Augusta County Fair 2021

Greetings beloved! Since our last newsletter over six weeks ago, much has transpired. We continue sharing weekly in front of the courthouse and holding the cross on route 33. With the students back in session for the fall, we also began sharing once again at James Madison University.

Thank you to Paul Collins, Karen Brooks, and Rob Gilmer for your help sharing the Gospel. A young student named Sam has begun assisting me as I share. Sam heard the Gospel this past May at J.M.U., and now has a heart to learn how to share with others!

In these weekly venues alone, we have witnessed over 100 people profess saving faith in Christ alone. Thank you most of all to God the Holy Spirit who empowers us to share with all of these precious people.

Two weeks ago, I returned from right outside of Youngstown, Ohio where I shared the Gospel for five days at the Canfield Fair. Many professed faith in Christ alone.

Just last Saturday, we shared the Gospel with Bethlehem Independent Christian Church in Stanley, Va as part of a community fun day for the children in the park. Many thanks to Karen Brooks and Pastor Andy for your help in this event. We witnessed 30 people profess saving faith in Christ alone.

As promised in our last newsletter, the subject of this newsletter will be the Augusta County Fair. Thank you to Pam and Alan Foster, Rob Gilmer, Karen Brooks, Ben Varepa, Michael Cash, Bill and Cynthia McKaskill, and Dawn and Frankie Hollingsworth. Each of us was used by God the Holy Spirit to help 308 people profess saving faith in Christ alone! Amen and Amen.

My two dear friends and ministry volunteers Pam and Alan Foster put a report together. I will start with their report and then conclude with some of my pictures and stories. Enjoy.

PAM AND ALAN FOSTER'S REPORT

The Augusta County Fair was such a blessing for us to be a part of this year! We were able to share the Gospel all five evenings, alongside nine other brothers and sisters. Two of these were with us the entire time, while seven others either popped in to help, or train with us a night or two. (Rob Gilmer sharing in the picture below.)

Alan and I wanted to share some reflections from our experience, as well as a few stories. (Pam and Alan sharing in the picture below.)

OTHER BELIEVERS IN CHRIST

God always blesses us by meeting other believers in Christ as we hear their stories and fellowship with them. They encourage and motivate us! Hopefully we do the same for them.

John sat down with his little boy to talk with me. I quickly learned that John was already saved, and that it was his desire for all of his family to know Christ as well. As I shared the Gospel with his son, John provided assistance with my explanation. I really stressed to his son the blessing of having a father who is teaching him the truth about Jesus.

You see, John grew up in a family of atheists where he never heard the truth. John wasn't going to let that happen to him, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:9)

PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH

We always start off by giving a 'good person test'. We say, "Did you know God gave us a test in the bible to see if we measure up to His standards?" Often people say, 'Huh? Oh, no we didn't know that.' We share a copy of the ten commandments with them. We point out and discuss certain of these to help them understand that we all have broken God's laws.

As I was sharing this with part of a family, suddenly more from this family showed up to see what was happening! As mom and her husband walked up with a baby in a stroller, her daughter whom I had been sharing with yelled, 'Mom, we're taking the good person test, do you want to take it? Do you think you're a pretty good person?'

Mom replied, 'Yeah, I'm a pretty good person.' So I smiled and said, 'Okay, let's catch her up a little bit.' So I went through several of the commandments with her. Each time I asked if she had broken that commandment, she dropped her head, sighed, and muttered, 'Yes I have.'

This entire family of five listened intently to the Gospel, and with understanding prayed with me to place their faith in Christ alone. They knew they were sinners who could do nothing to save themselves. Instead, they finally trusted Jesus' payment on the cross and received Him into their hearts as their Savior!

CHURCH PEOPLE WHO LEAVE JESUS OUT OF THEIR ANSWER

These people trust in things such as prayer, bible reading, going to church, repenting, ext. Alan was one of these people and is passionate about helping them understand the Gospel truth.

I (Alan) shared the Gospel with a family of three: a mother and two daughters. After understanding that their good works were not a part of their salvation, and seeing what Jesus did for them, they wanted to pray to receive Christ as Savior. The mother told me that she felt 'a peace' come upon her. The young daughter said she felt a hand upon her shoulder as we were praying.

Each was so excited about what Jesus had just done for them. When they sat down to listen, they were trusting in themselves, but when they left they were trusting in Jesus alone.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW VERY LITTLE AT ALL

Early in the evening, a middle school girl with two friends came up to me (Alan). After giving me permission to share and listening for a few minutes, they quickly became disinterested and abruptly left. At the very end of the night, to my surprise, the one girl had returned without her friends.

As she stood at the table observing the bracelets, I figured that she had returned to just get one. However, when the worker out front asked if she wanted to hear the message, she came right back to talk with me!

Also to my surprise, at the very end, she very quickly responded to the invitation to invite Christ into her heart. After sharing the importance of her finding a church home, she told me that her mom did not really seem to want her to go. We then prayed together and asked the Lord to open her mom's heart so she would be allowed to attend church. I left her with a Gospel of John and a New Testament Bible.

This was a time that I shared where I really didn't feel like I did a good job. In spite of my inadequacies, God the Holy Spirit moved upon her and she accepted the truth. What a great reminder that it is not about us, but about what God can do when someone's heart is ready.

Two teenage boys, who apparently were very good friends, listened intently as I shared the Gospel message with them. Because of the questions they asked as I was sharing, I could tell they knew very little about the Christian faith. However, at the end, when I asked if they wanted to put their full faith and trust in Christ alone, each quickly and joyfully said 'yes'!

After they accepted Christ, I gave them tracts explaining the meaning of the colors on the bracelet. They both wrote their name and date on the back of it. Just then my wife walked up and proclaimed to the boys, "Did you know that is your spiritual birthday?"

She went on explaining, "For you to enter the kingdom of God you must be born again. You were born the first time physically many years ago. When you put your full faith in Jesus and His Spirit comes in, you are born spiritually. You now have another birthday, which is your spiritual birthday."

Suddenly, the one boy looked at his friend and said, 'Dude, we have the same spiritual birthday! That is so cool!'. He was so excited and smiling ear to ear!

OTHER STORIES AND PICTURES (MY REPORT)

BRING THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO ME

Maria sat quietly as I shared with her two daughters, Corral and Alba. As most others, both thought they would go to Heaven because they 'were good'.

I very simply shared sin through the ten commandments. Then, 'No one is good except God alone.' in Luke 18:19.

It is very simple. So simple, even a child can understand. Almost all children do. Corral and Alba now understood that they were 'not good'.

Does mom have to punish when they sin?...'Yes'.
Does God have to punish when they sin?...'Yes'.
What is God's punishment?...'Hell'.

How do they get out of that punishment? Most answers, 'Do better, say sorry, ask forgiveness, don't do it again.'

Would that take away mom's punishment?...'No.'
Would that take away God's punishment?...'No'.
What is going to take away God's punishment?...'No answer.'

Did you know that someone already took your punishment?...'No'.
Who was it that took your punishment?...'God!'

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

What happened three days later?...'He rose.'
God the Father raised God the Son because He is very happy that He took all the punishment away from you!

So, if you put all your trust in God you get to go to...'Heaven!'
Why?...'He took our punishment!'

Now, if you trust yourself, what happens to you?...'Hell'.

When we started, who were you trusting?...'Me'.
When do you want to put all your trust in God?...'Right now'.

Mom was teary eyed the whole time I was sharing. Both girls prayed at the end and told the Lord...

'Thanks for saving me.'

Corral, Alba and Maria walked past our booth the last night of the fair. Wanting to see if the message had really sunk it, I asked them...

"How sure are you that you would go to Heaven?"

Both shouted...'100%!'

"Why?"

Both shouted...'Because we trust God!'

Mom was happy that little Reagan had been at church camp all week. Little Reagan wanted to hear what the colors on the bracelet meant.

Like most others, little Reagan mentioned her works as why God would let her into Heaven...'pray, bible, church'.

Just like I shared with Corral and Alba, I shared with little Reagan. Same Gospel message. The Gospel works and the Gospel saves. Children understand and receive.

Having shared with thousands of children, I have seen varying degrees of understanding. Reagan was on the 'really appeared to understand' side of the scale.

Who was she trusting when we started?...'Me'.
Who was she trusting now...'God'.

I had her read John 6:47, 'Whoever believes in Me has eternal life.'

What did she have?...'Eternal life'
When did she have it?...'When I believe.'
When did she believe?...'Starting now.'

How sure was she now?...'100%'
Why?...'I believe in God.'

GO BRING YOUR FRIENDS

Amelia, Cooper, and Tanner sat down to hear the message. Only Cooper initially understood.

After hearing the law and the Gospel, Amelia and Tanner told me they were now 100% sure. In fact, one of them blurted out...

110%!

They prayed...

'Thanks for sacrificing yourself for me and giving me your coat.' (2 Cor. 5:21)
'Thanks for paying for my sins.'

The very next night, Tanner and Amelia came back by the booth. This time, there were five others with them...

Cole, Bridget, Avery, Ava, and Stella.

I got to share the Gospel with these new five. Tanner and Amelia got to hear it again. They needed to hear it again. You and I need to hear the Gospel every day the rest of our lives. Paul Washer says that we never graduate from the Gospel. Amen.

All five professed understanding in the work and person of Jesus Christ alone and wanted to trust in Him alone for salvation.

VERY SINCERE AND READY

These folk were so sincere. Just sincerely wrong. They just needed someone to explain to them that salvation was not by what they did or were doing. Salvation was by what someone else had done. God himself in the person of the Son.

Mom, Dad and daughter all wanted to trust in Christ alone. Two new workers, Dawn and Frankie Hollingsworth, were able to watch as I shared the entire presentation with this family.

Marco...'Thank you for taking my sins.'
Ibeth...'Thank you...your sacrifice.
Allison...'Thank you...for teaching me how to trust in you.'

IT WAS TOUGH BUT I THINK THEY GOT IT

Tabitha said...'I haven't done anything that bad.'
Heather said...'I've been good'.

Both were hoping they would get to Heaven for those reasons.

Sharing the law (10 commandments) strips away people's pride. It is not easy. Some people buck and buck and buck. Then they tuck...and run.

Not here. It got pretty hot in the kitchen here, but thankfully both ladies stayed. God is teaching me how to love more right here. Thank you God.

I wanted them to get down to 0% before I gave them grace. So I asked them...

"How sure are you now?"...'50%'
"Why?"...'I've done some good deeds.'

Ah. The person sees their sin, but thinks their goodness will outweigh that.

Try this, "So, you get a speeding ticket and tell the judge, 'Let me go. I only sped on one day of the year. That is 364 good days to just 1 bad day. That's a lot of good over my bad!'"

The ladies got the point and got down to 0%. Now they were ready to trust in the person and work of Christ alone.

Christ was preached and both Tabitha and Heather saw that their salvation was in Him and Him alone...

AN EVEN TOUGHER ONE!

Judy was something else. A few times she was getting exasperated and our worker out front, Karen, turned around to see what was going on in the kitchen. Thank God Judy was being real and letting it all out. Pots and pans were flying! lol

I would share the truth and then Judy would snap back with something. She wasn't being mean, just real. By the grace of God I just remained quiet, thanked her for her response, and continued with the Gospel. It is a beautiful thing when a person begins to open up.

Let the Gospel do the work. Be patient. It will do the saving. These truths are completely foreign to some folk.

One of these 'blurt outs' was...

'WHAT RELIGION ARE YOU!'

Slowly, methodically, I could see the peace of God and the truth of God coming over Judy. Little by little. The law was doing it's preparatory work.

Judy's resistance that she was 'good' was slipping away. She was surrendering to the truth that she was not good. This precious lady was letting go.

I don't remember exactly what prompted this, but I do remember at one point she was asking me to go on...

'PLEASE, I WANT TO HEAR THIS!'

It is an amazing thing when someone afraid and resistant begins to embrace the truth and their entire countenance and demeanor changes. Thank you God the Holy Spirit.

At the end, Judy wanted to trust in Christ alone. The truth of her sin and the beauty of Christ had already penetrated her heart.

She told me...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HIM...(MY HEART FEELS 100% BETTER!)

Her friend Courtney (home coming queen) was along for the ride.

She told me...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I LISTENED AND TRUSTED HIM. (MY HEART FEELS) BIG.'

Judy prayed...

'I'M SORRY. THANKS FOR FORGIVING ME.' (God bless Judy!)

Courtney prayed...

'THANK YOU.'

THEY HEARD IT TWICE AND REALLY SEEMED TO GET IT

The first time Conner and Conrad heard the truth they prayed and told God...

'THANKS FOR ACCEPTING ME AND LETTING ME INTO YOUR HEART.

'THANKS FOR ACCEPTING ME AND TAKING MY SINS AWAY.'

When they came back later that evening, they were a little shaky in answering my initial two diagnostic questions.

So, we went through it again.

After hearing it the second time, they told me...

'HE MADE ME FEEL LOVED KNOWING HE MADE THIS SACRIFICE FOR ME.'

'HE REALLY WARMED MY HEART KNOWING I'M LOVED ALL THE TIME.'

NEVER TOO OLD

It is easier to lead the younger ones to Christ. The older ones may be more difficult, but some still do come. It is a great joy when one nearer to the end comes to the Lord.

Ricky was already saved. His dear friend John was not. Ricky sat quietly as I shared with his friend. When we got to the invitation, John said yes.

Immediately after prayer, John got up to leave. It was like, 'I got what I came for, I got to go now.' He shook my hand and said...

'HE SAVED ME.'

A FEW MORE NEAT RESPONSES

Madison was already saved but Scott was not. It was a joy to share with them and see what the Spirit did in Scott's heart. He told me...

'GOD OPENED MY EYES TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE OF WHO I NEED TO TRUST IN AND WHO I NEED TO LOVE. (MY HEART IS) COMFORTED AND WARM.'

Gabe said he would go to Heaven because he was 'kind'. After hearing the law, Gabe had a humble heart and accepted the fact that he was 'not good'. After hearing the Gospel, Gabe really wanted to trust the One who loved him that much...

'THANK YOU FOR SACRIFICING YOURSELF FOR ME. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID FOR ME. I LOVE YOU.'

After trusting Christ, little Savanah and Serenity told the Lord...

'I TRUST YOU.'
'THANK YOU THAT I NOW HAVE SOMEONE TO TRUST.'

After receiving Christ, a young girl named Brooke told Him...

'THANKS FOR DYING ON THE CROSS FOR ME. THANKS FOR TAKING MY SINS AWAY AND GIVING ME ETERNAL LIFE.'

When I asked her how her heart felt, she told me...

'I CAN'T PUT IT INTO WORDS.'

Thank you for your continued support!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!