Memorial Day Weekend: The Conspicuous Gallantry of Jesus Christ

Mary and I got a chance to get down to the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market on Memorial Day weekend. The corner of 4th & Court Avenue was open, so we set up there. Many gospel tracts went out, and I was able to speak about the amazing love of God demonstrated for us on the cross of Calvary.

During our time there, Mary had a fantastic 30-40 minute conversation with Shalih, a muslim man from Iraq. She had given him a "CONTRADICT" tract (below left), and as he stopped to look at it, she asked him if he had any questions, which he did. After a while, they moved out of the street into the shade of the buildings on 4th Ave, as you can see in the picture (below right).

Shalih started with the question of who was Melchizedek - can you believe it? How would you like to get that question? Wow, talk about jumping right into deep waters! But Mary patiently had a conversation with this man, who has bought in to the misconceptions and un-truths that Islam has cast on true Biblical Christianity: that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same, Jesus was a man, and not God come in the flesh, that good works are necessary for salvation, why all the different Bible versions if Christianity is true, etc.

Now, we know that Issa, the Jesus of the Q'uran, is not the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible; We know that God has revealed himself in his word as THE one-in-three, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; we know that there is no other name (other than Jesus) under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. Our goal is to present the true gospel of Jesus Christ to all men, so that they may be convicted by the Holy Ghost, repent towards the God of the Bible (who all men do know, according to Romans 1) and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. So this is for Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Janes, Buddhists, Roman & Orthodox Catholics, Coptics, Protestant Christians, Pagans, Wiccans, Satanists, Atheists, Animists,...all men everywhere (Acts 17:24-31).

Overall a very good day. Pray for Shalih, and pray for Mary as she studies God's word and how to respond to the challenges & questions that come her way as she holds forth the word of truth. Praise God for his goodness and mercy towards us.

Here is the LINK to the open air preaching.
Please note there is a lot of street noise in this audio, but it's not a problem with your speakers or my recorder. This is what it is like preaching open air, and it is very different than sitting in a comfy church building with great sound systems and comfy chairs. I hope you enjoy the experience. There are a few minutes of delay as we were getting set up. You will hear us pray, and then Mary heads across the street with tracts while I get ready to preach the gospel.

An Update on the ISS website....

God is great.
Lots of evangelism going on.
Frank is wrapping up in Utah with his outreach to Mormons at the annual Manti Miracle Pageant.
I've been out several times with some of our witnessing crosses, and was able to make it to the little Farmers Market here in Marshalltown for the first time this season.

Just wanted to let you know that we continue to work on this website:

Added some links to the side bar:
1. www.mormoninfo.org
2. www.jwinfo.org
3. www.musliminfo.org
4. www.courageouschristiansunited.org

These include some helpful information for people involved in Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), Jehovah's Witness, and the religion of Islam. I hope they help you minister to those involved in these religions, and that precious souls who are trapped in these religions would escape to the freedom and eternal life that is in Jesus Christ.

Started adding some pictures to the "Pictures" tab that Frank set up. Still trying to figure out how to use this page effectively, so check back if you're interested...it may get better.

I did complete the gospel message on the "How to Become a Child of God" tab. This is such an important subject, so I hope I have it presented in a way that is understandable to the reader and faithful to God's word. If I can find a way to communicate this message of hope and love better, and still warn sinners to flee from the coming wrath, I will make revisions as needed. What I don't want to do is to appeal to man's emotions, or make the gospel some kind of sales gimmick. For those of you who pray for us and our ministry, please pray that in all things we would faithfully proclaim the gospel in a Biblical, God-centered and God-honoring manner. And pray that we would be an encouragement to the body of Christ, and that people will come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the efforts of those of us who participate on this website.

May God richly bless you.