Sunday, March 15, 2009

Banners For Bait

As we started to set up the booth Friday night, we got onlookers right away. In fact before we were finished Ed approached Jeff to ask about the “Good Person Test”.

“What is it?” he asked.

Jeff responded with the first question, “Do you consider yourself a good person?”
Before Jeff was done taking him through the series of questions, Ed was claiming to be a ‘born-again Christian’. He smelled heavily of alcohol as he handed me his cup of beer to throw away. When Jeff began to talk to him again he blurted out, “Yeah, I’ve murdered seven people!” Although Jeff tried to keep the conversation going, Ed told him that he was a drinker and he was headed to a bar. He walked away toward his destination.

Dennis walked down the street handing out Million Dollar Bills and asking people to step up to take the test. Diana waited at the end of the block and handed each person who would take one, a tract. At one point she had many people around her and all she needed was a box!

Savannah and Taylor, two teen-aged girls were curious enough to come up. After taking them through the test I could see concern in Taylor’s eyes. Savannah was smug in the fact that she ‘went to church’. As I talked to them Savannah got a phone call. I told her I would be finished in less than a minute so if she could wait that would be great. She did. After speaking to them I gave them the pick of any of the ‘prizes’ on the table. We had a great array of MDB’s and Giant Money as well as 10 Commandment Coins along with a great number of other tracts. They both chose Giant Money. As they walked away I prayed that Satan would not snatch away the seed that had been planted. I love to talk to kids. Most of the time they are really curious.

Axle and Zandra were a couple of teenagers who came up to test themselves. They both listened very carefully and answered honestly, although a little reluctantly. Zandra stated that she was an agnostic. After going through the test, they both admitted to being concerned about their destination. I told them both what God has done so that they do not have to spend eternity in Hell. They both gladly took Mark Cahill’s book “One Heartbeat Away”. Over her shoulder Zandra smiled and said they both love to read! I will continue to pray for you both Zandra-I think you will find that book enlightening.

Kyle was dressed in black from head to toe. He even had on black nail polish. I asked if he was Goth but he said no. Chris was his younger brother, tagging alongside. When I took them through the test they were both very honest and also very surprised to find they were criminals in God’s eyes. They also both had a head knowledge of Jesus but weren’t really sure why He came. Many people will say that ‘He came to forgive the sins of the world’ as if this is the panacea for sin. I explained to these brothers that Jesus came to pay their penalty-so that God would have a reason to dismiss their case. I told them that in order to claim that payment they must repent of their sin and trust in Jesus alone. I asked them if this made sense to them. They nodded and said, “Yes.” I gave them a Cahill book to share between them.

Having this booth downtown affords a great opportunity to speak in depth to many people. It also serves as a great training tool for people who need to sharpen their skills. Dayna and Steve have just graduated from the Basic Course and they took turns taking many, many people through the Good Person test. It’s sort of a trial by fire. The banners do the work of gathering the people in. By the time the night is over you have had many great conversations, thereby planting much precious seed.

Luke 14:22, 23 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

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