miracle

Yesterday, the LORD provided many opportunities to share the Gospel.   From 1:00pm till about 3:00, I headed out with the Calvary Everett Street Team.   Normally, we have church fliers (kinda like invitations) that we hand out door-to-door, in a local neighborhood.   Yesterday, we didn't have any fliers, but we did have our  Gospel tracts, so we decided to go to a neighborhood almost directly east of the church, toward the river. We also decided, to use the following approach as we went door to door; "Hello, may we share the Gospel message with you?", as residents opened their door to us.   We did get the opportunity to hand out quite a few tracts that way, but for the most part, people said, "no thanks" or "not interested".   We were encouraged by a Christian gal who opened her door, while restraining a very large Doberman Pincer, by the neck.

Then we transitioned from a very new tract of attached homes, to an older neighborhood, and we saw some women saying good bye to some other women getting into their car.   Thomas, having his 'go for it' attitude, approached them and started giving the women in the group Gospel tracts.   Well, come to find out the women had just had a bridal shower, and one lady (who was an Assembly of God ministerette) asked us to pray for the soon-to-be grandson-in-law, and for several members of her family who were straying from the LORD.   It was very encouraging to pray for this lady out in the middle of the street.

Then, we talked to Chip who was out mowing his front lawn.   As Thomas approached the man, and the conversation started, a little deceivingly, I thought were talking to someone who was interested in hearing the Gospel message.   It turned out, Chip was atheist/agnostic, but supposedly had believed in God earlier in life (he was 54 now), but he had asked the 'hard questions' and had done some thinking and investigation on this issue and now he wasn't convinced there was a God, and he certainly didn't accept the Bible as true.   Encouragingly, though, we had a very good, extended conversation with Chip, and Thomas had the opportunity to present things for Chip to consider.   We parted warmly, with a hand shake and continued on.

Then we went to a multi-level apartment complex, and again, went door-to-door handing out Gospel tracts and talking with people.  We even met a pagan, guy who was helping another guy move into the apartment complex.   I got to give him a Gospel of John, and encourage him to come to know the one true God.

I haven't even gotten to the miracle yet...

Later in the evening, after going in to the prison with our prison ministry team...

We went to downtown Everett, to the Comcast arena, hoping to catch the crowd exiting after the Roller Derby event.   But our timing was off, so we did some street witnessing to people coming out of a high school prom that was being held at the arena.   Then we walked up the street, hesitantly, toward the area where all the bars and clubs are located.   We changed our minds about delving into a mass of Cinco De Mayo drunks, so we crossed the street and made a U turn, and encountered quite a few people walking down the sidewalk or waiting, or just hanging out.   We got to pray for Ruth and Peto (James), and pray for their freedom from alcohol addiction.

We spoke to three early twenties girls who were dressed very nicely, while they were apparently waiting outside for a club to open.   They had some knowledge of the Gospel but were gearing up for what looked to be a night of partying.   That made me sad.

Then, as we continued on, I got into a very long conversation with Miranda, who was a young woman. She also had some knowledge of the Bible from her youth and upbringing, but she like so many others in our world today, had questioned and come to the point of rejecting God, and dis-believing in Him.   I had the opportunity to give her some things to think about, and challenge her worldview.   I was able to speak to her conscience using the Ten Commandments, and then was able to convey the good news of forgiveness in Christ.   Finally, I just expressed how valuable she was to God, that he became a man in Jesus and died on the cross for her.   She said, she appreciated us doing what we were doing, and she hoped that someone else turned to God and believed, but she didn't.   We parted warmly, with a handshake and went our respective ways.

Here's the miracle...

Then we went for a late night (about 9:30 or 10:00 pm) meal at Denny's in Everett.   While we were eating, we saw masses of people streaming from the Holiday Inn, across the street, into the Denny's, and also to a Chinese restaurant across the street.    There happened to be a convention of Zumiez store managers (all of the people were young and had the 'skater' look about them.)   We handed out many tracts and Thomas had a great conversation with Tony, who had read much from many different religions, and although he was not accepting what Thomas was saying to him, was willing to dialog, for quite a while.   We were encouraged by the conversation, and we hope and pray that Tony will come to the knowledge of the truth.   [But my conclusion/opinion is that Biblical Christianity is too 'restrictive' for Tony's lifestyle.]   It is too bad that people don't see the freedom that comes in Christ.

God bless...