SWAT TEAM Springfield, MO Witnessing- 3/24/06

Street Witnessing And Training
Taking Evangelism Across Missouri

Friday Night - 3/24/06 -- Park Central Square - Downtown Springfield, Missouri

Even though it was a chilly night, and there were only two of us out witnessing for a less than two hours, God really moved! We both did open-air preaching (with our new portable sound system), one person prayed right out on the street and said he repented and is believing and trusting in Christ as his savior. We talked to the bus station security guard who is a LatterDay Saint LDS-Mormon), non-Christians and bible college students.

Here's a pic of Michael Borich and me

I arrived at 8:00pm and met up with GNN Seed Sower Michael Borich. A Christian brother purchased a Minivox PB-25 portable PA system for me to use in the ministry. What a blessing he is to me personally and the ministry. I thank God for you. If you are looking for amplification, this is one very loud little system. Michael and I tested using this in the square. It echoed all over the place. You could hear it 200-300 feet away, easily.

We started walking around and spoke to a man named Jim. We began taking him through the Law (10 Commandments), he knew all the right answers and knew that he had to repent and believe in Jesus Christ to get to heaven, and said that he has done this. However, he kept mentioning how "good" he was and all the good works that he has done, implying that his goodness would help him to get to heaven. We gave him a "Save Yourself Some Pain" booklet and encouraged him to read it. Pray for Jim.

We walked to the bus station and began handing out the giant $100 gospel tracts near the unloading bus. One of the bus drivers came over and told us to get away from the door and not to block the doorway. We backed up a little and kept handing them out. He griped at us and the security guard came to tell us we should back up. I mentioned that we were not blocking the door or slowing down traffic. The security guard's name is Harold. We began talking to him. He is a Morman, a Latter-Day Saint (LDS) missionary. We began taking him through the Law (10 Commandments) to show him how we witness to folks.

While we were talking, a young man named David walked up and wanted one of our giant $100 gospel tracts. I asked if he had a Christian background. He said that he did, and that his mom raised them in church. He knew the bible and began telling us how sin came into the world through Adam and Eve when Eve ate the fruit in the Garden of Eden, etc. and what Jesus did so that we didn't have to go to hell. He was even carrying a bible in his bag. I asked Harold if we can start over and begin asking David the same questions that I was asking him. He said yes.

I asked him if he thought he was a good person. Yes. Can I ask a few questions to see if that is true? Yes. We're going to use the 10 Commandments. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever used God's name in vain? Have you ever looked with lust? He was very evasive in answering the questions. He did mention that there were a few things that he never has done...and mentioned them. He did say that he was a Christian and he had repented and was baptised when he was young. Michael had walked away to talk to another person and I continued talking with David and Harold. David said that everyone backslides. At the end of our talk, he asked if he could pray right then and repent and believe in Jesus. He said a prayer to himself, then I prayed for him. I handed him a "Hell's Besk Kept Secret" and a "Save Yourself Some Pain" booklet. We shook hands and he left.

Harold is a LDS. He did like the gospel presentation using the law and some of the analogies we used. I am praying for Harold as well.

As I said earlier, Michael began talking with another girl. Here is his account of that conversation:

Keep Sara in your prayers. We went through the good person test for a stuffed animal. Sara has a church background, but admitted to being backslidden. She didn't do so hot on her answers, but I explained repent and trust in more detail, then gave her a copy of "Save Yourself Some Pain." She struggles with her life, has a troubled home situation. She's dropped out of school, can't find a job, seems to be without direction. I encouraged her to draw closer to the Lord and said that the booklet would help her if she took it seriously.

Michael and I walked around and went back to Park Central Square. I pulled out the new pa system and began to open-air preach. There was no one around...every now and then someone would walk by. Then, Michael jumped up on the water fountain wall and began to open-air preach. There were more people walking by when he began. A few stopped and listened for a couple of minutes. I thought he was going to have a heckler for a minute, because they were beginning to get disrespectful and then left before getting very loud.

We met two students from Central Bible College. Their name is Jamie and Antione. They come out with a group from CBC every Friday night from 9:00pm until midnight.

Above is a picture of Jamie, Antione and myself.

Here is Jamie, Antione and Michael

I thank God for bring people into our paths tonight. Even though we didn't stay out long, it was very fruitful. Please continue to pray for those we spoke to tonight, as well as David. He is the one that prayed and said he repented and trusted in Christ tonight. Praise God.

In Christ,

Brad St. Clair

www.repentandturn.com
www.gnnlocalleader.com

St. Patrick's Day Parade Witnessing - 3/18/06

Saturday, 3/18/06

St. Patrick's Day Parade - Downtown Springfield, Missouri

It was a cold day for a parade...but at least it didn't "rain on our parade" (rain was in the forecast)! Michael Borich, myself, my wife, Leann, and three of my kids, Nick, Dillon and Alexis came out to hand out the "St. Patrick's Day quiz" to people. Michael had created this quiz. It had a very long gospel message on the back.

We passed out around 325 of these quizes (gospel tracts). I know that Michael had also passed out some silver 10 Commandment coins as well. Michael had a few one-2-one conversations with folks.

Here is Michael.

Here is my daugher, Alexis (she had a 3-leaf clover painted on her face)

After passing out tracts, I went back to where my family set up to watch the parade. Here are some fun pics of the parade.

We had a good day. We were able to plant the Word of God in people's lives as well as have fun watching the parade.
In Christ,
Brad St. Clair
www.repent-and-turn.com
www.gnnlocalleader.com

SWAT TEAM Springfield, MO Witnessing- 3/17/06

Friday Night - 3/17/06

Downtown Springfield, Missouri

There wasn't many people out and about tonight. The few that were out were in a rush to get to where they were going. It was pretty cold outside.

I arrived at 8:00pm and met up with GNN Seed Sower Michael Borich. While talking, a young man named Tim walked up. He had a guitar with him and Michael had his harmonica, so they began to play music together. After a little while, Tim began talking to us. He just moved into his apartment and decided to go out and meet people in the square area of downtown.

We told Tim that we go downtown and witness to others. He thought is was a great idea and couldn't believe that we were out witnessing and didn't even belong to the same church. He mentioned a couple of books he is currently reading regarding Christianity. Tim is very intellectual. He has some very good questions. We decided to take him through the "Good Person Test" (10 Commandments) to show him how we begin witnessing with someone.

About this time, along came another young man named "Ice". He said he was a Christian, but kept cursing. We began taking them through the Ten Commandments, and Tim was very evasive and didn't want to admit to breaking many of them, and kept changing the subject. We thanked Tim for his time, gave him some gospel tracts and left. Please pray for him.

While we were talking with Tim and "Ice", GNN Seed Sower David Lohn arrived, along with his son, Nathanel. J.J. Lindsey and Danika also arrived. There were 6 of us out tonight.

We split up and began passing out tracts. We did more passing out tracts tonight than we did one-2-one conversations, due to the cold (no one wanted to stand around and talk). Michael decided to use some of the "St. Patrick's Day Quiz" tracts that he created. People were really taking them. There is questions about St. Patrick and who he was, etc. and it led right into asking someone if they were "good enough" to go to heaven.

We talked to a lady named Debra at the bus station. She has some medical issues that she is dealing with. We told her we would be praying for her and gave her a gospel tract and info that may assist her. Please pray for Debra.

We decided to leave early tonight. I went back to Michael's house and we watched ABC's "Nightline" interview of The Way of the Master. The Way of the Master is who I learned how to be an "effective" witness for Christ through. Overall, it was a good interview. It only lasts 10 minutes. To watch it, click here.

We want to thank God for those that did accept gospel tracts tonight and the few we talked to. We pray that the Holy Spirit will convict their hearts and show them their need to repent and trust in Him.

In Christ,
Brad
www.repent-and-turn.com
www.gnnlocalleader.com

SWAT TEAM Springfield, MO Witnessing- 3/10/06

Street Witnessing And Training

Taking Evangelism Across Missouri

Friday Night - 3/10/06

I just want to say that I was not out with the team this Friday night. I went to Oklahoma City to visit family. However, Praise God for the faithful seed sowers that we have. I want to thank God for bringing people to us and convicting their hearts.

The faithful that came out to witness tonight were: David Lohn and his son, Nathanael. Michael Borich, J.J. Lindsay and Danika. Below are the reports I recieved from them.

Report from GNN Seed Sower David Lohn:
We (Nathanael and I) met Michael and prayed at the square around 8 PM. Nathanael and I purposed to hand out 50 of the $100 bill gospel tracks. The first group we talked to was 4 teenagers who were willing to talk and go through the good person test. Mike was the yound man's name. We sowed some good seed, and they thanked us. We then proceeded to walk and hand out tracks for the better part of the rest of the evening. We were running out of time and found a group of I would say about 20-25 kids gathered on the square. They received the tracks enthusiastically, but could not develop personal conversations with anyone. We ended the evening at the Mudhouse (coffee house).

Report from Michael Borich: (soon to be GNN Seed Sower)
Just a few brief notes about seed sowing this evening: Wow, what a beautiful, warm evening --- about 60 degrees when I got downtown at 8 pm. I talked to JJ earlier and he was going to arrive with Danika about 8:30, so I started playing my harmonica by the fountain and drew a few stray cats -- haha. Actually just some passing interest. David and his son Nathaniel arrived, we prayed, then they went off to loop around the downtown while I waited for Danika and JJ.

I watched David & son begin passing out big money to a group of teenagers -- they can probably fill you in. While I was waiting (and playing Amazing Grace), two young men stopped to listen. Then they offered me a silver 10-Commandment coin! They were two of a group of six from the AGTS seminary. Nice guys -- sorry, I have forgotten their names and didn't write them down. They said they come about once a month, usually on art walk, but they brought several other students down that evening.

While we were talking, another gentleman walked up to the three of us -- his name was Mike, 40ish. Very friendly. He asked if any of us needed prayer. He said he and his wife were downtown ministering -- almost every Friday night for six years, he said. I asked if he had met Brad St. Clair, but he had not recalled doing so. I told him we would probably be bumping into him more often if he was out every Friday. He had some interesting stories to share about witnessing to Wiccans and witches in the downtown area. We also prayed; he bound spiritual powers over the downtown area -- a real prayer warrior.

David and Nathaniel returned (about 8:45 now); JJ and Danika telephoned him, and as there seemed to be more soul winners than lost souls downtown, I decided to head out to Battlefield Mall to catch people leaving before it closed.

As I was walking to my car, I passed out a half-dozen Ten Commandment pressed pennies in front of the tatoo parlor, but then met two young men, Tim (OTC) and Denny (Central H.S.), who took a Ten Commandment silver coin each. We went through the good person test, and when we got to heaven or hell, they both said heaven, on the evidence that they were both saved, though when questioned, neither had a clear idea of how to explain what that meant to someone else, or how one got saved other than in trusting in Jesus for salvation. They said they both attended Central Assembly, but not so often, and both had Bibles but didn't really read them.

So I gave them some basic instruction, encouraged them, gave them a couple more coins and told them to go share their faith and testimony with someone tonight if they were going to hang out longer. I felt they needed to be challenged to take their faith more seriously if they felt they were truly saved. As I left I felt they both understood the consequences of breaking God's moral law and need for repentance much better.

And almost immediately two young girls I had met last week -- Melissa and Myka -- students at Glendale said to me -- "The penny man." I had given them pressed pennies last week (they were with a larger group) and had played a song for them. Tonight I gave them each a silver coin and a million dollar bill gospel tract. They were on their way to the Magic Bean and didn't have time to talk, but said they would probably see me again next week as they cruise the square and downtown most weekends. I will have something new to give them, for sure.

By the time I got to my car (after 9) I realized by the time I reached the mall it would be mostly deserted. So, I called it an early evening.

Please pray for the people that were witnessed to tonight.

In Christ,
Brad St. Clair
www.repent-and-turn.com
www.gnnlocalleader.com
www.needgod.com - Are you a good person...take the test!

SWAT TEAM Springfield, MO Witnessing- 3/03/06

March 3, 2006 - Friday Night - Downtown Springfield, Missouri

Street Witnessing And Training

Taking Evangelism Across Missouri

We made a difference in lives tonight. Once you die and pass from this life into eternity, you will not have the opportunity to make a difference in someone's eternity. If you are a Christian, please do what Jesus commanded in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature". We should be so grateful to God for saving us from hell and giving us heaven that we shouldn't have to think twice about wanting to do this.

We had a total of 13 people hit the streets witnessing tonight. Here is a picture of most of them.

We had David Lohn and some of the seniors from his homeschool football team that he coaches, along with some of their friends, Michael Borich, J.J. and Danika. I thank God for them and for their faithfulness and boldness to come out and share their faith.

Tonight was the "Art Walk" in downtown Springfield. It had quite a few more people out that has been out lately. I also had an open-air preaching time tonight. More about that below along with pictures.

I arrived at 8:00pm at Park Central Square. Michael Borich was already waiting for me and had been there a little while, playing his harmonica. He said that he had already passed out the Ten Commandment pressed pennys to about 20 people. This is Michael's first time out with us. By the way, the tracts we use are from Living Waters Publications, www.livingwaters.com. We use the Way of the Master as a tool for evangelizing. www.wayofthemaster.com.

Michael and I prayed and then began walking around the area. We first came up to three teenagers named Abby, Brittany and Dean. We gave them the Giant $100 bill gospel tracts and started talking to them. Abby is a Jehovah's Witness. Brittany believed much of what Abby did, and Dean...well Dean was saying he believed in reincarnation and he was coming back as a redwood tree (although Michael talked to him alone later and he was just giving me a hard time it seems).

We went through the "Good Person Test" with them, which is taking them through the Ten Commandments, to see how they will do when compared to God's standard on Judgment Day when they stand before God and give an account of everything they have ever said, thought, or done in their lives. Many people don't think they have done so bad as long as they are comparing themselves against each other. However, we can't do that. We need to compare ourselves against God's holy standard of good and evil.

Abby and Brittany believed they would live on earth forever and never die, and that the earth would be a paradise (Jehovah Witness beliefs). We used Michael's bible and read verses to each other. Abby was very polite and friendly about it. We told her that there is a heaven and a hell. I gave them a "Save Yourself Some Pain" booklet. Abby said that she would read it. I also gave her a "Ten Commandment Coin", and the "Curved Illusion" tracts. She said she will contact me through my post office box and send me literature to read as well. Please pray for them.

During this time, J.J. and Danika arrived. J.J. said that while I was talking with the three teenagers, that a lady was pointing at me and being a heckler, saying things about God, etc. Praise God. She must have been angry, which is a sign that she is being convicted. :-)

J.J. and Micheal headed off in a direction and Danika and I took off in a different direction. We came up to Frank, who goes to a local Baptist church. We talked a bit and gave him a "Giant $100" tract, a "Not My Job" bookmark tract and a "Hell's Best Kept Secret" cd, and encouraged him to witness. He said he would listen to it and pass it around.

Danika and I went to the bus station. I handed a tract to Alex, who was a young man waiting for the bus. Danika went to another two or three people and had good conversations. One Christian lady even prayed for her. Anyway, Alex and I had a good conversation. He said he "had been" an Episcopalian for eight years, but had been treated badly by the members, and felt that church was a bunch of hypocrites. He also didn't believe in hell. I reminded him that Jesus talked more about hell and the reality of it than anything else.

I took him through the Ten Commandments to show him how he has offended God by sinning against him, and explained how to be born-again. We must repent(be sorry for our sins and offending God, as well as turning completely from sin-to stop sinning) and believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, like we would trust a parachute to save us if we were jumping out of a plane. We must "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" and "pick up our cross daily and follow Him".

I told him that the "church" was not filled with "hypocrites". The "Church" is not a church building. The true "Church" is the body of Christ, true believers and followers of Jesus. A hypocrite is a "pretenter", an "actor". They are pretending to be a Christian. If they followed the Bible they would not treat others in such a way as he was treated. I asked to not become angry at God just because other so called Christians treated him badly. I gave him a "Save Yourself Some Pain" booklet. He said he would read it. He shook my hand and got on his bus.

David Lohn, a fellow "The Great News Network" seed sower (GNN), and his homeschool football team arrived. They had a football dinner party to attend, and they were faithful enough to still come out and witness. It was Chais, T.J., Ben, John, Josh, Luke and their two friends, Angela and Julia.

During the night when he was out with two or three others, they were having a difficult time getting people to take a gospel tract, or even slow down enough to grab one. It was getting kind of cold. So, what David did, was tell all the guys with him to stop and look up at the sky. Then, the group of folks that were walking fast stopped, and began looking up at the sky to see what was going on. At this time, David told the guys to go over and hand them gospel tracts while they were stopped and just staring up at the sky. It worked-they took the tracts. Excellent idea, David.

Danika and I talked to a young man named Josh, who was in the Army Reserve. After giving him a gospel tract, we asked him if he considered himself to be a good person. He said he was not a good person. When asked why he wasn't, he said that he smokes and drinks, etc. One of his friends heard him say this and said, "you are too a good person...he is even starting to go to a Tuesday night bible study". He still denied being good. She didn't want me to take Josh through the Ten Commandments, but he said it was okay and then she took off - she didn't want to hear it.

Josh admitted to being a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart and that he believed he would be guilty on the Day of Judgment. He believed he would go to hell and that did concern him when he thought about it. He didn't really know what it meant to be born-again. At this time, the group of friends that he came with started to leave. I asked him did he have to go, and he said no. He then told them that he would catch up with them in a little while. He was listening intently to what we had to say. We told him how to be born-again and gave him a "Save Yourself Some Pain" booklet, which he said he would read. He thanked us for talking with him and left.

At this time we decided that we would do some open-air preaching at the square. The following pictures didn't turn out to good, but here they are. We had people in and out during the entire time. Overall, there were probably 50-60 that were there.


I jumped up on the brick wall at the side of Park Central Square and started loudly telling people that in a few minutes we would be giving away money for answering trivia questions. J.J. and Danika left and went around telling people what was going on, which caused more people to show up.

I started asking various trivia questions and giving $1.00 bills to those who answered correctly. During this time, a walking band of accordian players, etc. came by and we couldn't hear very well. The crowd really yelled and cursed them for disrupting our trivia game and their chance to get free money. The band quickly kept walking by. After doing this for awhile, I stated we'd need a volunteer for the next part, but they would need to listen to the requirements first. If someone could prove to me that they are a good person, by the questions I asked them, I would give them $5.00. There were roughly six people that ran to the front and raised their hand, saying, "pick me, pick me". I selected the one that was the loudest and had the most friends there. His name is Brandon.

I asked Brandon, "Have you ever told a lie?" He said yes. "Have you ever stolen anything?" He said no. "Should I believe you, you just admitted to me that you are a liar?" :-) (always gets a good laugh to break the ice). He said he hadn't. "Have you ever used God's name in vain?" Yes. "Have you ever looked at a woman to lust after her?" Yes. "So, Brandon, by your own admission, you are a lying thief, a blasphemer and an adulter at heart. One of these days you will die. When you stand before God on the Day of Judgment, and if God judges you by that standard, will you be innocent or guilty?" Guilty. "Will you go to heaven or Hell?". Hell. "Does that concern you?" Yes. The bible says that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire, and that the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain, and that no adulterer will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Later, I was told that during this time, a lady was going up behind me and pointing, trying to get people to leave and stop listening to me. I didn't notice anyone leaving, however. There was a guy there with a camera with a zoom lense walking around taking pictures during the open-air. We are not sure who he was with.

We continued talking for a little while about heaven and hell and how to be born-again. At this time, a guy came up from behind me and stood right next to me. I asked him to get down with the rest of the people. He didn't move. I told him I am in the middle of trying to give away money. Some of the people were telling him to get down, but he didn't.

I continued and asked if Brandon proved himself to be a good person. Brandon said no. I said that I am going to give him the $5.00 anyway. That is what God's grace is. We don't deserve it, but God is offering his forgiveness and eternal life to us, if we will just reach out and take it...repent and believe. Brandon walked right up to me, took the money, left, then walked back to me and gave me a hug. Praise God.

Later, David was talking to a guy from Central Bible College, named Ryan. Ryan said that when Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron were in Branson in May of 2005, Ray walked up to him at the mall and started witnessing to him. We were out witnessing with them as a group from "WorldView Weekend". He said, "I was at the mall wearing my "beer brand" hat and this little man came walking up to me and started asking me all these questions. He kept answering all my questions that I had." Ryan said he got saved right then and there. However, when Ray asked his name earlier so that he could sign him a book and cd's, etc., Ryan told Ray his name was "Jim". Ryan gave me his phone number. I will contact him. He has a passion to seek and save the lost, using the law to convict of sin. This is how he was brought under conviction and saved, so he believes in it. I thank God for Ryan.

We had to do the Christian thing after being out witnessing in the cold...we went to the coffee house. We discussed our night. Everyone gave stories about what happened. Luke was able to talk to an agnostic man. He took him through part of the law and gave him a gospel tract. Everyone passed out tracts. We have been primarily using the "Giant $100" tracts. We are getting known all around downtown Springfield as the "group" that gives out the Giant $100 bills. One guys said that he read it and almost started crying.

Earlier in the night, Michael Borich gave me some stuffed animals to give away instead of money for the triva questions. I will used these next time. Thanks, Michael!

On our way back to the cars, I walked up to a guy that is out in the square a lot having "sword fights" with shaped wooden sticks. A girl that was talking to him, named Kristin, asked me what the "Giant $100 bills" were. I gave here one and told her it is a gospel tract. She said she attends Central Bible Collge. She was there when I did my open-air preaching. She said she believes in more of a "Friendship Evangelism" style of witnessing. She said you have to make friends with someone before they will open up and trust you enought with spiritual things. I told her I agree that you need to make sure people know you care about them, but that can be done in just a few minutes. That we talk to many people a night who open up and tell us all about their spiritual lives and listen to us as we take them through the Ten Commandments. They are convicted. The Holy Spirit convicts their conscience, and they see their need to repent and trust in Christ. I gave here a "Not My Job" bookmark.

One of the problems with "Friendship Evangelism", is that while we are waiting to build up a relationship over time with them, so that they will "trust" me enough to tell me what they are thinking, they can die. 150,000 people die each and every day. Almost two people per second. We don't have the time.

Please pray for the many people that we witnessed to tonight. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to convict the hearts of those that had a seed planed in their life.

In Christ,
Brad St. Clair
www.repent-and-turn.com
www.gnnlocalleader.com