Friday Night Notes

somehow... things changed...

It's been a bit more than a year now... a change in the behaviour of the people we preach the Gospel to... or perhaps its a change in the way we react to the words and actions of sinners.  It's really hard to know exactly if it's me or them, but there is no doubt I'm finding our evangelistic efforts are a whole lot less difficult as they were years ago.  The cursing and mockery is nowhere as grievous as it once was, and Pastor Tim and I haven't found ourselves in any altercation with those who would violently oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm not saying everything is wonderful (not by a long shot). If anything I'd say most of the people we minister the Gospel to just seem apathetic.

Tonight evangelism was no different.  We had one drunk who yelled at Pastor Tim but he was no real threat; and to be perfectly honest, I think Pastor Tim mishandled that situation.  Not saying he deserved to be yelled at, but when dealing with a drunkard, one has to be tread carefully.  Other than that, I had a few people mock loudly, a few eye-rolls, and that's about it.

While apathy toward God most certainly isn't a good thing, I have to say that our street preaching outings have been far calmer than in the past, and it's kind of refreshing.  I'm sure that that's a bad thing... but I'm trying to be honest about how I feel.  It was really difficult a decade ago, going downtown on Friday knowing that I was going to be maligned, mocked, and on occasion, beaten for my efforts.  I haven't felt that kind of uneasiness in months now.

Pastor Tim had a long conversation with a former client of his, and it seemed to all be good.  The good preacher only said: "It was good talking to him, he was the best client I ever had."  I had a few short conversations with sinners.  Mostly just explaining why I was on a street corner communicating the Gospel of Christ.  No time wasters tonight, which is great!

We also had a number of believers who showed their support with kind words, and on one occasion, an embrace!  All in all, an easy-going night of evangelism.

Just wish we could see the Lord saving some of the souls we minister to...


Rand