Wild Witnessing 10-8-04When the six of us headed out to Deep Ellum for open-air preaching again we had no idea what we were in for. I can honestly say that it was one of the best open-air preaching times I have ever had. Right before we left I had watched Ray Comforts "In Season and Out" for encouragement and it certainly inspired me. That night was actually just like that video.When we first got there we scoped out the area and found a nice large chunk of sidewalk where there was plenty of room for a crowd. It also was right next to a crowd of police officers but they didn't bother us...yet. I started by asking questions and giving out cash. A decent size crowd gathered and the open-air session lasted maybe 30 minutes. Then I did it again and this time an even bigger crowd gathered. This crowd was huge! The entire side walk was covered! I took them through the Law and preached Gods grace. We had some hecklers go to the hecklers microphone but they were all fun, not angry. This open-air lasted 30-45 minutes with a huge crowd the entire time.Then the police pulled me aside and showed me the ordinance that said I can preach on the streets so long as no crowds gather. It is crazy when you think about the location. There are crowds everywhere! They allow crowds to gather to go to the clubs and to just hang out but they won't let them gather for a preacher. This is not what the law was ment for. Basicly they said I can preach so long as nobody listens. Ofcoarse I've had plenty of problems with the police even when nobody gathers. If I have a crowd, they hassle me. If I have no crowd, they hassle me. If I try to talk one-on-one, they hassle me. If I try to give out literature, they hassle me. As Christians though we need to be the alarm clock that will not turn off. Sure they may hit the snooze button, but we must never stop being alarms declaring "the wrath to come". They cops actually told me that if I go to a different sidewalk I should be ok if nobody has complained there. The sargent himself told me "I'm not leaving this corner, read between the lines." So I thanked him and we went to a different corner. This time without even giving out money, just taking one person through the good test, another absolutely huge crowd gathered! Different cops showed up however and started taking pictures of me and even filming. I thought they were maybe admiring what we were during until they called me aside. This open-air didn't even last 10 minutes. These cops said that since I already recieved a warning from the other cops, they are giving me a citation. It was a good and a bad thing. It was good because the reason for the citation was for having too big of a crowd! Praise God! As a street preacher, sometimes I don't get any crowd at all! But it was bad because now I have to go through the whole legal process and possibly pay a fine. This actually reminded me of something David Ravenhill told me not to long ago. David told me that when his Father, Leonard Ravenhill, would preach on the streets during the second world war, that the crowds would get so large it would block traffic. Because it would block traffic the cops would pull him into court to see the judge. When he would see the judge, he would tell the judge about how one day they both will stand in the court room of God. So after this other encounter with the police we all moved to a parking lot where the cops said they wouldn't bother us. We started again by taking someone through the good test. A crowd gathered. We had all sorts of hecklers. One man said he was Jesus Christ. Others just swore at me and called me all types of names. One man, I thought, was going to actually beat me up but he beat up my easle instead until his friend pulled him away. It's too bad to because my easle never saw it coming. This open-air lasted maybe 1 hour and 45 minutes, possibly even 2 hours. Although it was getting late and some of my friends were signaly me that it was time to leave, the Lord has blessed us with such a large, lively crowd that I couldn't stop. I had to keep going. However our lively crowd just about turned into a mob at the very end and then the cops showed up. He told me that the clubs were closing and we had to leave. Even though he said he was with Christ For the Nations he didn't like what we had been saying and vowed to give us a hard time whether we break the law or not. Its too bad I didn't have my recorder going for that one. Thats alright, the Lord will protect us. It was such a great night. It's unfortinate we didn't take any photos or film because we had such huge crowds and perfect hecklers. There were also people convicted. You could see peoples eyes getting watery actually. Some non christians told us we really impacted them and also Christians who were out witnessing said they were really encouraged to see someone standing up and preaching the gospel. All in all, it was a great night. I hope to have more nights just like it!
Wild Witnessing: open-air in Deep Ellum
Praise God! This is very encouraging, my heart feels like its on fire for God when i read your testomnies. If you don't mind i would like to print off a copy of your testomonies to read out in the church i attend and see if i can come up with a group willing to come together in prayer and begin street preaching here. Theres not that many who believe in presenting the message in that way here but if they only tried and felt what i feel.In his love, Geraldine.
It's encouraging to me to hear how these encourage others! Please do with these stories whatever you feel best. You can print them off or email them or do whatever you would like. On my site there are more stories in the adventure journal. Thanks alot!
Wonderful story. I especially liked what David Ravenhill said his father used to do... I hope you publish that interview shortly. What would be more wonderful is if they wrote a book about his father....anyway. Praise God :) My only question is what is Deep Ellum? Ooops, I have another question... what time of day/night was this at?
A friend of mine said he'd work on getting the interview on the computer. The quality of the interview is not the best because it had alot of mic feed back so I will most likely redo the interview if Mr Ravenhill will allow me to. Deep Ellum is the downtown club street in dallas. The entire street, and some surrounding streets, get closed off on friday nights and saturday nights because so many people go there for all of the clubs and bars. We arrive around 8pm and preach until 2 or 3am.
Jesse, I can't wait to see this for myself. You are definetly on a mission! My prayers are with you. Love, Dian.
I just called the Department of Court Services to see how much the fine is for preaching and they told me that I have only 18 days now to pay a $330 fine or there will be a warrent for my arrest. Unfortinately being in school with absolutely no source of income, I don't have that money. I'm sure the Lord will use this for His Glory and His Kingdom. If you guys could keep this in your prayers that would be great!
they told me that I have only 18 days now to pay a $330 fineYowsers... I have a part-time job and I wouldn't even be able to come up with that kinda cash in 18 days. I will surely be in prayer about you. I'm sure God will provide for you though. How long did they say the jail sentence would be for?
I dont know anything about a jail sentence. If I can't pay the fine and end up getting arrested and going to court, I'm hoping it would just get tossed out.
I'd imagine it would get tossed out of court.
I dont know anything about a jail sentence. If I can't pay the fine and end up getting arrested and going to court, I'm hoping it would just get tossed out. Well it might not be tossed out of court I think we need to start praying for Jesse and that this works out in which soever way for the good of the gospel. Praise the Lord for this Jesse its awesome to hear how good is moving this sounds like the book of acts!! hehe
If the Lord chooses to have Jesse in jail for the sake of the gospel, I guess that means the Lord could be calling him into prison ministry for a while. (and no, that is not intended as a joke)In China, it seems their churches all lack an official prison ministry because most have some members already in jail. Do you know if Ravenhill ever got put in prison for preaching during WW2?
I only know that Ravenhill had to go to court and see the judge for having too big of a crowd. Thats all I know. I am painting David Ravenhills garage with him on monday, I'll be sure to ask him.
If you have to go to jail to pay this fine, we pray it will be taken care of quickly. I turned myself in to pay for a fine of $500 (before conversion), since I am not a violent criminal and they saw I was only a skinny young girl in college, the judge allowed my 5 hours in jail be sufficient. Hopefully, if it comes to it, you find favor in the eyes of the judge, even if you have to be in a holding cell for a little bit.
Lord Jesus, please help this laborer, please continue to encourage him and be with him. Give him favor in the eyes of the court or give him the money to pay the fine. And help him not get any more tickets. In Jesus' name I pray, Your will be done, not mine, amen.
Hey, thanks for the encouragement and prayer. I decided to send it in and request a court date. I have two options. I could request a trial by jury or a trial by a judge. I checked the box for trial by jury. That means that they have to go through the long process of finding all the juriers and going through that whole long process so my prayer and hope is that the prosecutor will decide it is not worth it and drop it before it even makes it to court. but if I do go to court then I will fight and hopefully still get it dismissed and that would pave the way for preaching in that area in the future. I hope that it gets there in the mail before my 21 days run up and they issue a warrent. Thanks for your prayers!
Brother, I know nobody like you my brother. Truly cut from a different mold, from another day. You know what book you would like?..."Azusa Street", by Frank Bartleman.....this book would just ENCOURAGE you most mightily!! Sending my prayers and loving thots out to ya!!In His love,Neil
Brother---I pm'd you---contact The American Center for Law and Justice or one of the many fine christian legal organizations.There is already Legal precedent in this matter at a FEDERAL level which means this----where a higher court rules on a matter a lower court cannot come in and over turn such a decision.But in the same way you need to have an ADVOCATE IN HEAVEN---JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS----in heaven stating your case before God ,as it were, You REALLY!!!!!need to have a christian lawyer present a letter of arguement on your behalf.The case will be thrown out before it comes to court if you have them just send a letter siteing prior jurisprudence(legal decisions)---because for them to move forward would mean that they would risk major law suites and no municipality will do that.Trust me ---they know they have no case but they will take your money if you go it alone because you don't know the law and they'll argue civil statue in stead of legal constitutional right with prior Federal court decisions to back it up.Listen.Listen.Listen.
We have a similar event here in Augusta, GA called "First Friday" where they block off about 5 or so blocks of a main street here full of bars and clubs and they have like a street party. They have a couple P.A. stages where different local bands play at scheduled times. Well God recently laid it on my heart to go down there and do open air preaching and witnessing, and seeing as how I used to be a rock singer it just so happens that I have connections with the guys that do the scheduling for the event so its a possibility that I could get a spot to get on one of the stages(or both) and preach the gospel. I think it should prove interesting cause there are a good bit of witches and gothic/vampire type people in that area. God be glorified over all..
Laz!Brother, what can I say...You are leaving such an impression on my heart, I am vowing right now to intercede for you even more so daily. Mat 9:38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Don't think we need to stop short once they are out there.Dohzman's advice is good. Though I get a bit weary of hearing some of the whiny things Christians want to defend every time they get a bit of opposition, in your case think the ACLJ would be more than helpful. Here's a link:http://www.aclj.org/...and your painting David Ravenhills garage :-P , you gotta love it. Way to go brother!
Hey guys,Thanks alot for the encouragement. The more that we bring the gospel to the lost then the more opposition that we will face but thats fine because both preaching the gospel and facing opposition adds to our treasure in Heaven. We absolutely must go and reach the lost. I really don't like facing opposition. I know of preachers who enjoy having to go to court and getting arrested but for me, I would rather preach the gospel without facing opposition. But opposition or not the gospel needs to be preached. No matter how much the opposition increases, the gospel is too important. The blood of Christ is too precious and valuable for the lost not to know about it. I'm glad people are encouraged by my witnessing stories, but what does it encourage you to do? My hope and my prayer is that others, like you guys, will take the gospel of Life to our dying world. We need to both read the bible and live the bible. I encourage all of us to live the gospel by publicly proclaiming what Christ has told us in secret on the housetops.
Hey Brother Jesse,I just to say praise the Lord for what he's doing in your life.You came to mind this morning and I thought of a sermon I recently heard at church. We all know that Jesus sits at the right hand of the father. Here's one of many verses that supports this conclusion. Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.I suggest going back and reading the story of Stephen. I want to mention two verses though. Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. As you can see, this is when Stephen was getting stoned by the crowd and was Jesus sitting? No my friend, he was standing (which implies that we was attentively watching and likely cheering).Do you want to get Jesus standing up? Speak the Word of God with boldness and authority in love. The persecution WILL come (looks at Acts 7:54) but who cares when Jesus himself rises because you will see His glory. Praise God brother for this work he is doing in your heart.
Back in 1991-1992 I ran a street team on the streets of Canton,Ohio(town of the Pro Football Hall of Fame)it was during that time that we had an unusual manifestation of the presence of God.In a space of less than 6months we preached in front of 9 bars and 6 of them closed down.Ours is a small town of only 90k people so word spread fast.We had 2 pushers/pimps get converted and to present they minister with David Wilkerson ministries.Several prostitutes came off the streets and cleaned up and now serve the Lord.Several hundred children came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. It wasn't without cost though. I had a hit contract on my life as did the other pastors in this outreach work.The Detroit Gang placed a contract on our lives because the children they were using as runners for thier drugs were getting saved.The Lord protected us but we were all ready to die for Christ's sake.It was ironic that the same police that used to threaten us came and warned us of this contract---it was the head of stark county task force at the time.We continued anyway,to die is gain.During this time I was shoot at--had guns pulled and put to my head and watched as the people tried to pull the trigger but couldn't----knives pulled ---vehicles tried to run me and the team over---threats---Oh and yes---legal difficulties---You see , we had a brother who developed tracts for us,some of them are presently are available with the bible tract society, anyway the City tried first to stop us fron preaching with noise ordeniences and then with litter charges--David actually had to go before a jury of his peers on charges where he was eventually aquitted.He's with the Lord now. So you see by brother----some of us have already been where you are going and speak out of experience,not theories or far away advice having no real idea as to what you're going through,but sound judgement ---having gone before you. God Bless Your ministry---Oh---and yes, I'll be preaching in NY City this spring on the streets, Lord willing.
wow! Those are the stories I like to hear!!! Praise God