Last night was another great night of witnessing with Team Hope. I really wasn't feeling very well, so when we split into teams I thought I would join one of the groups going to one of the "milder" areas. But alas that was not to be. Again I was with the team that went to "The Rock" (from my last post) and into the lion's den. I started to talk with a couple of young men who were very...I don't know how to describe it, is there a word harsher than hostile? The conversation started with many @$#*%. But I just kept kindly sharing with them and listening to them and soon they were asking questions. They told me that essentially they love their sin, and that is that. But at least they were able to begin in dialog, which was not the case last week. Gabe started to open air preach and that really set off a storm. A group stood about 5 feet away from him and just started yelling at the top of their lungs. Funny, but this actually angered some of the anti-Christians and told them to shut up, which they did and the Gospel was shared. I did run into Craig from last week who said he had not had a chance to read the book I had given him, but fully intends to. He also made an interesting comment. He said that he thinks he comes to The Rock on Fridays knowing we Christians will be there to talk to, rather than really hanging out with the other craziness that is happening. He is seeking, but would never step foot in a church right now. God is so Amazing! You can see through all the piercings and tattoos and stand-offishness and see that this young man's heart is softening. Let me encourage you. Don't be afraid to go into the lion's den.
Someone was running around with fake blood all over their arms and hands, and one of my fellow believers got blood on his hands and decided he needed to walk the 3 blocks to the restroom to wash his hands. I felt like I needed to go with him, since it is always better to stay in twos. On our way back, I started a conversation with a young women who stated she was a Christian. I gave her the three minute to live scenario which goes something like this: I have just stumbled up to you with a knife in my back and my blood spilling out. I have only 3 minutes to live. Please tell me, what must I do to be saved and assure I am going to heaven? Sadly, she told me that I can't be. There is nothing I can do, it is too late. We talked about what you have to do to go to heaven and she basically said you have to be a good person. So, we took the good person test, and she failed like we all do. The bible tells us that there are none good but God. I reminded her of the thief who died on the cross next to Jesus who when he believed, Jesus said that that day he would join Jesus in paradise. A light bulb seemed to come on. We spoke a long time of the reason of the sacrifice of Jesus and that the Bible tells us to: repent..not just say I am sorry, but true Godly repentance which then causes a 180 degree turn from your sin and toward Jesus. Then we must not just believe, but trust in Him fully and with everything we are. I had such a wonderful conversation with this young woman who truly appeared to have received conviction right then and there. You see, had it not been so crazy at the rock and had my colleague not had fake blood all over his hands and my feeling he should not go alone, I would not have met this "false" Christian who finally understood the true sacrifice of Jesus and the true Gospel. God is so AMAZING!
