Let me try to describe the picture that was the scene on the street corner yesterday afternoon. I was standing there talking with four men from Guatemala outside the 7-11. Conversation about their situation at home (family is there), and their situation here (looking for work) turned to the spiritual as they considered the question, “What is the most important thing of all” (besides finding a wife, a job, and partying on the weekends)?
“God”, one correctly said. So began a 45 minute conversation about breaking God’s Commandments, lawlessness, sin, self (works)-righteousness, false worship, God the righteous Judge, and the good news of the Gospel of grace, and mercy and forgiveness through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, the only righteous One!
I went home to stuff my bag with Spanish Bibles. When I got back to them, there were five men waiting for me. As I handed out the Bibles and Spanish Gospel tracts, they all opened them up and began reading, (some out loud), John chapter one, right there on the street corner, in view of all the traffic (including a police car of course). The main man I was talking to (he was translating for the other four men) was tearing up and rejoicing with me and praising God, as the Word of God was working it’s freeing, bondage breaking Truth in his soul. I looked again at them, and thanked God for this memory He would give me, of five men standing on the street corner, holding open Bibles, intently reading the Gospel in their own language.
It was a beautiful thing.
Witnessing Encouragement 
“Beautiful!” Amen, sister! No other word, for sure! God bless you.
I learned a new word in Spanish:
“Los diez mandamientos”
Which means “Please pass the ketchup.” ????
Lol Paul!
“The 10 COMMANDMENTS” : )
Awesome! You gotta love those streets!
It is soo good to know a sister in our Lord that has a calling for the streets. I meet lots of men, but very few women. Bless you.
I shared a post about the Hispanic culture. Don’t know if you checked it out or not, but here it is http://rjperalta.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/one-culture-that-appreciates-jesus/
Richard, yes! …love the streets. Besides the dear lost souls there who have not heard yet, I also love “street church”… fellowship with someone you meet on the street who turns out to be a true believer in the Lord.
Full disclosure: 95% of the time I’m at home taking care of my family (or out in my car, taking care of my family’s needs).
Thanks for the link I’ll check it out!
Today I was thinking more about why this scene was “a beautiful thing”.
There are so many indifferent people, and many many mockers and scoffers (as you all know). It is such a beautiful thing to witness people with a humble attitude with a willingness/ desire to hear both the Truth that kills (brings conviction and repentance) and the Grace that can result in saving faith and that brings eternal life.
To see adults with a humble, childlike openness to hearing (and believing!) the things of God …. it is rare……it’s a beautiful thing.
Yes it is rare indeed! But awesome when it happens.
I agree with the “street church”. It happened today. A brother and I were sharing on the corner, when a sister walked up that he knew. Come to find out, he hadn’t seen her for 7yrs. Back then they were both addicts on the streets. Now they were both sharing what God had done for all to hear. This particular area is thick with witchcraft. But God got all the glory!
Yeah I know your a mom first. That’s the way it should be. But, I know that when you get out, the other side of your calling lets loose. You are just gifted with two callings, Mom and Evangelist. Praise God!
Richard, in truth, God called me to be a laborer. (not an Evangelist)…..
Thanks for clearing up the translation for me. Canada is a bilingual country, english and french…zero spanish. Ninety-percent of the French people live in the french province of Quebec which my city, Ottawa, Ontario, borders on. It’s only a five minute drive away from our place to one of five bridges over the Ottawa River.
Though I have a french name (Latour – meaning ‘The Tower’) I unfortunately do no speak it fluently. I do carry along french gospel tracts with me and they have been very useful in getting the gospel message into the hands of those who do not speak english.
“AMEN!”…that was in french by the way, in case you didn’t understand 🙂
Paul, wow what a culture shock hearing your demographics…. “zero Spanish”- I cannot even imagine. It is English and Spanish here…. and Arabic, Hindi, Tongan, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Portuguese, we even got Turkish and dozens more (literally) …… but not much French! lol
I’m thankful for what materials we do have access to in various foreign languages.
My favorite multi-national word is Hallelujah!
Interesting. Ottawa, being the capital of Canada, has diplomatic representatives and peoples from all over the world. So I shouldn’t say “zero” anybody. But it’s predominantly english (British, Irish and Scottish settlers from way back). Quebec holds the majority of french folks but the french community extends across the country. My french father was from Montreal, Quebec and my english speaking mother, from native Algonquin Indian background (they were here for millions of years before anyone….OK, just kidding about the “millions of years”) was born on an Indian reserve in Maniwaki, Quebec.
Sure is a kalaedescope of nations the Lord has here. Easy way to go into all the world to preach the good news! I don’t have to go far. And from the sounds of it, neither do you.
amen Paul- to the last part of your comment. So true. Strategic cross cultural world missions: the nations have come here… right at your door. I’m excited for a brother from the midwest who is going to go to a North African country to help make disciples… but I’m more excited that we frequently meet people from several North African nations… right here in the SF area… (ssshhh don’t tell anybody)…… : )