A Different Perspective

As you have heard me say previously, the Lord continues to move as we share the Gospel. There are days when we finish sharing that I am 'blown away' by what the Lord did. Yes, there are other days that are very difficult as a result of what we experience. What a tremendous joy just to take His wonderful name on our lips and feebly attempt to declare Him to others!

Sometimes I struggle with what specifically to share with you. Yes, again, we saw the Holy Spirit touch many precious people as we shared the Gospel. Instead of sharing these wonderful stories, or even just picking one specific story, let's do something different this time.

Let me share with you from a different perspective. In other words, you always here from me and what I perceive as I share the Gospel. This is good and fine but it is like reading just one of the four Gospels. Yes, you get a wonderful perspective, but your perspective is really incomplete without reading the other three. The other three complete the picture.

Before I share this new perspective, let me just give you a quick overview of sharing the Gospel the last three weeks.

Holding the Cross

We held the cross on route 33 three times and five people professed faith in Christ alone. A few of these stories were amazing. Three new people helped me: Paul Collins, a dear friend who just moved here from New Jersey, Valeriy Makayev, a dear brother from the First Russian Baptist Church in Mt. Crawford, and Samuel Selyukov, a young 15 year old also from the Russian Baptist Church. Thank you Paul, Valeriy, and Samuel!

I am so humbled and blessed by the response of the people who drive by. Yes, there is opposition, but for some reason the overwhelming response recently has been honks, waves and smiles galore. Thank you Jesus. After his first two hours holding the cross, Valeriy commented, "As I look in the eyes of the people driving by, God is putting the love of Christ in my heart."

Little Samuel came out to help me hold the cross yesterday for the very first time. After being there for just two hours, he began, unprompted by me, to lift up his voice to the people in the cars with their windows down and exclaim, 'JESUS LOVES YOU SIR! JESUS LOVES YOU MAAM!'

Downtown Courthouse

We shared downtown in front of the courthouse twice and saw 14 people profess faith in Christ alone. Before holding the cross with me for the first time yesterday, Samuel helped me share the Gospel downtown. He is such a special young 15 year old and when he calls me, 'Mr. Michael', I am so humbled. After his first day I asked him what he learned. He told me, "I learned that you could be gentle sharing the Gospel and just trust the Holy Spirit." Paul Collins helped me as well as Karen Brooks and Rob Gilmer. Thank you!

Gideon's Monthly Meeting

I was able to share our Gospel message presentation along with testimonies to the Gideon's camp in Northern, Virginia. The Lord truly blessed our time together. These dear brothers do a tremendous job sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James Madison University

Finally we shared at J.M.U four times and saw 46 profess faith in Christ alone. Paul Collins helped me there along with board member and special friend Alan Foster. Alan blessed me with a very nice report of what he experienced. Lord willing, I will share that with you at a later time.

The perspective that I want to share with you this time is from Dan Widmer. He helped me share the Gospel at J.M.U. last Thursday along with little Samuel and 'ole' Paul. Dan is on staff at Advancing Native Missions and resides in Waynesboro, Va. He shares more about this wonderful organization in his report which I will share with you now without further adieu. Enjoy.

A DAY WITH MIKE 4-29-21 BY DAN WIDMER

After a month of phone and message tag, Mike invited me to join him in street ministry, that day being at J.M.U.

We unloaded his car with the bare essentials to sustain life on a sidewalk in the sun or rain for 6 - 8 hours. A couple of the oldest folding chairs that I had ever seen and a rolling cooler which doubled as a chair and equipment box. With over five years of sidewalk service the lid was very broken but it did it's job very well.

Mike, young Samuel and myself headed to work reminding me of how Jesus sent out his twelve. No spare coat, no sandals, just the bare essentials lead by God's Holy Spirit. This reminded me of how simple effective ministry can be. No big marketing campaign, buildings, special vehicles, or events planned. All those can work but the bottom line is: go to work.

I had heard about Mike from some who know him where I am on staff at Advancing Native Missions. We are a global mission group that supports and empowers by prayer, training and funding all of the Mikes we can find in over 100 countries. We presently help over 10,000 Mikes with a 10 million dollar plus operating metric. Local Mike does it with love, faith, obedience, grit, a wonderful countenance that draws people in; and a broken cooler on wheels and two folding chairs.

Mike is a well honed master evangelist. As we sit there, not stand, as he wants his guest to be taller than us so they feel in control, he says a friendly hello to everyone who walks by. If they don't stop when he offers them a free 'salvation' bracelet, he still blesses them as they walk by.

When one stops and God's Holy Spirit prompts them to listen, Mike first relaxes them with a bad joke and asks a little about them. He then asks "what percent sure are you that you're going to Heaven". He has a gifted and learned ability to remember many names and listens to every answer he receives, comments on it and uses their response to move forward with God's salvation message. He doesn't correct people but will lovingly show them another way of looking at things.

He does not settle for what I call "easy believism" or a quick prayer. He only invites them to pray and ask Jesus into their lives when they totally understand they are in need of a Savior who is pure and blameless. One who is the sinless Son of God and God incarnate Himself. He quizzes them, cross examines them and if he is satisfied they understand, he then invites them to pray and ask Jesus into their lives.

Mike doesn't end there. He asks them how they feel, gives them another quiz to make sure they understand what they just received, then gives them a follow up pamphlet, a card to watch the "Jesus" movie, a Daily Bread devotional and encourages them in finding and attending a church fellowship. If they don't have one, he invites them to join him at his.

Then we all pray individually over the person. Then they race off, bracelet on the wrist, born again, Holy Ghost filled and late for class. How many in one day? I lost count but am sure that it was every one that God had planned.

I later told Mike that, along with his love and evangelism, I saw and heard what I called; compassionate street apologetics. Mike is able to question, which is 70% of his talk, listen carefully, retain, process and then guide in a steady flowing exchange until his guest truly understands.

I witnessed quick, bright, respectful college students. I didn't ask Mike what his approach was when he is set up in front of the courthouse where there is a much different crowd.

Mike is a 20 year zealous, faithful servant of our Lord Jesus. Let's remember him in prayer and support. I have now joyfully placed him on my prayer list and look forward to our next visit.

Joyfully reported.

In Jesus,

Daniel Widmer Advancingnativemissions.com

Here are a few pictures from our outing this day...

This is Eric. He knelt down in front of us and let us share with him. What a humble sincere young man! After hearing the law he said, 'I'M INEPT, I CAN'T DO IT.'

After professing Christ alone, he said...

'HE SAVED ME FROM ALL SINS I HAVE COMMITTED BECAUSE I WELCOMED GOD IN MY HEART AND ACCEPTED HIM. MY HEART IS MUCH LIGHTER AND BLESSED.'

Here is Olivia and Katelyn. Samuel is next to me and Dan is on the right in the picture. After hearing the law and the Gospel both girls professed faith in Christ alone...

Olivia...'HE SAVED ME AND CAME INTO MY HEART. I'M NOT FOCUSING ON ME (AND MY HEART IS) FULL.'

Katelyn...'HE TAUGHT ME TO TRUST IN HIM AND NOT MYSELF. (MY HEART IS) GRATEFUL.'

Here is Justin. Samuel is next to me and Dan is on the right in the picture. After professing Christ, Justin shared...

'HE MADE ME REALIZE THAT I CAN BELIEVE IN HIM SO I CAN BE FREE. (MY HEART IS) A LOT LIGTHER.'

One last picture from the day. Here is Lyndsay with Samuel and Dan. After profession she shared...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I'M TRUSTING IN HIM. (MY HEART FEELS) FULL AND HAPPY.'

SOLI DEO GLORIA!