Post by messengermicah on Jan 21, 2010 17:30:35 GMT -5
Tuesday January 12, 2010-University of South Florida-Tampa, Florida: We had originally intended to begin preaching the previous week (1/5-1/09) at the University of Florida as it was one of the few schools in the state open that week. However, due to the unusually cold temperatures (more global warming) for this area of the country with high temperatures in the high forties and low fifties we decided to wait until this week to begin.
On Monday (January 11) the weather was still very cold for this part of Florida (high in the mid 50’s) and we decided to begin on Tuesday.
By Tuesday the temperatures were still cold in Tampa (high of 55) but clear sunny skies. Sister Elizabeth and I arrived on campus around 11:50 AM and I began preaching around noon.
There were already students sitting around the Cooper Hall area (the designated free speech area) as usual and I was immediately able to get the attention of some of the students. When I first began preaching on this campus in 2006 it was very difficult to gain the attention of the students. Sometimes it still is.
STRONGHOLDS ON CAMPUS
The crowd grew for some time to around 50-70 and then went down to around 25-35. This campus seems to be more unpredictable than others and the students tend to be less attentive and more rowdy. There seems to be so many strongholds on this campus such as Islam, atheism, homosexuality, hypocrisy, etc.
The crowd size remained around 25-35 until around 1:00 PM and then began to grow again. The crowd continued growing to around 175-225. For a crowd this size on this campus the students seemed to be fairly attentive and formed a large semi-circle all around me while keeping their space.
Around 1:45 PM to 2:00 PM the order and attentiveness of the crowd seemed to deteriorate and the crowd closed in on me. Students began to walk up in my face and try to stand in front of me and follow me around.
As the students moved in around me and tried to crowd me in I walked over to the nearest table, stood on the chair of the table, faced the crowd and continued preaching.
I continued preaching this way until around 2:20 PM. By this time the crowd was back down to around 20-30. At this point I stepped down from the chair and went from preaching to answering questions, conversational, and teaching.
A GENUINE CHRISTIAN?
I was encouraged by one student who seemed to really support the preaching, understood the purpose and helped defend the preaching by helping to answer the students’ questions.
I seemed to make very good progress with a few students who had been opposing me earlier but now were much more open and receptive after talking to me and allowing me to answer their questions.
By 3:30 PM I was down to 2-3 students and I began to leave. I was encouraged as we made our departure a student we had talked to extensively last year approached me and asked me several sincere theological questions. Last year, this student was greatly concerned about having committed the unpardonable sin but now seemed to be genuinely endeavoring to serve the Lord with all his heart.
Wednesday January 13, 2010-University of South Florida-Tampa, Florida: The temperatures were still fairly cold for Florida this time of year (high of around 60) but again the skies were clear and sunny.
I began preaching in the free speech area at 12:05 PM and immediately gained the attention of a small group of students who asked questions. The crowd continued to grow to around 50-60.
VOICE DIFFICULTIES
Around 12:30 PM my voice seemed to be giving out and I did not know if I would be able to continue. The crowd dwindled down to around 20-30 but I persevered and struggled through until my voice seemed to strengthen again until it became clear, clarion, and booming.
The crowd size really began to grow and two police officers were on hand. From 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM the crowd seemed to stay from 200-300 as they formed a large circle all around me and kept a good distance.
Although the crowd was somewhat boisterous and playful the majority seemed to be listening well especially for a crowd that size on this campus. I believe the police presence had a lot to do with the crowd maintaining some civility. I think they probably would have crowded me in if the police were not on hand.
GOOD JOB BY POLICE
Some students moved in and tried to follow me around and the police made them move back into the crowd. They did a good job of maintaining order and not interfering.
I continued preaching to the large rowdy crowd until 3:00 PM. The size and rowdiness of the crowd plus struggling through my weak voice caused me to work very hard so I was somewhat tired at this point.
Since we had some errands to get done we did not stay around after the preaching but headed out planning on returning the next day.
Thursday January 14, 2010-University of South Florida-Tampa, Florida: I woke up today planning to return to campus but my voice was in terrible shape. I was scheduled to preach in a church that night. I decided if I preached on campus it would have to be for a short time only and would further weaken my voice making it difficult or impossible to preach in church that night. I decided to rest my voice from the campus and try to let it recover before the evening service.
Sometimes I have voice difficulties after not preaching on campus after a several week break.
That evening the Lord helped me to preach for about one hour on “Advancing the Kingdom of God”. It seemed to be a real blessing to the pastor and his church.