Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your day has been blessed and you are looking forward to a great weekend walking with Christ. I had a great day of sharing on campus and Angelo and Taleshia each prayed with me to receive Jesus.

Angelo was sitting on the bench outside the lounge at the Bank at school. He has an oval face and very short dark hair, and some random light beard, looked Latino darker skin soft features. Dressed in loose gray sweats, pretty big guy. He was really laid back. He said he had been to a “Christian church” some growing up where his mom still went every Sunday. I asked him what he would say to God if he died and He asked ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ and he said, “That’s a difficult question.” Then thinking more he said, “I guess because I’m mostly kind to everyone or if I’m rude I apologize [right away], it’s a temporary thing.”  He thought he had a 50% chance of getting to heaven. When I told him God wanted to live inside him like God was the energizer battery and he was the bunny he said, “Interesting” and when I explained the imputed righteousness of Christ to him he said, “Nice.” Finishing the entire Gospel of salvation with him, I asked and he said he’d want to be forgiven.  I offered him a prayer he could pray and talked him through it and he said, “Makes sense”. It gave me second of pause since just before talking to him I’d spoken with a teacher in the hall I have known for 15 years. He told me that in his world religions class he had explained the Gospel and no one in the class “Got it”. He said, “I always finish by saying if you don’t get anything else you should at least understand why Christians believe this is “Good News”, But he felt like that was even lost on them. But Angelo got it and I said he could pray the prayer and God could live inside him giving him the power to live a life that pleased God. “That’s fine.” he said and prayed slowly and silently to receive Christ.  He was glad to be able to keep the booklet. I explained the Christian life living “inside out” and I told him if he was trusting in the Righteousness of Christ to be his righteousness the likelihood he would go to heaven was 100%, “Because how righteous is Jesus? 100%. And what is His righteousness worth? An infinite amount so there is enough for each of us.” He was very grateful for that and said, Thank you. I gave him a Bible Study and a Bible and put his name in the front with the date he had trusted Christ. He said he only had (what sounded like) a pocket NT. I gave him the books 20 Things God Can’t Do (writing by the Spirit in the front) and Pocket Prayers encouraging him to go to Church with his mom who he described as angry, “I don’t know why so I just apologize even if I don’t know what I did.” I got his email to send him some stuff and I gave him the Book Bible Promises for You to give to her. I got up to go and said, “Nice to meet ya” and he was happy and thanked me again.

Taleshia was sitting in the science building lounge that connects the 2 buildings in a pocket under the stairs adjacent to where a guy named Julio had prayed to receive Christ earlier this year. Her study materials were laid out along the concrete bench she had parked on. She was a very sweet African American girl with her afro teased into tufts that were bleached light brown on the ends. She had print gray workout pants on and a gray hoodie. She had a kind oval face and almond shaped eyes that looked Asian. Taleshia did not want to do a student survey but I asked her if she wanted to read a booklet on it and she was OK with that so in giving it to her I began to explain the gospel to her a bit and she continued to look interested. I asked her why she thought people went to heaven, “You do good,” she replied. She seemed to have some background in church. She made verbal cues of consent or interest as I continued to describe what the Lord had done for her almost like what you might hear an older person say, kind of sweet, like the stereo typical kind lady from my parent’s generation. So I just continued to explain more and more finally leading to bible verse where she needed to receive Jesus so I opened the booklet I had given to her to that point and read these to her. I explained how your good actions could not make up for your bad ones but that God wanted to work all things in your life together for good if you love Him. She wanted to be forgiven and trust Christ and so I guided her through the prayer and she prayed to receive Christ. She was grateful and I gave her a Bible study and the books 20 Things God Can’t Do writing by the Spirit in the front and the date she had trusted Jesus and also Bible Promises for You and a Bible study. I got up to leave and said, “God bless you.” and she said, “God bless you too.”

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry this past week and for evangelism yesterday if you had a chance. God truly blessed. 121 students have trusted Christ so far this school year on campus.

In Him,

Bob

Hey sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope you were blessed today. I had a good day today and went through the Gospel with several students. I got to talk to Micheal again who had suffered with clinical depression.  I’d gone through the Gospel with him the other day and talked with him for an hour today and gave him a Bible study.

Yesterday, Sal prayed with me to receive Christ. He was laying down on the half wall just outside the PE building reading a book. He had shorts on and a t-shirt and a pink baseball cap on, nice looking kid with a bit of beard growth. He had a tattoo on the inside of his left forearm that read “DO MORE”. He said he wanted to travel the world and help people. When I asked him what he would say to God if he died and He asked ‘Why should I let you into heaven’ he said, “That’s a tough one… I’m not sure how to answer the question. I’ve always been caring to people, I’ve been honest, not ripped people off, stuff like that.” He was sure he would go to heaven. He knew Christ had died to take away our sin and said he went to church some. As I finished the Gospel I asked him if he wanted to be forgiven and he did, so I asked him if when he had done something (he knew he needed forgiveness for) if he had been trusting that Jesus had died for him or if he had thought he was a trying to do good and “that God would forgive him if he would just Do More?” I asked pointing at his ink. He grinned and he said, “That I would do more.” So I talked him through the prayer and said he could pray it silently and be forgiven and asked, “Do you think you’d like to do that, you could do it right now like I wasn’t here?” “Yeah, I guess.” he said matter-of-factly, and he took the booklet and prayed to receive Christ. I explained the Christian life to him as living “Inside out” where we ask for transformation and God’s power by the Spirit to live the Christian life. I gave him the book 20 Things God Can’t Do and a Bible study writing by the Spirit’s power in the front and the day he’d received Jesus. “You know I wasn’t gonna come out here but then I did,” he said talking about laying outside to read on the wall. “But then I did, and you never know what’s gonna happen.” I laughed and shook his hand and he said, “Thank you so much.” “Just remember ‘Do More by the Spirit’,” I said pointing at the tattoo saying he could add by the Spirit at the bottom and he said he might.

I also had a talk where I went through the Gospel after that with Matt outside down the concrete patio along the BIC building and he had lost his faith. Originally as a kid thinking he would study to be a priest. Clean shaven kid in a white t-shirt and shorts, dark brown short mop of hair kind of a pug nose, sitting Indian style in the bright sunlight against the building. “I tried to live my best, tried to question my intentions behind things.” he’d said in answer to what he would say to God. “I want to believe this,” he said after I had finished the Gospel.  We talked about suffering, something had happened to break his faith.  He took the student edition of The Case for Faith. I encouraged him to pray for faith and ask God for it. He had to go to a math appointment for tutoring but wanted to read the book and talk more so hopefully we will.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism the past couple day. God blessed.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your day was blessed in the Lord.  I had a good day on campus sharing the faith and Yunik (yo nick) Austin and Vanessa each prayed with me to receive Christ as their savior.

Yunik was sitting by the doors checking his phone on his way out after class out the back of the BIC 2nd floor. Most students are never sitting around school. They get their classes done and leave. He had a minute and decided to do a survey for our Bible study group. He went to a catholic church and had a slight accent, though his family was from Mexico he didn’t look Latino in coloring, fair skin scarred on his cheeks, lighter brown stick straight short hair. He has a slight build and was wearing sweats and a t-shirt. He actually look pretty tough. I asked him what he would say if he died and God asked him why he should let him into heaven. “Because I always believed in Him.” He thought he had about an 80% chance to go to heaven. He was engaged with the Gospel as I went though it saying, “I see” and when I described Christ’s righteousness imputed to him he said, “My shield” acknowledging agreement. (Like the scripture “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5) I asked him if he wanted to be forgiven and have God live inside him or if he thought something else and he said firmly, “I want to be forgiven.” I walked him through the prayer and he said that expressed his desire so I asked if this was something he had done already trusting in Christ for forgiveness or something he still had to do. ‘Still have to do that,” he replied and so I said he could pray it silently and God would hear him and live inside him and forgive him and he prayed as I held the booklet. I said he could keep it and he was anxious to hold on to it. I explained the Christian life to Him living “inside out” the fruit of the Spirit and trusting in Christ’s righteousness. I explained how when he took the mass at church he could think of it symbolically and be thankful to God that he was forgiven remembering Christ had died for him, “That doesn’t seem like too much to ask,” he replied saying he’d do that.  He did not want a Bible study but took a Bible from me so I put his name in it and the date he had gotten things right with God. He did take the book 20 Things God Can’t Do and I wrote By the Spirit’s Power” in the front. I shook his hand and said “Nice to meet you.” And he said “Nice to meet you too sir.” Then speaking about the Bible Study group, “Maybe I’ll check it out tomorrow.”

Austin was sitting down the hall in a lounge against a wall by himself. He said he’d answer some questions. He had strawberry blonde hair, short on the sides with a little more on top. He wore a white sleeveless shirt and navy blue shorts, white sneakers. He had wire rimed square glasses and a couple days growth of beard, friendly face, tall. When I asked him what he’d say to God if he died he said, “I’ve done more things to help others than I’ve done to help myself.” He went to a catholic church too. He thought he had a 50/50 shot to get to heaven. He listened to the Gospel closely, with some acknowledgement, staring ahead without looking at me much. But he took it all in and I asked him if he would like to be forgiven. He thought for a moment almost taking a breath and then said, “I would like to be forgiven.” I talked him through the prayer and asked him if he’d been trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins and he said, “I haven’t embraced it [up until now].” But he wanted to receive Christ and prayed silently to do so.” I explained the Christian life to him to living “inside out” and the fruit of the Spirit telling him he could ask for more love and faith which is a gift. I said, “When I screw up I tell God I’m sorry and ask Him to make me a different man so I’ll change on the inside and be better able to not do the same thing again.” He caught that and liked the idea.  I gave him a Bible study and 20 Things God Can’t Do to read writing the date in the front. He shook my hand and said, “Thank you sir.” I patted him on the shoulder and said, “I’ll see you in Heaven,” and he said with a grin, “Yeah, see ya around.”

Vanessa was sitting in the Science building in the Northwest corner lounge on the second floor. Nice looking, she was wearing a black V-neck blouse and black slacks and shoes wore black framed glasses. She had long brown hair and said her family was from Mexico. She lived in the city and was commuting out for the criminal justice program she was in, she wanted to be a police detective. She somehow looked the part. She said her grandmother was religious but her mom wasn’t so much and she was not really sure what she thought but that there was a higher power. I asked her what she would say to get into heaven and she said, “God would probably look upon the fact that I’ve been the rock of my family. It’s a good aspect of my personality.” I asked her what the percentage was she would get to heaven and she said, “50/50, I think I got a fair shot. My whole thing is to be good, good to people, I think I got a fair shot.” So I began to explain the Gospel to her and that God wanted to live inside her with His Holy Spirit but first had to make her His type by taking away her sin. She loved hearing the Gospel and it clicked with her and said she’d never heard it put that way before. When I explained the imputation of Christ’s righteousness she was amazed by God grace. Which is of course amazing. I explained How God could turn even bad things we had done and make them into Good and was watching out for us even sending angels to do so and she talked about a wreck she was almost in, “My mom just said it wasn’t my time.” She felt like God’s hand had been on her life. She wanted to be forgiven and I asked her if she believed Jesus was God had died for her sins and rose from the dead. “There has to be something that paid for my sins, I’m not perfect,” she said and said she had done some things wrong. “Something has got me here.” She decided to believe in Jesus. (I imagine her grandmother prays for her.) I walked her through the prayer and she prayed to receive Jesus. I explained the Christian life to her living “inside out’ and she really liked that perspective.’I have a book you’ll really like, do you like to read?” ”I love to read,” she said and gave her, The Case for Christ because she was interested in investigative research and it has cases at the beginning of each chapter. “Do I need to give this back to you?” “No you can keep it, free book.” I replied happy to give her something to shore up her decision. She said she had gotten a Bible from a chaplain when she was in the military in North Carolina. I gave her the book Pocket Prayers and a rose publication hand out, “100 Promises for Hope and Courage” somehow thinking she’d need it if she was going to become a cop. She gave me her email to send her some stuff. We talked some more and that is when I found out she was coming in from the city so told her about my friend’s Joyce and Don and their church and told her I’d send her a link. It’s Harvest Church right off 290 near Oak Park. “Thank you so much!” she said to me as I got up to leave, she was really happy. I told her I would keep her in my prayers for the next year. I know Strobel’s book will secure her faith.

I talked for a long time at days end with Alex who had come to Christ a few years ago when we’d last talked and was in sleep science at school. He had a friend Lisa in the program who slept only 3 hours a night. Her father had been in the occult and she and her sister and mother had seen dark presences around the house they used to live in before he left them. I talked him through several verses and things to pray and gave him a couple promise books one for her and my contact info. I think it was of great help to him and he was really moved and even gave me a hug.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance, God really blessed it was a great day.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your day was blessed and you found the strength of the Lord. I had a good day and got through the Gospel with a Muslim guy from Indian descent (Salman) and a Jehovah’s Witness (Natalie) who I at least thought I’d gotten through some persuasive arguments with persuasively. She at least took a Bible study from me. I had been at school several hours and was kind of shot so I chatted up a couple students I knew and with headed out with my coat retrieved from my locker. I passed a young Latino couple, nice looking guy Henri and his girlfriend, Marylin, with her legs across his lap just chilling.  He had a Sox cap on and I had a Cubs hat on so as I when by I said something like, “Well it’s nice to see a Sox fan can still attract a pretty girl even though the Cubs are really the big thing in town.’ He smiled and said something about the Sox and I said, “Hey chicks love the long ball and we got all those hitters but it must be working for you, she’s beautiful!” He laughed and she said, “Thank you.” She was quite lovely and I headed out. I got 50 yards to the door and another 35 into the parking lot thinking about them hoping I’d see them again and be able to share the gospel when they were a bit less cuddly. But I was convicted I could go through the Gospel with them or at least leave them with a couple booklets and the seemed nice. So I got to my truck tossed my coat in and drove it to a close parking spot and headed back in. They were still sitting there so casual passing them by I said, “I see she is still with you.” He laughed and said yeah I said “Hey you wanna answer the Big question for my bible study group and Marylin right away said yes so I asked them, “Your’ walking down the road and you get hit by a bus so you’re dead and you stand before God and he says, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ What would you say?” Marylin said because of forgiveness.” and Henri wasn’t sure. So I launched into the Gospel getting their names and introducing myself. One of them seemed to know Jesus had died for sin but it turned out they had not been trusting in Christ’s death and wanted to be forgiven. I showed them the booklets and walked them through the prayer but Henri said they had to go to Class saying he would pray it later, Marylin hearing that agreed with him. Marylin would have taken the time to have prayed I think had he not hesitated. They said they did trust in Jesus now to be forgiven so hopefully they will pray to receive Him and really meant it.  I had a copy of Pocket Prayers left and one copy of 20 tings God Can’t Do giving these to them I suggested maybe sometime they could read together. They both thanked me and seemed grateful so I hope the seed takes root. I headed off but then ran back to quickly give them a representational view of the Mass, that even if they did not get much out of the service they could have that moment where they remember Jesus has died for them and tell God “thank you”. “It can help make church meaningful,” I suggested.  Henri said, “Thanks I’ll remember that.” and Marylin thanked me again and I headed out.

So that was my day of planting seeds, I encouraged a couple Christians in their faith too.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance. God blessed and hopefully Marylin and Henri will come in or did by faith.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope you were blessed today.  I felt useful on campus and Geselle and Branley each prayed to receive Christ.  I had a good talk with Michael who was angry with God and had suffered pretty horribly with depression, but I think the Lord gave me some things to say that connected and I am hopeful he will decide to let God use him in the world and turn to Him.

Geselle was sitting in the chairs along the edge of the hallway into the cafeteria. She was a very petite, pretty girl with long brown wavy hair. She had a nice smile. When I asked her if she would do a student survey about what she thought about God for our Bible study group she said, “Oh I already go to Church.”  I asked her if she wanted to answer the one really big Question and she said she would. So I asked, “You’re walking down the road and ya get hit by a bus so you’re dead and you stand before God and He asks you ‘Why should I let you into Heaven?’ What would you say?” She wasn’t sure what to say and finally said, “I’d say I love you.” Then after thinking she said, “It’s your choice it’s up to you.” I asked her if she’d like to know what the Bible said and she said she would. Then her boyfriend, a much larger guy  who made her look tiny, sat down wearing a baseball cap, braces on his teeth and an occasional stick of hair poking out in front. He was a nice looking guy and I asked him if it was OK if she heard some Bible verses and he was willing to wait, actually he listened right in leaning forward in the chair (resting on his forearms sitting on her right) and I began talking to both of them. She went to what she called, “a Spanish Christian Church” but she did not know how to say the name “exactly” in English. They listened to a couple of verses where I explained God wanted to know and live inside them with His Holy Spirit but first He had to make them His type by taking away their sins. I asked them ‘what was the thing Jesus had done to take away their sins.’ She struggled a bit but I looked at him and he said, “Sacrificed himself” and Geselle said, “I was just thinking that.” So some of the story of the Gospel they knew and I explained imputed righteousness to them saying they needed to receive Jesus. They wanted to be forgiven. Then next Geselle saying, “You first” for him to answer the question about trusting in Christ. He said he did and so did she. So I asked Geselle if when she did something wrong and asked for forgiveness if she was trusting in Jesus and knowing she would be forgiven because He died for her, “I know you knew the story but were you trusting in Jesus or hoping you would be forgiven because God is good and you hadn’t done anything that bad?” “Yeah that,” she replied. “How about you?” I asked Branley. “Trusting in me.’ he said with a bit of a “ya got me” smirk. So I walked them through the prayer saying they could pray right then. I think Geselle might have been too shy to pray in the foyer hallway with everyone walking by had Branley not been so willing and they each prayed silently closing their eyes to receive Jesus. I explained the Christian life to them living “Inside out” by the power of the Spirit. They knew of the Fruit of the Spirit. I gave them each a copy of 20 Things God Can’t Do. Geselle seemed excited to read it and both of them were enthusiastic to learn more. I wrote their names in the front of each of the Books and the date telling them they could remember the day they had become right with God. “Oh that’s nice, thank you,” Geselle said as I wrote her name and the date (fortunately asking her to spell it as I’d put an “I” in it before). I gave them each a Bible study and said they could email me for another if they wished. I told them I would pray for them each night for a year asking God to bless their relationship. They got up to go and thanked me and I said “Maybe I’ll see you in Heaven.” “Yeah” they said enthusiastically and as they walked away I caught Branley’s eye and said, “Take care of her.” “I will he replied.

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

In Him,

Bob

Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope your day was blessed walking with God in Christ. I had a good day on campus and the Bible study was well attended we had 14 students. And LaTerrance prayed with me to receive Christ.

LaTerrance was the last guy I talked to headed over to the locker I used for my coat on my way out. African American, big guy here to play sports I assume. He had on designer jeans with zippers sewed into the legs below and above the knees and distressed denim in stitched crimped rows. I’ve seen a couple guys with jeans like them at school. His hair was short on the sides with an afro lose and rough on top, had a mustache and some bushy beard across his jaw line. Good looking guy. When I asked him what he would say if God asked him why He should let him into heaven he said, “I really wouldn’t have anything to say at that point… I kinda like get what I deserve at that point. You listen to some type of word, help people out and stuff [you’d] probably be doing pretty good.” He had gone to church some but did not know what God had done to take away his sins saying, “Why don’t you explain that to me.” So I did and told him how Christ had died and “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin, it turns death into life, there’s death inside us from our sin so how you can be alive inside and you match God and He can live inside you. Christ becomes a life giving Spirit.” I explained how the earned righteousness of Christ was to his credit and the Bible says in Isaiah one day we will be wrapped in a robe of Christ’s righteousness and in the New Testament it says we are clothed with Jesus. If he received this he could be forgiven by faith. “God’s not like a bad girl-friend that says when you apologize, ‘We’ll see how you do.’ He forgives you because Christ has already paid for your sins. He saw the future and knows how He will turn it into good.” I asked if He wanted to be forgiven for his sins and he said he did. I asked if he believed Jesus was God, had died for his sins and rose from the dead and he said he did. “So would you want to place your trust in that to be forgiven?” I asked. “I think I would,” He said in realization. I talked him through the prayer and asked if he’d like to pray it silently in his heart. “I already did,” he replied. “I did it while you were reading it.” I gave him a Bible as he only had a copy of “The Message” and wrote his name in the front. I  gave him a Bible study and the book 20 Things God Can’t Do to read, writing “By the Spirit” in the front, already having explained that the Christian life was living inside out, asking God to change us on the inside by his power.  He gave me his email to send him another Bible study and thanked me and I shook his hand and told him I would pray for him for the next year. He was grateful.

I got a couple other seeds planted CJ took the student edition of The Case for Faith to read and was really appreciative so I hope he will be lead in, I’ll pray for Him.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for Evangelism today if you had a chance, God truly blessed and we have a new brother in Christ in LaTerrance.

In Him,

Bob

Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope you day was blessed today, hey April showers bring may flowers as they say so we got some [popping up from the bulbs in front already but it is opening day at Wrigley so I hope it stops. I had a good day of sharing on campus, (in spite of my limited ability to use a pen having gouged my finger on a saw on the weekend) and Chad prayed with me to receive Jesus.

He was sitting on a corner lounge as you exit the first floor of the BIC. He had a grey Chicago Fire t-shirt on and a Cubs hat turned around backward. Light brown hair. He said he’d help me out and answer some questions, and he blessed me by coming to Christ so he did. He had a beard trimmed medium short and a mustache. He said he went to Catholic Church his whole life and went through confirmation but hadn’t gone to church in a while. When I asked him what he would say to God if he died, stood before him and was asked why he should be let into heaven he said, “I did right by everyone in my life and lived for others.” He was a nice guy, thin, about my height. He zeroed in on the Gospel as I went through it and when I said God transfused His life into us like a Blood transfusion by making us His type, taking away our sin, he said, “Nice.” And when I finished the idea of imputed righteousness he said, “Awesome.”  He said he’d want to be forgiven so I talked him through a prayer he could say. I then said, “Or is this something you think you’ve done trusting in Christ for forgiveness?” “No I haven’t done this,” he replied. “This is a whole different way of looking at things, cool new insight.” And he took the booklet from me and prayed to receive Jesus. I gave him the Book, 20 Things God Can’t Do writing “By the Power of the Spirit” in the front. He didn’t have a bible and so I gave him one writing his name in the front with the date and he said, “Awesome.” I mentioned it was opening day and he said he’d felt tingly all day. I said it was great to see one more cub fan come into Christ. He thanked me and I said no problem and headed out as he had to run to class.

So that was great, Right after that I talked with Daniel (long hair to mid bicep and beard wearing a black rock band shirt Latino). He raised Catholic thought the Gospel was too good to be true. So I gave him a Rose publication on blessings for courage and hope. He felt like when you did things that were wrong you had to carry it through life. I said hey I could be wrong I’m just a guy but I believe God can make all things into good and he might pray and ask God for guidance about it.  I hope he sees what is true. I had a couple other seeds I planted with a couple kids (Eugene and Sadie) who were not sure.

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

In Him,

Bob

Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your day was blessed in the Lord. It is warming up here. I had a great day on campus encouraged a doubting Christian kid and gave him some materials, encouraged another budding shy leader type gave him some stuff too, got a guy tracking towards the biblical view of antiquity in another conversation and Josephine prayed to receive Christ.

Josephine was sitting on the second floor of the BIC on some chairs in the hall across from a lounge. She had brown curly hair, very short boyish cut on the sides. She wore straight leg jeans (not the skinny stylish kind) green athletic shoes and a zipped up hoodie with a black and white striped shirt on. There was not a trace of make-up on her face, a kid, tom-boy cute like if Lyle Lovett had a cute daughter, which he might not be able to do. She was up for doing a survey, though it turned out she had only been to Church 3 times in her life 2 times to a catholic church I think for weddings and one to a Baptist church for a baptism, “The only other times were for funerals. I liked the Baptist one because they sang,” she said. She thought she had maybe a 50% chance of going to heaven. When I asked her what she would say to God if asked why He should let her into heaven she said, “Ah… I’m not a good Christian. I do think kindness should get paid for… I guess that.” She listened closely to the Gospel, often repeating softly the things I said right after me, took it all in and when I asked her if she wanted to be forgiven she shook her head yes. I asked her if she believed Jesus was God had died for her sins and rose from the dead and she said, “I’d have to, there’s lots of pretty things here.” Which when you think about it had He not died for sins there might not be many pretty things left on earth. I explained the prayer she could pray and when I asked her if she’d like to pray it she nodded and as I glanced over she was first reading it then looking away and praying the words. I explained the Christian life to her living “inside out” and since she did not live far away I gave her a card for the Compass Church in Wheaton telling her my folks used to go there and there was singing. She took that and a copy of 20 Tings God Can’t Do and a Bible study to go through. She had a Bible passed down to her from her Uncle Diago who was a pastor, he seemed to live in the south west somewhere. She didn’t look the least bit Latina, but hey. I shook her hand and said good bye and she seemed content.

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 day was blessed and you felt the presence of the Lord. I had a good day on campus and two girls Amber and Cydney each prayed to receive Jesus.

Amber was sitting in a lounge on the NW corner, 2nd floor of the science building. Her friend had just walked off and left his stuff so I thought I could get her to chat. She was up for doing a survey. She had her hair up and had very fair skin with African American features, full lips and the occasional freckle, cute sensitive girl. She had a light blue pull over and grey yoga pants on with her legs tucked up on the couch beside her. I sat on the end table on her left. When I asked her what she’d say to God if asked why God should let her into heaven she said, “Because even though I did sin in the past, I did things appropriately. I help others, that’s why I am going to school to become a respiratory therapist and help my family out when they have a health condition.” She thought she’d have a 90% chance of going to heaven 10% on the down side. She gave words of affirmation to each break in the Gospel narrative I laid out for her as I went through it, which was great. When I asked her if she knew what Jesus had done to forgive her sins though she just said, “Yes” the way you say it when you don’t really know the answer, and I could see she didn’t know.  I explained all of it to her and she wanted to be forgiven.  I asked her if she had been trusting in Jesus knowing she’d be forgiven or if she thought God was merciful and He’d forgive her. “I knew I’d be forgiven.” So I asked again, “Because you were trusting in Jesus or [just] because God was merciful.”  Pressing to find out if her heart matched her original response listing her good intentions as we began. “Because he was merciful.” she replied. It turned out she hadn’t been trusting in Jesus. So I talked her through the prayer and she said, “Thanks, this really hit me. I appreciate you giving this to me!” I offered her the prayer again and she said, “Right now.” I said yes and she said, “Oh OK.” and prayed silently to receive Jesus. I gave her a Bible because she did not have one of her own and wrote her name and the date in the front. She seemed thrilled to have her own Bible having said she just had a family Bible at home. She took the book 20 Things God Can’t Do and a Bible study which I explained through the miracle of Jesus walking on the water but it did not seem like she had heard the story. I got her email to send her some stuff too so I’ll send her a link to a church also. I told her I would be praying for her and she said, “Thank you so much Bob!” And I headed out.

Cydney was waiting for a friend sitting on some hall chairs in the BIC building and did not want to do a survey. She had a pretty, round, soft-featured face, kind of a pug nose, cute. She was wearing a trench coat looking short jacket and looking at her phone. She looked like another girl I know and that threw me, not placing that at first I thought we might have talked before. I would pay a lot for total facial & name recall after talking to so many peeps. “I get these all the time,” she said. So I asked her if she’d answer just one question and she reluctantly agreed so I asked her if she died why God should let her into heaven. “What would I say…” she said but she could not think of a response so I asked if she’d like to know what the Bible said about it or just read a little booklet on her own.. “I’ll take a booklet.” she said. She said she went to church so I started slipping the Gospel in as I gave her the booklet, she was open and as I got to the end I showed her a prayer she could pray and then paged back reading the verses about receiving Jesus and being saved by faith. I offered her the prayer then asking her if she’d like to pray to be forgiven and her countenance changed a bit and she just softly said, “Yes.” Then she prayed silently to receive Jesus. I explained the Christian life to her a bit and asked if she’d like a book, I was delaying her a bit. But I explained the power of the Spirit and offered her 20 Things God Can’t Do talking her through a bit of it and writing “By the Spirit” in the front. “I’ll actually take that book,” she said interested. I apologized for sneaking stuff in on her and she said she didn’t mind, “I was actually waiting for my friend to get out of class but now I’ve missed her,” she said looking at her phone. So I said I was sorry again and she was fine. “God bless you,” I said getting up to go. “Thank you,” she said sweetly, “God bless you too.” Sometimes being sweet gets ya saved.

My day ended as I found one more girl Tania (tanya) who said she would think about praying later, bumped into one of the bible Study peeps who prayed to receive Jesus a couple years ago who is from Africa, Felica and gave her a ride to Jewel where she works. Ellen and I had been steering her away from a bad boy-friend and now she has a new guy interested in her from Africa she has been messaging who is a Christian, we talked a bunch about that so the day ended quite well.

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 was blessed yesterday and today has been a good day.  I’ll be headed out to campus today, though it being Friday before Spring break if it is a ghost town I may not find anyone to talk too. 🙂 Kallie prayed with me to receive Christ on Thursday.

Kallie was sitting on a bench by the elevators on the ground floor of the MAC arts building. She had a winter cap on reddish brown very short hair. She was dressed kinda artsy had wild patterned sweats on and an oversized green fatigue jacket, no make-up, sweet young kind of face. She did not want to do a survey for the Bible study group at all and informed me her dad worked with the youth groups at her church. So I asked her if she wanted to answer the million dollar question and she said, “Yes”. So I asked her if she was hit by a bus and dead what she would say to get into heaven. She said she had done good things. I asked her if I could tell her what the Bible said and that it was different, and she was cool with that so I sat down and began going through the Gospel. She really liked the word pictures I used to explain the Gospel. She wanted to be forgiven with Christ living inside her. So to try to find out what she was trusting in I asked her about when she asked for forgiveness, if she was thinking she was a pretty good person and God being good and gracious would forgive her or if she had thought, well I know I’ll be forgiven because Jesus died for me.  She didn’t really answer the question directly but said, “Well I know I was forgiven but I think you have to do good things too.” So I said that is not what I was asking I was asking if she was trusting in what Jesus had done for her forgiveness since based on what she had said when I first asked she said God would look at her good actions. “Well I guess I really wasn’t trusting in that since I didn’t say it when you asked.” She decided to ask for forgiveness she didn’t think she had every really asked God to forgive her based on what Christ had done for her.  So she prayed quietly and seemed bright and happy afterwards.  I explained living the Christian life “inside out” by the Spirit and gave her things to read. I gave her the book  20 Things God Can’t do writing by the Spirit in the front. I gave her a Bible study and a rose Publication pamphlet 100 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.

Evil in the world

I went through the Gospel with a Girl named Kaitlynn who was losing her faith in one of the world religions classes that attacks Christianity at school Thursday as well.  So I will be praying for her. I gave her the student edition of The Case for Faith showing her the chapter on the problem of evil which the teacher had really leaned on saying Christians had to have an answer for all who died in the tsunami that killed so many in Indonesia and a Rose Publication on the veracity of Scripture. I explained that all the people who died in the tsunami were going to die at some point and though it was sad so many had died on one day, no more people had died that day that were going to die. The real issue is death and where you go afterwards. I told her that the problem is often stated that there is evil in the world and God is not good or He would do something about the evil or he is not all powerful and can’t stop it. “You just add time to this.” I said. “God is doing something about the evil in the world and is powerful enough to do so He just is not doing it right away or in the time you want Him too. If He stopped evil immediately he’d have to kill everyone.” I said the real answer for me if someone asked me this ‘Why is there evil in the world?” Is because I am not doing enough about stopping it. But God wants to live inside us and heal the evil of the world. I hope it helped some. She took the materials with her. I explained the problem of evil was also a problem for every other world view, atheists do not have an explanation for the evil in the world either. In fact they struggle to say what goodness is without God. Someone has to be all powerful and all-knowing to know and do the good based on outcomes.  You have to be all knowing to know what action you do will actually result in good when you’ve done it and you have to be all powerful to continue to insure a good result from your action henceforth. So only God can know and do the Good. I hope I helped her some but the conversation left me sad that college destroys the fiath of so many.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism Thursday if you had a chance. God blessed in Kallie and I hope some seeds were planted.

Blessings,

Bob