Even the reluctant

Not everyone is willing to talk to us. This student though polite, declined to talk to Shon. It happens pretty often. But even the reluctant will many times end up having a discussion with us.

Muhammed and his friends (not pictured here) were also reluctant but after some coaxing, were willing to discuss eternal matters with me. Notice how flip they are at first. As the conversation went on, Muhammed began handling his cigarette a lot and looking kind of nervous. He ended up stopping the conversation pretty abruptly, but not before I got to share most of the Gospel with him. Hopefuly he was being convicted. Ultimately only God knows. I'm sure we gave him something to think about. Chances are we will run into him again since we're planning to spend some more time on campus when classes start up again. Listen here as I share the Gospel with Muhammed and his friends.

Soli Deo Gloria

Pocket bibles and professing Christians

Here is another photo of Shon sharing from his bible. This time to the ladies at the coffee kiosk between classes. It's great to have a smaller pocket bible with you to share from.
Carrying your thick study bible around is probably not the most inviting object to someone who has been hurt by religion or otherwise has a negative presupposition about Christianity.

Although not pictured here, Julian was a professing Christian who I had some questions for. We all get nervous when we question another person's faith. But without judging from a personal "log in my eye" perspective we need to examine the fruit we see. Usually when someone tells me, "Oh, I'm a Christian," I probe a little deeper to see where they are at. If they are believers, they should be more than willing to talk to another Christian. Click here to listen to Julian's overall faith statement and more specifically, to what his pastor has taught him about self examination. Hint: listen for the "..if you can wake up and look at yourself.." statement.

We should not get uptight about probing a little deeper when someone says "I'm a Christian." There are plenty of religious people out there who either don't have a right understanding of the Gospel or who give a pretty weak testimony. Not to mention other sects and cults who consider themselves Christians. This should cause us to have concern as we would for anyone else. Please notice Julian's tone and attitude. I pressed him and took him through the Law yet he remained receptive. In the end he thanked me. God only knows if I told him anything that made him think, but that is where we trust the Holy Spirit to work.

Soli Deo Gloria

Fishing at Chandler/Gilbert Community College

This was our first outing to a community college. Although they wouldn't let us walk around the campus, they let us set up a table in a free speech area where there was actually a lot of traffic. Once classes started, the students would dissapear we would talk about our experiences, encourage one another and regroup before the next rush. Here, Shon is winessing to a baseball player who was very interested in what he had to say. He was amazed at the fact that adultery could be commited in the mind alone! Proof that using the Law works in defining sin and convicting the sinner. Here he is holding a Christmas Quiz icebreaker (tract) in his arm while Shon shares from his bible. I had just finished talking to someone while Shon was in this conversation, so I only got part of it but it's good stuff! Click here to listen.

Soli Deo Gloria

Moving Along

Well, this blog is certainly seeing a lot of traffic but not many comments. They will come. To all of you who want to comment without the hassle of jumping through hoops, I have opened up the comments to everyone. Before, it was requiring that you had a Google account first. Now anyone can access and leave anonymous comments.

I’m glad to see that most of the people that responded are doing something to share Jesus with the lost. For many, sharing their faith is right up there with public speaking and paying taxes. Some would rather die. According to Bill Bright in his book Amazing Faith, only about two percent of Christians ever share their faith. This effected me personally when I had the thought of facing Jesus one day and having to give an account for why I lived in silence. I couldn't think of an answer and for years struggled with the fact that this was exactly what I was to be doing to further His kingdom. There is no greater act of love than to share the Gospel of Christ to a friend, loved one and even a stranger. People all around us are heading for a judgment that we by His grace have been spared from. Even so, there are still those close to me with whom I am terrified to witness to. If you think about it, our fears are most realized with those closest to us because we think we have more to lose. But in reality, they have everything to lose if we remain silent. True, only God draws the sinner to repentance, but what a blessing and honor to be the willing vessel of his work of amazing grace!
Thursday morning, some of our evangelism team will be going to Chandler/Gilbert Community College to hand out Gospel tracts and witness one-on-one with students. Check back for an update of our outing. God willing we will have some photos and audio to share. Above all, keep us in your prayers that God’s perfect will be done! --Robert

Soli Deo Gloria