July 18, 2019
“The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10
“The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10
Dear Friends,
For those of you who are interested, here is a summary of our public ministry gospel labors since the last such update we sent out this past April. I know that some of you are praying for this work, and others are also helping support it financially. Our sincere thanks to those who have felt led to pray, and as the case may be, to send gifts to help our church carry on the work. We never make appeals for such gifts, but we do want those who send such assistance to know that it is gratefully received and faithfully made use of in bringing the gospel message to multitudes of perishing souls over the course of each year.
In the report which follows, the gospel tracts given out at the various events were our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract and our Heaven or Hell tract. The booklet mentioned is our From Death unto Life gospel booklet.
Ralph Ovadal
For those of you who are interested, here is a summary of our public ministry gospel labors since the last such update we sent out this past April. I know that some of you are praying for this work, and others are also helping support it financially. Our sincere thanks to those who have felt led to pray, and as the case may be, to send gifts to help our church carry on the work. We never make appeals for such gifts, but we do want those who send such assistance to know that it is gratefully received and faithfully made use of in bringing the gospel message to multitudes of perishing souls over the course of each year.
In the report which follows, the gospel tracts given out at the various events were our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract and our Heaven or Hell tract. The booklet mentioned is our From Death unto Life gospel booklet.
Ralph Ovadal
Cinco de Mayo Times Two: Delavan and Omaha – May 4
We have in the last couple of years conducted gospel ministry at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Darlington, Wisconsin, while at the same time our Omaha connection has done likewise at the much larger Cinco de Mayo event in that Nebraska city. This year, I decided we would travel to Delavan to witness at the Cinco de Mayo celebration held in a city park there, even as the Omaha witness was also faithfully undertaken. We expected the crowd at Delavan to be a large one, given the great number of Hispanics living in that city and the surrounding area. The reality did not meet our expectations!
The event turned out to be very small, with much lower numbers of attendees than the celebration in Darlington. We set up with gospel signs at two different approaches into the park – in fact, on the sidewalk at the corner of two fairly busy intersections. That way we were able to hand out tracts to those entering the park and also expose them to the gospel message on the signs even as persons in the vehicles at the intersections also read the same gospel message. Due to the low turnout at the event, two of our number also lit dropped gospel tracts at homes in the area. All told, we ended up handing out 685 From Death unto Life gospel booklets, each with an insert with Scripture verses in Spanish; and we had several private conversations as well.
Meanwhile, at the Nebraska Cinco de Mayo celebration, there was no shortage of people when it came to the crowd attending. Mark and Janet, holding a Scripture sign, were enabled by the Lord to give out a total 1,238 gospel tracts.
The event turned out to be very small, with much lower numbers of attendees than the celebration in Darlington. We set up with gospel signs at two different approaches into the park – in fact, on the sidewalk at the corner of two fairly busy intersections. That way we were able to hand out tracts to those entering the park and also expose them to the gospel message on the signs even as persons in the vehicles at the intersections also read the same gospel message. Due to the low turnout at the event, two of our number also lit dropped gospel tracts at homes in the area. All told, we ended up handing out 685 From Death unto Life gospel booklets, each with an insert with Scripture verses in Spanish; and we had several private conversations as well.
Meanwhile, at the Nebraska Cinco de Mayo celebration, there was no shortage of people when it came to the crowd attending. Mark and Janet, holding a Scripture sign, were enabled by the Lord to give out a total 1,238 gospel tracts.
Gospel Ministry at the Nebraska State Track Meet – May 17
At this high school event, Janet held a Scripture sign and at the same time gave out what gospel tracts she could. Mark concentrated on offering gospel tracts. The two of them together gave out 300 gospel tracts to fans arriving for the state track meet in Omaha. Mark had several good conversations in which he was able to witness to individuals. Mark was himself encouraged on in the work by a bus driver who stopped to say he had seen Mark out every year witnessing for the Lord at the event and that he really appreciated it. “. . . for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6).
Sharing the Word of Life at the Syttende Mai Celebration in Stoughton – May 18
Four of our PCC members traveled to Stoughton to share the gospel at the commemoration of Norwegian Independence Day. Since my grandpa on my father’s side emigrated here from Norway at age 19 to seek a better life, I hope I will be forgiven for mentioning that it is doubtful any towns in Norway celebrate our Independence Day! Nevertheless, the event provided a good occasion to share the gospel. Our Joy had a good opportunity to witness to a sincere young lady, and by the time our team headed home, they had given out about 1,400 gospel tracts, counting about 100 of our tracts given out by a good brother, a friend of ours named Ryan who currently is a full-time evangelist traveling to different areas of the country. Ryan spent his time in Stoughton holding a Scripture banner and preaching.
A Glorious Memorial Day Gospel Witness – May 27
When Memorial Day rolled around this year, we were geared up to share the gospel along the route of not only one parade but two parades, one in Beloit and the other in Janesville. The Janesville parade was scheduled to start only two hours later than the Beloit parade. Nevertheless, we decided to make a try for both, with the stipulation that we would not compromise in the thoroughness of our work in Beloit.
With rain threatening and the air muggy, we arrived in Beloit, split into two teams of three each which headed to the start of the parade with a determination to offer a gospel tract to every last person on the parade route. At the same time, a third team of two set up a gospel sign at the end point of the parade with the intent of handing out gospel tracts there as well.
Though each team was equipped with over 2,000 gospel tracts, part way through the parade both teams ran out! We put in a call to the team at the end of the parade letting them know we needed to be resupplied from the van they had parked nearby their position. They wasted no time getting the needed tracts to us and we went back to work. And work it was, since the entire parade route was packed with people. In fact, there were so many people that we ended up handing out well over 5,000 gospel tracts and 110 Gospel of John booklets at that one parade! Upon arriving at the end of the parade route, we quickly piled into the van and headed for Janesville. We arrived in time to take up our positions and start down the parade route, even as there were a few drops of rain in the air. We quickly found out that the Janesville parade attendance was what can only be called sparse and deduced that many people from that area had traveled to Beloit for the parade there, since the chance of rain earlier was less for Beloit than the chance of rain later for the Janesville parade. However, other than intermittent sprinkles, the rain held off until we had covered the entire Jamesville parade route and handed out over 1,000 gospel tracts. Thus we ended up the day having handed out at the two parades a grand total of 6,260 gospel tracts and 110 Gospels of John. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
With rain threatening and the air muggy, we arrived in Beloit, split into two teams of three each which headed to the start of the parade with a determination to offer a gospel tract to every last person on the parade route. At the same time, a third team of two set up a gospel sign at the end point of the parade with the intent of handing out gospel tracts there as well.
Though each team was equipped with over 2,000 gospel tracts, part way through the parade both teams ran out! We put in a call to the team at the end of the parade letting them know we needed to be resupplied from the van they had parked nearby their position. They wasted no time getting the needed tracts to us and we went back to work. And work it was, since the entire parade route was packed with people. In fact, there were so many people that we ended up handing out well over 5,000 gospel tracts and 110 Gospel of John booklets at that one parade! Upon arriving at the end of the parade route, we quickly piled into the van and headed for Janesville. We arrived in time to take up our positions and start down the parade route, even as there were a few drops of rain in the air. We quickly found out that the Janesville parade attendance was what can only be called sparse and deduced that many people from that area had traveled to Beloit for the parade there, since the chance of rain earlier was less for Beloit than the chance of rain later for the Janesville parade. However, other than intermittent sprinkles, the rain held off until we had covered the entire Jamesville parade route and handed out over 1,000 gospel tracts. Thus we ended up the day having handed out at the two parades a grand total of 6,260 gospel tracts and 110 Gospels of John. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Car Show Witness – June 7
On short notice, one of our PCC members joined with the aforementioned Ryan to share the gospel with individuals attending a car show on the square in Monroe. 303 gospel tracts were handed out and many also heard preaching from Ryan as well as read the Scripture signs which he held. Much gospel truth was also shared through many one-on-one conversations.
ArchOmaha Unite – June 8
This family event, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha, featured food, music of all types, comedy performances, and of course, the “celebration of the mass.” Mark and Janet were on hand to witness to the Roman Catholics attending. By the grace of God, they handed out about 300 gospel booklets each with our An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract as an insert. A great many of the pope’s deceived, spiritually enslaved followers saw the Scripture sign Mark and Janet displayed. Mark was also able to share needed truth with the men and women and young people filing past. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matthew 4:16).
College World Series (CWS) – June 14-26
Once again this year, we sent Joy out to Omaha to reinforce Mark and Janet for a gospel witness to the teeming crowds attending the baseball College World Series. Ryan also made his way to Omaha to preach at the same event. This year, the colleges participating in CWS came from Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, and Tennessee. Fans from all round the nation came to Omaha for the games.
Our gospel team’s ministry actually began the night of Thursday, June 13 at a major league baseball game between Detroit and Kansas City. CWS began on Friday with our brethren on hand to share the gospel to the crowds arriving for the opening ceremony. Over the following days, the four labored many, many long hours sharing the gospel. They made use of a number of Scripture signs, engaged in quite a number of worthwhile one-on-one witnesses, and handed out our gospel booklets and gospel tracts. For his part, Ryan put in a great many hours preaching, at times to stationary masses of fans waiting to enter the stadium.
Our gospel team’s ministry actually began the night of Thursday, June 13 at a major league baseball game between Detroit and Kansas City. CWS began on Friday with our brethren on hand to share the gospel to the crowds arriving for the opening ceremony. Over the following days, the four labored many, many long hours sharing the gospel. They made use of a number of Scripture signs, engaged in quite a number of worthwhile one-on-one witnesses, and handed out our gospel booklets and gospel tracts. For his part, Ryan put in a great many hours preaching, at times to stationary masses of fans waiting to enter the stadium.
As might be expected, our great adversary (1 Peter 5:8) stirred up some opposition to our brethren’s faithful gospel witness. Representatives of the corporation which owns the stadium in which the CWS games took place gave Mark a hard time with the goal being to convince him that the public sidewalk adjoining the stadium property was off limits for gospel ministry. Joy in particular was targeted by some brave “men” obviously full of hatred for the Lord, His people, and His gospel. One corpulent man came up behind Joy and began shoving her with his fat, Buddha-like belly. At one point, another hero stepped in front of Joy and blocked her from handing out tracts, moving with Joy every time she moved away from him. When she headed toward one of our men, Joy’s antagonist stayed with her until he realized where she was going. At that point, his courage failed, and he was gone, which is par for the course for such individuals.
Unfortunately, the worst bully of all wore the uniform of the Omaha Police Department. This officer walked up to Joy, ripped the gospel tracts out of her hands, and told her she was going straight to Corrections. How this officer planned to do this without a trial, he did not explain. Joy, though trembling a bit under this onslaught, kept her wits about her, calmly asserting she was exercising her constitutional rights on the public sidewalk and requested to speak to the officer’s supervisor. At this point, Officer Friendly stalked off. He came back some time later and handed Joy her tracts while at the same time assuring her she was just fine doing what she was doing. No doubt the officer had received an attitude adjustment from a superior officer on the scene. Nevertheless, the officer’s pride required that he then accuse Joy of previously blocking the sidewalk, which was not only ridiculous but would have been impossible for Joy to do even if she had wanted to do so! Mark was by then on the scene and did a good job communicating to the officer the unlawful, unconstitutional nature of his actions.
Unfortunately, the worst bully of all wore the uniform of the Omaha Police Department. This officer walked up to Joy, ripped the gospel tracts out of her hands, and told her she was going straight to Corrections. How this officer planned to do this without a trial, he did not explain. Joy, though trembling a bit under this onslaught, kept her wits about her, calmly asserting she was exercising her constitutional rights on the public sidewalk and requested to speak to the officer’s supervisor. At this point, Officer Friendly stalked off. He came back some time later and handed Joy her tracts while at the same time assuring her she was just fine doing what she was doing. No doubt the officer had received an attitude adjustment from a superior officer on the scene. Nevertheless, the officer’s pride required that he then accuse Joy of previously blocking the sidewalk, which was not only ridiculous but would have been impossible for Joy to do even if she had wanted to do so! Mark was by then on the scene and did a good job communicating to the officer the unlawful, unconstitutional nature of his actions.
Such Christ-hating rogue officers abuse their authority and use intimidation in the hopes of shutting down the sort of gospel witness which was being carried on by our brethren at CWS. But thanks be to God, they are still a very small minority of those pledged to serve and protect. Mark and Joy did an excellent job handling the situation which in turn, by the grace of God, resulted in very little interruption in the gospel work.
After the CWS games on June 21, Joy headed back to Monroe, and Ryan left for other ministry elsewhere. Meanwhile Mark, who had taken off time from work to share the gospel at CWS, spent many more hours witnessing there while Janet, with their two children in tow, was able to also be out on one of the remaining days of the series.
From June 13th to the 26th, our brethren handed out a grand total of 12,560 gospel tracts and gospel booklets. In addition, a multitude heard the gospel preached and read the various Scripture signs the faithful four made use of over the course of 14 days of hard labor. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
After the CWS games on June 21, Joy headed back to Monroe, and Ryan left for other ministry elsewhere. Meanwhile Mark, who had taken off time from work to share the gospel at CWS, spent many more hours witnessing there while Janet, with their two children in tow, was able to also be out on one of the remaining days of the series.
From June 13th to the 26th, our brethren handed out a grand total of 12,560 gospel tracts and gospel booklets. In addition, a multitude heard the gospel preached and read the various Scripture signs the faithful four made use of over the course of 14 days of hard labor. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Memorial Park Concert – June 28
Mark and Janet, with Janet holding a gospel sign, handed out 249 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as a couple of our An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tracts at the annual Memorial Park music concert in Omaha. They also were able to engage a number of music fans in conversation, thus witnessing to them of the way of salvation. Mark was enabled to share much gospel truth with a young man who appeared to be into cutting himself. Before he left, the young man accepted from Mark one of our gospel tracts, also a gospel booklet and a Gospel of John.
During the course of this gospel witness, Mark and Janet were accosted by a United Church of Christ minister who is involved with the Tri Faith Center (“Christian,” Judaism, and Islam). The wrought-up wolf accused Mark and Janet of spreading a “false gospel.”
During the course of this gospel witness, Mark and Janet were accosted by a United Church of Christ minister who is involved with the Tri Faith Center (“Christian,” Judaism, and Islam). The wrought-up wolf accused Mark and Janet of spreading a “false gospel.”
Town and Country Days in Lake Mills – June 29
The last Saturday in June found six of us from Pilgrims Covenant church in Lake Mills, Wisconsin to share the gospel with the crowd assembled along the Town and Country Days parade route. By the grace of God, 2,702 gospel tracts were received by that same number of individuals. It bears mentioning that even many of those who do not accept a tract offered to them by us during our ministry labors nevertheless read what is written on the front of the tract. Depending on the gospel tract we are using, what they read is either Heaven or Hell? or Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners. The Spirit of the Lord is well able to effectually use those words in the heart of a perishing sinner.
Independence Day Witness – Mineral Point, July 4
Eight of us from PCC were on hand to share the gospel with those watching an Independence Day parade in Mineral Point. Due to the town being a tourist destination in the summer, there is a certain element of the population of around 2,500 which is anything but favorable to gospel ministry. That number included a mean-looking woman who watched the parade with her pet boa constrictor draped about her neck. But there were also many that willingly received our gospel tracts. The parade pulls in people from the immediate surrounding rural area as well, and the Lord enabled us to hand out 2,258 gospel tracts.
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Other Gospel Labors
Since the last ministry report in April, 2,800 of our gospel tracts and booklets, 78 Gospels of John, and one Bible have been given out at other various public events, including events in several towns and cities, at some area high schools and junior high schools, and by lit drops in Omaha and Schuyler, Nebraska, as well as Monroe and New Glarus, Wisconsin.
Billboard Update
As I write this, we have our gospel message on billboards at the intersection of Highways 11 and 35 near Hazel Green and on Highway 51 by the airport in Janesville. Amazingly, our billboard near Omaha, which went up on November 26, 2018, is still up! We purchased the space for one month, but for whatever reason, we have received quite a bonus, for which we thank the Lord. We have had billboards stay up past the rented time but nothing which has stayed up anywhere near this long. The closest we have come is our billboard in Freeport, Illinois. Our message went up on that “board” at the end of February of this year. As of two weeks ago when a member of our church passed by that billboard, our gospel message was still on it! We have now posted that same message on 38 billboards. We currently have two more billboards reserved, one in Monroe for Cheese Days of next year and one in Waupun for the end of August to the end of September. Lord willing, we will continue this billboard campaign which has already shared the gospel with a great multitude of perishing souls.
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8
Our church’s pro-life billboard
April 8, 2019
Dear Friends,
For those interested, here is a short update on our public ministry work. With the exception of an event in Omaha and our gospel billboards, our open-air 2019 gospel campaign began in early March, and going forward, there will be increasing opportunities for us to share the gospel with multitudes at large public events.
In this report, I have included a picture of a pro-life billboard message which our church has posted and which, as I write this, is being seen by many who enter Monroe from the south on Hwy. 69, including many citizens of Illinois, even as pro-aborts in that state are moving toward enacting a law which would remove all regulations and all restrictions on abortion. So our timing and location of this billboard could not be better, and of course, many Wisconsin residents do also see this billboard as well. As I mentioned, this billboard message was not paid for by our public ministry fund which is strictly for open-air gospel ministry, but by our church’s general fund.
Our thanks to all of you who are praying for our gospel labors and to those who have helped to fund those labors.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Dear Friends,
For those interested, here is a short update on our public ministry work. With the exception of an event in Omaha and our gospel billboards, our open-air 2019 gospel campaign began in early March, and going forward, there will be increasing opportunities for us to share the gospel with multitudes at large public events.
In this report, I have included a picture of a pro-life billboard message which our church has posted and which, as I write this, is being seen by many who enter Monroe from the south on Hwy. 69, including many citizens of Illinois, even as pro-aborts in that state are moving toward enacting a law which would remove all regulations and all restrictions on abortion. So our timing and location of this billboard could not be better, and of course, many Wisconsin residents do also see this billboard as well. As I mentioned, this billboard message was not paid for by our public ministry fund which is strictly for open-air gospel ministry, but by our church’s general fund.
Our thanks to all of you who are praying for our gospel labors and to those who have helped to fund those labors.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Gospel Witness to 4,000 Roman Catholics – Saturday, January 26
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Isaiah 61:1
Every year a Roman Catholic pro-life parade filled with all manner of idolatry, and with a few new evangelicals taking part, is staged in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mark and Janet, our Omaha connection, seized on this event as an opportunity to share gospel truth with those thousands of perishing Roman Catholics in bondage to popery’s idolatry and gospel of sacramental salvation.
Mark and Janet took their stand on the parade route about 50 yards from the end of the march. As Mark (a former Roman Catholic himself) preached from the back of their truck and held a large sign reading, “Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; not by the mass, Mary, or the sacraments. (Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9),” Janet handed out our gospel booklet titled From Death unto Life. By the grace of God, she was enabled to hand out a total of 175 booklets.
At one point a man with a huge tapestry of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” tried to block Mark’s sign, but without much success. That particular manifestation of the Roman Catholic goddess is held to be the “Patroness of the Unborn.” The Roman Catholics believe she will stop abortion and pray to her to do just that. During the course of this ministry, Mark also ended up witnessing to some individual marchers who engaged him in conversation, including a Roman Catholic priest. We trust this gospel witness will be used to deliver more than one, even many Roman Catholics, from death unto life – everlasting life in Christ.
Mark and Janet took their stand on the parade route about 50 yards from the end of the march. As Mark (a former Roman Catholic himself) preached from the back of their truck and held a large sign reading, “Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; not by the mass, Mary, or the sacraments. (Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9),” Janet handed out our gospel booklet titled From Death unto Life. By the grace of God, she was enabled to hand out a total of 175 booklets.
At one point a man with a huge tapestry of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” tried to block Mark’s sign, but without much success. That particular manifestation of the Roman Catholic goddess is held to be the “Patroness of the Unborn.” The Roman Catholics believe she will stop abortion and pray to her to do just that. During the course of this ministry, Mark also ended up witnessing to some individual marchers who engaged him in conversation, including a Roman Catholic priest. We trust this gospel witness will be used to deliver more than one, even many Roman Catholics, from death unto life – everlasting life in Christ.
Idolatry at the Walk for Life (Picture source: Lincoln Journal Star)
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Mark sharing the way of eternal life
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State High School Wrestling Championships
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Eight of us witnessed to wrestling fans, a great many of them young people, attending the annual state championship matches at the UW Field House in Madison on Saturday, March 2. We split into two teams, with each team set up complete with a large gospel sign at each entrance to the field house. While two of our number held those signs and gave out what gospel tracts they could, the rest of us concentrated on handing out our tract titled Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners. By the time we headed for home, a total of 1,042 individuals had accepted that tract from us.
State Boys Basketball Tournaments
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
Luke, Joy, and Dan hand out gospel tracts at the entrance of the Kohl Center grounds
As we have done for so many years, we were once again back at the Kohl Center in Madison to witness to the crowds attending the high school basketball championships. Nine of us set up at three different spots where fans go past to get into the Kohl Center. We used three Scripture signs and handed out 1,625 gospel tracts. Considering the schools we witnessed to were from the divisions which are made up of smaller schools, and that two of the schools were Roman Catholic, we were quite happy with the number of tracts given out. We find that Roman Catholics tend to be more resistant to a gospel witness than the average person. Ditto for liberal Lutherans. We did find the Roman Catholics pretty standoffish at this event. But a good number did take tracts, and they could not escape seeing our Scripture signs. The essence of gospel ministry is to share the true gospel out of Christian love and with steadfast faith in the effectual, sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is of the Lord.
Two of our Scripture signs at the basketball tournaments
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Tommy sharing the gospel with a busload of fans
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Gospel Billboard Update
“All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.” Psalm 145:10
Since beginning our billboard campaign in the spring of 2016, we have had our gospel message on 36 billboards. Thus far in 2019, our billboards have been in Baldwin, Wisconsin; Freeport, Illinois; and on a busy highway near Omaha, Nebraska. We have also reserved billboards at Hazel Green and Waupun, both in Wisconsin.
An amazing and wonderful thing has happened with the billboard near Omaha. In the past we have occasionally had our message stay up beyond the four-week period for which we have paid. There are various reasons the billboard company sometimes does not change the message immediately. But as I write this, the Nebraska billboard, which was first posted on November 26, 2018, is still up! We can only speculate on why, but perhaps the Lord has restrained others from renting that space; and since billboard companies usually don’t take down one billboard message until they put up the other, ours is still up.
To make this situation even more astounding, and as I said wonderful, since all the flooding in that area of Nebraska, traffic has been re-routed from other highways which are closed due to being under water, to pass our billboard! It is a blessing to know that so many people are reading our gospel message from that billboard in the middle of a disaster area.
An amazing and wonderful thing has happened with the billboard near Omaha. In the past we have occasionally had our message stay up beyond the four-week period for which we have paid. There are various reasons the billboard company sometimes does not change the message immediately. But as I write this, the Nebraska billboard, which was first posted on November 26, 2018, is still up! We can only speculate on why, but perhaps the Lord has restrained others from renting that space; and since billboard companies usually don’t take down one billboard message until they put up the other, ours is still up.
To make this situation even more astounding, and as I said wonderful, since all the flooding in that area of Nebraska, traffic has been re-routed from other highways which are closed due to being under water, to pass our billboard! It is a blessing to know that so many people are reading our gospel message from that billboard in the middle of a disaster area.
“And blessed be his glorious name for ever:
and let the whole earth be filled with his glory;
Amen, and Amen.”
Psalm 72:19
and let the whole earth be filled with his glory;
Amen, and Amen.”
Psalm 72:19
January 14, 2019
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
Dear Friends,
This public ministry update comes with our best wishes to all of you for the coming year. We also want to thank all of our brethren who have been praying for our open-air gospel work, and in some cases helping to fund it. Below is a brief report of our ministry work in October and November of this past year as well as a summary of our gospel billboard campaign to date.
During the year 2018, we were able, by the grace of God, to hand out 44,278 gospel tracts and gospel booklets. Other than 741 gospel tracts and booklets which were placed on doors of homes during some lit dropping, the rest of those tracts were handed, one at a time, to individuals attending public events and often handed out with a greeting of some sort. Our goal for the past year had been to get 50,000 gospel tracts and booklets out, but some really bad, in one case dangerous, weather caused us to miss two very large events at which we had planned on conducting gospel ministry. Over the years we have shivered through some ministry events, fought the wind at other events, and come home on the damp side on other occasions. But, by the grace of God, we have rarely had to entirely cancel a ministry effort; so it was pretty disappointing to have that happen twice this year.
In addition to the 44,278 tracts and booklets we handed out to that many individuals, we also handed out 89 Gospels of John, several Bibles; and donated 3,000 of our Heaven or Hell gospel tracts to a faithful brother in Maryland who, along with his wife and several other Christians, labors much in gospel ministry in that part of the country. Another 971 pieces of gospel literature were also given out as inserts in other tracts. So the total number of gospel tracts and booklets we went through this past year was 48,249. Of course, there are individuals in our church—I am thinking especially of several of the women—who also give out a tract here, and a tract there, to individuals they interact with in the course of a day. But, many Christians do the same thing, do they not?
Multitudes of people also read the large Scripture signs we hold during our ministry outings and the gospel message on our billboards. It is a blessing to know that many people accessed the web address we have on the billboard and tracts which takes them right to the text of our gospel booklet, From Death unto Life.
All in all, those of us belonging to little Pilgrims Covenant Church feel exceedingly blessed to be able to share the gospel with so many people. Thanks again to those who have prayed for this work and those who have helped to fund it.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
This public ministry update comes with our best wishes to all of you for the coming year. We also want to thank all of our brethren who have been praying for our open-air gospel work, and in some cases helping to fund it. Below is a brief report of our ministry work in October and November of this past year as well as a summary of our gospel billboard campaign to date.
During the year 2018, we were able, by the grace of God, to hand out 44,278 gospel tracts and gospel booklets. Other than 741 gospel tracts and booklets which were placed on doors of homes during some lit dropping, the rest of those tracts were handed, one at a time, to individuals attending public events and often handed out with a greeting of some sort. Our goal for the past year had been to get 50,000 gospel tracts and booklets out, but some really bad, in one case dangerous, weather caused us to miss two very large events at which we had planned on conducting gospel ministry. Over the years we have shivered through some ministry events, fought the wind at other events, and come home on the damp side on other occasions. But, by the grace of God, we have rarely had to entirely cancel a ministry effort; so it was pretty disappointing to have that happen twice this year.
In addition to the 44,278 tracts and booklets we handed out to that many individuals, we also handed out 89 Gospels of John, several Bibles; and donated 3,000 of our Heaven or Hell gospel tracts to a faithful brother in Maryland who, along with his wife and several other Christians, labors much in gospel ministry in that part of the country. Another 971 pieces of gospel literature were also given out as inserts in other tracts. So the total number of gospel tracts and booklets we went through this past year was 48,249. Of course, there are individuals in our church—I am thinking especially of several of the women—who also give out a tract here, and a tract there, to individuals they interact with in the course of a day. But, many Christians do the same thing, do they not?
Multitudes of people also read the large Scripture signs we hold during our ministry outings and the gospel message on our billboards. It is a blessing to know that many people accessed the web address we have on the billboard and tracts which takes them right to the text of our gospel booklet, From Death unto Life.
All in all, those of us belonging to little Pilgrims Covenant Church feel exceedingly blessed to be able to share the gospel with so many people. Thanks again to those who have prayed for this work and those who have helped to fund it.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Gospel Witness at UFO Days
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
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On Saturday, October 27, we headed for Belleville, Wisconsin to share the gospel at a multiday event called “UFO Days.” This was the first time we had ever conducted a gospel witness at this event, specifically during the parade. As can be expected, the event featured grownups, both in the parade and bystanders, acting like children, dressed in various sorts of costumes.
As the parade route was not a long or crowded one, we assigned just two of our number to walk each side of it handing out tracts. At the same time, since there were activities at the end of the parade route centered in and around a small park, we had one sign holder and one tract distributor at the street intersection where the parade terminated and which was also a corner of that same park into which people were coming and going. We had the same set up, with two of our number, on the other side of the park. Sad to say, the people attending UFO Days, taken as a whole, were far less receptive to the gospel than in many other places where we have conducted ministry. But, at the same time, 1,032 individuals accepted from us our gospel tract Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners. |
But they think those of us sharing the gospel are the weird ones!
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These two “aliens” reached up from inside their costumes and accepted tracts from Tom (in background).
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Speaking for myself, I met quite a number of mockers, cynics, and outright enemies of the gospel of Christ. But, at the same time, we had good responses as well. Several of us also had opportunities to witness to individuals at this event. In my case, after handing out tracts along the parade route, I ended up speaking with a Roman Catholic, an intelligent, proud man committed to Romish dogma who sought us out and was determined to show us the error of our Protestant, evangelical ways. Our conversation was a combination of doctrinal disputation and, on my part, gospel witness as well. Though he finally left in an angry mood, nevertheless, he also left with one of our gospel booklets in his hand and one of our An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tracts as well, both given him previously by Joy. In following days, this man wrote a letter to me, which gave me an opportunity to urge even more truth on him concerning the unscriptural nature and eternal danger of the doctrines and dogmas of popery.
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Handing out tracts at UFO Days
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Conversation with a Roman Catholic (facing camera)
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Two Days at the WIAA State Football Championships
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14
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Once again, we were on hand at Camp Randall in Madison to share the gospel with fans attending the state football championships, a large proportion of which are high school age and younger. On Thursday, November 15, four of us conducted a gospel witness during a time period that enabled us to witness to fans leaving one game and others coming to the next. These were the smaller schools, so the crowds were not nearly as large as the next day when the bigger schools played. While one of us held a sign and gave out what tracts she could at the same time, the rest of us concentrated on getting out tracts, by count 403 of the same tract as we used at UFO Days. Considering there were only three of us concentrating on tracts and the crowd was quite small, we were glad to get out the number of tracts that we did, and that so many people read our Scripture sign.
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Michaela sharing the gospel
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One other thing bears mentioning relative to the number of tracts we gave out. One of the schools playing that day was a Lutheran school. We have found that young people from Lutheran and especially Roman Catholic schools are often, as a group, pretty cold toward the gospel and those who conduct gospel ministry in public as we do. But that is not to say that no young people from such schools accept tracts, and we rejoice that those who do, read a faithful gospel message. For many, it is more than likely the first time they have ever “heard” the gospel.
The following day, Friday, November 16, seven of us shared the gospel with fans attending two different championship games featuring the larger schools. One of us held a Scripture sign in a strategic spot by which many fans on foot pass and also bus loads of fans pass before they park in front of the stadium. At the same time, the rest of us handed out gospel tracts, a total of 1,505 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts, bringing our two-day total to 1,908 gospel tracts.
We met many nice people, including young people, and received some kind, even enthusiastic encouragement from Christians attending the games. At the same time, it was troubling to hear a number of young people declare, “I’m an atheist,” and seeming to mean what they said. We met a few other hostile people, including a woman who barked at me, “I’m an atheist and pro-choice.” But such incidents only remind us of the importance of the blood-bought church of Christ going into all the world, certainly including this country, to share the gospel of Christ and to share it with faith, in hope, and out of love—that warm, doing Christian love called in the Scriptures charity.
The following day, Friday, November 16, seven of us shared the gospel with fans attending two different championship games featuring the larger schools. One of us held a Scripture sign in a strategic spot by which many fans on foot pass and also bus loads of fans pass before they park in front of the stadium. At the same time, the rest of us handed out gospel tracts, a total of 1,505 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts, bringing our two-day total to 1,908 gospel tracts.
We met many nice people, including young people, and received some kind, even enthusiastic encouragement from Christians attending the games. At the same time, it was troubling to hear a number of young people declare, “I’m an atheist,” and seeming to mean what they said. We met a few other hostile people, including a woman who barked at me, “I’m an atheist and pro-choice.” But such incidents only remind us of the importance of the blood-bought church of Christ going into all the world, certainly including this country, to share the gospel of Christ and to share it with faith, in hope, and out of love—that warm, doing Christian love called in the Scriptures charity.
One of our faithful young men with his heart in it and his hands busy
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Handing out tracts to young football fans
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Gospel Billboard Campaign Update
“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16
Since the start of our gospel billboard campaign in May of 2016, we have had our message on 34 billboards in prime locations including around the state of Wisconsin (26); Iowa (2—Dubuque); Illinois (2—Rockford, Freeport); Nebraska (4—Omaha area). We currently have two billboards scheduled to go up in 2019: one in Baldwin, Wisconsin beginning 2-18-19 and one on Hwy. 26 on the south side of Freeport, Illinois scheduled for 2-25-19. We also have a billboard rented in Monroe beginning 9-14-20 for the next Cheese Days. So long as we have the funds, we intend to continue this campaign which we trust will be to the salvation of many.
October 22, 2018
“Oh that I was all heart, and soul, and spirit, to tell the glorious gospel of Christ to perishing multitudes!”
Rowland Hill (1744–1833)
“Oh that I was all heart, and soul, and spirit, to tell the glorious gospel of Christ to perishing multitudes!”
Rowland Hill (1744–1833)
Dear Friends,
Our last ministry update covered through the month of July. This update covers our ministry labors in the months of August and September. We are very grateful to the Lord for the opportunity, liberty, and ability to share the gospel of Christ with so many perishing souls. We are grateful also to those who pray and, in some cases, support the ongoing gospel labors of our little church.
Since the beginning of the year, by the grace and help of the Lord, members of our little church have given out, one by one, 40,885 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as 90 Scripture portions and 1 Bible; posted our gospel message on 8 more billboards in 6 towns; and shared a gospel message to multitudes using our large signs during gospel ministry. But the year isn’t over yet!
Ralph Ovadal
Our last ministry update covered through the month of July. This update covers our ministry labors in the months of August and September. We are very grateful to the Lord for the opportunity, liberty, and ability to share the gospel of Christ with so many perishing souls. We are grateful also to those who pray and, in some cases, support the ongoing gospel labors of our little church.
Since the beginning of the year, by the grace and help of the Lord, members of our little church have given out, one by one, 40,885 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as 90 Scripture portions and 1 Bible; posted our gospel message on 8 more billboards in 6 towns; and shared a gospel message to multitudes using our large signs during gospel ministry. But the year isn’t over yet!
Ralph Ovadal
Sharing the Bread of Life at the Beloit Farmers Market
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
On Saturday, August 18, seven of us traveled to Beloit, Wisconsin to share the gospel at a farmers market. Two of our number held our large Scripture signs, handing out tracts as best they could at the same time. The rest of us concentrated on giving out our Heaven or Hell gospel tracts. By the grace of God, 1,103 people accepted gospel tracts from us. We also had some conversations with a number of people. Of course, it was obvious some individuals did not appreciate our witness, and in fact, an older man became quite agitated at one point. But there were also a good number of individuals identifying as evangelicals who were greatly encouraged by our presence and shared words of encouragement. I am convinced that a sound Christian gospel witness tends to convict other Christians of the essential need, blessing, and benefit of gospel witness and provokes some of them to seek the Lord, in essence asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” We have been at this work many, many years, and I can tell you that I am increasingly seeing, year by year and here and there, other Christians out with the gospel and also hearing of such work in our state. This is not to say it is a common occurrence, but it is certainly more common than it used to be.
The highlight of our time at the farmers market was one of those situations which we pray will happen more often. At one point, a party of oriental young men—I would speculate they were Korean—approached where I was handing out gospel tracts while my wife Linda held a Scripture sign (which, by the way, was very visible also to occupants in cars on the busy adjacent street). These young men were in our country under some sort of student program and looked to be college age. As they approached, I felt a strong draw toward one of them and stepped into his path to face him, which is not generally the thing to do since we certainly do not want to be blocking people. But, it turned out, this was of the Spirit of the Lord. He accepted a tract, and I immediately began witnessing to him and could see he was soon under conviction. He began asking questions, even as one of his friends impatiently, almost vehemently, urged him to move on as they had things to do and had only come to check out the farmers market. I urged the young man not to allow anyone to come between him and the salvation of his soul, and he continued to talk to me.
The highlight of our time at the farmers market was one of those situations which we pray will happen more often. At one point, a party of oriental young men—I would speculate they were Korean—approached where I was handing out gospel tracts while my wife Linda held a Scripture sign (which, by the way, was very visible also to occupants in cars on the busy adjacent street). These young men were in our country under some sort of student program and looked to be college age. As they approached, I felt a strong draw toward one of them and stepped into his path to face him, which is not generally the thing to do since we certainly do not want to be blocking people. But, it turned out, this was of the Spirit of the Lord. He accepted a tract, and I immediately began witnessing to him and could see he was soon under conviction. He began asking questions, even as one of his friends impatiently, almost vehemently, urged him to move on as they had things to do and had only come to check out the farmers market. I urged the young man not to allow anyone to come between him and the salvation of his soul, and he continued to talk to me.
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I shared various Scriptures with him concerning the need and way of salvation and then asked if he had a Bible. Hearing he had none, and would like one, I told him we had one for him. But, alas, the Bibles were in a roller bag with our other gospel team at a different part of the farmers market. I pointed to the end of the farmers market where our other team was and told him I would go get the Bible for him. But at that point, his friends urged on him the necessity for leaving the farmers market. To this, he finally acquiesced while stating, “I will get that Bible.” We watched as his friends walked briskly away from the market and out of sight, with him in tow. But he left with the word of life in his mind, and we hoped in his heart, even as we were left with the overwhelming conviction that the Lord was effectually drawing him to Christ and to life.
At the end of our ministry time, when we reunited with our other team, we were overjoyed to find that after the young man and his friends had reached their destination, he had doubled back and made a beeline for our other team, and that Bible, which he not only received, but also, Tom showed him the Gospel of John, telling him it was a good place to begin reading, and also shared some other things with him. We left for home with a confident expectation that God would, perhaps that very day, save that convicted, sincere seeker and translate him into “the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). |
“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book! O give me that book! At any price, give me the Book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me.” John Wesley (1703-1791)
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Labor Day Disappointment
“When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” Jeremiah 10:13
We conduct a gospel witness at a number of parades every year. Labor Day parades are always on our ministry schedule. Last year, we handed out tracts at the Labor Day parade in Rockford, Illinois. This year, we planned on being in Janesville. But due to much rain and threats of severe weather, the parade organizers called off the event. By the grace of God, this was one of the very few times something like this has happened. But it was a great disappointment anyway, since we had a good expectation of getting out around 3,000 gospel tracts at this event.
Cheese Days Gospel Blitz
“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Revelation 21:6
Cheese Days is a biennial event in Monroe which draws huge crowds of people from around the state, nation, and even other countries. As in the past, we were geared up and ready to go when the event got underway on Friday, September 14.
Unfortunately, Mark and Janet, through unavoidable circumstances, were not able to travel from Omaha to join us as they usually do. Both do an excellent job of getting out tracts, and so that cut down some on the total number we were able to get out. Also, this year, there were several Christians from two other churches, one of Illinois, handing out gospel tracts as well, though I believe they were only out for awhile on Saturday. This did not use to be the case, but things seem to be gradually changing in that regard, as I explained in my report on the ministry at the Beloit farmers market. But it would stand to reason that having other Christians also handing out gospel tracts would likewise cut down on the number we would get out. Add to that the fact that we have given out tracts at Cheese Days for many years. But, in spite of all of what I just mentioned, by the grace of God, we were able during the three-day event to hand out 12,422 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract! As you might expect, we put in a lot of hours in order to get to that total. Among our sign holders and tract distributors, there were three who were only able to be out a couple of hours each. The rest of the labor was done by just seven of us with at least one, and sometimes two, holding signs. It was a good work out in hot weather, but a blessing beyond measure to be able to share the gospel with so many people.
Unfortunately, Mark and Janet, through unavoidable circumstances, were not able to travel from Omaha to join us as they usually do. Both do an excellent job of getting out tracts, and so that cut down some on the total number we were able to get out. Also, this year, there were several Christians from two other churches, one of Illinois, handing out gospel tracts as well, though I believe they were only out for awhile on Saturday. This did not use to be the case, but things seem to be gradually changing in that regard, as I explained in my report on the ministry at the Beloit farmers market. But it would stand to reason that having other Christians also handing out gospel tracts would likewise cut down on the number we would get out. Add to that the fact that we have given out tracts at Cheese Days for many years. But, in spite of all of what I just mentioned, by the grace of God, we were able during the three-day event to hand out 12,422 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract! As you might expect, we put in a lot of hours in order to get to that total. Among our sign holders and tract distributors, there were three who were only able to be out a couple of hours each. The rest of the labor was done by just seven of us with at least one, and sometimes two, holding signs. It was a good work out in hot weather, but a blessing beyond measure to be able to share the gospel with so many people.
Of course, we had good responses and bad responses. In the bad category were two homosexuals who were extremely angry with me for sharing the gospel at a public event. This was an evil which they felt ought not to be allowed; and there is no doubt that if they had their way, it would not be allowed.
A good many men and women who said they were Christians thanked us for being out sharing the gospel. It was a sign of the times that a number of them who did so were holding a glass of beer in one hand. Shamefully, during Cheese Days, open containers of beer are allowed on the city square of Monroe where the booths and stages are set up and the big crowds gather. One cheerful man very sincerely raised his beer up high and said, “Jesus is Lord.” And then of course, there were numerous representatives from several of the new evangelical churches in Monroe “showing the love of Christ” by handing out free water and doing volunteer work such as cleaning tables as well as picking up empty plastic beer glasses and other trash. Many of these evangelicals have a low view of our gospel work.
A good many men and women who said they were Christians thanked us for being out sharing the gospel. It was a sign of the times that a number of them who did so were holding a glass of beer in one hand. Shamefully, during Cheese Days, open containers of beer are allowed on the city square of Monroe where the booths and stages are set up and the big crowds gather. One cheerful man very sincerely raised his beer up high and said, “Jesus is Lord.” And then of course, there were numerous representatives from several of the new evangelical churches in Monroe “showing the love of Christ” by handing out free water and doing volunteer work such as cleaning tables as well as picking up empty plastic beer glasses and other trash. Many of these evangelicals have a low view of our gospel work.
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One man took the time out of his busy day to instruct one of our young men that his approach to evangelism was all wrong. The right way to share the gospel, this Christian sage insisted, is to just put a gospel tract in the back pocket and strike up a conversation with someone. Then, if things go well, that was the time to share a tract rather than getting the gospel into as many hands as possible.
We had other conversations as well; for instance, another of our young men had a very good conversation with a man who certainly seemed to be seeking after heavenly truth. Also during Cheese Days, we had two billboards in Monroe running our gospel message. All things considered, Monroe really did get gospel blitzed! |
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Gospel Lit Dropping
Mark and Janet have begun lit dropping our gospel tracts door to door in Omaha. We hope to also get some of the same work done here before the snow flies.
Gospel Billboard Campaign
Since the beginning of our gospel billboard campaign, we have had our message on twenty-five billboards all around Wisconsin; two in Illinois (Freeport and Rockford); two in Dubuque, Iowa; and three in Omaha, Nebraska. Currently, we have billboards reserved in Baldwin, Wisconsin; Barneveld, Wisconsin; and near Omaha, Nebraska. We hope to continue this campaign which is directing people also to the text of our From Death unto Life gospel booklet.
Psalm 144:1—“Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight . . .”
July 26, 2018
“The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10
“The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10
Dear Friends,
The last time we sent out a summary of our public ministry was the end of April. So, for those interested, here is a rundown on what we have been up to since as to our open-air gospel labors. We have been constantly encouraged in so many ways that our Sovereign Lord is graciously blessing our concern for the perishing and our rock-solid conviction that His word never returns void.
Ralph Ovadal
The last time we sent out a summary of our public ministry was the end of April. So, for those interested, here is a rundown on what we have been up to since as to our open-air gospel labors. We have been constantly encouraged in so many ways that our Sovereign Lord is graciously blessing our concern for the perishing and our rock-solid conviction that His word never returns void.
Ralph Ovadal
May 5, 2018 Cinco de Mayo, Omaha, Nebraska
The Cinco de Mayo celebration in Omaha includes a parade which draws very large crowds. Mark walked the parade route by himself, giving out our gospel tracts. He then went home and loaded up a gospel sign, Janet and their two little ones, and headed back to the Cinco de Mayo celebration. When all was said and done, a multitude had read the gospel message on their large sign; and 1,511 individuals—the vast majority of them Roman Catholics but also several Muslim ladies—had accepted our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners gospel tracts, many of which contained inserts featuring Scripture verses in Spanish. Also given out were 24 of our An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tracts in Spanish and 2 of the same tract in English.
Cinco de Mayo, Darlington, Wisconsin, May 12
This year’s Cinco de Mayo in Darlington was held on May 12, one week late. This event is not a large one to start with, and unfortunately, it was also a cold and rainy day. Seven of us were on hand to share the gospel with the crowd, which, of course, was overwhelmingly Hispanic. The folks we witnessed to, including a great many families, were, as a general rule, very friendly, humble, and most willing to accept our gospel tracts. We split into three teams, making use of two gospel signs. Eventually, off-and-on drizzle turned to rain, and the event was pretty much washed out, but not before we were able to hand out 426 of our Heaven or Hell gospel tracts which also had Spanish inserts.
Nebraska State High School Track Meet, May 18
At this event, Mark handed out tracts while Janet, with the two little ones, stood with a Scripture sign. They were able to give out 460 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts. They were greatly encouraged to meet a Christian couple from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, who were sincerely glad to see Christians out sharing the gospel. The lady told them, “You ought to be commended” (now if she could just talk to the many new evangelicals who express a different sentiment when they see us witnessing). The couple shared other encouraging words as well, and as they were leaving, the lady gave Janet a hug.
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May 28, 2018 Memorial Day Parade in Freeport, Illinois
Seven of us split up into two teams and walked both sides of the Memorial Day parade route in Freeport, handing out tracts to the crowd lining it. We met a very receptive people, for the most part, and were able to give out 1,791 Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts as well as 86 Gospels of John.
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The College World Series, June 15-28, Omaha, Nebraska
One disgusted Omaha fireman to another at CWS: “Always evangelizing, always evangelizing.”
The CWS is a golden opportunity to share the gospel with multitudes of lost souls from all around this nation who attend this event. Thus Mark and Janet, augmented part of the time by two members of Monroe PCC, made a maximum effort to share the gospel with as many of the fans as possible. Also, we rented two highly visible billboards on heavily traveled multilane streets on which we posted our gospel message, with its web site address to the text of our From Death unto Life gospel booklet.
Michaela and Joy both traveled to Omaha to give a hand to Mark and Janet during this event, working long hours sharing the gospel. Michaela took part in the ministry work the first Friday night, that weekend, and on Monday before leaving for home. Joy began her labors on Friday, June 15, and stayed with it through the following Friday before heading back to Monroe on Saturday, the 23rd. Janet, with the two little ones, was unable to help the first weekend of the ministry due to the high temperatures, but then was able to be part of the ministry a number of times. Mark held down the fort at CWS fifteen times over the two weeks! A Christian brother named Larry also helped out on one occasion.
When it was all over, 14,311 of our gospel tracts (either Christ Jesus Came into the World or Heaven or Hell) plus 1 Gospel of John, 2 gospel booklets, and 1 An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract were given out. Now, just consider the hundreds of man hours and labor that took to put that much truth into the hands of that many individuals, speaking to and offering tracts to each one and to many more who declined accepting a tract. Further, just think of how many individuals from around this nation also received a gospel message by reading one of the Scriptures signs our brethren held and/or seeing one of the two gospel billboards we had up during CWS.
As our brethren went into action the first Friday night at CWS, one Omaha fireman was heard saying with disgust to another about them, “Always evangelizing, always evangelizing.” Little did this man know the compliment and encouragement he gave the gospel workers right at the start of the labors at CWS! Also during the CWS ministry:
Michaela and Joy both traveled to Omaha to give a hand to Mark and Janet during this event, working long hours sharing the gospel. Michaela took part in the ministry work the first Friday night, that weekend, and on Monday before leaving for home. Joy began her labors on Friday, June 15, and stayed with it through the following Friday before heading back to Monroe on Saturday, the 23rd. Janet, with the two little ones, was unable to help the first weekend of the ministry due to the high temperatures, but then was able to be part of the ministry a number of times. Mark held down the fort at CWS fifteen times over the two weeks! A Christian brother named Larry also helped out on one occasion.
When it was all over, 14,311 of our gospel tracts (either Christ Jesus Came into the World or Heaven or Hell) plus 1 Gospel of John, 2 gospel booklets, and 1 An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract were given out. Now, just consider the hundreds of man hours and labor that took to put that much truth into the hands of that many individuals, speaking to and offering tracts to each one and to many more who declined accepting a tract. Further, just think of how many individuals from around this nation also received a gospel message by reading one of the Scriptures signs our brethren held and/or seeing one of the two gospel billboards we had up during CWS.
As our brethren went into action the first Friday night at CWS, one Omaha fireman was heard saying with disgust to another about them, “Always evangelizing, always evangelizing.” Little did this man know the compliment and encouragement he gave the gospel workers right at the start of the labors at CWS! Also during the CWS ministry:
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• Joy and Michaela spoke with a Roman Catholic man with a lot of questions. He ended up accepting a From Death unto Life booklet, an Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract, and a Gospel of John.
• One woman who accepted a gospel tract said, “I went to church this morning. I need to see how I’m a sinner.” She and her husband then sat together, as the lady read the tract out loud. After that, she came back and accepted a From Death unto Life booklet. • A bitter ticket scalper with a filthy mouth ended up meekly accepting one of our gospel tracts. • A man let our brethren know he had seen many people reading the tracts which they were handing out. • One young man, apparently a Christian, was heard telling another, “That’s what we should be doing,” after seeing our brethren handing out gospel tracts. |
One of our gospel billboards is very close to a Jiffy Lube and, in fact, is very visible through the large garage doors of the place. After that particular billboard had been up for some time, one of the Jiffy Lube workers, a young man twenty-two years old, was tragically killed in a motorcycle wreck. Who knows but that he first came to a saving faith in Christ on account of that gospel message on the billboard? And who knows how the Lord may be using the same message in the hearts of his fellow workers who, no doubt, have been moved to think of eternity due to their friend’s early demise, even as they see our gospel message time after time from Jiffy Lube.
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Rock Concert at Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska, June 29
The day after CWS got over, Mark and Janet conducted a gospel witness to fans attending a rock concert at Memorial Park. It was a tough crowd, as to being willing to receive a gospel tract. But 224 did accept our gospel tracts, and a great many more saw the Scripture sign Mark held. A number of Muslim ladies passing by accepted gospel tracts. During their time of ministry, Mark also was able to share much gospel truth in conversations with 1) a Roman Catholic woman who asked what the verse on the sign meant, 2) two Roman Catholic high school boys, 3) a college student from Saudi Arabia. This young man said he had been thinking about such things as Mark spoke of and accepted one of our gospel booklets.
Fourth of July Parade, Evansville, Wisconsin
Evansville, population 5,000, had a very well attended Fourth of July parade this year. Six of us walked the long parade route, both sides, handing out our gospel tracts and working up a good sweat as it was a very hot and humid day. But considering that multitudes of our brethren over the centuries have shed their blood on account of their gospel witness, and many today in other lands are likewise suffering for the gospel, Christians in this country ought to be willing, gladly willing, to labor and sweat for Christ as they honor and glorify Him by following His example “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Perhaps if more would sweat now, taking the gospel to the perishing, none would have to bleed later.
Evansville is closer to liberal, leftist Madison, and we did run into more individuals who were hostile to the gospel. But, at the same time, the vast majority of the people were still open to receive a gospel tract, and a great many even said “thank you” upon receiving it. We were overjoyed to give out 3,000 Christ Jesus Came into the World tracts at this parade as well as 2 Gospels of John.
Evansville is closer to liberal, leftist Madison, and we did run into more individuals who were hostile to the gospel. But, at the same time, the vast majority of the people were still open to receive a gospel tract, and a great many even said “thank you” upon receiving it. We were overjoyed to give out 3,000 Christ Jesus Came into the World tracts at this parade as well as 2 Gospels of John.
Sesquicentennial Parade, Elizabeth, Illinois, July 21
We traveled to Elizabeth, Illinois, Saturday, July 21 to share the gospel at a parade being held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of that town, population 761. I assumed the numbers of people at the parade would be fairly small, thus just three of us undertook the ministry. It turned out that my estimate of the situation was correct, and the people watching the parade were quite spread out. So, one of us handled one side of the street and the two others the other side. The reception of our gospel tracts was phenomenal, and we were able to offer them to virtually everyone watching the parade. We ended up handing out 978 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts.
Gospel Billboard Update
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So far this year, we have put up billboards in the following cities: Marshfield, Superior, Manitowoc, and Dodgeville, all in Wisconsin; also two billboards in Omaha, Nebraska. Presently, we have another billboard reserved on a busy thoroughfare near Omaha and two more reserved for Monroe during a time span that will include Cheese Days which draws massive crowds. Lord willing, we will continue our gospel campaign with billboards in a number of other cities yet this year. Since we began this campaign in May, 2016, we have had our gospel message, with its internet address to our gospel booklet, on thirty billboards. Eternity alone will show how many perishing souls have been saved, and will be saved, by that gospel witness; and further, we know that any faithful gospel witness is also used by the Lord as a savoring, preserving influence on a people and nation.
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Omaha, Nebraska
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Manitowoc, Wisconsin
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say,
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10