Street ministry, hmmm… where to start? I have never gone out into the busiest street in Dublin before and I’ve definitely never handed out ‘tracks’ containing Christian literature, so it has been interesting.
I’ve never thought that handing someone a piece of paper would do any good, let alone trying to start up a conversation with a random stranger walking down the road. I tried to think about how I would feel if someone randomly approached me on the street and tried to talk to me about a Man who came to Earth to die for my sin. I would probably walk away… it’s hard to jump into ministry that is unfamiliar, especially if you feel unequipped.
I’ve struggled with feeling inadequate in my faith due to past wrongs and my lack of Bible knowledge. Although I’m trying to dive into the Word as much as possible, it obviously does not happen overnight. I’ve noticed that most people who do not believe in Jesus or God or anything, tend to have extensive knowledge about the Bible and how to make Christianity seem crazy. So not feeling equipped when the other party has so much knowledge breeds fear.
Fear, that word that I mention so much; so my goal was to step out as much as I could and try and listen to the Lords voice to speak to me and through me when ministering to strangers. We often can’t see the fruits of our labor when ministering because God works everything out in His own time. It’s often times just planting a seed in someone and praying for it to take root in them. You never know what could bring someone to the Lord, so why not try it all! This is important stuff!
I had a different experience while street ministering. There were men preaching with a microphone about the gospel and there were people gathering around. One man clearly had demons in him ( for those of you who know me, you know this is not something that I would usually pick up on, let alone say out loud and blog about) demons is a new concept for me. I’ve always known there is evil, but demons are different. Anyway- he followed around these men wherever they went to antagonize them and try to refute what they were preaching. Every time they preached in every place this man was compelled to follow them and try and get people to listen to “his side” I stood and watched him do this for awhile, I felt a lot of fear, but God was calling me to approach him.
This man stared me in the face and told me he was Satan himself, he was confused at why I could not recognize him.
This struck me, I have had a lot of sin in my life and the thought that a satanic man would ask how I could not recognize him… well it was startling. I spoke with him calmly for awhile until he was pulled aside by a police officer. Looking back, I could have said so much more, but that was not the point. I felt completely at ease when I was speaking with this man and that was clearly the Holy Spirit working within me (also a new concept for me) So big things are happening within me and my team! Praise the Lord!
Since our first day out, walking up to people has become much easier, especially knowing that the Holy Spirit is by your side! I’ve seen so many giftings within my team and within team Cheetahs! I can’t wait to see what God has next for me and O squad in the coming months! Next stop: KENYA!
Romans 12: 1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual<sup value='[a]’>[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
<3 Love you all!
