Salvation Army 6/15/2013

Several joined us later, but tonight's team burgeoned to include: Mark, Dave, Dean C., Sai, Dr. Jack, Barbara, their niece Lucinda, Steve M., Jeremy, Paul and Steven V.  (Note: The Salvation Army emblem in the shot is purely coincidental!)

We were blessed to have a busy night to proclaim the Gospel.

Father's Day

A family of nine, led by a God-fearing father, stopped to receive free bibles.

A rare example of the faithful leadership of a believing Father to his household. Probably tourists.

This scene presents an interesting contrast to the usual disconnected family groups that pass by. Dave commented that the devil knows he can do the most damage to a family by going after the father. It is heartbreaking to consider the destruction visited on countless lives simply because the father of a child refused to accept the responsibility to be a father. Tragically, the politically correct culture of sinful men has chosen to accommodate such sin. And though God will judge this sin, yet through repentance and faith in Christ there is forgiveness. And through God's redeeming grace, there is restoration and salvation for shattered lives.

Many tracts went out. The perfect way to get started in street witnessing.

Less than a year old in the Lord, Jeremy passes out tracts like a pro.

Paul has blessed the team with his thoughtful preaching.

Regardless of the reception, it is tremendously satisfying to proclaim the truth about our Lord. He is worthy to be proclaimed!

Jack was blessed to receive this evening's heckler.

Immediately a crowd formed.

The first question was: What do you think about Dearborn, Michigan. The second question was about the recent law signed by the Governor of Texas permitting the celebration of Christmas in public schools. Jack did a great job of redirecting the issue away from the hot-button of politics, which we are NOT there to discuss, to the greater issue of the persecution that Jesus said would come when we surrender to His Lordship. This was followed by a presentation of the need for repentance and faith in the Son, for salvation.

In the wake of the discussion on the box, Steve was blessed to pray for a couple who were convicted.

As always, the Holy Spirit blessed the team with many opportunities to proclaim the Truth and share the Gospel through tracts and one to one conversations.

Next week, Saturday, June 22, there will be NO CBC EVANGELISM.

Alternatively, CBC team members are welcome to join Dean C. who Will be leading a team to Hollywood, on the 22nd, meeting at NoHo Station at 5:00pm. Be sure to bring subway fare.

Join us again: Saturday, June 29, 6:00 pm, at BPD parking lot.

Romans One - A Message For Our Time 6/8/2013

Tonight's team: Mark, Dave, Dean S., Dean C, Sai, Sharon, Debbie, Nathan, Elder Bob, and Steven V.

Also we were encouraged by CBCers, Jeremy and Spencer, seen here talking to Dean.

Romans, chapter one, was the inspiration for several who preached from the box. Elder Bob said: "Each of us knows that there is a God. And each of us knows, deep in our heart, that we are responsible to our Creator, and that when we die we will go before Him. He says in Romans chapter one: 'For since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.' The creation tells us that we know there is a God. You look at the world and you see how well it's put together. That lamppost tells me that there was a person who designed it. In the same way, look at these palm trees, and their amazing symmetry. That palm tree had a designer. The most complex thing in this mall today is us! Human beings. For us to say that we know that lamp was designed by somebody, but we just evolved . . .that's foolishness. We have no excuse for saying there is no God or for saying that we are not responsible to Him."

Elder Bob, who is recovering from surgery, was blessed to get the only heckler of the evening, an affable fellow who called himself "Dude." He began by making a vague indictment of various sinful behaviors of evil men referenced in the Bible, as if these behaviors were hypocritically being condoned. Elder Bob responded that the Bible clearly shows those things as sin, things that are odious before God, and that such behavior leads to an eternity in Hell. When asked if he was afraid to die, Dude replied that he was not, because he has led a "legit" life. In other words he was proclaiming his own goodness. Elder Bod then led Dude through the "good person test." When asked if he had ever told a lie or stolen anything, Dude denied it, saying, "Why would I do anything like that, that's bad karma!"

But Bob reminded him of 1 John 1:8: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Dude responded by asking: "Hey, man, did you ever see, like, the light of God coming down and surrounding you?" When Bob said, "No, God reveals Himself in scripture," and spoke about his need for repentance, then the Dude just walked away. Let's pray for the Dude to come to repentance and faith in the Son, Jesus Christ.

As always, many opportunities for 1-2-1 witnessing were providentially arranged.

One of these was a lengthy discussion with this nice couple who identified themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses. Curiously, the discussion began when the husband asked about the version of the Bible we were distributing. He called our attention to Psalm 83:18: "That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth." (NKJV) He objected to the use of the word "LORD" instead of the word "Jehovah." Here is an interesting article on the different renderings of God's name in the Old Testament. However, the real issue underlying the man's objection is the issue of the New World "translation" of the scriptures. This article briefly, but effectively, summarizes the major issues with this heretical, blasphemous corruption of the Word of God, perpetrated by the Watchtower cult.

Dave shared this observation of the account of Lot fleeing the wicked city: "Lot took his wife and his two daughters, who were willing to listen, and ran. But even his wife, she turned and looked back to Sodom and Gomorrah, and she turned into a pillar of salt. No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God. You need to forsake your sin and trust in Christ. It will cost you everything to follow Jesus. People will hate you. You may have to give up work, family, friends. But the end is eternal life. And it's a walk that's worthy because Christ is worthy of it. It's a walk that leads to joy, paradise, and forgiveness of sins. Give up this life! It is fading away. The whole world and it's system is rigged, so that you will never find satisfaction in it, until you let go of it, and trust in Christ."

Join us:  Saturday, June 15, 2013 @ 6:00pm at BPD parking lot!

The Spirit At Work 6/1/2013

This evening's team included Dr. Jack, Barbara, Paul, Sharon, Debbie, Mark, Steven V., David, Steve M., and Carol (taking the picture!). As we gathered at the Burbank PD parking lot, Dave announced his plan to move to Colorado (see post below), and he encouraged the team to continue preaching the Gospel. In a lighthearted but meaningful ceremony Dave passed the leadership "baton," which, in this case, is a handmade tract wallet given to Dave by Ray Comfort. Although it seems hard to imagine the team without David leading us, it is comforting to consider how the early church experienced so many such poignant transitions, like Paul leaving Ephesus on his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:36-38). And because of such obedience many more came to faith. After a time of prayer giving thanks for Dave's ministry and asking for blessing upon him and his family, the team headed out to the mall.

Often, countless pedestrians pass by; indifferent, hostile or apparently unaffected by the passionate effort of the speaker.

Yet, it is the Holy Spirit who does the work of drawing souls. Jesus, speaking of the Holy Spirit, said: "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:8-11) This photo shows three methods; preaching, free bibles, and one-to-one discussion.

Often, in spite of our well intended efforts to draw a crowd by engaging people with gospel proclamation from the box, it becomes apparent afterwards, when we look at the pictures, that the spirit mostly works on a one-to-one basis through the many conversations that go on in the vicinity of the preachers voice.

And so, the Spirit draws a very few to linger nearby and listen. That's when the real dialog takes place.

Many people, when confronted with the truth of the Gospel, will raise objections which they have received from some religious tradition or cultic belief. As we seek to respond with scripture, compassion and godly wisdom, our own understanding is challenged and strengthened.

Inevitably there is a competition for the hearts, minds and ears of men. This fellow specializes in making noises with his mouth which simulate musical instruments. Though he set up across from us, our prayers were answered when he decided to relocate further down the mall. Evidently, the business owners find his verbalizations far more tolerable than the preaching of the Gospel, as we are restricted from that area.

Jesus said: "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light, and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops."  (Matthew 10:27)

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and trough us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ."  (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

Join us:  Saturday, June 8, 2013 @ 6:00pm at BPD parking lot!

Farewell CBC Evangelism

 For the three people that read this blog you may be interested to know that my family and I are planning to move back to Colorado! This may be a premature post but I would appreciate all your prayers that the Lord would grant us wisdom while we attempt this huge endeavor as we have not yet sold our home.

In light of this transition the Lord has been faithful to raise up Steve to be the new team leader of CBC Evangelism! 

Steve has humbly served this ministry for over two years now. His first outing was the Glendale Car Show of 2010. He has since been a consistent evangelist, has grown leaps and bounds in open-air preaching and used his gifts and talents to bless others. Many times Steve would "cover for me" in leading the team when I was unable. He truly has the heart of an evangelist and is a dear brother.

When this ministry began about 5 years ago it was a handful of us going out on the streets. Since then the Lord has blessed and preserved this ministry. We have had the support of our Pastors and Elders and even received financial support to supply us with the resources we need to reach the lost. Over the course of time I have seen the work of the Spirit in moving  many men to boldly stand up and preach the good news. He has opened the doors to hundreds of 1-2-1 conversations and given us the strength to distribute thousands of tracts and bibles come rain or shine! Faithful saints like Sharon, Dean and Sai have been with this ministry from its inception and I can't express the great JOY and privilege I have had in ministering with and leading these and many excellent saints. 

Thank you CBC Evangelism!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! - Psalm 150:6