Go Out to the Highways

What a blessed time we had in Lake Havasu the last two weeks. We enjoyed a warm welcome by Pastors Rudy and Dean of  the Christian Youth Workers Round Table and Pastor Ray of Calvary Chapel Lake Havasu. Pastor Ray let us camp in the church parking lot during our time here, which was a huge help.

Here is a picture of Pastor Ray and I.

I had the privilege to share our ministry and how we share the Gospel on the road and in the streets. I also got to give the Gospel on stage at the end of the first night of the 2011 Teen Break. And over course of our 12 days in Lake Havasu, we handed out a little over 2,000 Gospel tracts to college students and to some of the remaining snowbirds.

Nearly everyone drives a car but not everyone goes to a Christian Church. In fact, current studies report that less than half of Americans attend a Christian church. “And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” While in Lake Havasu City, we were blessed with a new tool to reach people with the Gospel while we are driving down the road. Now all of the people driving behind the RV and the van will see Titus 3:5-6:

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior”

And Romans 10:9:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The vinyl lettering and labor to install the above verses on the RV were donated by Scott of Precision Cut Designs. The back window on the van now displays Romans 10:9 and our new web address, courtesy of Pastor Rudy of Living Word Family Church. This blog can now be found by also going to ontheroadfamilyoutreach.com. Thank you so much Scott and Rudy. God’s word does not return to Him void, so we know that it will have an effect on everyone who reads the back of our little caravan.

-Christopher

Lake Havasu City

Lake Havasu is in the middle of it’s busy season for Spring Break party goers (mostly college students). We have been passing out Gospel tracts and witnessing on a main walkway near the famous London Bridge. This has been a great spot to catch party goers cruising the water front and marina. The local pastors have told me that the atmosphere becomes very ‘Corinthian’ as you get out on the lake.

When using tracts for street witnessing as a tool to start conversations, you can find yourself in a couple different scenarios. First, is the passer-by. For the most part, they are on their way somewhere and accept a tract while walking, without stopping to chat. The second scenario is that of those who are waiting. They may be in line for tickets or an attraction and have time to read and discuss their new tract. Often these situations attract those nearby to listen and join the conversation. You start talking to one person and end up giving (or defending) the Gospel with 10+ people.



Pastor Rudy and Pastor Dean

 Lake Havasu City and the Youth Pastor Round Table organize the annual Teen Break event. Eighteen years ago, the city’s leaders enlisted the help of local churches to come up with a safe venue for the youth of Lake Havasu to go on Spring Break. This came after police had found children as young as 10 years old, passed out drunk on boats out on the lake. Teen Break has developed into a 3 day event of carnival rides, food, extreme sports demonstrations and live music. I got in touch with the Youth Round Table and got to pass out tracts and witness. I handed out 800 tracts and got to give the Gospel message on stage when the last song ended. The youth pastors had a large prayer team on site to service those who wanted prayer.

Special thanks to Calvary Chapel Lake Havasu for letting us stay in their parking lot all week!

-Christopher

Phoenix Homeless Outreach

Yesterday, we loaded up the mini van with Bibles, bottled water and homeless packs and drove to Phoenix. This picture is of Mark with some water and his homeless pack. He told me that he especially appreciated the Bible and emergency blanket. Mark's sleeping bag was just stolen the day before. I shared the Gospel with him and encouraged him in the Lord. The homeless pack contained: New Testament, bottle of water, emergency blanket, tooth brush, tooth paste (travel size), shampoo packet, 2 floss sticks, Heaven and Hell Bible study Gospel track, snack bar, soap, shaving razor, single serving electrolyte drink mix, 2 pieces of hard candy, travel shaving cream,  4 oz emergency water pouch, and the zip lock bag used to hold everything.

Some of the homeless were easy to spot and some weren't. Some try hard to be inconspicuous in an effort to avoid problems that can arise from living on the streets. I have had to ask on a number of occasions if someone had a  place to stay or if they were homeless. I have been wrong a couple of times. So, they end up getting a Gospel tract instead of a homeless pack. I figure it's better to ask some if they need help than not ask at all.

The homeless packs continue to be a powerful tool to show love for those living on the streets. It gives us a way to minister to the immediate physical needs a person has and creates an open door for us to minister to their spiritual needs. Praise Jesus.

Thank you to all of you who share our posts with others, who pray for us and support the ministry. Those on the receiving end are truly thankful. Please pray that the Holy Spirit reminds them that God still has a plan for their life and renews their heart and lives.

-Christopher

At The Market

I met Brantley while witnessing to the merchants and customers at the Tyson Wells outdoor market. Brantley was a very interesting fellah. He is a commercial contractor who moonlights at various flea markets and festivals between bids. Here he is with his new pocket Evidence Bible and "Why Christianity?" DVD.

 He shared with me some of his life experiences. For instance, he told me how he and eleven others survived above ground in a EF5 tornado. I don't know much about tornadoes, but I found out and as he told me, an EF5 tornado is the highest tornado classification. The day was May 4, 2007 in Greensburg, KS. Brantley was at a gas station convenience store and the tornado sirens were going off. People were paralyzed with fear. Brantley and another man got a woman out of her car in the parking lot and told everyone to get into the walk in refrigerator. Brantley explained that he knew that the only thing in the convenience store that was bolted down was that walk in frig. They heard the horrifying sounds of the tornado going directly over them. It got quiet and they peaked out and all was calm. Then it dawned on them that they were in the eye of the tornado and quickly got back in the walk in frig. Then again a massive thunderous sound hit the building.

 When it was over, they stepped out to see that the whole convenience store and structure was shredded and scattered miles away. 95% of the town was completely demolished and 11 people died that day. The Bible says today is the day of salvation, tomorrow is guaranteed to no man. There is no better time to start (or come back to) a relationship with Jesus Christ than now.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_2007_tornado_outbreak

http://www.independent.com/news/2008/mar/28/road-tornado-alley/

Here is the youngest evangelist that I know. You can see the trillion dollar tracts in his pocket. He happily handed out several Gospel tracts today for the first time.

-Christopher

Quartzsite

Hi everyone!

We are in Quartzsite, AZ. On the way here the homeless packs came in handy. We have kept bottled water handy to pass out with the homeless packs. This is a necessity for ministry in the desert. Even though the temperatures are cool, the air is still very dry.

Quartzsite is definitely unique. The majority of the retail shopping is made of temporary shopping areas that resemble what you would find at a county fair without the rides and carnival games. RV services abound here. You can eat lunch, do your laundry and take a shower at the Laundry Mat and Eatery.

There three types of housing here. There's one very small housing development. The majority of the year round population lives in one of the twenty five or so RV parks. December through March the surrounding public desert land is dotted with RV's boondocking or dry camping. That is to camp without external water or electric hook ups. I have hear estimates of the population ballooning to 500k and 1 million people during the peak season. The big draws to the area are low cost camping, moderate winter temperatures, rock and RV shows.

Our current outreaches are focused on the RV'ers, merchants and homeless. We have had disappointing responses from some of the area churches. Those who I spoke to were not interested in planning outreaches or in street evangelism. I have a couple of churches and ministry yet to hear from and contact. So, as we do outreaches, we are on the look out for on-fire churches.

Thank you to all how have been keeping us in your prayers!!!

Prayer requests

- Please pray that God continues to lead us to divine appointments and that the Holy Spirit would move on the hearts of those we have shared the Gospel with.

- Please kept our health in your prayers. We have been fighting illness for the last two weeks and have lingering colds. Also, please pray that my wrist would heal. I fell off of the front of the RV two weeks ago while trying to repair the windsheild. As a result the use of my right hand is limited.

Ministry Calendar

            Feb 26-Mar 9  Quartzite Street Witnessing

            Mar 10 - 13  La Paz County Fair Booth Out Reach

            Mar 14-16  Quartzite Street Witnessing

            Mar 17 - 26  Spring Break College Outreach

           

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."  Matthew 9 : 37-38
If we are in your area, feel free to contact us.  We would love to meet you and minister together.

-Christopher

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-Kerry