More Stories...

The last month of sharing the Gospel has been 'out of this world'. We have seen around 120 people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The Lord sent five new volunteers. Anatoliy Makitrin (from the last newsletter) helped several days and a dear brother from his church named Ben Varepa has also been helping us share downtown. An experienced evangelist and good friend from New Jersey, Paul Collins, has also been helping. Mark Bressan and Daryl Kozden have been helping hold the cross on Friday's.

This time, as I share the newsletter with you, I won't focus so much on the methodology of the Gospel presentation. I will just share comments that stick out and neat testimonies at the end. All of these people professed Christ as Savior. Enjoy.

GOD CHOOSES THE DESPISED

Two people exited the courtroom and angrily told me 'no' when I offered them a bracelet. Then they said, 'Speak to Quisha, she's the one who needs it!'

Quisha had already told me 'no' before she went into the courtroom. However, this time, when she came out of the courtroom, she said 'yes'.

After hearing the Gospel and praying with me, she said...

'SOMETHING TOLD ME TO COME OVER AND TALK WITH YOU. GOD CAME INTO MY LIFE TODAY AND TOOK MY SINS AWAY. HE CARES ABOUT ME.'

Praise God that He saves those that are judged and despised by others!

Quisha didn't have a bible, so we gave her some money to purchase one. She did and then sent us the picture!

Quisha came back a few weeks later asking for prayer. She told me, 'I'm 100% sure that I will go to Heaven because I trust in God.'

NOT ME, HIM

Josue was 'hoping' to go to Heaven because he thought he was a 'good person'.

After hearing the Gospel and professing Christ, he told me...

'HE EXPLAINED ME A LOT OF STUFF. I GOTTA BELIEVE IN HIM NOT MYSELF. I CAN'T SAVE MYSELF.'

ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE STREET!

Most folks say 'no' from across the street. A few come.

Jon and Brittany initially hesitated, did a 'double take', and then decided to come across the street and hear the message.

While I was sharing, as they began to realize that their goodness would not save them, they commented...

'AHA! I GET IT.'

After hearing the Gospel and professing Christ,

'WOW! I'VE NEVER LOOKED AT IT THAT WAY. I'VE GOT SOME TEARS. I'M EMOTIONAL. HE WAS ALREADY CHARGED GUILTY FOR ME. WE'RE SAVED.'

When did they want to put their trust in Christ?...

"RIGHT NOW...YESTERDAY...ALWAYS.'

SHE CAME TO CHURCH!

Edith was walking across the street with her walker. She is the granddaughter of Susanna, who received a bracelet and trusted Christ about a year ago.

Prompted by her granddaughter, Edith came over. Prompted by the Spirit, Edith professed Christ as her Savior...

'HE SAVED ME.'

Susanna was eagerly helping me preach to her grandmother.

Sunday after church she told me...

'I CRIED MOST OF THE SERVICE.'

HUSBAND AND WIFE

Pam was moved to tears by the Gospel message. At the end she admitted that she had been trusting a 'little bit of me'.

After profession and prayer she said...

'HE REMINDED ME THAT HE IS STILL THERE.'

Her husband Courtney came out of the courtroom and patiently waited as I finished sharing with Pam.

Courtney was a very sincere man who had 'changed', but was not trusting in the finished work of the cross.

After profession and prayer, I asked him if he had any questions...

'YOU COVERED IT ALL. IT MAKES SENSE. HE SAVED ME BECAUSE HE ALREADY DIED FOR ME. HE MADE A CLEAR PATH (FOR ME).'

'ARE YOU COLD?'

Mark Bressan has been joining me holding the cross every Friday. He was sent to me via a mutual friend from Advancing Native Missions, George Ainsworth.

A lady with her window down pulled up to the light as Mark and I were holding the cross. As you know, it has been really cold.

Mark...'Are you warm in there?'

Lady...'Yes. Are you cold?'

Mark...'No. I'm on FIRE! (Lady, Mark and I began laughing)

Mark...'Are YOU on fire?'

Lady...'Uh...'

Mike...'Make sure you get on FIRE!, so you don't end up on FIRE!' (We all laughed)

THEY WERE ALREADY HALFWAY ACROSS THE STREET

I had just finished sharing with two guys when I looked up and saw two young girls who were already halfway across the street.

Yes, I hollered and yes they came over. Both girls were trusting in their goodness, but after hearing the Gospel wanted to trust in Christ alone.

Destiny...'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I PUT MY FAITH IN HIM. THANK YOU. I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS UNLESS YOU SPOKE TO ME.'

Kiara...'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM. WE NEEDED TO HEAR SOMETHING HALFWAY ACROSS THE STREET.'

Both girls thanked me and Anatoliy several times before they left.

'NO ONE CAN BE 100% SURE!'

Cleto was 'way' across the street. He actually was about to open his car door when I hollered at him. I guess having Anatoliy with me made it kind of a fun game to yell across the street. We both were amazed as Cleto made a 'bee line' over to us.

Cleto was an honest Catholic who told us...

'NO ONE CAN BE 100% SURE. I KNOW I DON'T MEASURE UP BUT ITRYTO MEASURE UP.'

We must not 'try' to measure up. We will never measure up. We must despair of ourselves and our 'trying', and instead trust in another. We automatically measure up...perfectly in Him. Amen.

The light came on for Cleto when he saw that...

'FORGIVENESS ONLY COMES THROUGH THE PAYMENT.'

After prayer and profession, Cleto became 100% sure. Listen to his prayer to God...

'THANKS FOR SHOWING ME SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW. THANKS FOR REVEALING SOMETHING NEW TO ME. THANKS FOR DRAWING ME CLOSER TO YOUR HEART.'

HAPPY AND OVERWHELMED

Vanessa told us that she was 'struggling with unforgiveness.' She had grown up in the church andshe believed that He came and died. When she said that, it was said like it really had no meaning to her.

As I shared, Vanessa kept coming back to...'I'LL BE GOOD. I'LL DO BETTER.' (No one is good, except God alone.)

Exasperated, I pointed to a bush and proclaimed...

'Are you that bush?' (No) 'Can you ever be that bush?' (No)

'Are you good?' (No) 'Can you ever be good?' (No) ...

Vanessa blurted out...'I GET IT!'

Vanessa understood that her salvation was in Christ, not in herself. When did she want to place her trust in Christ alone? (ASAP!)

After profession and prayer she told us...

'HE HAS COME SO I CAN TRUST SO I CAN GO TO HEAVEN. I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT HE MADE. I HAVE FIVE KIDS AND I AM MOVED BY HIS GREAT SACRIFICE. HE SHOWED ME THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT BEFORE I COME TO HIM. I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO FORGIVE ANYONE BEFORE I GIVE IT TO HIM. 110% NOW. (MY HEART IS) HAPPY AND OVERWHELMED.'

Part of the court was closed this day because of Covid. For some reason, they did not call Vanessa and tell her. She commented...

'THEY DIDN'T CALL ME TO TELL ME THAT COURT WAS CANCELED SO IT'S OBVIOUS THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TODAY.'

HE'S THE SHOWER!

Mimi was a lot like Vanessa. She kept coming back to herself and what she needed to do and how she could clean herself.

At some point revelation came and she saw that it was Christ and not herself. Mimi shed some tears.

After profession and prayer...

'HE CHANGED MY LIFE. HE'S THE SHOWER! THANK YOU! I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT.

A WARM BATH

Matthew was sure that he was good enough to go to Heaven. After I shared the dessert illustration, he saw that trusting in His own goodness was...

'AN INSULT AND A SLAP IN THE FACE TO GOD'.

Matthew told me that Jesus was not God. After sharing the Trinity he exclaimed...

'OH, SO THEY'RE ALL GOD!'

As I was explaining the resurrection, he proclaimed...

'THAT'S THE RECEIPT!'

After profession and prayer...

'HE WASHED AWAY SOME DIRT. I ACCEPTED HIM. HE GAVE ME A BATH. (MY HEART FEELS) WARM. I'M REALLY SURE...100%.'

I'LL SEE YOU IN HEAVEN

After sharing the Gospel with Chris, he saw that his goodness would not save him.

When did he want to place his trust in Christ alone?

'ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO.'

After profession and prayer...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I TRUST IN HIM.'

Listen to his prayer to God at the end...

'THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING FOR ME THE PAST MONTH AND FOR HELPING ME. I'LL SEE YOU IN HEAVEN.'

GOD'S PERFECT TIMING

Anatoliy and I had just left the courthouse and were heading back to the parking lot. We ran into Cody who was standing outside of a restaurant where he worked.

I let Anatoliy share the Gospel presentation. After hearing the Gospel, Cody said...

'I DIDN'T KNOW THIS. I'VE GOT GOOSE BUMPS.'

When did he want to trust in Christ alone?

'RIGHT NOW!'

After profession and prayer...

'HE SAVED ME. THANK YOU!'

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Ten years ago every Wednesday, I used to pick up Owen and his younger brother Cody on the church van and bring them to church with me.

Owen sees us holding the cross on Friday's and he decided to come out and say hi. Owen was still holding at 100% because He had his faith in Christ.

THEY CAME TO CHURCH THAT SUNDAY!

Mark and I had the pleasure of meeting Darcy and Brittany while we were holding the cross. We both shared the Gospel with them and they joined us for church that Sunday. They actually came back the following Sunday and Brittany commented...

'THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT I FELT COMFORTABLE AND WELCOME IN A CHURCH.'

SHE MET ME 10 YEARS AGO WITH HER SON

The Greek word for 'repent' is metanoia. Meta means 'to change' and noia means 'mind'. So when we repent, we change our mind.

Senica, like most people, was trusting in herself. As the law and Gospel were shared with her, the Spirit began to show her who she was trusting in (self) and who she needed to trust in (Christ).

She commented...

'I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK.'

After profession and prayer she said...

'THIS MAKES ME THINK DIFFERENTLY, I TELL YOU WHAT. (MY HEART) IS OPEN AND (I AM POSITIVE I AM GOING TO HEAVEN) BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME AND DIED FOR ME.' (Ben Varepa in the pic and following)

I MET HIM TWO YEARS AGO

Christian was 50% that he would go to Heaven because 'he believed'. What did he believe? He didn't know.

After hearing the Gospel, Christian understood what he needed to believe to go to Heaven.

After prayer and profession, he told me...

"I'M THANKFUL FOR HIM SAVING ME TODAY. I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM. IT GIVES ME HOPE. THANKS FOR BEING OUT HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE REST OF US THAT DO SEE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO FOR US.'

'HE SEES MY HEART.'...'I GAVE HIM MY HEART.'

River was 50% sure that he would go to Heaven because 'God forgives'. Why would God forgive River? 'He sees my heart.'

'The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.' (Jeremiah 17:9)

After hearing the Gospel, professing Christ and praying...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I GAVE HIM MY HEART. THANK YOU LORD FOR EVERYTHING, FOR DYING FOR MY SINS. I'LL PRAISE HIM NOW.'

HE HAD SEVEN MINI STROKES IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS

Because Lowery sees us holding the cross every Friday, he was excited to see us downtown. He was hoping he would get to Heaven because he was a 'good person'.

After hearing the Gospel, I asked him at the end in whom he was trusting. This was before we even prayed.

'WHEN WE STARTED I WAS TRUSTING MYSELF, BUT NOW I'M TRUSTING HIM.'

After prayer...

'HE OPENED MY HEART UP BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.' (Paul from New Jersey in the picture waving)

THE 'HOT DOG' WANTS TO TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE

Earlier that morning in the First Presbyterian parking lot, I had some fun with Chris Furry, the maintenance man. We decided that he was 'the ham sandwich' and that I was the 'baloney sandwich.'

Three hours later he was walking on the other side of the street with two others behind him. I shouted to him...

"Hi ham sandwich!'

I then looked at the two behind him and said...

'You must be the hamburger and you are the hot dog! Does the 'hot dog' want a free bracelet?'

The 'hot dog' came across the street to get a bracelet!

Andre thought that he had to do something to earn his way to Heaven. After hearing the Gospel he wanted to trust in Christ alone and prayed with me...

'HE SAVED MY LIFE BECAUSE HE CHANGED MY MIND. IT'S UP TO HIM, NOT ME. HE CHANGED MY MIND AND OPENED MY HEART TO SOMETHING NEW.'

THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL

When the children in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe stepped into the wardrobe, they stepped into a 'whole new world.' Some have likened the born again experience as 'now seeing everything in color'.

Brandon was initially trusting in his goodness, living in one world. When he heard the Gospel, he wanted to trust in Christ alone and was enlightened to a whole new world...

'HE MADE ME OPEN UP MY EYES AND REALIZE THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL.'

'THANKS FOR TAKING MY SINS AWAY.'

NEW VOLUNTEER HELPS WITH THE CROSS

Daryl Kozden saw Mark and I holding the cross and wanted to join in on the fun. He really enjoyed ministering to the people and was blessed by all the people who honked and waved at us. I told him that he was hired.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Adam had already changed and was doing his best to follow the commandments.

After hearing the Gospel, Adam realized he wasn't the Savior and wanted to trust in Him instead...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I TRUST IN HIM. I BELIEVE IN HIM, NOT ME. THANKS FOR THE NEW PERSPECTIVE.'

He sent a text message that night...

'THANK YOU BROTHER MEANS A LOT. THANK Y'ALL FOR HELPING ME GET ONTO THE RIGHT PATH. GOD BLESS Y'ALL!'

'JESUS REALLY TOOK OVER...I GOT YOU BABYGIRL'

Kaitlyn 'followed the rules'. She knew she didn't measure up, but believed God would forgive her. Why? 'Because I'm honest'

"Nothing damns a man but his own righteousness; nothing saves a man but the righteousness of Christ." Charles Spurgeon

Kaitlyn wanted to transfer her trust from her own righteousness to Christ's and we prayed accordingly...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR ME. (MY HEART) IS SAD BUT THANKFUL.'

Text message that night...

'I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO THE CHURCH YOU GUYS GO TO. IT WAS A GREAT BLESSING TODAY. I FEEL LIKE I HAD HIM BY MY SIDE THROUGH COURT. I WAS BEYOND SCARED...Y'ALL WAS A REALLY BIG HELP TOO. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR EVERYONE. YOU MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE SMILE AND YOU FEEL COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I JUST FEEL LIKE I GOT THIS. BEFORE TALKING TO YOU, I HAD SO MUCH ON MY SHOULDERS. I FELT LIKE I WAS ALL ALONE. BUT AFTER YOUR TALK, I FELT LIKE JESUS REALLY TOOK OVER AND SAID 'I GOT YOU BABYGIRL'. AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.'

'YOU GAVE ME HOPE AGAIN.' (OUR 'TRYING' IS THE PROBLEM)

'Itryto do right. Itryto better myself everyday. Itrynot to make the same mistakes. At the end of the day, as long as youtryto better yourself.'

(It's not in trying, it's in trusting.)

Honestly, Blake was so rooted in his own works that I wasn't sure I could reach him. Thankfully, the Spirit moved in, showed him the truth, and helped him to trust in Christ alone...

'HE WASHED MY SINS AWAY. HE MADE ME BELIEVE IN GOD AGAIN. I WAS LOSING HOPE. I WAS HOMELESS. I WAS MAD. I NEEDED SOMEONE TO TALK TO. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME HOPE AGAIN.'

HE WAS WIPING THE TEARS AWAY

'I'M 100%. I'M CLEAN WITH MYSELF. HOW AM I RIGHT WITH GOD? I'M CLEAN WITH MYSELF. DO I MEASURE UP? WE ALL MEASURE UP! HELL? THERE IS NO HELL.'

Just like with Blake, I thought this would be a very difficult one. Difficult for me indeed, but not for the Holy Spirit.

Thankfully, as I was sharing the law, conviction and understanding came for Joan. The tears started.

When he understood that following the rules would not justify him, he commented...

'I GET IT.'

After the dessert illustration...

'I SEE IT. I GET IT. I'M LOST'.

Joan wanted to place his trust in Christ alone and prayed with me...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I WAS LOST. (ARE YOU FOUND?) AMEN.'

His prayer to God at the end...

'THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. THANKS FOR SPEAKING TO ME BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE ARE LOST.'

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!

AMEN! ALL GLORY TO GOD!