Open Air: Codes Of Conduct And Christian Beliefs

When I read recently that sales of bibles were on the increase, and that young people in particular were buying them, my response was: “Hmm, well, maybe. It would be good if it were true, but…”

However, here are Stephen’s notes on our last two Open Airs. See what you think.

Wednesday 19 March wasn’t very eventful but I did make a couple of notes. Two young ladies were rushing by and accepted a tract. One shouted, “Can I go to heaven if I’m gay?” I only got chance to say, “If you repent and follow Jesus Christ you may.” But they rushed on and I wasn’t convinced that it was a genuine question. The second was a chap who approached me while I was preaching. He nodded towards the amplifier and said, “Can I spit some bars into that?” Much as we might have enjoyed his rapping or beatboxing or whatever it was he was proposing, I had to decline the offer.

Wednesday 26 March was remarkable in that we ran out of Bibles. On average we give away about 1 Bible per week, sometimes none, sometimes 1 or 2. We rarely give away more than 2 in any week. This week 5 were taken and 2 more requested after we had run out. I recall that one lady asked for a Bible to give to someone she knew, and the first 2 went to 2 teenage girls, but I have forgotten who took the other 2. It was also another 2 teenage girls who asked for Bibles after we had run out. They were told that we would have more next week if they could come back then.

We often receive words of encouragement and offers of help, usually help in the future rather than help on the day. A man named S. said he would come and help sometime. A lady named D. said that she used to do evangelism in the past and would try to recruit some other helpers and join us in future. One man took a handful of tracts to give out. Whether we see S. and D. again remains to be seen. Often offers of help never materialise, but people have other things to do on a Wednesday lunchtime.

Where did the other two bibles go? Well, I’ve just gone through the video recording to find out. One was to a young gent in a dark blue baseball cap and a light blue hoodie, who thanked Stephen and shook his hand warmly. The other was taken by a fair-haired lady of early middle age, who also seemed pleased.

What was the afternoon like as a whole? It went well, and the sun shone, allowing me to roll up my sleeves for the first time this year. If you read the last Newsletter, you will have got the general picture already. There are just a few more points to add, as follows.

A gent named P., whom we have encountered before, set up his large speaker over by McDonald’s, where Peter usually stands. He knows where we are every Wednesday, and the time when we begin preaching. There is an unwritten code of conduct amongst genuine street preachers, which includes not interfering with someone else’s outreach by speaking nearby while they’re working. Also, he has just one “sermon” lasting about seven minutes or so, which he repeats again and again and again - and which includes the assertion that now he lives a life without sin.

And if you believe that…

There was also the staccato rattle of pneumatic drills along Market Street, since the tram tracks are being repaired yet again, but that was only from time to time. A technician came to drop off some equipment at the Atmosphere Monitoring Station (in front of which we stand), but we didn’t need to move the GoPro on this occasion.

And I’m pleased to report a run on tracts, too. Peter alone gave out about five hundred, and Janette had to come for more supplies as well. Then we had a visit from Kieran, who was looking after his granddaughter for the afternoon. We had a pleasant chat as she perched high up on his shoulders.

And, as I closed for the afternoon, we had an encouraging visit from the young man with the gold tooth who has recently abandoned the J.W.’s and is once again, he says, finding fellowship in the Protestant Church. Whether he is genuinely saved or not is another question - but he’s certainly keeping better company than he was when we first encountered him.

Please pray, if our Lord puts it upon your heart to do so, for one or more of the people mentioned above, particularly for the ones who took bibles and tracts, that the Holy Spirit might enable them to see the saving truths set out therein, and that they will also come into contact with other Christians who will be able to minister to them. And if you’re available next Wednesday, please feel free to join us on the edge of Piccadilly Gardens, just opposite Superdrug, at about 12.30pm. The forecast is for sunshine, so I might well be able to roll up my sleeves again!

Let me leave you with one last word from Stephen. Three weeks ago he encountered a Scottish lady. In the course of their conversation she volunteered the following: “I am a Protestant - but I also have some Christian beliefs.”

As Miss Pilling so often said, on those long, languorous afternoons down in the Basement Book Room: “Well, there you go!”

Every blessing!