the experience was an eye opener

On Friday night, March 22nd, I went to downtown Minneapolis to see if I could help out with Jesus Freaks.  I was a little apprehensive, but I couldn't come up with any good excuses not to give it a try.

I teamed up with Mike and Phil, so I got to watch the old pros in action.  They are fearless!  They don't hesitate to walk into a bus stop full of people and try to engage as many people as possible. 

At one bus stop a woman started yelling at Mike, telling him that she was sick of Christians trying to force their religion on people, and she stormed away.  Mike wasn't detoured and he followed her and kept trying to engage her.  After a few more minutes of her yelling at Mike, she finally let down her defenses and her story came out.

She claimed to be a bisexual and felt shunned by the church.  She was raised by a mother that was a hypocritical Christian that drank too much and was abusive.  Sadly, the woman didn't come to Christ, but a seed was sown!

Another instance was when a group of six or seven black teenagers were walking toward us and Phil just walked right into the center of them and tried to engage them.  He got them to take some gospel tracks.  Phil surprised me when he said his new focus was going to be on engaging white middle class types.  At first thought, I didn't think that seemed to be such a big goal, but as the night wore on I came to understand what he meant.  When we approached blacks or Hispanics, they were usually willingly to take a gospel tract and give at least a little bit of time to us, but surprisingly the reaction from whites was completely different.  Generally, the whites wouldn't make eye contact.  If they even acknowledged you were trying to hand them something, they wouldn't take it.  Most wouldn't respond to a question, and those that did were usually very short with a "Not interested" type of response.  Phil has his work cut out for him!         

My own personal experience was that when Mike or Phil engaged a group, there were always a couple of people floating around the edge trying to find out what was going on.  I'd approach that type of person.  One on one seemed pretty easy, and if I ran into a stumbling block, I had Mike or Phil bail me out.  I can't claim any great success stories, but one woman said she'd find a Sunday school for kids, and another woman took a bible and asked us to pray for her.

Finally, the experience was an eye opener.  I have spent some time downtown, but never when I was focusing so much on other people.  I was surprised how many broken people are just hanging around downtown.  They were plenty of drunk homeless men, but also young women dressed for male attention trying to get into the nightclubs, the successful that don't need anything, and the angry bisexual waiting for a bus and a Savior.
 
Al 

2nd missions on Friday night

 It has been a blessing from the Lord with the college students coming out with the Jesus Freaks. They come out every time. After we split on Friday night we all walked down both sides of Nicollet. When we met on 11th Kyle and his companions wanted to visit the homeless shelter. I had told him how to get there and here is their story. Praise Jesus!!

Our Friday night consisted of ministering to the homeless. We all had a heart to go to Harbour Lights homeless shelter on Friday night because we knew the harvest would be ripe. As we walked there, everyone had a sense of anxiousness and anxiety because we had never been this up close and personal with the homeless community of the Twin Cites. However, we knew that we are called to serve the poor, broken, and marginalized because before Christ we also we in desperate need.

The night took a dramatic twist upon our arrival though. It was as if God had sent angles to help us with our uneasiness. Right as we approached the sidewalk that led to the shelter's entrance, a white van roared around the corner. Within seconds a man by the name of Scott approached me. He said that he and his team were also sharing the Good News. They had 4 team members along with our 4 and together we started working as a giant army for the Lord.

Scott and his team had set up a table with hotdogs, socks, and gloves and they were distributing them to all who needed their bellies fed and hands warmed. We walked the block telling all the people we encountered that there was hot dogs and Jesus right around the corner! We returned and started putting hands on all the people that would allow us to and we prayed for God to move. We prayed that eyes would be opened to see the love of Christ. 

Ministering to the homeless was an unbelievable experience. To have fellow brothers and sisters there with us to help guide and support us was truly a God send. It is interesting that sometimes we search so hard to encounter God at the gym or grocery store, but  on Friday I saw Him in a totally new way outside a homeless shelter on a cold Friday night. I think one of the best ways to see God move is to be on the battle field, being faithful to the Great Commission.

In Christ,

Kyle 

Oh what a night!

There was 10 of us on the streets of Mpls. proclaiming the Gospel of Christ with enthusiasm and excitement.
There wasn't as many people out as there as when it is warm, but we did not let this stop us from reaching the lost. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16:15

 Phil and I started out walking handing out tracts and we stopped to talk with Ron. He had been drinking and fighting with his girlfriend so he left and was walking the streets to cool off. As we talked the Holy Spirit was already preparing this mans heart. Ron busted into tears as his life was not how he intended it to be in how he could not provide simple gifts for his daughter on her birthday. We stood and listened to Ron unfold his story before us. We prayed for Ron as the Spirit had directed us. A seed was planted in the heart of this man.

We met the rest of the group and we prayed for wisdom, protection,and lives to be open to to hear the Gospel. As we were praying people would walk right through us as we were not even there. We did not let this affect our conversation with our Lord Jesus Christ. We then split up and continued on investing into the lives of others.

We had the privilege of Al walk with us and this was his first time doing any type of evangelism. I had mentioned to him that just let the Holy Spirit lead you. Shortly after that he was talking with others and handing out tracts. When he didn't know what to say Al did not let this little obstacle stop him from witnessing. He would call Phil or I to continue talking with the individual. Or as we we were talking with someone Al would speak with a person that was with our new friend. It was Awesome watching Al being obedient to our Savior. Al was doing this because he wanted to not a way of works, it was out of pure gratitude.

The college students went to Harbor Lights and had there own mission. It is amazing in how the Lord uses us in this HUGE responsibility. It is not a task it is a Passion. Do you have it? 

This is just a little taste of what goes on with the Jesus Freaks. If I was to tell you of what went on the whole night it would take me hours. If you are reading this and have not spent a night with the Jesus Freaks pray about it and find out if this is what the the Lord Jesus Christ has called you to do. How will you know if you don't take that first step in obedience. When you come out to serve the Lord in reaching the lost and it is not His will for you He will let you know.

As for me I Love sharing Jesus Christ and I will not stop until the day I die. If it is only myself on the streets then I will go alone.

 Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Is there no other reason to do it. What is stopping you from furthering the Kingdom of God?

until next time,
Mike 

“Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead"

 

                                                                                   (Matthew 8:22)

Jesus wants you to follow Him at all cost, don’t turn around and find excuses to stop doing  the message of the bible. Apparently, one of the disciples told Jesus that he’ll follow Him later but first he had to go back and bury his father. Jesus said,” Let the dead bury their own dead” Matthew 8:22

Following Jesus with a committed heart requires sacrifices; don’t worry about the mundane and temporal things of this world. The spiritual birth breathes in newness in you, you’d crave for the eternal light in Jesus and it may cost you everything that you own. If you are not born again the things of this world will continue to be of paramount importance to you even though, they are transient but you will also be dead in your sin. I explained the criticality of being born again to one of my Muslim associates. He was confused and said to me, he’d already read the bible a myriad of times, but wasn’t able to apprehend it. I kind of smiled and said to him it is up to the Holy Spirit to guide you and opens up your eyes to see the beauty of the gospel. He shook his head and said, “Man, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get it”. I gave him the parable of the wind which Jesus gave to Nicodemus recorded in John Chapter 3:6-8.

In essence, I was talking to him about the spiritual birth but I was so excited, instead of explaining the whole thing from the beginning I went directly to the parable of the wind to illustrate my point. Nevertheless, I went back and explained to him the source of the spiritual birth.  I clearly told him if he is not born again, he would never be able to see Jesus for who He is.

As the Disciples of Christ, we need to witness by boldly but lovingly proclaiming the righteous work of Christ on the cross. We should be aware of the fact that we can’t change the heart of mankind to see the glory of Christ. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to intervene in one’s life in order to make him or her to see the redeeming work of Christ. The spiritually dead will always be buried in the temporal things of this work so it is a mandate for us as Christians to go out there and sow the seed of the gospel so with God’s grace they will inherit the spiritual birth through which they’ll be able to reap the everlasting fruits of the kingdom of God.

You’re all loved.

Barukzoy

God was directing us

We were at the MOA this past Friday night 6 of us in attendance. We prayed for the Lord to open the hearts and minds of those we would be in contact with. Phil and I paired up and wasted no time in the spreading of the Gospel.

 At times we would witness together with groups or separately with 1 or 2 people. This group of 3 that I witnessed to were unbelieving, so I then asked if they believed wouldn't what I was telling them concern them. They said yes I continue to tell them that there is nothing I can say or do to persuade them to except Christ as there savior. It is between them and God and if they died tonight without the remission of sins they would spend eternity separated from God. They understood and I asked that they would search the bible for what I am saying and do not take my word as truth. I told them that mans word means nothing its Gods word that is truth

One of the women was pregnant and I asked if I could pray for her. As I placed my hand on her shoulder and continued to pray for safety for her and the baby and that God would comfort her. That He would surround them with protection and give her rest and peace. She thanked me. This is one of those times that these people will never forget when a Jesus Freak invested time into there lives. The word of God will never go void.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edgedsword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

We talked with some basketball players from Wheaton College who were in town to play ball against St.Thomas. I did not know it was a Christian college I ended up giving them more tracts to hand out to the lost as they walked. Phil and I prayed with them the Lords will in the game.

Praise Jesus it was a awesome night. There were so many encounters God was directing us every step of the way.
Mike

Hello I am your disease

I have been in recovery for 16 years. I am sober 12 years because of Jesus Christ.

For the last 2 weeks I have been working at a Treatment Center for people with disabilities mostly brain injuries. So it has hit home really strong if you know my testimony you understand. There was this printed letter on the door to a counselors door and I read it. I then went home and found it on the internet. Here it is I hope you enjoy this truth.
Mike

Hello, I am your disease
I Hate meetings...I Hate higher powers...I Hate anyone who has a program. To all who come in contact with me, I wish you death and I wish you suffering. Allow me to introduce myself, I am the disease of addiction. I Am cunning, baffling, and powerful. That's Me. I have killed millions and I am pleased.
I love to catch you with the element of suprise. I love pretending I am your friend and lover. I have given you comfort, haven't I? Wasn't I there when you were lonely? When you wanted to die, didn't you call on me? I was there, I love to make you hurt. I love to make you cry. Better yet, I Love to make you so numb you can neither hurt nor cry. When you can't feel anything at all. This is true gratification. And all that I ask from you is long term suffering. I've been there for you always.

When things were going right in your life, you invited me. You said you didn't deserve these good things, and I was the only one who would agree with you. Together we were able to destroy all the good things in your life. People don't take me seriously. They take strokes seriously, heart attacks, even diabetes, they take seriously. Fools. Without my help these things would not be possible. I am such a hated disease, and yet I do not come uninvited. You choose to have me. So many have chosen me over reality and peace.

More than you hate me, I hate all of you who have a 12 step program. Your program, Your meeting, Your higher power. All of these things weaken me, and I can't function in the manner I am accustomed to. Now I must lie here quietly. You don't see me but I am growing bigger than ever. When you only exist, I may live. When you live I may only exist. But I am here...

And until we meet again, If we meet again, I wish you death and suffering.