Open Air: Meeting People

In response to a supporter of the Open Air, I wrote as follows, earlier in the week.

Wednesday went pretty well, though I had to keep stopping every now and then to answer questions, since Stephen wasn’t there to field them. Two young men were argumentative at first, but left with literature, and two well-groomed young ladies asked for something to help them “convert to Christianity”. They seemed quite serious, which is not always the case, as you’ll be well aware.

The “witchcraft, devils and demons” obsessive hung around for a while - but all he ever really wants to do is to argue from much misunderstood scriptures. He needs to get a life - a new one, preferably…

I haven’t the time to tell the full tale, since I will be needed elsewhere, shortly - but here are a few points you might wish to ponder.

There was a big, black van right in front of where we stand when I arrived in Piccadilly Gardens via the X43. I shrugged and went away for a cup of tea. Returning, it was still there. I stood around like cheese at fourpence for a while, waiting for someone else to arrive and wondering where to set up our stall. Looking up towards Piccadilly Station, I prayed that God’s will might be done, i.e., I’d like it better if it went away. I turned around to see it departing.

Well, there you go, as Miss Pilling so often said.

Our obsessive acquaintance mentioned above took a while to dismiss. He pointed out nearby graffiti, interpreting funny faces as “demonic watchers”, then lambasted me for not knowing that new Christians needed to have all their demons cast out of them before they could go on with God… well, you get the idea… As so often, the real object of his harangue was to interfere with the preaching of the gospel. In that, he was unsuccessful.

Then there were the two alcoholics encouraging me as Christian brothers… The one with the can in his hand spoke so slowly that he wouldn’t have been out of place in Bob and Ray’s “Slow Talkers Of America” sketch. The one with the half bottle of Absolut Vodka was wearing a rosary made of big, black beads. What they said made no real sense, alas, so our conversation went nowhere, which was a pity.

Afterwards, Peter mentioned a lady who had told him that she had been moved by what had been said: moved by the gospel invitation, we trust, rather than by any of my own opinions.

Janette and Peter reported literature being handed out in quantity, which is always a blessing. If you happen to be in the habit of evangelising through the distribution of tracts, well, I recommend some Open Air Preaching to accompany that activity. For us, it opens up the door wonderfully well.

We will be there next Wednesday, God willing, at about 12.30pm. Please join us if you can, and pray for us if otherwise engaged, if our Lord puts it upon your heart to do so.

Every blessing!