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Archive for June, 2010

Evangelism Class Graduates

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

This is a first: By the end of my 6 week evangelism training class, “Sharing Your Faith Without Fear,” I usually have a 50% drop out rate. Not this time! My class actually doubled in size from the original! We started out with three and ended up with six!

Our top-of-the-class winner is Jeff Pringle, a man who has just returned to the faith after a three year period of wandering. And I just got a phone call today from “Righteous Richard” Chavarria, our Department of Motor Vehicles preacher; he told me that Jeff is learning the ropes, readying himself to preach at another local DMV.

Our next class will be starting on July 7 at Hope Chapel, Hermosa Beach.

Posted in What's Your E-vangie Tale? | 2 Comments »

Evangelism Schedule: July, 2010

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Saturday, July 3: Redondo Beach Pier. Should be a crowded day! Meet at Hope Chapel at noon to carpool.

Wednesday, July 7: “Sharing Your Faith Without Fear” 6 week evangelism class. 7PM at Hope Chapel in the Upper Room East. Call Barbara to sign up: 310-374-4673 x121

Saturday, July 10: Hawthorne Car Show. Meet at Hope Chapel at Special Time, 9AM, to carpool.

See what other exciting things we are doing this month…. (more…)

Posted in AA- EVANGELISM SCHEDULE | No Comments »

Controversial Atheist Sign Defaced

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

The “Under God” spray-painted by vandals onto an atheist billboard on Billy Graham Parkway over the weekend won’t be gone until just before July 4, a spokesman for Charlotte Atheists & Agnostics said today.

“It was done by one or two people off on their own who decided their only recourse was vandalism rather than having a conversation.” Warren said. “It does show how needed our message is. As atheists, we want to let people know we exist and that there’s a community here. See the sign and read the rest here.

Posted in Famous Lost Words | 26 Comments »

More Lost Liberties: Dearborn, Michigan

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

One of the nation’s top legal teams regarding civil and religious rights has stepped into a dispute stemming from an Arab Festival in Dearborn, Mich., where police are accused of enforcing Islamic law.

“Officers arrested four Christian missionaries and illegally confiscated their video cameras, which were recording the events surrounding their arrests,” said a statement today from the Thomas More Law Center of Ann Arbor, Mich.

Officials in the police department with the city of Dearborn declined to comment to WND.

But the law-center announcement said the incident has been described as “police enforcement of Shariah law.” The organization said it would represent the Christians.

“These Christian missionaries were exercising their constitutional rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion, but apparently the Constitution carries little weight in Dearborn, where the Muslim population seems to dominate the political apparatus,” said Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center. Read the rest here.

A Wake-Up Call

Now read this perspective from Michael Youseff at OneNewsNow: Every freedom-loving person should be extremely alarmed at the dreadful trend of silencing Christians from the streets of London to the streets of Dearborn, Michigan. In both places, Christians were arrested and imprisoned for preaching the gospel on public streets…in what Muslims considered to be Islamic territories. (more…)

Posted in Lost Liberties | 4 Comments »

Sudden Death: Prevention!

Monday, June 28th, 2010

It’s not always bad news on Sudden Death Mondays…. Sometimes a safety commercial can actually bring tears to your eyes, like this one, which has been seen over 9 million times on YouTube. Have you viewed it yet?

Posted in SUDDEN DEATH! | 1 Comment »

Losing Liberties: Don’t Talk to Strangers Rule

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Mall’s “Don’t Talk to Strangers” Rule
to be Argued Monday in Court of Appeals

Sacramento, CA – The California Court of Appeals will hear arguments Monday in a case testing the validity of a shopping mall’s attempt to prevent adult patrons from talking to each other about hot-button topics such as religion and politics.

The case arose after a youth pastor, Matthew Snatchko, was arrested at the Roseville Galleria Mall in 2007 for striking up a casual conversation with two other shoppers about faith. (more…)

Posted in Lost Liberties | 13 Comments »

Michael Jackson Died One Year Ago Today

Friday, June 25th, 2010

We went to the King of Pop’s Memorial service at the Staples Center last year. Read about what happened by clicking here.

Below, we interviewed a wannabe Gloved One who ran away before I finished talking with him.

And this guy, Michael Fatson (below), got plain old angry and stalked off in a huff. Why, I wonder?

Read the REAL cause of Michael Jackson death and take a trip along Memory Lane by clicking here.

Click here to read some sad comments by Michael and his ex.

Posted in BIG Events | 2 Comments »

This is PhotoBomb Evangelism

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

What’s a PhotoBomb you ask? This is a PhotoBomb:

This is also a PhotoBomb:

This is how the Urban Dictionary defines a PhotoBomb: (verb) to drop into a photo unexpectedly; to hop in a picture right before it is taken; any time the background of a picture hijacks the original focus.

This is PhotoBomb evangelism: Drop into a photo, smile, then give everyone a Gospel tract afterward.

They will then invite you into their shot.

Years later, families and friends will always remember the time some crazy Christian loved them enough to drop into their picture to give them a fighting chance for Heaven—by handing out a Gospel tract with a big ole winning smile!

First three images from ThisIsPhotobomb.com

Posted in Abnormal Evangelism Ideas | 11 Comments »

Destinations: Redondo Beach Street Fair

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

This Saturday we will be heading out to yet another street fair in South Redondo Beach. Want to join in? Meet at Hope Chapel at noon to carpool.

Want to know what happened at the West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade last week? Team leader Tom Nance-Ulrich has this report. (more…)

Posted in AA- EVANGELISM SCHEDULE | 11 Comments »

Lakers Victory Parade Disapointment

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

An estimated 65, ooo crammed the streets of downtown Los Angeles to get a chance to view the world champion Lakers on the back of a flatbed truck. Twenty-one members of the evangelism team had a more noble purpose: to preach to as many of the spectators as possible. And we did!

Here’s the crowd we preached to:

And using “Hellboy” and “Little Mike,” our trusty sound systems, quite a few heard the message as we asked this question from multiple areas within this crowd: “If you died today, would you go to Lakers Heaven, or Celtics Hell?”

Since most had missed church the day before (we polled them), we were actually providing a service as they waited, and waited, and waited…for this: A two minute glimpse of someone holding a trophy. (See a clearer picture from the L.A. Times here.)

Many fans were bummed after waiting for hours in the hot sun to see, well, uh, not much of anything. According to the Times, one fan, Sharon Dacosta, a 38-year-old medical technician who lives in South L.A., said she was upset that she had not been able to catch a glimpse of Bryant. “What an insult,” she said. “I barely saw anyone. You see more cop cars and firetrucks than players. People drove a long way. People took time off work.”

While on their way back to their cars we tried to ease their disappointment by heralding the good news that God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We look forward to a Three-peat next year!

Posted in BIG Events, Open Air | No Comments »

Sound Systems: Meet “The Annihilator!”

Monday, June 21st, 2010

If your voice is too soft, too hoarse, or there are just too many people at an event for you to preach in the open air au natural, it’s always good to have an assortment of different sound systems available. Here are a few that have been very effective on our evangelistic excursions. (Links are provided for info only; you may find them cheaper elsewhere.)

“Little Mike” (Fender Passport P-10W) is a portable hand-held system with a cordless mic. It’s good for use at Porta-Potty lines and even in front of grandstands at parades. (Don’t believe me? See the video here.)

“Big Bertha” (Liberty MPB 4500) is very loud and a bit heavy. But hooeee!!!! She’s gets the job done at big events like USC football games and anti war protests. (See her get thrown from a wall by an angry peace activist here.)

“Hellboy” (Half-mile Hailer by AmpliVox) cranks up the volume and can reach hundreds, even thousands, at a time. (See how we use it here.)

(See all three systems being used at once in this video.)

But what do you use when there are a potential million people at an event like the Lakers Victory Parade, where the evangelism team will be at today?

How about “The Annihilator”? (I just dare an atheist to deny there’s a God when I’m on the mic with one of these, yessireee!)

HORNMASSIVE is a 2 Ton (4500 Lbs US), 3.5 M by 3.1 M by 4 M mobile 2000 watt steel and aluminuim horn sound system, all powered from a commercial 12” speaker driver. It functions as a mobile audio input station whereby people can plug-in in order to project “content” a distance of 1 km, designed to be the ultimate monophonic sound projector intended to catalyze social activities in multiple settings.

Posted in Equipment | 7 Comments »

Sudden Death: Firing Squad

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Ronnie Lee Gardner, the convicted double-murderer executed by a firing squad in Utah in the predawn hours Friday, died in a manner that even the state that killed him no longer wants to use.

Gardner, 49, was killed just past midnight after spending his final day reading a spy novel and watching the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. He was strapped to a chair inside a state prison, his head hooded and a target affixed to his chest. Asked whether he had any final words, he said: “I do not. No.” Read the rest of the article from the Los Angeles Times “Murderer is executed by firing squad” here.

Posted in SUDDEN DEATH! | 1 Comment »

Lakers Victory!

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Yesterday we went to the NBA Finals where we had the opportunity to preach in many unusual places right on the property of the Staples Center! The police were more than accommodating, the people friendly, and best of all, the Lakers won. Again! Here I’m standing in front of Magic Johnson.

This Monday we are going to the Lakers Victory Parade! Want to come? We”ll be leaving from Hope Chapel at 7:30AM to preach to an estimated 500,000-2,000,000 people!

See what else happened at the Finals…. (more…)

Posted in BIG Events | 4 Comments »

Scary Krishnas

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Just up the block on the 3rd St. Promenade, where the 16th Ambassadors’ Academy was taking place, we saw them. Whirling, jumping, bobbing. Bald heads bouncing, pony tails-a-whisking…the Hari Krishnas were here!

In most cases, people would see the kookoo Krishna commotion and give them a wide birth; but this was an evangelism training Academy. We came to herald the Gospel.

What if I preached the Prince of Peace from a perch on the Promenade to the happy hopping throng banging away on their tablas, tavils and dolaks? Would they attack? Would voices become one with the Vishnubirdonyou, shouting me down in a unified pyre of anger? Has such a thing ever been tried before?

A challenge presented itself. Then the miracle of 3rd Street happened. (more…)

Posted in Open Air | 17 Comments »

Destinations: NBA Finals, Huntington Beach

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Two years ago, at the NBA Finals, I was forcibly pulled down from my elevated preaching area. (Read about it here.)

Last year, at the 2009 Finals, I was smacked in the face. (Read about it here.) Then I was heckled mercilessly by a contingent of atheists, rapscallions, and miscreants, who had no problem using colorful expletives to describe their feelings about my stop light preaching. (See video below.)

Well, we’re going again! This time to Game 7 of the NBA finals! (I love L.A.) Want to come and experience a smackdown? Meet at Hope Chapel at 2:45PM to carpool. Returning by 7PM.

*****

On Saturday, we will be heading to the Huntington Pier to watch Ray Comfort in action. Meet at Hope Chapel at noon to carpool. (Read about the very first time I preached with Ray by clicking here.)

Posted in AA- EVANGELISM SCHEDULE | No Comments »

Ambassadors’ Academy #16: Trash Talkin’

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Ambassadors’ Academy #16 just finished up and there will be a few stories to write including what happened with the Hari Krishnas. Also, a few new techniques were developed, including The Tract Gauntlet and PhotoBomb Evangelism. I forgot to mention this: Someone challenged me to preach inside Wendy’s Restaurant. Think I did it?

Instead of visiting Hollywood Blvd. like we normally do at these Academies, we went to the 3rd St. Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier where we enjoyed great success.

The team I was responsible for even passed the Final Exam: preaching atop trash cans on Main St. in Huntington Beach! Will they do this back at home? Maybe not, but at least they know they can.

Want to join our Everyday Club? This is an opportunity for you to make an evangelistic commitment to share your faith everyday. Click here for details.

Posted in Ambassadors' Academy | 11 Comments »

An Atheist Analogy: “The Relaxing Man”

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Several weeks back I wrote an analogy titled The Drowning Woman that illustrates why our evangelists go to such drastic extremes (like preaching atop trash cans and in elevators) to try and save some from Hell. The Christians agreed that it was an accurate metaphor, while, unsurprisingly, the atheists did not, dismissing what we do as “Jerky Evangelism.” The post received over 130 comments, so it was quite controversial. (Read “The Drowning Woman” by clicking here).

One man, under the pseudonym Quasar, wrote his own analogy from the atheist’s viewpoint. Read it and respond. Does he have a valid point or is he way off the mark?

Here’s what Quasar wrote:

From your perspective, the analogy is valid. You honestly believe there is a sea and that the woman is drowning in it. From our perspective:

We are sitting on a grassy field in the middle of a park casually reading a novel, when suddenly a car screeches to a halt next to us, and a random guy in speedos and a lifeguard t-shirt leans out. He shouts “Are you okay?” in a very loud voice.

“Um… yeah, we’re okay,” we reply somewhat nervously.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, we’re good,” we say, raising an eyebrow and putting the book down on the ground next to us.

Suddenly, he dives out of the car in a perfect swan-dive. We watch in astonishment as he flails about on the grass, miming a breaststroke, screaming at us. “I’m coming to save you!” (more…)

Posted in Famous Lost Words | 17 Comments »

Sudden Death: Hang Gliding

Monday, June 14th, 2010

A 60-year-old man has died after his hang glider broke during a San Bernardino aerobatics event and he fell 300 feet to the ground, authorities said Monday. Read the rest here.

Posted in SUDDEN DEATH! | No Comments »

Why Christians Don’t Argue with Atheists

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

So what do you do? What can you say to an atheist who will not let you speak, ridicules your beliefs, laughs at your claims and is an obvious adherent to the godless philosophies of New Atheism as put forth by Hitchens, Dawkins and Harris? Watch this video. It’s the only way to counter the counter-evangelists. (This is part one of a multi-part series that will continue next week called “Of Pagans, Pearls and Pork.”)

Here’s a review from one YouTube commenter: This is hilarious and sadly pathetic. The atheist is actually MAKING POINTS using valid arguments, and all the Christian is doing is preaching biblical myths and making baseless assertions without providing any empirical evidence to support his fictional babble. Typical. Why would you even upload a video of yourself being intellectually dominated and horrendously making a delusional fool of yourself? And, you have the nerve to talk about *reason*? Wow.

Worker Demoted for Discussing Intelligent Design

The Alliance Defense Fund has filed a complaint against Cal Tech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in a case involving freedom of speech in the workplace. A NASA specialist working for JPL was demoted and threatened with termination for discussing Intelligent Design with willing co-workers. Read the rest here.

Posted in E-vangie VIDEO!, Famous Lost Words, Lost Liberties | 44 Comments »

Destinations: PV Street Fair, WeHo Gay Pride Parade

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

This Saturday, we will be going to one of the wealthiest places in SoCal: the Palos Verdes Penninsula for their annual street fair. Though it’s expected to be rather uneventful in terms of angry outbursts, I’m sure there will be a fair number of Security officials who will try to stop us from handing out tracts and conversing on the public streets. Most are just ignorant of the First Amendment. (If you haven’t read “On Dealing with the Police,” print it out and memorize the protocols.) Meet at Hope Chapel at noon to carpool.

I interviewed a hypnotist there a few years back. He wasn’t too pleased with my Biblical therapy….

On Sunday the team will be going to the West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade, a very difficult venue for evangelism. Born again, fundamentalist Christians are generally unwelcome in this part of town, partly because of the unloving attitudes displayed to this community by self-righteous believers, a lot of them who hold hateful signs. We go because we love the people there; we go to listen and to reason with them about Hell, Heaven, and the Savior. Not recommended for kids. Meet at Hope Chapel at 9AM to carpool.