Open Air: Pressing On

Time was short when last Wednesday’s Open Air was over. When I asked Peter where he’d been recently, I got lost in the travelogue that followed, and so I asked him if he’d be kind enough to jot down some of the highlights.

Visited Scarborough twice on recent Mondays, and Whitby also on a Monday. People responded well to the gospel. Went to Liverpool last Friday and met a homeless man from Australia who asked me to pray for him. Three weeks ago went to Edinburgh for five days, and also to Dundee and Aberdeen.

On one day in Edinburgh, met a student who said my text boards had helped her mother to find salvation. In Glasgow, talked to a Polish woman outside the Central Station. A multitude of tracts went out. Stopped in Carlisle on the way home…

And that was just the start of it - but we had to go at that point. There was much more to tell. Please pray for Peter and his ministry, as he travels far and wide, from one end of the country to the other 

As for the rest of last Wednesday afternoon, it was remarkable how unremarkable it was: i.e., it was pretty much without the drama that so often unfolds during an Open Air. And that was a good thing, in that we were able to press on with the gospel message without taking time out to deal with vexatious interruptions.

It was a pleasure to greet John N., joining us once more after an absence of several years. Unlike myself, he doesn’t seem to have aged since we last met - if anything, he looks more vigorous than ever. We also had Stephen, looking suitably athletic in sporting attire, Janette, in blue denim and red headscarf, and Peter, perspiring somewhat in his waterproof coat, but prepared for any change in the weather during his long day in the open.

I was on first, standing in the shadow of the Atmosphere Monitoring Station. The shade was welcome, it being hot and sunny for the end of April. The repetitive chanting from the charismatic church nearby faded out, and I was able to concentrate on that afternoon’s topic: “How To Be Happy In A Sad, Sad World” (with acknowledgements to Ken Worthington).

There were plenty of conversations going on while I spoke; though, as usual, folk were not very forthcoming about them afterwards, so I can’t comment on what was said. There were trams from time to time, but no noisy buskers - and I’m afraid I got carried away and went on for too long.

Then I put my hat on and stepped out of the shade, noting John in conversation with a cyclist who had stopped to listen to Stephen. My tracts went out slowly but steadily, while I watched people taking them more readily from our other tracters. I went over for a quick word with John and Peter, and then, all of a sudden, it was my turn again.

While Stephen carried on an animated exchange with a man in a light grey baseball cap, I allowed myself to be swept away on the tide of my oratory once more, breaking off only for a brief word with R. concerning his wife and son, both of them needing prayer regarding their health. By the time I’d concluded with “Carpe diem pro Iesus Christus”, there wasn’t much opportunity for Stephen to do more than give a brief outline of his address. My apologies to him.

Afterwards there was the usual time of refreshment and fellowship in the Arndale, and then we had to dash off to the car park.

Please pray for those mentioned above, if our Lord puts it upon your heart to do so, especially for the man with the bicycle who told John that we shouldn’t accuse people of being sinners, and said we wouldn’t have any success. It didn’t stop him listening to and talking about the gospel, though.

We will be there next Wednesday, pressing on, God willing, just opposite Superdrug on the edge of Piccadilly Gardens. Feel free to come along and join us: normally, the more of us there are, the more folk turn up to talk and take tracts. And the forecast is for fine weather, although an extra layer in case of a sudden change is always advisable!

Every blessing!