Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your day was filled with the comfort of the Lord in trials. I had a busy, good day on campus and Matthew and Laly prayed to receive Jesus today. Their stories are below.  I also bumped into Joey who I had gone through the Gospel with last year and he said he had prayed to receive Jesus after I’d left him. So I’ll keep him in my prayers. He does not go to an entirely orthodox church group. I gave him a Books and a Bible study. He has an oval face and sandy hair and a beard with a weak mustache, was sitting in the PE building. Suhail listened to the Gospel and took the book My Muslim Friend. He seemed to be a liberal Muslim who thought everyone had a chance to go to Heaven by being good and thought God was the Father of all, which He is not in Islam. He played soccer with a bunch of Christians (the rest of the team by his description) and was a leader in the Muslim Student Union which did not think he should be playing soccer It seemed. Finally Nellie, a Mormon took The Case for Christ Answer Booklet and a Bible Study on the Deity of Christ. She seemed to know of “the Atonement” and I’m not sure what is being taught in Ladder Day Saints Churches since they try increasingly to pass themselves off as Christian. She seemed to believe what I told her of the Gospel and wanted to be closer to God and did not deny it any facts. But she may have attached different meanings to my words. Looked like a petite farm kid with small oval lens glasses and her hair in braids. I have had Mormon missionaries claim they believed Jesus was God died for their sins and rose from the dead, but Mormons deny the Trinity.

Matthew was sitting on the Third floor in a lounge waiting to go to class. He was a big dude 6’ 3” and thought of himself as nerdy. He had dark reddish hair and a strawberry blonde growth on his oval face with a very sparse and light mustache. He was wearing a T-shirt that said STEAL on it from a pod cast he listened to and wore light khaki green shorts.  I asked him what he would say to God to get into Heaven if he died. “Because I like helping people with hard tasks and I like serving the Lord,” he replied. He thought he had a 50/50 chance of going to Heaven. He listened to the Gospel closely looking straight at me with focused green eyes. He knew Jesus had died on the cross to take away his sins and listened to how His blood was a payment for sin and cleansed him. The righteousness of God became to his credit when God adopted him and he received Christ by faith. I showed him the two circles and asked if he would want to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus had done or thought something else. “That one,” he replied. “Life entrusted to Christ,” he added reading the caption. I said if he would want to be forgiven there was a prayer he could pray, I talked him through it and asked (reading) if it expressed the desire of his heart. He nodded. So I said he could pray it silently and know he was forgiven he nodded again and I said, “Ok just pretend I’m into here. “Sweet,” he replied taking the booklet and added, “Thank you Bob.” I wrote some notes and he asked me if, “Third Watch was a Catholic group?” I said, “It was not tied to any denomination, it was just the Bible.” I wrote something else and wondered if he’d finished and asked, “Did you pray that little prayer?” “No I’ll do that,” he replied. And he prayed to receive Christ. I explained the Christian life living by the Spirit’s power.  I told him I would pray a Bible verse for Him each day from now until Spring and one year after. I gave him Bible Promises for You and wrote his name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front and gave him The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. I explained the Bible study on ways Jesus claimed to be God and he said he knew Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament.  He had to go to class so we both got up, “Thank you Bob you have a good day.” I thanked him in reply and said, “You too.” We both headed off.

Laly [lolly] had just sat down in the cafeteria. I asked her if she’d do a student survey for a Bible study group before she got busy with something and she agreed. She had thick wavy brown hair and a cute wide face. Latina in coloring she had a button chin and wore a rose wide knit sweater (like an afghan) and black leggings. She had a warm smile and a coin sized tattoo about five inches down from her shoulder. I asked her what she would say to God if she died and He asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “I don’t know. I’m currently started going to a Bible study. I grew up in a Church,” she replied. She thought she had a 50/50 chance of going to Heaven. It turned out she went to Calvary on Rt. 59 (which in my experience did a poor job of explaining the Gospel the last few years, the new pastor is not as sound as the old one). I began to go through the Gospel with her saying that to live inside her God had to take away her sins. I asked her. What did Jesus do to take away the sins of the world?” “He died,” she replied. I said He did and this was how it worked as I went on and talked about the perfect life Jesus lived to purify us from sin and be a payment to God. He earned the righteousness of God and that would be to her credit when God adopted her. I said she had to receive Christ by believing in faith “Jesus is God He died for your sins and rose from the dead. So if someone were to say to you why should God let you into Heaven you’d say, ‘Jesus died for me’.” This would mean she had faith in Jesus and by grace she was saved through faith. I asked, showing her the circles, if she would want to be forgiven for her sins trusting in what Jesus had done or thought something else. “This one,” she said touching the circle with a long bright blue fingernail. So I said if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and talked her through it asking if it expressed the desire of her heart. She nodded it did with an affirming word I could not make out. So I said she could pray it silently and God would hear her, “Wanna do it?” “Yeah,” she replied. And she prayed to receive Christ. I told her then the likelihood she would go to Heaven was 100% now trusting in the blood and righteousness of Jesus. I told her I would pray a Bible verse for her each day from now until Spring and for the next year and explained the Christian life to her living by the Spirit’s power. I gave her Bible Promises for You and wrote her name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front. I told her about Strobel then gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. I explained the Bible study I gave her on ways Jesus claimed to be God. She was happy and I said I’d see her in Heaven as I got up to go. “Thank you, see you around,” she replied. “OK, have fun at your Bible study,” I responded. “Thank you,” she said cheerfully and I headed off.

So Thanks for your prayers for the Bible study and for evangelism today if you had a chance. God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your day was filled with the loving kindness of the Lord that never ceases. I had a good day on campus and Brady prayed to receive Jesus today. A girl named T (pretty, very long-haired Latina) and a guy Joe (curly mop of sandy hair and slight beard, sharp jaw) also were close to receiving Christ. Joe’s obstacle seemed to be his religious pride but T might pray. Logan had a similar mop of curly hair to Joe but had a rounded nose and frankly really dilated eyes. We were inside. He thought he might pray when he got home. Brady’s story is below if you want to spend some time. Please pray he grows in his faith.

Brady was sitting on a bench in the west Science and Health build hallway on the first floor, south side. He wore a paler than Mil Spec green hoodie and white shorts. He had blonde died hair with the roots showing and was of Vietnamese heritage. He had kind of a button nose and his eyes were the shape of almonds without eyelids in a handsome face. He was a real nice guy. Born in the US he had gone to a Vietnamese speaking church all his life saying the Mass was in Vietnamese, which he did not understand. He went to Sunday School where they spoke in Vietnamese but he only understood the Bible verses because they were in English. They would teach some of the language in Sunday School but the only word he could remember getting right was the word for fish. It had a slash in it that helped him remember somehow. When his parents talk to him in Vietnamese he could sort of understand some things he said. I asked him what he would say to God if he died and God asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “I try to make people happy,” he replied, “just trying to do what I can to make the world better,” he replied. He thought he had an 80% chance of going to Heaven. I began to go through the Gospel with him. I asked what Jesus had done to take away the sins of the world so God could live inside him with His Spirit. “He was crucified,” he replied. I said right and began to talk about the blood to cleanse him and the payment of Christ’s life to pay for the life we owed. I explained the righteousness of God and that he needed to receive Jesus by faith and faith saved him. I asked if he would want to be forgiven for his sins trusting in what Jesus had done or thought something else. “Be forgiven for my sins,” he replied. I said if he wanted to be forgiven for his sins there was a prayer he could pray and walked him through it asking if it expressed the desire of his heart. He nodded it did. I said he could pray it silently and I wouldn’t hear him but God would hear, “Wanna do it?” “Yeah he replied and he prayed then to receive Jesus. I explained living by the Spirit’s power and said the likelihood he would now go to Heaven was 100% trusting in the righteousness of Jesus and His blood. I said I had a book for him and took it out and seeing it he said, “Thank you.” I showed him the verses in Bible Promises for You and said he could turn them into prayers. I wrote his name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front and he thanked me again when I handed it to him. I gave him a Bible study explaining it and gave him The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. “Nice to meet you,” he said shaking my hand. “Nice to meet you too, see you in Heaven,” I replied and headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance, God truly blessed the work.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your week has been blessed with all good things from above.  I had a shorter week but 5 students came to Christ. Tali prayed to receive the Lord on Thursday. 2 guys, Anthony (a short brown haired baseball player in the PE) and Jaziel (a Latino guy with glasses in the cafeteria) each confessed Christ saying they would pray later. Sometimes I will bump into a student who has later prayed, a couple times a year. So I may find out later. These two guys believed but I don’t know if they really wanted to follow. Tali’s story is below if you’re interested and have time. Please pray she grows in her faith.

Tali sat at a counter height table in a small walk-through corner lounge. It’s at the northwest corner of the BIC building on the first floor. She had a laptop in front of her but was willing to take a few minutes to talk. She had a slight Latina build and an oval face with brown hair past her shoulders, wore a white blouse and jeans. Cute kid. She had circles under her eyes so the semester’s work seemed to have begun for her. She had a cheerful heart, smiled easily. She wanted to travel. I asked her what she would say to God if she died and He asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” She thought for a minute unsure but then said, “All I do is respect others around me, not [just] my things. I try to support others and treat them like they treat me.” When I asked she thought she had a 75% chance of going to Heaven. She went to Church each week. I began to go through the Gospel with her. Saying God had to take away her sins to live inside her I asked her what it was that Jesus had done to take away the sins of the world. She knew He had died.  I told her that was right, that Jesus was the way “God got paid.” She smiled at that with a look that said she wasn’t familiar entirely. I explained the blood of Christ cleansed us.  Jesus said we were to be perfect; we owed God a perfect life but could not pay. When we sinned against people we took away their life (quality of life or things they had spent their life to get). We owe God life. Jesus as the creator God is filled with life. When He pours out His blood it pays God back for all the imperfect things we’ve done owe God something perfect to repay. “So the real reason God forgive you is He got paid,” I said. I then explained the righteousness of God and that when God adopts us he gives us the blessings of His family. He gives us the sacrifice for our sins the blood that cleanses us and the righteousness of God that surrounds us. And He fills us with the Spirit. So you got some place to go, Heaven, and something to wear when you get there, the righteousness of God. Jesus rose from the dead. All this was ours by faith. I asked her if she wanted to be forgiven for her sins trusting in what Jesus had done or thought something else. “Be forgiven for my sins with Jesus,” she replied. I said then that if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and I talked her through it and asked if it was the desire of her heart. “Yeah,” she replied and I said she could pray it silently. I wouldn’t hear her but God would hear and she’d know she was forgiven. “Wanna do that?” I asked. “Yeah,” she replied and she prayed to receive Jesus. I told her then the likelihood she would go to Heaven was 100% and she nodded having understood. I went through the Christian life a bit saying everything was by the Spirit’s power. I wrote her name and the date and “forgiven” in the front of Bible Promises for You saying it was my birthday as I wrote the date. Happy Birthday! She said cheerfully and I thanked her. I told her I would pray a Bible verse for her each day from now until Spring and one year after asking God to bless her. She thanked me. I gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet and explained a Bible study to her. I apologized for taking too much time. “Thank you so much, nice meeting you. Happy Birthday,” she said brightly. “Thank you, nice to meet you too,” I said with a smile and I headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for Evangelism this week if you had a chance God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

This week:

JP, Michelle, Abby, Kylie, Tali

Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your day was blessed with all good things from Above. I had a good day on campus. I had a talk with one student, Sebastian on the assurance of salvation and the unforgiveable sin and then had a Bible study. Only Andrew showed up but he peppered me with questions for an hour and 20 minutes. Then I walked around doing some more evangelism and found Kylie who prayed with me to receive Christ. He story is below if you have the time please pray she grows in her faith.

Kylie was sitting just off the main south side hall of the BIC at the corner on a bench in the connecting hallway. I had walked past her and she seemed to be studying doing a paper with math problems on it. But I had a nudge to go ask her so I went back and asked if she’d do a survey. She asked how long it would take (I said 6 or 7 minutes which proved to be wrong) and she agreed. She had naturally curly blonde hair with some dark blonde mixed in it, it fell just past her shoulders. She wore no makeup had rosy cheeks a small pretty mouth and wore sweats. She was preparing to be a nursing student. I asked her what she would say to God to get into Heaven and she said, “Um… I would say,” and thought for a minute. “’Cause I followed You for my whole life and I put my trust in You and I listened, so He should let me into Heaven.” I asked the likelihood she would get into Heaven she said it was 100%.  I asked her if she went to church and she went frequently with her boyfriend to a Church with a nondenominational evangelical sounding name far west of campus. I began to go through the Gospel with her and I explained that knowing God was that He lived inside her. But like a blood transfusion first He had to make her his type by taking away her sin. I asked what the big thing was God had done to take away her sins with Jesus. “He forgives you,” She replied. I asked what he had done to forgive you. “God knows we’re not perfect, He’s not stupid, so He has to forgive us.” I agreed God wasn’t stupid and said, “Yeah that’s not how it works.” And I began to go through the gospel with her. Explaining with illustrations Jesus had lived a perfect life that we were supposed to live, then dying on the cross his blood cleansed us and now we were perfect and holy and God could live inside us. I explained it was how God got paid. “OK,” she replied. Then I explained the righteousness of God Christ earned and she was “Clothed with Jesus”. She would not go to heaven because she was good but because Jesus was good and she was connected to Him. God adopted her and gave her all this. She could have all this by receiving Christ. By believing Jesus was God had died for her sins and rose from the Dead, she would demonstrate she had faith. Not just knowing the story but putting her trust in it. Grace by faith saved her. I asked if she would want to be forgiven for her sins trusting in Jesus or if she thought something else. “Definitely forgiven,” she replied. So I said if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and I walked her through it asking if it was the desire of her heart. She nodded. I said she could pray it silently; I wouldn’t hear her but God would hear and she’d know she was forgiven. “Wanna do that?” I asked. She nodded again and she took the booklet. “Just pretend I’m not here,” I said.  She prayed then to receive Jesus. She said then “I have to tell you, I had a stomach ache today and I was a little late for class so I decided to just sit here and do homework instead of going into class or I wouldn’t even be sitting here.” She said she thought it was a connection God had made happen.  “God gave you a stomach ache,” I agreed and then said that I had initially walked past her but felt a prompting to go back. She got kind of a “well there ya go” expression on her face in response.  I explained the Christian life to her living “By the Spirit’s Power.” I said this could give her strength and insight as a nurse in helping people. She had not understood the “Fruit of the Spirit” so I gave her Gal 5:22&23 to look up saying she could ask for joy when she was down or for self-control to help her study. I told her I would keep her in my prayers and would pray a Bible verse for her each day from now until Spring and one year after asking God to bless her. I gave her Bible Promises for You and showed her how she could turn a promise into a prayer. I wrote her name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front and she thanked me warmly for it. I also gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet saying I knew she was busy but there might be something in there she’d like to read. Finally I gave her a Bible study, explained it and said I’d stop bugging her. She thanked me again and I headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your first day of the week has been blessed, short weeks are a blessing from the Lord for sure. I had a good day on campus and JP who I gave a book to 2 years ago & Michelle & Abby each prayed with me to receive Jesus today. Ahtzirie [at zur e] a girl from a Mexican heritage committed to Christ. She had light brown hair with highlights, thicker eye brows and a full very pretty face and fair skin. She wore a form fitting brown t-shirt and Jeans and was out on the waterfall patio. She said she wanted to pray later but believed Jesus was God had died for her sins and rose from the dead. She said she did when I asked that she put her trust in that to be forgiven. The stories of the other 3 are below if you want to take the time. Please pray they grow in their faith.

JP was sitting up on the third floor of the BIC in the south side hall where I’d not walked yet this year. He was a slightly built guy with black plastic semi-rectangular glasses. He had a bit of an accent and when I asked him where his family was from, saying mine was from Sweden, he said Brazil. He wore a small mustache and a goatee and wore black narrow leg pants and a gold shirt. He said I had given him a book 2 years ago when I walked up, he’d liked it and found it interesting. I had not remembered meeting him. I knew I had not been praying for anyone before named JP from past years so I assumed he had not heard the Gospel. I asked what he thought would get him into heaven and he basically said, being good. He had a list that included kindness and being humanistic. I said Christianity was like a blood transfusion, God wanted to transfuse His life into you, live inside you with his Holy Spirit. He had been raised Catholic and seemed to know Jesus had been crucified but as I explained the Blood of Jesus as a way to pay God for the life we owned God, having damaged Gods stuff he said, “This is a different perspective,” and listed more as I explained the Righteousness of God Christ had earned. I said that he inherited these blessings, the sacrifice for his sins, the blood that cleansed him and the righteousness of God to his credit when God adopted him. I explained salvation by receiving Jesus through faith. When I asked he said he’d want to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus had done. I said then there was a prayer he could pray and asked if it expressed the desire of his heart. “Yeah,” he replied and I said he could pray it silently and I wouldn’t hear but God would and he said, “Yeah sure,” and he prayed to receive Jesus. He took The Case for Christ Answer Booklet and I wrote his name and the date and “forgiven” in the front. I explained living the Christian life was By the Spirit’s Power.” He said he had 10 more minutes so I explained a Bible study to him on the Deity of Christ. He thanked me and thought he might be able to come to the Bible Study next week. I told him I would keep him in my prayers and said “Nice to meet you again.” “Yes,” he said, “Be safe.” And he headed off.

Michelle was sitting waiting for her girlfriend to get out of class; it turned out they tried different churches together and were looking for one. She had an oval face and brown hair past her shoulders. She wore a V-neck long sleeve shirt and jean shorts on and was small. She was a Latina. I asked her what she would say to God if she died and were asked why He should let her into Heaven. “Because I have faith in Him, I know He’s there for me,” she replied. She was 100% sure she was going to Heaven. When I asked her what Jesus had done to take away her sins, “He forgives you,” she guessed. I said that He made a payment to God and began to explain the atonement. “OK,” she said with understanding. I explained the righteousness of Christ to her credit and adoption. I sensed I was running low on time as she was looking over her shoulder from the direction her friend would come not wanting to miss her. So I skipped the recap and just said Jesus rose from the dead. I explained he needed to receive Jesus, to believe He was God had died for her sins and rose from the dead. I asked if she would want to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus had done showing her the 2 circles. “A life devoted to Christ,” she read from under the circle with Christ living in her. So I said if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and I talked her through it asking if it was the desire of her heart. “Um hum,” she replied. I said she could pray it silently if she’d want to, “Yeah she said with enthusiasm. She took the booklet then and prayed to receive Jesus. She did not have a Bible but said she’d been wanting to get one so I gave her one and wrote her name and the date and “forgiven” in the front. She took it happily as her friend walked up and with a “Thank you, you have a good one,” from her and “You too,” from me we were done. I told her I would be praying for her and they were off. I realized I had not handed her the booklet but left it at my feet in getting out the Bible so I fast walked after her and her friend Denise a pretty short Latina with long wavy brown hair. I gave them both Bible Promise books and gave Michelle the booklet. They thanked me and headed off down the hall.

I came out of the PE lounge but saw no one. In thought about where to go standing at the eastern end of the patio that runs the south side of the BIC. I saw on person sitting at a table down the line and thought they might to a survey. The bright blonde hair stood out in the sun on the back of Abby’s head. She said she’d do a survey. She was wearing grey sweats with small white stars on them and a black spaghetti string shirt and killing time waiting for a friend. Her face looked a bit like the actress who played “Barbie” in the move I only saw the ad for [so like Margot Robbie] except younger and a titch more pretty. She was friendly and said she wanted to travel the world. I asked her what she would say to God to get into Heaven and she said, “I’m trying to become a better person and I’d deserve it.” She thought she had a 95% of going to Heaven. I asked if she ever went to Church. She’d gone to Catholic school from K through 8^th grade and had just been thinking lately she’d like to go back to Church. I began going through the Gospel with her. I said God wanted to live inside her but first had to take away her sins. I asked what Jesus had done to do that and she knew Jesus had died to take away the sins of the world. I explained the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin and be a payment for our sins. It was really how God gets paid. I said, “Say you borrow your friend’s car. And you dent the fender. Then you gotta take it to a body shop and they pop out the dent and you give it back to your friend and everything is cool So when you borrow someone’s stuff you gotta give it back to them how you got it. Well everything belongs to God. So if I hurt you or hurt me, or hurt the world in some way, I owe God something perfect back. But if I’m messing around in the parking lot and I roll over your foot, I don’t have an extra spare perfect foot to give to God. So I owe God but I can’t pay. But God loves me so He becomes a perfect man and His life and blood are worth an infinite amount. So when He pours out his blood it pays God back for all the imperfect things I’ve done, that I owe God something perfect for. So the real reason God forgives you is He got paid.” She smiled at that thought. “But He had to pay Himself,” I added. “Got ya,” She replied.  I explained salvation by faith, receiving Christ and trusting in what Jesus had done. “So would you want to be forgiven trusting in Jesus then he can live inside you and give you strength, or do you think something else?” I explained Islam and the Buddha and asked again if she’d want to be forgiven trusting in Jesus. “No I would be forgiven, I’d be interested…” She replied. So I said then there was a prayer she could pray and talked her thorough it asking if it was the desire of her heart. She nodded it was so I said she could pray it silently and she did. She did not have a Bible and couldn’t wait for me to get one so I gave her just a New Testament writing her name and the date and forgiven in the front. I also gave her Bible Promises for You and a Bible Study. I told her I would pray for her and explained that living the Christian life was by the Spirit’s power. “Thank you very much,” she said as I got up to go. I said she was welcome and she said, “You have a good rest of your day.” I said thanks and headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Brothers and sisters in Christ,

I hope your day has been blessed so far with good things from the Lord. I had a doctor appointment still in search for relief from sciatica pain. But yesterday Lexi prayed to receive Jesus. Her story is below if you wish to spend time on your holiday weekend. Please pray she grows in her faith. 9 students prayed to trust in the blood and righteousness of Christ for their salvation this first week of classes at the College of DuPage.

RJ, Wendy, Jimmy, Jesse (Jesús), Jocelyn, Andrea, Kaleb, Gio, Lexi

Lexi was sitting in the PE lounge waiting for her basketball practice to begin. She was reclined in the seat at the table we sat at but seemed my height. She wore light grey thick sweats and had on a long sleeve shirt that fit like the top half of a fitted black Danskin type shirt. She had full long brown hair was a very pretty, looked like an athletic Selma Hayek with the coloring of a Latina, tan, pretty smile. She went to church each week at a Bible believing Church in Elgin. She said one thing she wanted to do before she died was, “Have a great relationship with God”.  I asked what she would say to God if she died and He asked her, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “I’ve tried my best to obey Him and be the best person I could,” she replied. When I asked her what the likelihood she would go to Heaven was she said 50% and then inched it up to 60% as she thought about it. I began to go through the Gospel with her and when I asked her what the big thing was that Jesus had done to take away her sins so God could live inside her she struggled a bit with an answer but finally landed on “He died on the cross.” There’s a lot of ways to ask the question so I may have just asked it wrong because the Gospel seemed familiar to her or at least she said short words of agreement as I went through it. Different churches have a different nomenclature. I explained with word pictures and stories the blood of Christ as a payment for our sin and the righteousness Jesus earned by perfectly fulfilling the Old Testament law in the way we could not. I explained that she inherited this when God adopted her. I explained she needed to receive this by faith and by grace she was saved through faith. I asked if she would want to be forgiven for her sins, trusting in Jesus, or thought something else. Then I asked on the heel of that, before she answered, if when she asked for forgiveness for her sins if she was thinking she was a good person and God would forgive her… she said, “Yes.” She cut off what I was going to explain so I said, “or have you been thinking I know I’ll be forgiven because Jesus died for me.” I paused and said, “I know you knew the story.” “When I’m asking for forgiveness I believe I’ll be forgiven because He knows I’m going to try harder to do better,” Lexi replied, missing my point. So I said, “Well that’s what you will do. What I’m asking is have you been trusting in what Jesus did, that he died for your sins and that is why God will forgive you, trusting in what He has done not what you do?” She thought and said, “Honestly I never thought that,” she said it dawning on her the first time. “Ok,” I said. “Well, if you would want to be forgiven trusting is what Jesus did for you on the cross there’s a prayer you could pray.” I talked her through the prayer and then said it says here, Is this prayer the desire of your heart? Would you say that it is?” She said it was, so I said she could pray it now and I wouldn’t hear you, no one would hear you,” I added since the lounge was filling up. “But God would hear you and then you’d know you are forgiven trusting in Jesus.” She took the booklet and prayed to receive Jesus. I explained then that the likelihood she would go to Heaven was now 100%. “Because how righteous is Jesus, a 100% righteous. And what’s his righteousness worth? An infinite amount and His blood is worth an infinite amount because He is God and so it will pay for both of us. I’ve sinned way more than you because I’m old but if we both die right now God is not going to remember the sins we did but the good He made out of it.” I gave her a Bible Study on the deity of Christ and explained it a bit. I also gave her Bible Promises for You and wrote her name and the date and “forgiven!” on the inside, telling her that’s the day she was forgiven and she can always remember. I told her I would pray a prayer for her each day from now until Spring and one year after. I explained living “By the Spirit’s Power” and that now by living inside her He could guide her. “Even in Basketball he could help you see the field. I mean the court,” I corrected myself and we said “Court” at the same time and laughed. I gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet also. She’d thanked me but as I got up to go she said, “Thank you, I really appreciate it.” ‘You’re welcome I’ll keep you in my prayers,” I replied. “Thank you,” she said and I headed out.

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ.

I hope your day was a blessed in walking with the Lord in His provision for you. I had a good day on campus and Kaleb & Gio each prayed with me to receive Jesus today. I also spent 40 minutes answering questions and talking through the Gospel with a pretty black girl Aliyah in the PE lounge wait for Basketball practice. She has a 2-year-old child (Eli) and was living with the father (Daniel) and unmarried. She had long curly hair pulled back a small nose and seemed mixed race in appearance. I gave her a Bible and The Case for Christianity Answer Book that has 60 questions Lee Strobel answers. So I’ll be praying she surrenders to Christ and turns from sin. I’d be grateful for your prayers for her and the guys today if you could pray they grow and in Aliyah’s case that she’d be saved. The guys’ stories are below if you have time and are interested.

Kaleb was sitting in one of the booths between the police desk and the patio with the waterfall (it’s off for some reason) on the second floor. He had his hood raised; the light brown hoodie had cream-colored paisley designs all over it. He had on nylon tan zip pocket cargo pants, over very long legs. He wore back-framed rectangle glasses. Had classic black features full lips and nose, a thin caterpillar mustache and a bit of under chin beard on a block chin, long square face. A couple thin strands of braided tight curls poked out of the hoodie beside his cheeks. He was a track athlete, in sprints and relays. He hoped to make a lot of money, “for myself and family, loved ones.” I asked him what he would say to God if he died and God asked “Why should I let you into Heaven.” “I know I have made bad choices and everything. I love you very much and you died on the cross for my sins. I’m not perfect. If I do die my family wants to see me go to Heaven.” He sounded like he had already trusted in Christ from this but he hadn’t. I asked him what the likelihood was he would go to Heaven and he said, 80%. I began to go through the Gospel with him reading John 17:3 that knowing God was eternal life and that this meant He lived inside you. The problem was our sin. God could not be in the same place as sin but wanted to live inside us so He just takes away our sin. “So how does Jesus take away your sin,” I asked adding, “What did he do?” “I don’t know,” he replied. I realized then that “Jesus died for my sins” was just something he had heard and hadn’t thought about. So I began to explain the Gospel to him. I was happy for the chance since I’d gone through the Gospel with two students that morning who did not answer the question right. Buy this I mean they did not say they would tell God, “Jesus died for me” as a means to get into Heaven. Yet when I finished the Gospel they were sure that was what they trusted in to be saved. Kaleb strangely was the reverse. So I explained the atoning sacrifice of Christ as a payment to God of the life in His blood and the righteousness Jesus earned that was to his credit. I explained salvation in receiving Jesus by faith. I asked finally, after a few word pictures and stories to explain, if he would want to be forgiven for his sins trusting in what Jesus had done. Then God would live inside him and give him strength. He nodded he did. I said, “Well, it seems like you had not put all this together before.” He nodded again. So I said if he wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer he could pray. I talked him through the prayer and read, “It says here; Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? He said, “Um hum.” I said he could pray it silently—I wouldn’t hear him but God would hear and he’d know he was forgiven, “Wanna do that?” He nodded. He prayed then to receive Jesus. I told him the likelihood he would now go to Heaven was 100% trusting in the blood and righteousness of Jesus. I explained the Christian life living “By the Spirit’s Power”, prayer and reading the Bible.  I gave him Bible Promises for You and wrote his name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front. I also gave him The Case for Christ Answer Booklet and a Bible study. He thanked me and I told him I would keep him in my prayers until next Spring and one year after. He was grateful and I headed out to the patio.

I came across Gio in a north to south connecting hallway in the BIC. He was sitting on a bench and wearing black shorts and a white t-shirt. He was a good-looking Latino guy with hair like Elvis, a mustache and a chin beard. His face was a bit wider like a diamond in shape and flat, (a bit like Benjamin Bratt) he had a pointed nose.  I asked him one thing he wanted to do before he died and he said, “Provide for my kids, what I didn’t have.” “Don’t spoil them,” I quipped, “thanks for the Ferrari dad.” He laughed I wasn’t thinking of that.” “Maybe a swing set or something,” I replied. He had given another version of the “Have a family” response that seems to signal a guy will trust in Christ. I asked what he would say to God if he died and God asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “It’s up to His judgment,” he replied. “Some of the decisions I made in my life would be looked over as good and maybe appreciated.” He thought he had a 70-80% chance of going to Heaven when he died. He said he went to church with his family once every 2 or 3 weeks on Sunday. It turned out he had gone to a Catholic school for middle school. I began to go through the Gospel with him and when I asked him what Jesus had done to take away his sins he knew He had died on the cross. I began to explain the atonement to him and how “God got paid” by the blood of Christ and he said, “I see.” I explained the righteousness of God Christ earned and how he provided this like extra credit in a class you did not earn yourself. “Nice,” he said. I explained salvation by grace through faith. I showed him the 2 circles in the booklet asking if he would want to be forgiven trusting in the blood and righteousness of Christ to forgive him, then God would live inside him and give him strength. Or did he think something else? I then explained Islam and the Buddha in a couple sentences. I could tell he tracked with everything so I then added, asking if when he was praying for forgiveness for his sins if he was thinking that he was a pretty good person and so God would forgive him. Or was he was trusting in what Jesus had done and knew he’s be forgiven or hadn’t he every really put it together before? He said he hadn’t thought that way about it. So I asked well do you think you would want to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus has done. So I said there was a prayer he could pray and after I explained it he responded, “Exactly,” agreeing with the prayers content. “So would you want to pray it silently I wouldn’t hear you but God would and you’d know you were forgiven.” “Sure,” he replied. He then prayed to receive Jesus. He did not have a Bible but his grandmother had one. I asked if he wanted one and he did so I showed him the maps and study aids and how I had marked the book of John if he wanted to read. He seemed to really like it. I explained the Christina life living “By the Spirit’s Power” and prayer as well as reading the Bible. I wrote his name and the date and “forgiven” in the front of the Bible and he thanked me. I gave him Bible Promises for You and The Case for Christ Answer Booklet.  I said I would pray a Bible verse for him each day asking God to bless him through Spring and one year after and got up to go. He was grateful and said, “Thanks I appreciate it.” I said, “You’re welcome,” and headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance, God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your day was fill mercy peace and love. I had a good day on campus and Jesse, Jocelyn and Andrea and prayed with me to receive Jesus today. I encouraged a backslidden girl tall brown-haired Rachel and gave her a Bible Promise book she wanted and prayed for her. Please pray these all grow in their faith through the Spirit’s power and are led into fellowship. Their stories are below with a description. I often wish I could take a picture to better remember each face.

Jesse was sitting in the west most 2^nd floor lounge of the BIC, the classrooms across from it face south. He had short straight hair that had 1inch bangs in front. He had a rounded kind face with a mustache and goatee. He wore blue jeans and a reddish shirt. He gave me his name and later said his real name was the Spanish pronunciation of Jesus (hey-sues). His father and grandfather had the same name so he went by Jesse growing up to limit confusion. I asked him what he would say to God if he was killed by a bus and was asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “I been… I guess… that’s a good question,” he replied. Then thinking a bit he said, “I’m not worthy but if you have compassion and understanding.. to forgive me, forgive my sins.” He thought he had a 50/50 chance of getting into Heaven. He said he felt like he should go to Church more. Sitting across from him at a table I began to go through the Gospel with him. When I asked what Jesus had done to take away the sins of the world he remembered that He had died. He began agreeing then with everything I said about the blood of Christ being a payment for his sins to God for what we owed Him. I explained the righteousness of God Christ earned for him that was to his credit when the Father adopted him. I said he could hook up with all God had done for him by receiving Christ. If he believed Jesus was God had died for his sins and rose from the dead, not that he just knew the story but that he put his trust in this to be forgiven. That would mean he had faith in Jesus. And, by Grace he was saved through faith. I asked if he would want to be forgiven for his sins trusting in what Jesus had done. “Do you think you have ever asked God for forgiveness knowing you would be forgiven because Jesus died for you?” I asked. “I have asked for forgiveness before but…” he replied and paused looking for words for a second. “But you never knew how it was done?” I asked. “Yeah,” he replied. I said then if he wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer he could pray and I read it through for him asking if it was the desire of his heart. He said it was so I said he could pray it silently, I wouldn’t hear him but God would hear and he would know he was forgiven. He agreed and said, “Thank you.” He took the booklet then and silently prayed to receive Jesus. When he finished I explained that now trusting in the blood and righteousness of Jesus to be his righteousness the likelihood he would go to Heaven was 100%. “Thank you,” he said again. I gave him Bible Promises for You and wrote his name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front. I gave him a Bible study and The case for Christ Answer Booklet I explained a bit of Strobel’s story. I told him I would pray a Bible verse for him each day from now until Spring and one year after. He thanked me again and I said “You’re welcome,” and I headed off.

Jocelyn was sitting on a set of chairs outside the glass walled lounge on the NE corner of the 2^nd floor of the BIC. She had long brown hair, a petite Latina. Her face was pretty, a diamond shape with pronounced cheeks, long eyelashes. Her mouth looked like a kid’s doll, her top lip making an edge and the bottom full beneath it. It was a-typical so I hoped it would help me remember her if I ran into her again. She wore a brown t-shirt and stretch pants with bellbottoms. I asked her what she would say to God if she died and stood before Him and He asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” She thought for a min, “Um… I probably would say… I don’t know how to put it into words. I don’t have hate in my heart.” She thought she had a 70% chance of going to Heaven. I began to go through the Gospel with her and right away her face had a look of real interest so I hoped the Lord was moving her. She smiled and was engaged all the way through. I explained that God wanted her to know Him and this was eternal life. This meant He lived inside her with His Holy Spirit. I asked her what Jesus had done to take away her sins so she would be made perfect inside and God could live there. “He died on the cross for us,” she replied. I said that was right and I began to explain how it all worked. I told her of the Righteousness of God Christ earned for us and said God gave her these when he adopted her. When I had finished going through the details I asked her if she would want to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus had done? Then He would live inside her and give her the strength to live the Christian life. Or did she think something else? “Definitely forgiven,” she replied. So I said if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and talked her through it. “It says here, ‘Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?’ Would you say it did?” “Um Hum,” she affirmed. So I said she could pray it silently and I wouldn’t hear her but God would hear and she’d know she was forgiven. “OK,” she said. “Just pretend I’m not here,” I said and that got a light laugh from her and she prayed then to receive Jesus. I explained then that now trusting in the righteousness and blood of Jesus the likelihood she would go to Heaven was 100% and she was happy hearing that. I gave her Bible Promises for You and wrote her name and the date and forgiven in the front and she was grateful. I gave her a Bible study on passages where Jesus claimed to be God. And also gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. I told her I would pray for her from now until Spring and one year after. “Thank you, God bless you,” she said as I got up to go. “Thanks God bless you too,” I replied and headed off.

Andrea was sitting on a bench seat on the edge of the west atrium lounge on the ground floor of the BIC. It’s the North side across from some administrative offices. She was a pretty Latina girl with several thick braids coming off her head. On the front edge of her forehead her bangs were in flat swirls, her face was a bit round she had a tiny nose. Her jeans were ripped at the knees and she wore gold necklaces and earrings. She had on a black hoodie over a dark blouse. She said she’d do a survey and as she did some black guy (I later found out was named Koran) called to her and she waved him off with a hand signal we were talking. He later interrupted her using her girlfriend as a beard to get her Instagram. He then coat-tailed that conversation saying he did not mean to interrupt. “And yet you did,” I said. “You’re on the make.”  He shook my hand grinning and he left recognizing I was dismissing him. The delay unfortunately kept me from getting a bit of the explanation for the righteousness of Christ in as we ran out of time as she was already late for class. (I get interrupted that way by guys I think they figure, “If that girl will talk to that old man she’ll talk to me.” But these girls might also talk to Santa at the Mall so hey.) Andrea was out of his league but flattered by the attention. I asked her one thing she’d like to do before she died. “Get baptized,” she replied. “I’ve been wanting to do that soon.” I said Jesus said to do that and told her about Ellen being baptized in the Jordan River. I asked her what she would say to God if she died and He asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “That’s a question for sure,” She replied. “I’d want to say more than just I’m a believer.’ She though a second and said, “He has changed my life in a lot of ways. Even if I’m not accepted by others, I’m always accepted by Him. I can’t give one reason exactly.” She was 100% sure she was going to Heaven saying something about being raised in the Lord. I began to go through the Gospel with her and she tuned right in. I said knowing God was eternal life and that meant He would live inside her. I explained that in order to live inside her God had to take away her sins and asked what the big thing was that Jesus had done to take away the sins of the world. She could not think of anything saying, “Didn’t you just say it?” I said that know I was asking how He did it. I tried prompting her but she had no idea. So I began to explain that God became a man, Jesus, had lived a perfect life and died as a payment for her sins to God, the real reason God forgave her was He got paid. I explained that she had to live a perfect life but because she could not Jesus lived this for her. His righteousness was to her credit. I explained this with a story and Koran interrupted. I got him to move on and I recapped it and said Jesus earned the righteousness of God. She said she only had 3 minutes until class. So I stopped saying Jesus rose from the dead and said a couple Bible verses and explained that she needed to receive Jesus; to believe Jesus was God had died for her sins and rose from the dead. Her good stuff could not fix her bad stuff. I asked if she would want to be forgiven trusting in Jesus. She said she did. “Well it seems like you didn’t put all this together before right?” I asked. She nodded. I said then that if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and talked her through it. She seemed to be reading it closely with me and I asked, “Did you pray it?” “I can,” she said. So I said great and she silently prayed. I asked again and she said she’d prayed. I quickly gave her Bible Promises for You writing her name and the date and “forgiven!” in the front and also gave her, The Case for Christ Answer Booklet and told her I would be praying for her each day until Spring and one year after. “I see God in people like you, like a sign,” she said. I said I was sure God had led me to her because He knew she wanted to be baptized and said, “There’s one thing you need to know first.” This put a big smile on her face. She got up and said, “I gotta go to class.” “OK. Love ya,” I said. “Love you too,” she said. “Have a great day! Keep spreading the word!” “Yes mam,” I replied as she ran off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance. God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your day was fill with good things from above in the midst of the trials of life. I had a good day on campus and RJ and Wendy and Jimmy each prayed to receive Jesus today. I also went through the Gospel with 4 Christian students who had already believed. So that was great. The stories of the new believers are below if you wish to spend the time. Please pray they grow in their faith.

RJ was sitting just past the Student Services Lounge in the hall in some chairs. He’s a tall slender black guy with pencil width dreadlocks to his neck some of them across his face that he looked through as we talked. He had smooth skin, clean-shaven an oval face, pointed chin and a smaller nose. Good-looking guy. He had pale blue straight leg jeans on that had Old-English font letters randomly monogramed on them every which way in a cream thread, they were about the size of a quarter and a black t-shirt that had some kind of silver depiction on it I could never make out. I asked him one thing he would like to do before he died and he said, “Reproduction—raising a child, raise a child to be something.” That’s not exactly “Have a Family” in so many words but it’s a good character sign he’d be open to the Gospel. I asked what he would say to God to get into Heaven. “I pray before I eat and go to sleep. I do not go to Church [enough] I should more.” He thought he had an 80% chance of going to Heaven. I began to go through the Gospel with him and he listened closely as I began to explain. I said that eternal life was knowing God. And knowing God meant He lived inside you but to do that He needed to take away your sin so you were perfect inside, since God could not be in the same place as sin. I asked him what Jesus had done to take away his sin and he thought and said, “I don’t got anything.” So I explained the sacrifice of Jesus and His righteousness. When I finished everything I asked if he would want to be forgiven or thought something else. “Be forgiven,” he replied. So I said if he wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer he could pray and talked him through it asking if it was the desire of his heart. He nodded it was so I asked if he would want to pray it silently and know he was forgiven. He nodded again and I handed him the booklet and he prayed then to receive Jesus. I explained the Christian life to him then living by the Spirit’s power. He attended Church. I gave him a Bible study on the Deity of Christ and gave him The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. I wrote his name and the date and “forgiven” in the front of Bible Promises for You. He was happy and I told him I would keep him in my prayers from now until Spring and one year after asking God to bless him. He got up then shaking my hand and was off.

Wendy was sitting near a door on the North side of the BIC building on the second floor. She had on a maroon sweater and faded blue jeans. She was shorter, pretty (farm girl look) with an oval face and full lips. She had long straight brown hair to the middle of her arms, long eye lashes. I asked her what she would say to God if she died and were asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “I mean, I’m a Christian. I used to go to Church more. (She had been to several Churches but said it was hard to find one that worked with her family she explained it.) I’m not scared to die. If I do I know where I’m going. I gave my heart to God.” She thought the likelihood she would go to Heaven was 100%. I began to go through the Gospel with her and asked what Jesus had done to take away her sins so God could live inside her. “He forgives you?” she replied. I said He did but asked what the big thing was that Jesus had done so He could forgive her. She struggled for a minute so I just said, “It works like this,” and I began to explain the blood and righteousness of Christ to pay for the imperfect things we had done that we owed God something perfect to repay. God would forgive her because of the sacrificial blood of Christ and God wanted to adopt her and give her the sacrifice for her sins the blood that cleansed her and the righteousness of God that surrounded her, and then fill her with the Spirit. I asked then if she would want to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus had done on the cross or thought something else. “Forgiven,” she replied. So I said if she wanted to be forgiven there was a prayer she could pray and I talked her through it asking if it was the desire of her heart. She nodded it was. So I said if she wanted to she could pray it silently, I wouldn’t hear her but God would hear and she’d know she was forgiven trusting in Jesus, Wanna do that?” I asked. She nodded again so I handed her the booklet and she prayed to receive Jesus. I explained the Christian life to her encouraging her to read her Bible and to live by the Spirit’s power. I gave her a Bible Study on the Deity of Christ and I wrote her name and the date and “Forgiven” in the front of Bible Promises for You and also gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. I told her too that I would pray for her each day from now until Spring and one year after. She got up to go and said, “Thank you,! Nice to meet you.” “Nice to meet you too”, I said as she walked away and headed out the door.

Jimmy was sitting on the stairs just down from the entrance to the bookstore and in front of the food pantry. He wore a light blue shirt and dark blue shorts. He had a square chin and an angular face unshaven with some white blonde beard barely coming in. His hair was blonde parted off center to the left and stick straight. He had a bemused smile like he was enjoying the conversation the entire time. He thought he wanted to travel the world and visit Japan, so I told him about a friend there who’d studied Japanese at COD. I asked him what he would say to God if he died and God asked why should I let you into Heaven. “I have no idea”, he replied. I asked what he thought it was that got you into Heaven. “Believe in God,” he replied. I asked if he went to Church. He said he did, it was a Bible Study Church and he thought he’d been also to a Baptist church. “What would you say to the question?” he asked. I said it was in this booklet and began to explain it to him. He knew Jesus had died on the cross to take away his sins. I explained the Atonement and how God forgave him because He was paid by the blood of Christ. I explained how the righteousness of God was earned by Christ and explained it with a story about extra credit in a class where he receives 100% because another student’s credit in the class was given to him. ‘Cool,” he replied. I asked him (saying I knew he’d known the story) if he thought he had been trusting in what Jesus had done and asked God to forgive him based on that or if he had just known it and hoped it worked for him. “A little of both,” he replied uncertainly. So I said, “Say you were hanging out a lot in High School with a girl you liked and it is getting near prom so you try this on her, ‘So when are we going to prom?’ and she says, ‘As soon as you ask me.’ God’s like a pretty girl. He wants to be asked.” He laughed. I showed him the prayer and asked him if it expressed the desire of his heart. It did. I then said something like “So is that something you already did or do you would want to do it?” I want to do it he replied. So I said, “Just pretend I’m not here.” He took the booklet and prayed to receive Jesus. I told him I’d be praying for him and explained the Christian life and a Bible study. His friend who’d been hovering nearby said, “I don’t want to interrupt but we’re late for class.” I quickly apologized for the delay and wrote his name and the date and “Forgiven” in the front of Bible promises for you. He was grateful and thanked me and headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance. God truly blessed.

In Him,

Bob

“The joy of the Lord is your strength”

Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your summer was blessed with good things and God gave you joy as your strength, as in Nehemiah 8:10. I spent the summer listening to and reading through Institute of Creation Research materials and stumbled onto a guy named Wes Huff who works for an apologetics group in Canada. His expertise in manuscripts far exceeds any I could hope to have even second-hand. The modern finds of ancient manuscripts continue to validate the text of the Bible as we now have access to it in Greek and Hebrew. Robert Spencer has also provided some interesting information this summer as I studied Islam a bit.

We got to a couple weddings this summer. One for a nephew in North Carolina, where a college girl prayed with me to receive Christ at the reception. The other wedding we attended was for a girl who came to Christ through my telling her the Gospel at COD several years ago. She married a good Christian man in Georgia. And we were able to spend a few days last week hiking around Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin.

I got some stuff done around the house this summer in spite of the heat and Ellen kept the Earth stable where she works and kept us up to date with Third Watch. This Monday, the 25^th of August, ministry begins at school. I’ll be hoping the angels will sing for joy, as “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10). So it’s “once again into the breach” to quote Shakespeare’s play “Henry V”, which comes to mind as I return each Fall to campus.

We covet your prayers as I begin, and know that your help in prayer has brought so many to start a life in Christ by the Spirit’s power.

Thanks so much for your help and support to minister on campus again this school year.

May God bless you this Fall.

In Him,

Bob & Ellen