Sorry about the timeliness of this post, things have been hectic for me these past few weeks. But about the fair. It seemed that we were not going to have a booth at the fair this year for various reasons, so Jenn and I and some others from church were going to hand out tracts on our own independently from each other.
Someone from church (Paul) did have a booth at the fair for his home business and the spot next to him was vacant. When one of the people in charge at the fair noticed the spot next to him empty the guy told him that if he wanted he could expand his booth. The man said that it looked bad to have empty booths. Well, when Paul's wife Vicki heard this she asked if she could set up a table for our church, and the man said that is was ok.
We now had a booth at the fair. This was encouraging, I had wanted to do some evangelism at fair and was kind of disappointed that we did not have a booth, but God had provided a booth for us. Since the church was not expecting to have a booth, the church did not have many tracts on hand. Providentially, someone had ordered some tracts through the church and did not want them any more, the problem, there were only a few packs. Jenn and I, not knowing we had a booth or that there was a need for tracts, decided to go back to the fair and I happened to grab the two packs I had. We decided to go back and see Paul and Vicki, they told us the situation and we happily handed over the tracts. Because God had providentially set this all up, the tract table had plenty of tracts for the fair.
Like I said before, I had the desire to witness at the fair and we now had a booth. (I know I could have still witnessed, but due to my sinful fear I was going to just hand out tracts.) I had rolled the idea around for months in my head (witnessing at a fair booth), but as soon as the opportunity presented its self, I got sick to my stomach and fear entered my heart! Vicki told us that she needed help to man the booth, so I volunteered to help, my stomach dropped even more. How hypocritical of me, here was the opportunity I was hoping for and once it presented its self I wanted nothing to do with it!
Despite my fear, I helped out at the table. Let me make this clear, it was only by the undeserved Grace of God was I able to overcome my fear and anxiety. I have witnessed one on one in the past, but I have never been able to find a consistent, clear, and concise way of sharing the Gospel. I submitted myself to God in prayer before showing up and in spite if my flesh God used me to clearly proclaim His word.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not searching for any accolades, pats on the back, or atta-boys. I am not trying to draw attention to myself. I am merely showing what God do even through a sinful excuse-filled vessel. I am boasting only in my weakness, that God may be glorified in my weakness. (2 Cor 11:30, 12:8-10)
God gave me the opportunity to share one-on-one, with two to three and once with a small group. Over all, I directly shared the Gospel with about twenty different people. God gave me a clarity that I have not had before. I was able to finally put into better words and analogies that made sense. God opened the recesses of my mind where I had stored all of the witnessing encounters that I have heard and He helped me assemble it together to form a clear Gospel message. at one point there were six or seven people all gathered around wanting to know the Million Dollar Question. It turned into a mini open-air (preaching.) I had to lift my voice so they could all hear, and as a result people walking by stopped (thankfully God caused me not notice them, I would have been thrown off.) After I was done a kind lady encouraged me with a quick "good job," which was very kind.
One more experience I will share was what I call a drive-by. I asked an older lady if she could answer the Million Dollar Question. Paul egged her on and suggested that she could not. So, she asked what it was.
"If you were to die right now would you go to heaven or to hell?"
She leaned over the table and gently touch my hand and said, "I know where I am going, too bad you don't." And she started to walk away!
I replied, "How do you know that I don't?"
"Because of the way you are preaching this!" And she took off!
Needless to say I was flabbergasted. I sat there trying to find words to say. But God knows what He is doing. Sin entered my heart and I wanted to have a "discussion" with her. But God knowing my heart caused her to walk away. Thank you Lord for saving me from soiling Your name!
My evangelism flame before this, was flickering and on it's last bit of fuel. I had let sin overtake my heart and allowed myself to slip into complacency. God used the fair to reignite my flame and passion for the preaching of the Gospel. "Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down? Do you care, do you care, are you going to let them drown?" Do we really belive that if poeple do not come to a saving repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone, that they are going to hell? Do we REALLY believe it? If we do how can we stay silent? Why do I care If I look like a fool if it is to be a fool for Christ who is the only one who can save them from their sins and Hell? Where is my urgency, my compassion? People are dying everyday! I am preaching to myself as well as all you fellow Christians. We are all called to evangelize (Matt 28:19-20.) We may not all have the gift of being a full time evangelist, but are our lives marked with going out of our comfort-zone to share the Word of Truth? Remember, we are no better than the lost, just better-off. We are just fellow beggars trying to show other beggars where to find the Bread of Life!
Please pray for all of those who heard the Gospel! Pray that God may save some!
