We started with over 50 enthusiastic, on-fire evangelists with a goal of handing out at least one tract a day, but I think the economy has gotten the better of them. What do I mean by that? Well, less than 20 are reporting in… and I understand.
It’s hard to stay committed these days to reaching the lost: We have great cable shows on TV, the summer blockbusters are here, the Lakers are in the finals (and the whole world is excited about that!), and there’s life. Life. Marriage, kids, friends, family—all good things, of course, but if they get us distracted from the important things, well, then, our priorities are out of order.
Here’s an opportunity to regroup (and if necessary, revise your personal evangelistic goal), and get on board again. Go ahead and post your totals for May in the comments section and state what your original goal was. You can either report that you made (or fell short of) your goal, or post the total number of tracts you gave out, personal witnessing encounters you had, or open air sessions you participated in.
Remember, if we don’t make goals, we’ll reach them every time!
The Everyday Club gives you the opportunity to hold yourself accountable to whatever evangelistic goal that you have set for yourself, providing that it’s an everyday goal. Your goal can be to hand out one tract a day, or a thousand; it’s up to you! (You can join the 50+ others who have already signed up by clicking here!)
A homeless man stepped up to the mic to take “The Good Person” test. If he was good enough to make it to Heaven he would receive $20. Of course, after answering our pointed questions—”Have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen? Have you ever used God’s name in vain?”— he realized that he was not a good person but a lying thief and a blasphemer, headed for Hell. He didn’t get his twenty bucks.
Suddenly, every homeless person in Venice appeared over the top of the grassy knoll like zombies out of “Night of the Living Dead.” “I want my twenty dollars! I want my twenty dollars!” the homeless man continued to yell.
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time then you know how I feel about preaching in the open air with a Bible in hand—don’t do it! Why? Think about it this way: Before you were a believer, what did you think when you saw a guy standing on a structure and waving a Bible around? Were your first thoughts, “Gee… I wonder what that guy is saying? I think I’ll go over there and listen.”
against gay marriage. In other words, anyone who holds a Bible in the open air is a hater in their eyes… and a target. So if you are preaching in the open air, I recommend not holding a Bible. Let them hear your Bible words; let them hear your message; let them hear the tears in your voice as you proclaim the Law and Gospel. Why turn off a potential listener to your message before they even hear it by waving around a Bible? 
But there is a time to hold up a Bible proudly. There is a time and a place to hold that Big, BIG! Bible and proclaim the truth. When is that time? Whenever there is a nationwide call to read from the Good Book. My friend and brother Tony Miano, of the Ambassadors’ Alliance, made such a call, no doubt urged on by the apostle Paul’s admonition to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13). Last Saturday was deemed “Sermon on the Mount Saturday,” a time to go to any public place and simply read the greatest sermon ever preached: The Sermon on the Mount.
these things will be given to you as well.”
Former Idol, Jason Whatever-his-name-is (I’ve never, ever, seen the show) got a Giant Money Gospel tract, but was very cautious about posing for a photo, so he skimmed the message on the back. If you know this dude’s name, leave a comment.
We also had visits with the LAPD and every 21-year-old Paul Blart-mall-cop-wannabe.
On Tuesday afternoon we will be experiencing an evangelistic double-whammy hootenanny: The American Idol Finals at the Nokia Theater, and right across the street, the Lakers will be at the Staples Center playing to win the Western Conference title.
If the line doesn’t appear at the Nokia then we will preach to the fans across the street at the Staples Center. You can read about last year’s encounter when I was preaching from a traffic sign and forcibly pulled off by an angry man. Also, read about how Security forbade ”Righteous Richard” from preaching in a planter box by 
we set up our evangelism table. A young man named Leland was upset. Our evangelism leader, Bob Johnson, was on Leland’s cell phone talking to Leland’s Mom. I asked you to explain what you thought may be happening and I got some great responses to the photo on the right. (
Leland denied ever doing any of those things. In fact, Leland always put God first, always honored his father and mother, never desired anything more than God, and never coveted anything. And I’m sure, if asked, he never missed a Sabbath rest. Yes, Leland was the perfect man. 
Bob took the phone and patiently explained the situation to Mom. Fortunately, she was a Christian and agreed with Bob, telling her son to listen to him.
On Saturday, we will be at the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade. Meet at Hope Chapel at a SPECIAL TIME:11AM, to carpool.
This is a classic article written by William Taylor, a Methodist in the California Conference in the mid-1800’s. Although published in 1867, this article speaks to our generation. Mr. Taylor spoke about common objections to street preaching and uses many personal experiences to persuade his readers. The book from which this chapter is taken is called, “Seven Years Street Preaching in San Francisco, California.”
