"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1)
Brothers and sisters in Christ, thank you for your continued prayers and kindness towards us! This newsletter is long overdue, but I owed many of you a report of our labors at the Super Bowl two months ago, and I've been completely absorbed in work and seminary classes. Forgive me for this tardy report.
I flew home from two days of preaching Christ in the streets of Phoenix, fatigued but rejoicing! Like my previous experiences in New York City and New Orleans, this event was intense and provocative. Thousands upon thousands had flooded Phoenix for the events surrounding the big game. The NFL Experience was set up in the downtown area, and streams of people passed by in an endless parade. Souls everywhere, many without Christ! There was urgency in our preaching and in our conversations.
I had the privilege of serving with brothers from Alabama and Ohio, and a family from Orlando. 90 evangelists from all over the country assembled in Phoenix for the outreach and our teams had positions on most of the key intersections downtown. Passersby would hear the gospel proclaimed at each location. We overheard many comments about "all these street preachers," some mocking, some appreciating. The word of the cross, however, went forth with boldness!
We spoke to several Catholics who were handing out rosaries and invoking Mary. An angry group of Pelagians, with big signs and bullhorns and paramilitary clothing screamed at the crowds to stop sinning and be "perfect" like they were (seriously, that's their theology), damning sinners to hell without ever sharing the love of God and the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus, who alone was perfect. The "usual suspects," drunks and mockers and revilers, were all in attendance as well.
Two encounters stuck with me. The first occurred on Saturday afternoon, when a brother and I went for coffee. As we were returning we passed one of the teams preaching at a corner. Walking behind us was a couple in their late 30's with a young son, dressed in team jerseys.
I was just a couple steps ahead of them when I heard the father tell his young son that the man who had been preaching was "stupid," and that he was "obviously an uneducated fool." He went on in blasphemy and cursing and I slowed my pace to walk alongside him.
"Do you really believe that?" I asked him. He was taken aback, surprised at being confronted, but he quickly became defensive, bragging about his own educational accomplishments. His wife also became enraged: "You say because I'm Jewish, I'm going to hell!" I told her that thousands and thousands of Jews had come to Christ and He received them all. What condemned her was her refusal to believe in Him despite all the works He had done.
Their bitterness quickly descended into cursings and expletives. All this behavior was occurring, mind you, before their young son! We parted ways at the next intersection, and I left them to their anger, and to the gospel presentations that awaited them at every corner of their visit.
I'll confess that I felt drained physically by the cold and wet weather and the long days, but I was especially drained by the bitter hatred of that exchange. My heart was heavy with the thought that parents could lead their child to disbelief and hell, and yet I recognized that I had been guilty of the very same behaviors before the LORD graciously saved me!
The second encounter took place later that evening, at the end of a long day of preaching and witnessing. It was now dark and we were near the end of our labors for that day. I would be flying out the next morning while the rest of the team would go out to Glendale to preach at the stadium. I was preaching and watching the crowds pass by when a man began to stand a few feet away and listen to the gospel being proclaimed.
He listened intently. I could not tell whether he was agreeing with me or preparing for a debate. But he stood there for fifteen minutes, paying attention, and not succumbing to the distractions of the passersby.
I finished and approached him, offering my hand and giving him my name. He took my hand and said his name was Gregory, and then thanked me for giving the gospel faithfully.
"I was so encouraged by hearing the word of God here that I had to stop and listen," he told me. We visited for a few minutes and shared the comforts of being in Christ, and then it was time to go. He thanked me again and I thanked him for his encouragement after a long, difficult day.
For all those who reject the word of God, who revile the Savior and rebuke His disciples, who incur condemnation for their unbelief and who multiply their perdition by leading their own children astray, yet there are among them those ordained for everlasting life, people like me and Gregory for whom He came to die. "For while we were His enemies," the great apostle writes, "Christ died for us."
Thank you for your kindness in providing the means to attend this amazing event, and for your continued prayers. Each Super Bowl Outreach is a challenge financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Your prayers have been strength to me and your support has enabled me to serve our great God and Savior in this particular ministry. I treasure your partnership and covet your continued prayers that the Lord would continue to enable us to proclaim His glorious hope here in South Florida and around the globe to those like Gregory, and like you and I, that we might be transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
May our LORD richly bless each of you and your families. I am honored to partner with you in the gospel of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Soli Deo Gloria! No king but Christ.
