Post by Jesse Morrell on Dec 12, 2005 15:46:30 GMT -5
Salvation in the Streets
December 10th, 2005
I received a phone call from some friends from Teen Mania Ministries. They said they were on their way to the Dallas abortion clinic to protest, and wanted to know if I could come. I already had plans for the morning, but asked if they wanted to go open air preaching in downtown Dallas in the afternoon. They were available so we agreed to meet.
I went to the West End Transfer Center where I have had quite a few problems with police before. So as soon as I arrived I asked one of the security guards if he had any problems with me preaching there. He said, “It’s free speech. You can preach wherever you want to speak.”
I have a brief case that I put a bunch of Christian bumpers stickers on. I put it in front of me when I preach, and people stop to read the bumper stickers. Then I can engage them in dialog. One of the stickers says “Boycott Hell – Repent!”
A man named Regional stopped and started talking to me. After speaking for a little while he asked for prayer. When I asked what for, he said, “Deliverance from sin.” Praise God! So I prayed with him that God would save him from his sins.
I started to on a brick platform, and three young kids sat on a nearby fence to listen. I engaged them in questions and was able to share the entire law and grace with them. After a while of listening, they needed to go, but seemed genuine and sincere during the time they had listened.
I continued to preach when my friends from Teen Mania arrived. A man dressed as a cowboy was walking by, listened a little bit, and then knelt down in front of me saying, “Pray for me preacher!” I asked he if was genuine or if he was mocking and he simply stood up and smiled. I perceived he was a mocker, so I began to rebuke him, asking him if he had any idea what God would do to mockers on Judgment Day.
Eventually others stopped to listen. One woman who was with her teenage son started yelling at me. “You don’t know your bible, etc.” As I preached about repentance, and said “if you don’t turn away from sin you’ll go to hell”, she said, “No your wrong! God forgives EVERYBODY”. I explained that God could forgive everyone, but that God hasn’t forgiven everyone. If someone turns away from sin and turns to Jesus Christ, they can be forgiveness. But if you die in sin, you won’t go to heaven but hell. She started justifying drunkenness and other things, but eventually walked off.
Just as a very nice crowd started to gather, a “Dart” officer came by and said I had to leave. He said that Dart owned the property I was on for the buses and the train, and so I had to leave. I ended up walking across the street to a better location and preached some more.
The Dart official, Baxter, came over there and said I had to leave this place too. I asked, “Specifically, which dart policy am I violating? And can you show me it in writing.” He started by saying, it’s a safety issue. When I saw you over there, the crowd was getting closer and closer to the tracts.” I said, “But it’s safe over here. Why can’t I preach here?” He said, “Its darts property.” I said, “But it’s open to the public.” He said, “Someone could call and make a complaint that you’re causing a nuisance. Then the cops will ask you to leave.” I said, “Only if it’s a justified complaint. Some complaints aren’t justified. You can’t ask me to stop speaking just because someone doesn’t like my speech.” He said, “You’re loitering.” I said, “No, loitering is when you don’t have a purpose to be somewhere. I have a purpose. My purpose is to practice free speech.” Finally I said, “Baxter, it looks like your making this up as you go along. Are you commanding me to leave, or requesting me to leave? Are you just making a suggestion?” He said, “Well, I’m just suggesting it…” I said, “Thank you for your suggestion, but I’m going to keep preaching.”
I began to preach and started going back and forth with a heckler, but then one of the Christians I was with started to talk with the heckler and stole him from me! I’ve had this happen to me so many times, you finally get a heckler and one of the guys your with thinks he has the perfect answer for him, starts to talk with him, and then you the preacher are completely forgotten! And on the streets it’s hard to get a heckler sometimes. So I gave up open air and let them continue their one2one, but started up again later.
There was a group of teenage thugs walking by. One had a shirt on that said "F___YOU". So I pointed him out and said, "What is that on your shirt!" The group cheerfully said, "F___YOU!" I said, "Who taught you to talk like that! That's not very polite!" They yelled back some stuff. I said, "There is a sewer in your heart so there is a potty in your mouth! PPOOTTTYYY MMMOOOUUUTTHH!"
They came up and started threatening me. Getting in my face and saying they were going to beat me up for calling them potty mouths. I said, "You guys could beat me up or punch me or do whatever you want to do. But I want you to know that I care about you. The bible says you need a new heart. Your heart is sinful, and God wants to give you a new one. A lot of people don't care about you. Like cigarette companies who only want your money, they don't care if you get cancer. But I do care about you, and so I'll tell you the truth, that if you don't become born again, you won't see the Kingdom. So punch me or kick me or do whatever you want. But I still love you guys."
Within a minute they changed from wanting to punch me, to asking if they could shake my hand. The whole group of them walked up to me and the group of Christians I was with, and said, "I appreciate what you’re doing. Can I shake your hand?"
Once they left, a man named Bill came over and asked if I could pray with him for Salvation. I didn’t make any sort of altar call or anything but was just preaching, and he asked for prayer! I talked with him and made sure he knew he was giving up his sins, and when he still wanted prayer, we all huddled together to pray for him. He rolled up his sleeve to show a tattoo that said, “LUCIFER”. He said, “I did it when I was very angry. I’m sorry” with deep remorse in his voice. So we prayed that God would touch him and make him knew, and then he prayed the same. His eyes went from being wet with tears to glowing with joy!
The team told me that as I walked to the car to get him a bible, he stood up on the platform and said, “I don’t even know what to say. But, but, God’s made me new!” He was already testifying to others what God did in him!
The rest of the team needed to leave at this point, but I decided to stay longer and keep preaching. I started by talking about how some don’t want anyone to say, “Merry Christmas” anymore because it’s offensive. I explained how muslims would be offended if we tried to tell them they couldn’t say Ramadan anymore and how jews would be offended if we told them they couldn’t say “Happy Chanukah” anymore. Nobody wants to change the name Ramadan or Chanukah, so why are people trying to change the name Christmas to “Happy Holidays!” Which holy day is it? It’s Christmas! The celebration of Jesus Christ! I explained that there were many grintches today who are trying to steal Christmas! And it’s because many people hate Christ.
Some stopped to listen. I engaged one old man who was there the longest. His name was Russell. He just got released from prison after serving 8 years. He asked many questions, some spiritual, some political. But it was enough to get the interest of others to stop and listen. He said he had already been born again, and so I encouraged him to continue reading the bible and living for God.
I then wrapped it up and went home. I am still thrilled about those two men, one at the beginning of the day and the other at the end of the day who came up during the preaching to ask for prayer for salvation! Praise God!
December 10th, 2005
I received a phone call from some friends from Teen Mania Ministries. They said they were on their way to the Dallas abortion clinic to protest, and wanted to know if I could come. I already had plans for the morning, but asked if they wanted to go open air preaching in downtown Dallas in the afternoon. They were available so we agreed to meet.
I went to the West End Transfer Center where I have had quite a few problems with police before. So as soon as I arrived I asked one of the security guards if he had any problems with me preaching there. He said, “It’s free speech. You can preach wherever you want to speak.”
I have a brief case that I put a bunch of Christian bumpers stickers on. I put it in front of me when I preach, and people stop to read the bumper stickers. Then I can engage them in dialog. One of the stickers says “Boycott Hell – Repent!”
A man named Regional stopped and started talking to me. After speaking for a little while he asked for prayer. When I asked what for, he said, “Deliverance from sin.” Praise God! So I prayed with him that God would save him from his sins.
I started to on a brick platform, and three young kids sat on a nearby fence to listen. I engaged them in questions and was able to share the entire law and grace with them. After a while of listening, they needed to go, but seemed genuine and sincere during the time they had listened.
I continued to preach when my friends from Teen Mania arrived. A man dressed as a cowboy was walking by, listened a little bit, and then knelt down in front of me saying, “Pray for me preacher!” I asked he if was genuine or if he was mocking and he simply stood up and smiled. I perceived he was a mocker, so I began to rebuke him, asking him if he had any idea what God would do to mockers on Judgment Day.
Eventually others stopped to listen. One woman who was with her teenage son started yelling at me. “You don’t know your bible, etc.” As I preached about repentance, and said “if you don’t turn away from sin you’ll go to hell”, she said, “No your wrong! God forgives EVERYBODY”. I explained that God could forgive everyone, but that God hasn’t forgiven everyone. If someone turns away from sin and turns to Jesus Christ, they can be forgiveness. But if you die in sin, you won’t go to heaven but hell. She started justifying drunkenness and other things, but eventually walked off.
Just as a very nice crowd started to gather, a “Dart” officer came by and said I had to leave. He said that Dart owned the property I was on for the buses and the train, and so I had to leave. I ended up walking across the street to a better location and preached some more.
The Dart official, Baxter, came over there and said I had to leave this place too. I asked, “Specifically, which dart policy am I violating? And can you show me it in writing.” He started by saying, it’s a safety issue. When I saw you over there, the crowd was getting closer and closer to the tracts.” I said, “But it’s safe over here. Why can’t I preach here?” He said, “Its darts property.” I said, “But it’s open to the public.” He said, “Someone could call and make a complaint that you’re causing a nuisance. Then the cops will ask you to leave.” I said, “Only if it’s a justified complaint. Some complaints aren’t justified. You can’t ask me to stop speaking just because someone doesn’t like my speech.” He said, “You’re loitering.” I said, “No, loitering is when you don’t have a purpose to be somewhere. I have a purpose. My purpose is to practice free speech.” Finally I said, “Baxter, it looks like your making this up as you go along. Are you commanding me to leave, or requesting me to leave? Are you just making a suggestion?” He said, “Well, I’m just suggesting it…” I said, “Thank you for your suggestion, but I’m going to keep preaching.”
I began to preach and started going back and forth with a heckler, but then one of the Christians I was with started to talk with the heckler and stole him from me! I’ve had this happen to me so many times, you finally get a heckler and one of the guys your with thinks he has the perfect answer for him, starts to talk with him, and then you the preacher are completely forgotten! And on the streets it’s hard to get a heckler sometimes. So I gave up open air and let them continue their one2one, but started up again later.
There was a group of teenage thugs walking by. One had a shirt on that said "F___YOU". So I pointed him out and said, "What is that on your shirt!" The group cheerfully said, "F___YOU!" I said, "Who taught you to talk like that! That's not very polite!" They yelled back some stuff. I said, "There is a sewer in your heart so there is a potty in your mouth! PPOOTTTYYY MMMOOOUUUTTHH!"
They came up and started threatening me. Getting in my face and saying they were going to beat me up for calling them potty mouths. I said, "You guys could beat me up or punch me or do whatever you want to do. But I want you to know that I care about you. The bible says you need a new heart. Your heart is sinful, and God wants to give you a new one. A lot of people don't care about you. Like cigarette companies who only want your money, they don't care if you get cancer. But I do care about you, and so I'll tell you the truth, that if you don't become born again, you won't see the Kingdom. So punch me or kick me or do whatever you want. But I still love you guys."
Within a minute they changed from wanting to punch me, to asking if they could shake my hand. The whole group of them walked up to me and the group of Christians I was with, and said, "I appreciate what you’re doing. Can I shake your hand?"
Once they left, a man named Bill came over and asked if I could pray with him for Salvation. I didn’t make any sort of altar call or anything but was just preaching, and he asked for prayer! I talked with him and made sure he knew he was giving up his sins, and when he still wanted prayer, we all huddled together to pray for him. He rolled up his sleeve to show a tattoo that said, “LUCIFER”. He said, “I did it when I was very angry. I’m sorry” with deep remorse in his voice. So we prayed that God would touch him and make him knew, and then he prayed the same. His eyes went from being wet with tears to glowing with joy!
The team told me that as I walked to the car to get him a bible, he stood up on the platform and said, “I don’t even know what to say. But, but, God’s made me new!” He was already testifying to others what God did in him!
The rest of the team needed to leave at this point, but I decided to stay longer and keep preaching. I started by talking about how some don’t want anyone to say, “Merry Christmas” anymore because it’s offensive. I explained how muslims would be offended if we tried to tell them they couldn’t say Ramadan anymore and how jews would be offended if we told them they couldn’t say “Happy Chanukah” anymore. Nobody wants to change the name Ramadan or Chanukah, so why are people trying to change the name Christmas to “Happy Holidays!” Which holy day is it? It’s Christmas! The celebration of Jesus Christ! I explained that there were many grintches today who are trying to steal Christmas! And it’s because many people hate Christ.
Some stopped to listen. I engaged one old man who was there the longest. His name was Russell. He just got released from prison after serving 8 years. He asked many questions, some spiritual, some political. But it was enough to get the interest of others to stop and listen. He said he had already been born again, and so I encouraged him to continue reading the bible and living for God.
I then wrapped it up and went home. I am still thrilled about those two men, one at the beginning of the day and the other at the end of the day who came up during the preaching to ask for prayer for salvation! Praise God!