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Post by Josh Parsley on Mar 21, 2006 18:51:39 GMT -5
March 17-18
Friday night-
It seemed to be a wild night since it was St. Patrick's Day. Not long after we got there I started preaching. There was a woman who asked me if we had signs about women submitting to their husbands. (this is because there are some Anabaptist type (Mennonite) brethren that hold signs about that) I told her no, but feminist need to repent. She came unglued. She tried to run at me and who knows what she would have done but her boyfriend (?) held her back. He had to pick her up off the ground (she was very small) so she wouldn't run at me. Her legs and arms were flapping like a bird. I just kept on preaching. We then moved down the street and preached for awhile. I had one woman that was very intoxicated start yelling nonsense at me. She then stopped talking to me and went to my fellow laborer, Clint. I looked over to see how he was handling her and she was on her knees in front of him begging him to tell her why we were out there and what church. She was surely crazy. The police then came and made her leave.
I moved to another part of the street and began preaching. A man came up to me and started yelling, "For all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God!" I then promptly replied, "All need to repent then!" He kept quoting that verse and I would respond the same way. Is that what you call tag team preaching with a heckler?
Saturday night-
It was cold and rainy so there wasn't many people out. We did go out and stand on the corner and hold signs. A few came and would make comments. We walked down the street and while we were walking by the Walton Art Center, there was a large group of people. They seen me with my sign and said, "Go home!" I responded, "Oh no I can't do that. This is a great spot." So I started preaching. The crowd stayed around for about 10 mins or so. I had a few hecklers. When the hecklers left so did the crowd.
I'm ready for warm weather!
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Post by HDmatt on Mar 21, 2006 20:15:39 GMT -5
Awesome report bro, keep firing away, may God give the increase!
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Post by messengermicah on Mar 21, 2006 20:55:05 GMT -5
Thank you for the report brother.
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Post by evangelista on Mar 22, 2006 11:14:16 GMT -5
Great report.
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Post by lizlovesjesus on Mar 24, 2006 19:13:39 GMT -5
Keep preaching and God bless you for sharing this with all.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Mar 28, 2006 20:32:12 GMT -5
March 24-25 Friday Night- We brought the video camera out. It was a very slow night. I am assuming the reason is because of spring break. We taped a few one-2-one’s, but the sound isn’t good because of the traffic. I had 2 different people call me a sinner because I was warring Nike shoes. I haven’t heard anything about it but I guess Nike got busted for some type of child labor? Anytime you start talking about sin, people always try to change the subject, and when possible try to bring it back on you. We ended up going home early. Saturday- Saturday was just about night and day difference from Friday night. The crowd size was normal. John Lata, a brother from Morrow, AR, came out and labored with us. It is always a blessing to have other Christians to come and labor for the Kingdom of God. We talked to one man for a good while. He kept saying that to beat the devil you had to go down that road. That was his excuse for coming to the bar. It was also this man’s bachelor party. While we were talking to this man a long line seemed to be forming across the road at a club. At first we just preached to them across the street because there wasn’t much room to preach where the people were. John preached for awhile, and then I did. When I was preaching one man kept waving me over to him and telling me to come over there. So, I went. He didn’t heckle or anything like I expected. There was one man that started trying to argue with me, but quickly shutdown under conviction. You could tell sudden change in him when I started to talk to him directly and focus on him. He started going through his phone numbers on his cell phone looking for someone to call. He could find anyone. Then he started keeping his back to me trying to ignore me. That didn’t work so he ended up leaving. I pray that he went home! I could tell he was very troubled in conscience. I preached for quite a long time to the line. At about 1 am I said, “It’s now Sunday morning and time for Sunday School!” “Now the lesson today is Titus 1-15,16.” They didn’t seem to find it too humorous. Oh well! I had some guy come up and would punch my sandwich board and then just stand there. After about 2 punches he started talking. (Not me punching him! Him punching my board.) He ended up telling me that I had a pure heart and I shouldn’t have a sign like that. The sign I had was Rev 21:8, and on the back it says “God commands You to Repent because He will judge the world in righteousness.” (Acts 17;30-31) I didn’t really understand what he was doing. He started off punching my board and then ended up telling me how pure of a heart I had… Not long after this someone fell and knocked over a gate, and some guy started yelling. The police came and frisked a few guys and let them go. I really don’t know what happened. We then left after that since it was getting so late. I want to tell everyone “thanks” for the prayer as the police didn’t hassle me this weekend.
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Post by messengermicah on Mar 28, 2006 20:35:55 GMT -5
Josh,
Did you talk to Paul?
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Post by Josh Parsley on Mar 28, 2006 21:00:43 GMT -5
Yes. He suggested that I bring a recorder with me and camcorder. He seems like he may be a good contact to have. Thanks.
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Post by lizlovesjesus on Mar 28, 2006 21:11:36 GMT -5
I like that bit about Sunday school.Thats hilarious!!!
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Post by Josh Parsley on Apr 2, 2006 21:15:09 GMT -5
Teachers, Atheists, and TheologiansFriday- Friday was a very busy night. I will try to share some highlights. Not long after we got there a few college students came up to us with a video recorder. They said they were doing some work for a class about "reality." They asked me what my reality was, so I preached to them. I talked about conscience, sin, rebellion, and the Gospel. Then they asked me if science and religion mixed or what I thought about them. I told them that there is no problem with science and religion. Science tells you how something works. God tells you why. They later said that it was going to be shown to the whole class. Please pray about that. I think it's great that the Gospel will make it inside the class room! Then I talked to 3 Mormon girls. I think they were backslidden Mormons since they were out at the bar scene. They really didn't even know a lot of the Mormon doctrine. I believe they were newly 'converted.' I talked to them about what it really means to be born again and live by grace and Gods power. Mormons believe that salvation comes from " obeying the laws and ordinances of the Book of Mormon." I don’t think you could have asked for a better conversation. They admitted I had given them a lot to think about for the night. I gave them a Gospel tract as they walked off. They then came back a few moments later and gave me a Book of Mormon. I decided to take it because I don't think they would have taken my tract if I had not. She told me that there was no contradictions in that book with the Bible. I asked for her e-mail address and if I found some I would e-mail her. So I did a little studying about Mormons and I plan on e-mailing her. I pray that we could keep in contact. She seemed very open during our conversation. Then I seen a teacher from the school I work at. She was very embarrassed to see me out there-either that or embarrassed to be out there herself. She covered her mouth and ran over to her friend in amazement. We then walked down the road and talked to a few men that were in the "outside part" of a bar. We had a good, long conversation with him. I talked to an atheist for awhile and reasoned with him. I then walked down the road to the bar I preached at last week. I preached there for a few minutes and then a bouncer came over to me and said, "The police said if you yell over here that I should call them." The bouncer really didn't have a problem but was going to do what the police asked him to do. There was a big crowd outside of that bar, but I decided to move to the other side of the street because there were plenty of people over there. I preached for awhile and got one angry heckler. For some reason it seemed the whole street just cleared when I started preaching (anyone else ever have that problem? ) My friend talked to the heckler as I moved down the street where all the people seemed to be. I had a crowd of a few heckling me and asking questions. I then talked to about 4 guys for probably an hour or so about what sin actually is. They thought that temptation was sin, and that is why they could not repent- they claimed it impossible. It was a really good conversation they seemed to understand that they could by the grace of God turn from sin and serve God. Not long after this a black man came up to me and started singing what sounded like a Christian choir song. I was actually amazed at the voice he had. Several people began to gather around as I let him sing. After he stopped singing he started "preaching" to me. And said how God loves everyone. It gathered a large crowd. I would guess somewhere around 30-40 were around. We seemed to have so many people come up to us and talk to us as we were leaving. This was probably one of the best nights we have had out in awhile. There were lots of people and most of the people that talked to us were not angry but very calm and seemed to want to listen. Praise God! I talked to one man who was about to get his doctorate in theology. He said he had an IQ of 184. He did seem very smart- but actually one of the most foolish person I have met. He claimed to be a god. He said there was no such thing as sin, rebellion, or Hell. I have talked to this man before and he wants to be a missionary so he can get out of this "blanking" country. He said he had deity powers because he could call a number on his phone and someone would pick him up. He said that the egg is cracked an now we have to be as gods… or something like that. We stayed out longer than usually this night. I think we got out there about 9:30pm and left about 2:35am. Saturday- We didn’t stay out long this night. We got out there a little late and left early. I preached for awhile and then we just walked around and talked to a few folks. A few police officers came up to us and said someone had called and complained about us. They were very nice and knew we weren't causing any problems. They said they were required to tell us about the complaint and to take down our names. I was glad to see the police knew we weren't causing problems and didn't try to do anything about us being there. They just told us they didn’t want us to get harmed and if someone tried to get physical we should leave. I pray the police stay that polite to us. I fear they won't. Sunday- I went to orientation for jail ministers. Nothing much to say about it. I just sat and listened to the rules. I need to contact them this week and set up an appointment to get my fingerprints and all that. I've been checking the jail's website and sadly enough I know several that are in there. Even if I am not able to go to the jail regularly I will be able to minister to anyone I know that is in there, when I see that they have been booked.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Apr 16, 2006 15:13:20 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't write and update last weekend... I just didn't get around to it. Friday- When we first got out on the street a homeless man came up to us and asked us for money. I asked him what he wanted it for and he said, "to find something to do." Which I would assume to mean alcohol or drugs. We bought him a sub from the sandwich shop. After I came out of the shop I seen a group of people across the street waiting to get into the bar. I got across the road ASAP and began preaching. I preached to them until they all made it inside. After I crossed the road again to a few lesbians came out and yelled at me and asked, "what about lesbians?!" I told them they needed to repent so they started making out right there on the sidewalk. Then a man came out and wanted to talk to us so I crossed the road. He said he was a Christian and he was just like me at one time. Then he began to lose friends because of being a Christian. So then he prayed to "Jesus" and he told him to "open up his mind, loosen up." He tried to justify his life with scripture, but had no true conception of God. Later on in the night, I was preaching and had a small crowd. A man came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. People do this all the time to get my attention while I'm preaching to get me to stop and answer their question. I usually ignore them for a moment and then address what their question is. This guy did not have a question, nor did he waste any time doing what he planned on. He came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and then said, "How are you doing?!" as he grabbed my privates and then ran back into the bar. Obviously that got my attention! I began to rebuke him and preach against homosexuals and sodomites. Then a man that was in the crowd got very mad because he was one. My town, Fayetteville, seems to be getting more vile and wicked every weekend. Saturday- I went to get my background check and fingerprints for the jail ministry. I also got to go into a cellblock with a brother that has been doing it for awhile. As soon as he walked in they all knew him and a few of them seemed excited to see us. Saturday night- I didn't preach as much this night as the night before. We are beginning to see the same people over and over. When we walk down the street most of the bouncers know us and some will make comments like, "I hate those **** Christians!" "Their BACKKKK!" Lately we have been preaching a lot in front of a bar called "Zoo Lou's" (I may have spelled that wrong.. It sounds like "zoo lose"). When OAO was here I remember Jesse saying, "If you sin, zoo lose!" That's always a good line to use when preaching in front of there. The bouncer there claims to be Satan himself. While I was preaching a teacher from the school I work at came up to me and said, "I bet my friend that you would give me a hug. Will you give me one? Jesus gave the woman at the well a hug!" I of course declined and corrected her about Jesus and the woman at the well. She just thought she would come mock me. She is the type that puts on the front that everything she does is cute and innocent, but then acts like a venomous snake. Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Pro 6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. It will be interesting the next time I see her at school. I wonder what she will say. I man came up to me and said I was preaching hate and was an antichrist. He was saying this because of our sign. It says be not deceived.. and then has the list of people that are in 1 Cor 6. I explained to him that it was not hate. If I were to say to a man that was about to drink poison and thought it was just water, I might say, "Be not deceived! This is not water! It will kill you!" That would not be a hateful statement, but really one of love and warning. He agreed with me about that but still thought we were preaching hate. There were less people this night, but at least everyone kept their hands to themselves.
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Post by Miles Lewis on Apr 16, 2006 16:04:20 GMT -5
Oh yes! I remember that den of iniquity... Yeah, that was a funny line, I don't know how Jesse comes up with so many of these sharp one liners, often on the spot.
I would have said, "Lesbians? Well... I sympathize with them..." ;D Usually gets a laugh but is not always appropriate if you are trying to be serious when rebuking someone.
Sounds like you had a wild night bro. It looks as if you are making no small stir in your town. Keep up the good work.
Miles
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Post by Josh Parsley on Apr 17, 2006 8:14:50 GMT -5
The teacher that I seen that asked for a hug. She just came to me while at work and apologized. I'm assuming she feels guilty. I pray she would be convicted and converted.
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Post by Kerrigan on Apr 17, 2006 11:41:53 GMT -5
Keep it up brother!
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Post by Josh Parsley on Apr 26, 2006 21:38:17 GMT -5
Friday-
So much happens on the weekend it is always so hard to put it all together and not get one day mixed up with another or leave something out. I plan on making some recordings sometime soon so if anyone that is interested in listening to some OA preaching they can. I guess if I would get myself in gear and start getting serious about getting my church a website I would be able to have a page for the OA outreaches we do. If anyone knows any good host or have some info let me know.
I usually meet Clint (my fellow laborer in Christ) before we go out on Friday and eat. This time he had someone with him. He had picked up a homeless man off of the side of the road. The last 3 weeks we have helped a different homeless man every weekend. I don't know if there is getting to be more of them or just I am noticing more. We bought him food at Brahm's (I am not sure that is spelled right..). Then we bought him a small tent at Wal-Mart because all he had was a sleeping bag. He said he would meet Clint Sunday morning at McDonalds to come to church.
We then hit the streets. Friday nights seem to be our long night. We seem to get out there a little early and stay out late. I decided to preach in front of Zoo Loos again and the same man that I call "The Grappler" (read the last report to know why) came out and decided to remind me who he was. I didn't recognize him completely but had a feeling about him, so I covered myself up. He came up to me and tried to do the same as he did last week but I was ready for him. So I reared back and gave him a good dose of… love! I preached to him. Pro 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. It is interesting when you preach in the same location over and over. Some people begin to just hate you, and others disagree but respect you very highly and will even stand up for you. It is very interesting… There was one woman that did get prayed for. I didn't pray for her myself but I brother that is from Missouri did. She was convicted and wanted strength. Sadly enough I seen her several hours later still out on the street with her friends, but still I pray it convicted her deeply. Oh how frustrating it is to see how far removed "christianity" is from the Gospel that saves! So many pastors and preachers (puppets?) are damning people to Hell. So many have been comforted in their sins and are just told "that's just they way humans are" that they think it is fine. People think that salvation is just some formula. If I do A and B then I will receive heaven. No, no, no… Salvation is a revealing of Christ to a person in their inner most being to where the love of God (see 1 John 5:3) is imparted so that we actually obey Him. Anything less than that will not save a person but only give them a vaccination to the Truth. Oh! Don't these preachers know they are an abomination to God?! Proverbs 17:15 "He that justifieth the wicked,…. [is an] abomination to the LORD. " Remember that verse if you ever say so someone, "Great! Now you are saved!" The Spirit will tell them if they are or not, we shouldn't overstep our bounds. You just preach, the Spirit will confirm.
Saturday-
Saturday was a good overall night. It is turning out that Friday night is our long night and on Saturdays we do now stay out as late. I have been studying apologetics lately and I got to use some of it with an atheist I spoke with. I thank God for the wealth of knowledge that is in Him. So much…
Nothing too out of the ordinary this night. Just a good night of solid preaching.
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