Skate Park News -- Part 3

This is the third in a multi-part posting from the Janssen / Skate Park Small Group.

When we went to the skate park on June 7, we wanted to share the Gospel with the kids there. One of the ways of doing this is commonly called, "open air preaching." The idea is relatively simple: stand in a public place, speak loudly, and share the message of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.

Sometimes, to get attention, it helps to be speaking to someone directly, so other people can hear a conversation going on. Many times, through chatting with someone, the questions and thoughts that people will have about the message being spread will be answered or addressed through this channel. That is where CJ came in.



CJ is a young man, about to turn 19, who does not believe in God, Heaven, the devil, Hell, or any of the other tenets of Christianity. He said that he only wants to live for today and doesn't care about what happens after this life. So, we took the time to speak to him in an open-air format and walk through the Gospel with him.

You may be thinking, "Why would you want to talk to someone who has these beliefs if he isn't going to listen?" First, you never know when the Holy Spirit will move in someone's life. It is possible that through this preaching, CJ would repent of his sins and put his trust in Jesus.

Second, what you can't really see in this video is the two to three dozen kids who were standing around, sitting on benches, and eating the food we served up. Even though CJ may be fixed in his beliefs, these kids were listening to the serious message of the Gospel. Afterwards, in speaking with those kids further, they understood the basics of our faith. Some of them, as we could see, were being affected by God's Word being preached, and we hope for their salvation.

Third, hecklers and people who oppose what is going on can draw a crowd. People draw in more people, and a person who may not, "go with the flow," can entice more people to show up. Some of CJs friends walked over to where we were when they saw him talking with us.

Remember that when you share the Gospel with someone, you may not be sharing it to only that person. Eavesdroppers, passers-by, and other people around the area may be listening and get convicted by the Holy Spirit.

And please remember to pray for kids like CJ. May God work on his heart and save his soul.

Skate Park News -- Part 2

This is the second in a multi-part posting from the Janssen / Skate Park Small Group.



I know what you're thinking--this doesn't look anything like the skate park. And you would be right. But there is a story behind this photo that is worth sharing.

A couple of weeks ago, Christian and Denise learned that they were pregnant. This was a miracle in itself because they were told by doctors that they were unable to have any more biological children. Unfortunately, though, about a week later, they suffered a miscarriage.



It became a very tough time for Christian and Denise, with lots of questions, heartache, and tears being shed. If you or a loved one has ever gone through this kind of event, you know that the roller coaster of emotions is a tough thing to bear.



As the group met one Saturday to finish up the planning for the event for June 7, the group asked Christian and Denise if they needed anything at all. Our small group all loves each other and wants to help out whenever someone needs something. "As silly as it sounds," Christian said, "I've been building a playhouse for our kids and could use some help with getting it up in our backyard."



The following day after church, Pat and Mike stopped by to help get things set up. The three worked in the backyard for most of the afternoon, hammering, setting up walls, ratcheting things together, and getting the framing assembled. And, several hours later, there appeared the foundation of a small playhouse in their backyard.



Remember that our small groups are not just there to serve the community and share Jesus Christ. Make sure that you are caring for each other, for both the big and small things in life, even when the request may sound small or silly. It can make a huge difference.

Skate Park News -- Part 1

This is the first in a multi-part posting from the Janssen / Skate Park Small Group.



Last Saturday, June 7, our small group put forward our full plan in reaching out to the kids at the skate park. We started our weekend afternoon outreach by bringing them sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks, all for free. Our tables also had free copies of the New Testament, Bible tracts, and information about Plum Creek.

In doing this, we shared Jesus Christ with many people that afternoon, through talking about Him, getting to know the people who frequent the park, and serving them. There were also many parents who stopped by or came over from the nearby baseball diamond and thanked us for doing this work. The kids were all very grateful for us coming by, and many of them opened up to us and let us know what is going on in their lives.

By the time we wrapped up in the afternoon, we had gone through at least 2 cases of bottled water, 2 six-foot long Subway sandwiches, a huge box of chips, and several dozen home baked cookies. We gave out Bible tracts and shared the Gospel with at least 40 people, and handed somewhere between one and two dozen New Testaments to people who did not have Bibles of their own.

While we were more focused on being the Church and reaching the lost, we did get some video footage of the event. Here is a compilation and overview of our ministry to those at the skate park since March. You can also check the channel on YouTube or GodTube to see some of our encounters, which we will keep updating.

http://www.godtube.com/skateparkevangelism
http://www.youtube.com/user/SkateParkEvangelism