December 29, 2022
Dear Friends,
Our last gospel ministry update covered June 16 – September 2. This one picks up where that one left off. I want to thank all of you who have prayed for us and those who have helped us have the means for our small church to carry forward our open-air gospel work. From March 5 of this year through November 18, our little company of laborers has given out over 45,000 gospel tracts. The great majority of those tracts were our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract, but we also we gave out a quantity of our Heaven or Hell tract and some of our gospel booklets. In addition, multitudes have read the gospel signs we hold at some events, and multitudes more have read our gospel message which we have posted on the billboards we rented this year.
This year, we have had our gospel message on billboards in Bowling Green and Glasgow, Kentucky; South Beloit, Illinois; and Appleton and Onalaska, Wisconsin. Currently, we have billboards reserved in Superior, Shullsburg, and Watertown, Wisconsin. The billboards we choose are in high-traffic, low-speed areas. It also bears mentioning that due to the web site link on our gospel tract and on the billboard message, many men and women have read our gospel booklet From Death unto Life since that link goes right to it. We know individuals have then also gone on to read much other truth on our website. To God be the thanksgiving and the glory!
Our last gospel ministry update covered June 16 – September 2. This one picks up where that one left off. I want to thank all of you who have prayed for us and those who have helped us have the means for our small church to carry forward our open-air gospel work. From March 5 of this year through November 18, our little company of laborers has given out over 45,000 gospel tracts. The great majority of those tracts were our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract, but we also we gave out a quantity of our Heaven or Hell tract and some of our gospel booklets. In addition, multitudes have read the gospel signs we hold at some events, and multitudes more have read our gospel message which we have posted on the billboards we rented this year.
This year, we have had our gospel message on billboards in Bowling Green and Glasgow, Kentucky; South Beloit, Illinois; and Appleton and Onalaska, Wisconsin. Currently, we have billboards reserved in Superior, Shullsburg, and Watertown, Wisconsin. The billboards we choose are in high-traffic, low-speed areas. It also bears mentioning that due to the web site link on our gospel tract and on the billboard message, many men and women have read our gospel booklet From Death unto Life since that link goes right to it. We know individuals have then also gone on to read much other truth on our website. To God be the thanksgiving and the glory!
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Titus 2:14
Titus 2:14
Wisconsin State Cow Chip Festival – September 3
Yes, there actually is such a festival in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, and it includes the State Cow Chip Throwing Championships! Believe me, many of the “athletes” who enter this contest are very serious about the competition, especially the men contestants. But we were also very serious about sharing the gospel with as many men and women “dead in trespasses and sins” as possible during the well attended parade, which was one feature of this gala event.
The weather report for the day was ominous with a very large, intense area of rain moving into our state; in fact, Prairie du Sac was right in the bull’s-eye of the storm which covered a very wide area of our state. But, we prayed and headed out in the rain. We drove the 55 miles to Prairie du Sac in a non-stop pouring rain. One of our number, who by necessity stayed home for this one, was watching weather updates on a radar map and praying the witness could go on, though Prairie du Sac was socked in with a pouring rain. At least, that was the case until just before the parade began! At that point the radar weather map showed rain all around Prairie du Sac but clear over the city, which caused rejoicing at home and for us who were in Prairie du Sac.
The weather report for the day was ominous with a very large, intense area of rain moving into our state; in fact, Prairie du Sac was right in the bull’s-eye of the storm which covered a very wide area of our state. But, we prayed and headed out in the rain. We drove the 55 miles to Prairie du Sac in a non-stop pouring rain. One of our number, who by necessity stayed home for this one, was watching weather updates on a radar map and praying the witness could go on, though Prairie du Sac was socked in with a pouring rain. At least, that was the case until just before the parade began! At that point the radar weather map showed rain all around Prairie du Sac but clear over the city, which caused rejoicing at home and for us who were in Prairie du Sac.
We loaded up with our gospel tracts, and as the parade began, started walking and working each side of the parade. There were, as always, some individuals not thrilled by our witness, but there were also some Christians who offered encouragement. By far, the greatest encouragement was the many tracts we handed out, including to elderly nursing home residents sitting in front of two different facilities who received the tracts gladly for the most part. By the time we reached the end of the route, we had given out 4,064 of our gospel tracts and not a single drop of rain had fallen during the time of ministry!
There was another church “witnessing for Christ” at this parade as well. That church’s idea of a gospel witness was a float with a giant mockup of a ketchup bottle label with the slogan “Catch up with Jesus. Lettuce praise & relish Him. ‘Cuz He loves me from my head to-ma-toes.” Apparently, some pastors and elders believe blasphemy is the way to win souls for Christ. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).
There was another church “witnessing for Christ” at this parade as well. That church’s idea of a gospel witness was a float with a giant mockup of a ketchup bottle label with the slogan “Catch up with Jesus. Lettuce praise & relish Him. ‘Cuz He loves me from my head to-ma-toes.” Apparently, some pastors and elders believe blasphemy is the way to win souls for Christ. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Lion’s Fall Festival Parade – Lena, Illinois – September 10
Due to unseen circumstances, only three of our number were able to make it to this small town parade, which featured a good number of those watching the parade drinking alcoholic beverages. Open containers and much drinking at public events is rapidly becoming more the norm than the exception. It is also very common to have what would seem to be all of the patrons, men and women, of the various bars along a parade route come out of their favorite haunts with drinks in hand to watch the parade pass by. But we see it as a wonderful opportunity to reach these individuals with the gospel. While there are invariably some hard-hearted individuals who want nothing to do with the gospel, also the occasional mocker, most of the men and women accept a gospel tract.
Those attending this particular parade on a hot and very humid day, drinkers and non-drinkers alike, were very receptive to the gospel. Three hard-working, determined Christians with a great desire to see the lost found, and the blind made to see, handed out 3,182 tracts in this town with a population of 2,772! This means not only was the gospel well received, but also a number of individuals who did accept tracts were from the rural area around the town. Suffice to say, once again, we had cause for much rejoicing and giving of thanks to the Lord!
Those attending this particular parade on a hot and very humid day, drinkers and non-drinkers alike, were very receptive to the gospel. Three hard-working, determined Christians with a great desire to see the lost found, and the blind made to see, handed out 3,182 tracts in this town with a population of 2,772! This means not only was the gospel well received, but also a number of individuals who did accept tracts were from the rural area around the town. Suffice to say, once again, we had cause for much rejoicing and giving of thanks to the Lord!
Cheese Days in Monroe – September 16-18
Due to the necessarily long report on this huge event, I have put that report out of place, at the very end of this update.
Hazel Green, Wisconsin Homecoming Parade – September 23
Just two of us were able to make this parade which, as so many parades do, went through the downtown area, although it was a pretty small downtown. But then again, Hazel Green is a pretty small town. As we worked our way along, laboring to offer gospel tracts to all present, my side had a good number of bars, or taverns if you will, where the scene was a familiar one with men and women standing with beer bottles and glasses of beer in their hands. Although some answered the offer of a gospel tract with utter contempt, a good number of both men and women did very willingly accept tracts. Remember, no one can mistake our tracts as anything but what they are, due to the content on their covers. So when men, women, and young persons willingly accept tracts, we find it cause for great rejoicing.
When we got to the end of the parade, we began doing what we generally do: offering tracts to individuals on floats and vehicles that are in the parade. Normally, we have to walk along those floats and vehicles handing out tracts to those on, and in, them. But at this parade, each entry stopped dead in the road; and their occupants, including drivers of a number of cars with kings and queens, princes and princesses of various kinds, all received gospel tracts, royalty and commoners alike! And when I say all received gospel tracts, I mean all! One float featured an individual, no doubt a high school boy, dressed entirely in a lion’s suit, including the full lion’s head with face, a lion’s body, legs, and paws. As I was handing tracts to the other students on the float, the “lion” extended one of his front “legs” with his paw making a grasping motion. It was clear Leo very much wanted a gospel tract, though the head he was wearing combined with the noise around him, made it all but impossible for him to verbally ask for one. Obviously, his request was quickly, and gladly, complied with. This seeking young person was just one of 702 who received gospel tracts from us that day.
When we got to the end of the parade, we began doing what we generally do: offering tracts to individuals on floats and vehicles that are in the parade. Normally, we have to walk along those floats and vehicles handing out tracts to those on, and in, them. But at this parade, each entry stopped dead in the road; and their occupants, including drivers of a number of cars with kings and queens, princes and princesses of various kinds, all received gospel tracts, royalty and commoners alike! And when I say all received gospel tracts, I mean all! One float featured an individual, no doubt a high school boy, dressed entirely in a lion’s suit, including the full lion’s head with face, a lion’s body, legs, and paws. As I was handing tracts to the other students on the float, the “lion” extended one of his front “legs” with his paw making a grasping motion. It was clear Leo very much wanted a gospel tract, though the head he was wearing combined with the noise around him, made it all but impossible for him to verbally ask for one. Obviously, his request was quickly, and gladly, complied with. This seeking young person was just one of 702 who received gospel tracts from us that day.
Two High School Homecoming Parades in One Day – September 30
On this day three of us travelled to Dubuque, Iowa to share the gospel in this very hard town with a Roman Catholic background and present influence. But the good news is the young people were, in general, open to receiving the gospel. During our gospel labors, we meet a lot of young people who are eager to receive gospel tracts. We have had a number of them go out of their way to make sure they get tracts; and in some cases, we have seen young people take hold of an offered tract with both hands. This year, as is the case with previous years, we gave out many thousands of tracts to young people. When all was said and done in Dubuque, we had given out 822 gospel tracts.
Meanwhile, Mark finished his work day, and knowing that there was a homecoming parade in nearby Stoughton, Wisconsin, he headed there. He had taken a good supply of gospel tracts with him to work that morning in hopes his schedule would allow him to make it to Stoughton to share the gospel; and by the grace of God, it worked out that way. During his witness along the parade route, Mark came to a group of nuns and one priest. Praise be to God, all accepted gospel tracts! By the time the parade was over, 300 gospel tracts had been given out in Stoughton.
Meanwhile, Mark finished his work day, and knowing that there was a homecoming parade in nearby Stoughton, Wisconsin, he headed there. He had taken a good supply of gospel tracts with him to work that morning in hopes his schedule would allow him to make it to Stoughton to share the gospel; and by the grace of God, it worked out that way. During his witness along the parade route, Mark came to a group of nuns and one priest. Praise be to God, all accepted gospel tracts! By the time the parade was over, 300 gospel tracts had been given out in Stoughton.
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Harvest Festival Parade – Lancaster, Wisconsin – October 1
This was a good-sized parade for a small-sized town. The local police officers were very nice. I might mention here that a good percentage of the police officers and EMTs we have been offering tracts to at various parades have taken tracts. We also thank them for their dedicated service. We handed out 1,501 gospel tracts at this parade. At one point, a young man was spotted who had separated himself from the crowd after receiving a gospel tract and was standing alone reading it.
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Oregon, Wisconsin Homecoming Parade – October 7
For an event staged on a weekday afternoon, the turnout for this parade was amazing. The parade route first went through residential neighborhoods, and the turnout there was very sparse. But when we hit the business district of Oregon, we found an enormous crowd standing rank on rank. On one side of the street, there was a good deal of drinking going on, with some of the individuals clearly feeling the effects of that drink. Our witness was met by quite a bit of mocking, in some cases even by the young. On the other side of the street, a woman teacher commanded one of our number to cease handing out gospel tracts. When that had no effect, she unsuccessfully attempted to bodily block the one handing out the tracts. But, all resistance to our witness aside, we did find that there were a good number of men, women, and perhaps especially student-age young people who willingly, in some cases gratefully, accepted our gospel tracts. By the time this event was over, we had handed out 1,996 gospel tracts.
Craig High School Homecoming Parade – Janesville, Wisconsin – October 13
Just two of us were able to witness for the Lord on this cold, overcast day. Once again, rain was forecast for the day. It did rain, and actually snowed a little. But once again the Lord held back the rain, other than a little light drizzle now and then during our ministry to those gathered along the long parade route which the two of us worked very hard to cover well.
At this parade, a teacher sought to keep the gospel from young people standing on the public sidewalk. This lady insisted that the public sidewalk was still school property. Did she actually think that high school students standing on a public sidewalk turned it into school property? Later on, another teacher made an effort to keep young people in her area from receiving the gospel of life. At one point in the parade, students and teachers from a Roman Catholic school lined the parade route. Here a RC teacher also made an attempt, though more of a mild attempt, to discourage the giving of gospel tracts to those young people. In addition, we ran into a nasty priest who clearly did not have warm feelings for friendly Christians simply offering gospel tracts to men, women, and young people. Later along the route was a Lutheran School, and again, the students of the school lined the public sidewalk along the city street. There was no trouble with teachers here; in fact, most were nice. The important thing is a good number of both RC and Lutheran students received gospel tracts. The same was in general true of the government school students as well as the adults attending the parade. Our tract total for this one was 823, which we felt was a good number considering that the ministry was undertaken by just two of us on a cold, nasty midweek afternoon.
At this parade, a teacher sought to keep the gospel from young people standing on the public sidewalk. This lady insisted that the public sidewalk was still school property. Did she actually think that high school students standing on a public sidewalk turned it into school property? Later on, another teacher made an effort to keep young people in her area from receiving the gospel of life. At one point in the parade, students and teachers from a Roman Catholic school lined the parade route. Here a RC teacher also made an attempt, though more of a mild attempt, to discourage the giving of gospel tracts to those young people. In addition, we ran into a nasty priest who clearly did not have warm feelings for friendly Christians simply offering gospel tracts to men, women, and young people. Later along the route was a Lutheran School, and again, the students of the school lined the public sidewalk along the city street. There was no trouble with teachers here; in fact, most were nice. The important thing is a good number of both RC and Lutheran students received gospel tracts. The same was in general true of the government school students as well as the adults attending the parade. Our tract total for this one was 823, which we felt was a good number considering that the ministry was undertaken by just two of us on a cold, nasty midweek afternoon.
Durand, Illinois Homecoming Parade – October 20
Three of us made it to this one which, like all of the high school homecoming parades at which we witnessed, was held on a weekday. Durand is a very small town, and the school is not a large one. The parade began on the street in front of the high school. Thus, the public sidewalk in front of the school and for some distance past it was lined with students. It was here that we ran into a spiritual descendent of Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-12) in the person of a teacher who seemed to be almost insane with rage about us sharing the gospel. She got in my face, demanding I cease and desist. The students were in small groups; and this woman would dart into the spaces between each group, spewing out her vitriol, and follow me from behind the next group, all the while breathing her hatred before lunging forward in the next space between groups to vent her anger at close range. And so it went. But all her efforts did not stop the gospel from being shared. This only enraged her more. She then grabbed a driver and headed for the school parking lot to get a car. These two followed the parade so that when we reached the end of it, they drove slowly by us with the woman teacher screaming out the window at us.
At the same time, almost every person along the short parade route took tracts, including a Hispanic man on a ladder painting a storefront who reached down for the gospel tract offered and seemed very glad to get it. People had come out of the local bar to watch the parade, including one woman who looked intently at the front of the gospel tract given to her which read, “Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners.” She then said, “What’s this all about?” before heading back into the bar with the tract in her hand. No doubt those tracts made for a good amount of conversation in that bar that afternoon, even as they have in other bars after our gospel witnesses. At this event, we handed out 240 gospel tracts.
At the same time, almost every person along the short parade route took tracts, including a Hispanic man on a ladder painting a storefront who reached down for the gospel tract offered and seemed very glad to get it. People had come out of the local bar to watch the parade, including one woman who looked intently at the front of the gospel tract given to her which read, “Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners.” She then said, “What’s this all about?” before heading back into the bar with the tract in her hand. No doubt those tracts made for a good amount of conversation in that bar that afternoon, even as they have in other bars after our gospel witnesses. At this event, we handed out 240 gospel tracts.
Halloween Event – Galena, Illinois – October 29
Three of us shared the gospel at this devilish event which celebrates “the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). One of our number held a small gospel sign and at the same time handed out gospel tracts. Our Scripture sign read, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23,” on one side and, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12,” on the other, with the sides being alternately displayed throughout our time of ministry. The other two of us concentrated all of our efforts on handing out gospel tracts to the constantly moving crowd of costumed grown-ups and children. The costumes, many of which were clearly expensive and elaborate, included devils, witches, skeletons, zombies, and a number of pirates. Remember, the majority of these costumed people were “grown-ups.” That being said, there were a fair number of young people on hand, ranging from groups of teenagers to young children with their parents. Many costumes were gruesome and bloody. For instance, there was a family of a father, mother, and young children dressed as bloody zombies, including the youngest child who was five or six years old. At one point, a costumed parent, after reading our Scripture sign, said in a mocking way to his children, “Look at that. They’re dressed up like Christians!” Though he did not realize it, there was truth to his statement in that we are washed in the blood of Jesus and “clothed” in the imputed righteousness Christ wrought out under the law and on the cross for our justification unto life! We were overjoyed that the Lord enabled us to give out 1,337 gospel tracts to a crowd so fixated on darkness, mayhem, and death.
WIAA State Football Championships Day One – November 17
Once again, we were on hand to share the gospel of Christ at this high school event at the UW football stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. On Thursday, the 17th, four of us witnessed to the students, grown-up fans, and teachers from four Division 6 and Division 7 schools from around the state, including one Roman Catholic school, as well as to police officers and security personnel on hand. These are the smaller schools of the tournament. It turned out to be a very cold day, but that is more the norm than the exception for this event. A gusty, even high wind was forecast, so we used only a small Scripture sign.
During our time of gospel labor at this event, I did have some trouble with a UW security guard who assured me he is a Christian! At one point, a young man who had refused to take a gospel tract soon had a change of mind, coming back to ask if he could have one. One girl who received a tract began reading it out loud as she stood in a line at the entrance to the games where tickets were being taken. By her public reading, this young lady unwittingly caused others, including no doubt some who had refused to take tracts, to hear a gospel message. Such a public reading of one of our gospel tracts is not all that unusual.
The most encouraging thing that happened during this particular ministry was a conversation I had for close to 50 minutes with a young priest who seemed to be not at all sure of what he believed, knew almost no Scripture verses, and seemed to be very affected by the great many Scripture texts which were shared with him. He also seemed touched by the concern shown for his own soul as well as the joy of salvation displayed by the one sharing that concern, even as the Romish dogmas/doctrines he held to were shown to be utterly unscriptural and much worse than worthless for salvation. It seemed obvious the Holy Spirit was working with great power by the word shared. Toward the end of the conversation, this troubled man looked down at the sidewalk in utter silence with his eyes squeezed tightly shut and stayed like that for perhaps a full minute before looking up again. I then spoke to him for a while longer. Though he had first refused to accept a gospel tract, he now suddenly said, “I would like one of those tracts.” We have prayed the Lord would be pleased to save this bondservant of Rome through the gospel tract which he received and that he would then use the link on the tract which goes right to our gospel booklet From Death unto Life.
In all, we handed out 784 of our gospel tracts on this day.
During our time of gospel labor at this event, I did have some trouble with a UW security guard who assured me he is a Christian! At one point, a young man who had refused to take a gospel tract soon had a change of mind, coming back to ask if he could have one. One girl who received a tract began reading it out loud as she stood in a line at the entrance to the games where tickets were being taken. By her public reading, this young lady unwittingly caused others, including no doubt some who had refused to take tracts, to hear a gospel message. Such a public reading of one of our gospel tracts is not all that unusual.
The most encouraging thing that happened during this particular ministry was a conversation I had for close to 50 minutes with a young priest who seemed to be not at all sure of what he believed, knew almost no Scripture verses, and seemed to be very affected by the great many Scripture texts which were shared with him. He also seemed touched by the concern shown for his own soul as well as the joy of salvation displayed by the one sharing that concern, even as the Romish dogmas/doctrines he held to were shown to be utterly unscriptural and much worse than worthless for salvation. It seemed obvious the Holy Spirit was working with great power by the word shared. Toward the end of the conversation, this troubled man looked down at the sidewalk in utter silence with his eyes squeezed tightly shut and stayed like that for perhaps a full minute before looking up again. I then spoke to him for a while longer. Though he had first refused to accept a gospel tract, he now suddenly said, “I would like one of those tracts.” We have prayed the Lord would be pleased to save this bondservant of Rome through the gospel tract which he received and that he would then use the link on the tract which goes right to our gospel booklet From Death unto Life.
In all, we handed out 784 of our gospel tracts on this day.
WIAA State Football Championships Day Two – November 18
Only two of us were free to witness for the Lord on the second cold, breezy day of this event. This time around, it was the Division 2 and Division 3 schools that were playing, including Monroe. Since there were just two of us, we did not use a gospel sign but concentrated on handing out gospel tracts – in fact, 862 gospel tracts. One young boy took a tract, looked at it, hung back from his family who kept walking, and asked, “What’s this about?” This then was an opportunity to share some truth, though the boy could only linger for a few moments before necessarily hustling away to catch up to his family.
A few days after the football championships, we received the following email message from a man who obviously had received a gospel tract from us during that event: “Could I get a few more I Timothy 1:15 brochures to give to my loved ones? I will gladly pay. God Bless.” The man signed with his name and gave us his address. We did gladly send tracts, telling him there was no need for him to pay for them.
A few days after the football championships, we received the following email message from a man who obviously had received a gospel tract from us during that event: “Could I get a few more I Timothy 1:15 brochures to give to my loved ones? I will gladly pay. God Bless.” The man signed with his name and gave us his address. We did gladly send tracts, telling him there was no need for him to pay for them.
Cheese Days in Monroe, Wisconsin – September 16-18
This is a large multi-day event very well attended, including by people from many other states and even other nations. We conducted a gospel witness all three days of the event. But this is an exceedingly difficult gospel witness to sum up in an update since we interacted with a multitude over three days, seeing and hearing, saying and witnessing so many things. A total of five of us spent many hours laboring for the Lord on the streets of Monroe. On Friday, we split up into two teams, each laboring during a different time slot but providing a continuous witness for many hours with our Scripture signs and our tracts. Saturday, two of us were on the square at 8:45 a.m. to share the gospel with runners and spectators who were on hand for the Cheese Days Chase. 10:30 a.m. marked the beginning of another gospel witnessing shift. 1:00 p.m. was the start of another time of gospel witness by a team of three with one of the three continuing on non-stop until 5:40 that evening. The Lord’s Day afternoon found four of us loaded down like pack mules with our tracts at the start of the parade route, waiting for the long line-up of floats, bands, jugglers, dancers, farm machinery, cows, gymnasts, and other attractions to be put into motion. We stood with our hands over our hearts as the color guard passed, and it was the last time our hands, or feet, were still until we reached the end of the packed 1.6-mile parade route.
Not surprisingly, during our ministry at Cheese Days, we met with a certain number of hard, cold people and a few downright hostile and even angry. When it comes to our gospel ministry in Monroe, the “hometown advantage” does not apply, quite the contrary. Nevertheless, by the time the last alphorn had been blown, the last polka played, the last of tens of thousands of cheese curds eaten, the last beer drunk, we had been enabled by the Lord to hand out a total of 9,191 gospel tracts, with 5,443 of those given out during our parade witness. During the parade time, Joy also had her table with Bibles and Scripture literature set up in front of her house. In a matter of just a few hours, individuals passing by on the street selected four Bibles, one Spanish New Testament; and also parents with children picked up a total of five Trinitarian Bible Society coloring books with Scripture on every page.
So much for the overview of this witness. Some of you would perhaps be interested in hearing about at least a few interactions we had with those attending Cheese Days 2022, this along with a few of our observations about the multitudes attending the event. As for observations, the first thing I would note is that the drinking of alcoholic beverages has risen to epidemic levels at this event. Not only are people drinking beer, but also this year, individuals were walking around with a cup of beer in one hand and a pitcher of beer in the other, so to provide for instant refills of the cup. This Cheese Days event also featured something new by way of the open drinking of fermented beverages in that not only were people walking around drinking beer, but also wine and other alcoholic drinks. The drinking will only get worse so long as our nation continues down the Romans 1:18-32 road.
Not surprisingly, during our ministry at Cheese Days, we met with a certain number of hard, cold people and a few downright hostile and even angry. When it comes to our gospel ministry in Monroe, the “hometown advantage” does not apply, quite the contrary. Nevertheless, by the time the last alphorn had been blown, the last polka played, the last of tens of thousands of cheese curds eaten, the last beer drunk, we had been enabled by the Lord to hand out a total of 9,191 gospel tracts, with 5,443 of those given out during our parade witness. During the parade time, Joy also had her table with Bibles and Scripture literature set up in front of her house. In a matter of just a few hours, individuals passing by on the street selected four Bibles, one Spanish New Testament; and also parents with children picked up a total of five Trinitarian Bible Society coloring books with Scripture on every page.
So much for the overview of this witness. Some of you would perhaps be interested in hearing about at least a few interactions we had with those attending Cheese Days 2022, this along with a few of our observations about the multitudes attending the event. As for observations, the first thing I would note is that the drinking of alcoholic beverages has risen to epidemic levels at this event. Not only are people drinking beer, but also this year, individuals were walking around with a cup of beer in one hand and a pitcher of beer in the other, so to provide for instant refills of the cup. This Cheese Days event also featured something new by way of the open drinking of fermented beverages in that not only were people walking around drinking beer, but also wine and other alcoholic drinks. The drinking will only get worse so long as our nation continues down the Romans 1:18-32 road.
Another thing we noticed this year is that, in general, the people attending this event seemed to be harder-hearted than the last Cheese Days in 2018, though the hard hearts were no doubt mostly local. That being said, we also still found a good number of people who were friendly toward us, seemed to think we were doing a good thing, and even thanked us for our witness. A few of these asked for a second tract to share with others. Unfortunately, this friendly demographic did not include a number of seemingly irritated new evangelicals from this area who were very cold toward us and our labors, which is nothing new.
At one point on Saturday, two male homosexuals stood in front of one of our large Scripture signs being held by one of our Christian sisters. These two then lewdly kissed each other, so the better to show their contempt and hatred of the gospel as well as the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
One woman who was at Cheese Days with her sister made a mocking remark to two of our number, one of whom was giving out tracts while the other held a Scripture sign. Later, the sister came back and spoke for a while with our brethren. At one point, an extended family of Hindus stoutly refused to take gospel tracts. Sometime later, they willingly accepted the same tracts! A drunken woman, seemingly under conviction, went out of her way to speak to one of our ladies holding a Scripture sign. She shared how many beers she had drunk but said she was not going to drink any more and received a gospel tract.
On Saturday, a lady who had been an intense enemy of ours when we carried on ministry in front of Planned Parenthood in Monroe came to us, speaking with warm friendliness. By way of explanation, we witnessed, preached, and picketed weekly, and sometimes bi-weekly, in front of Planned Parenthood in Monroe for almost twenty years until that wretched business finally shut its doors for good and left town. The particular woman just mentioned was the wife of a very evil man who was eventually jailed for murder. We witnessed to both of them since they had a business in the same building as Planned Parenthood; but at the time, neither showed anything toward us but open hostility. To make a long story short, we have bumped into this lady a few times over the years since PP left town. She has been increasingly friendly and warm toward us and perhaps never more so than this past Cheese Days. The feeling was mutual. We have felt a great concern for her soul and are glad to have been able to share the way of repentance and salvation with her. This year, she told about her grown son who has a rare, very serious form of cancer. She spoke of the importance of prayer, and we assured her that we would be praying for her son.
This year at Cheese Days, one Gene Simmons from the rock band KISS, a very evil man, made an appearance at the Minhas brewery’s Oktoberfest which coincides with Cheese Days and is just off Monroe’s square. Simmons drew in a lot of hard rock fans who ended up on the square. A number of them were very lost, aimless, pathetic teenagers. A good many of these young people very willingly received gospel tracts. In fact, one young girl in black, a loop piercing through her nose, cat ears on her head, stood back watching as one of our ladies was giving tracts to others; and then she came up to ask if she could have a gospel tract.
On the other end of the spectrum of humanity, an older WELS Lutheran lady said she did not need a gospel tract because she is a Lutheran. When asked if she had been born again, she scornfully replied, “I was born before; how can I be born again?” This was certainly not the first time we have had such a response from Lutherans.
On the Sunday of Cheese Days weekend, we, of course, have our regular morning church service, but we rearrange the rest of the day so to engage in a gospel witness during the Cheese Days parade which attracts multitudes from near and far. This year, due to the downsizing of our never large church in recent years and the need that one of our number stay with the small children of church members, we had only four able workers to cover the long, crowded parade route. It was a daunting task, including because we did not have anyone to pull a roller bag with a supply of tracts. So we had to improvise with one of us using a backpack, another with a mailbag, another with a large-sized bag attached to a belt around the waist, and last of all, one of us with a large video camera bag on a shoulder sling plus each of us starting out with hundreds of tracts in our hands. The forecast for the day was rain and thunder, which of course means lightning as well. Had it begun lightning, the parade would have been cancelled. But praise be to God there was no rain, no thunder, no lightning! He who commands the rain and the lightning cleared the way for our witness once again. The truth be told, this was a hard labor – a labor of love, yes, but a hard, hot, intense, physically demanding labor over a 1.6-mile long parade route with rank upon rank of people lining the route. Yet I trust it was a “work of faith,” and I know it was a “labour of love” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). And are we not “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)?
During the course of our parade witness, Janet and Mark took one side of the parade route, while Joy and I took the other side. The parade route includes a loop around the square. As we were working our way around that part of the route, I ran into a couple of very nasty characters. The first, a young man in the 25-35 year old range, ripped into me with nasty, mocking language and then ordered me in no uncertain terms to cease handing out gospel tracts and to get off the square or else. I continued doing what I was doing and noticed that the reception of tracts actually improved in that area! But lo and behold, before we were off the square, another man let loose verbally on me, also letting me know that I needed to stop sharing the word of life and make myself scarce. But I just continued doing what the Lord has called me to do. On the other side of the square, Mark had some trouble with an angry man as well. Certainly, we met a good number of dour, surly individuals, some openly disgusted or even hostile with us as we labored along the parade route. But we also did get some encouragement from various individuals, including a few Christians. The biggest encouragement was the great number of individuals who willingly, in some cases eagerly, received the gospel.
I would also mention that the Monroe Police Department headed by Chief Fred Kelley as usual did a wonderful job at Cheese Days as did the Green County Sheriff’s Department. Our religious and civil liberties are greatly respected and protected by these departments.
As mentioned earlier, we handed out 9,191gospel tracts at this event. The Lord only knows how many unbelievers also saw and read our gospel signs, but it numbered in the tens of thousands.
At one point on Saturday, two male homosexuals stood in front of one of our large Scripture signs being held by one of our Christian sisters. These two then lewdly kissed each other, so the better to show their contempt and hatred of the gospel as well as the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
One woman who was at Cheese Days with her sister made a mocking remark to two of our number, one of whom was giving out tracts while the other held a Scripture sign. Later, the sister came back and spoke for a while with our brethren. At one point, an extended family of Hindus stoutly refused to take gospel tracts. Sometime later, they willingly accepted the same tracts! A drunken woman, seemingly under conviction, went out of her way to speak to one of our ladies holding a Scripture sign. She shared how many beers she had drunk but said she was not going to drink any more and received a gospel tract.
On Saturday, a lady who had been an intense enemy of ours when we carried on ministry in front of Planned Parenthood in Monroe came to us, speaking with warm friendliness. By way of explanation, we witnessed, preached, and picketed weekly, and sometimes bi-weekly, in front of Planned Parenthood in Monroe for almost twenty years until that wretched business finally shut its doors for good and left town. The particular woman just mentioned was the wife of a very evil man who was eventually jailed for murder. We witnessed to both of them since they had a business in the same building as Planned Parenthood; but at the time, neither showed anything toward us but open hostility. To make a long story short, we have bumped into this lady a few times over the years since PP left town. She has been increasingly friendly and warm toward us and perhaps never more so than this past Cheese Days. The feeling was mutual. We have felt a great concern for her soul and are glad to have been able to share the way of repentance and salvation with her. This year, she told about her grown son who has a rare, very serious form of cancer. She spoke of the importance of prayer, and we assured her that we would be praying for her son.
This year at Cheese Days, one Gene Simmons from the rock band KISS, a very evil man, made an appearance at the Minhas brewery’s Oktoberfest which coincides with Cheese Days and is just off Monroe’s square. Simmons drew in a lot of hard rock fans who ended up on the square. A number of them were very lost, aimless, pathetic teenagers. A good many of these young people very willingly received gospel tracts. In fact, one young girl in black, a loop piercing through her nose, cat ears on her head, stood back watching as one of our ladies was giving tracts to others; and then she came up to ask if she could have a gospel tract.
On the other end of the spectrum of humanity, an older WELS Lutheran lady said she did not need a gospel tract because she is a Lutheran. When asked if she had been born again, she scornfully replied, “I was born before; how can I be born again?” This was certainly not the first time we have had such a response from Lutherans.
On the Sunday of Cheese Days weekend, we, of course, have our regular morning church service, but we rearrange the rest of the day so to engage in a gospel witness during the Cheese Days parade which attracts multitudes from near and far. This year, due to the downsizing of our never large church in recent years and the need that one of our number stay with the small children of church members, we had only four able workers to cover the long, crowded parade route. It was a daunting task, including because we did not have anyone to pull a roller bag with a supply of tracts. So we had to improvise with one of us using a backpack, another with a mailbag, another with a large-sized bag attached to a belt around the waist, and last of all, one of us with a large video camera bag on a shoulder sling plus each of us starting out with hundreds of tracts in our hands. The forecast for the day was rain and thunder, which of course means lightning as well. Had it begun lightning, the parade would have been cancelled. But praise be to God there was no rain, no thunder, no lightning! He who commands the rain and the lightning cleared the way for our witness once again. The truth be told, this was a hard labor – a labor of love, yes, but a hard, hot, intense, physically demanding labor over a 1.6-mile long parade route with rank upon rank of people lining the route. Yet I trust it was a “work of faith,” and I know it was a “labour of love” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). And are we not “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)?
During the course of our parade witness, Janet and Mark took one side of the parade route, while Joy and I took the other side. The parade route includes a loop around the square. As we were working our way around that part of the route, I ran into a couple of very nasty characters. The first, a young man in the 25-35 year old range, ripped into me with nasty, mocking language and then ordered me in no uncertain terms to cease handing out gospel tracts and to get off the square or else. I continued doing what I was doing and noticed that the reception of tracts actually improved in that area! But lo and behold, before we were off the square, another man let loose verbally on me, also letting me know that I needed to stop sharing the word of life and make myself scarce. But I just continued doing what the Lord has called me to do. On the other side of the square, Mark had some trouble with an angry man as well. Certainly, we met a good number of dour, surly individuals, some openly disgusted or even hostile with us as we labored along the parade route. But we also did get some encouragement from various individuals, including a few Christians. The biggest encouragement was the great number of individuals who willingly, in some cases eagerly, received the gospel.
I would also mention that the Monroe Police Department headed by Chief Fred Kelley as usual did a wonderful job at Cheese Days as did the Green County Sheriff’s Department. Our religious and civil liberties are greatly respected and protected by these departments.
As mentioned earlier, we handed out 9,191gospel tracts at this event. The Lord only knows how many unbelievers also saw and read our gospel signs, but it numbered in the tens of thousands.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 1:16-17
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Ralph Ovadal
September 2, 2022
Dear Friends,
With this update comes our thanks to those who pray for us and also those who help our little church have the means to fund our gospel work. We have just recently put in another order for 30,000 more gospel tracts, in this case, our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract.
We also just recently contracted for another billboard – this one on an extremely busy four-lane street, near an intersection in Appleton, Wisconsin. Our gospel message, along with a web site address to our gospel booklet, will run on that billboard for four weeks beginning September 5. In that same month our gospel message will go up on a billboard in Onalaska, Wisconsin. This billboard will be up right on through the huge Octoberfest in La Crosse, which is virtually one city with Onalaska and is a college town as well. By the grace of God, we will be securing other billboards for our gospel message to be displayed on this year.
With this update comes our thanks to those who pray for us and also those who help our little church have the means to fund our gospel work. We have just recently put in another order for 30,000 more gospel tracts, in this case, our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract.
We also just recently contracted for another billboard – this one on an extremely busy four-lane street, near an intersection in Appleton, Wisconsin. Our gospel message, along with a web site address to our gospel booklet, will run on that billboard for four weeks beginning September 5. In that same month our gospel message will go up on a billboard in Onalaska, Wisconsin. This billboard will be up right on through the huge Octoberfest in La Crosse, which is virtually one city with Onalaska and is a college town as well. By the grace of God, we will be securing other billboards for our gospel message to be displayed on this year.
Old Settlers Days, Rockton, IL
This event on June 18 was a very small one in a small town. Nevertheless, by the grace of God the five of us managed to hand out 457 of our gospel tracts. Whenever possible, once we have finished covering a parade route, we then head for where the floats and other parade entries gather to unload and disperse. By this additional effort, we are able to get the gospel into even more hands.
This parade in a rural area in the heartland of America included a hearse advertising an event called Fear Fest being touted as “Halloween in July” and accompanied by walkers promoting the event including one man in a costume with a face made up to look like a gruesome Zombie-like creature. It was incredibly sad to see that one of these persons promoting the event had a little girl in tow. Another parade at which we shared the gospel also had a similar entry. The celebration of Halloween has in recent years become very popular, increasingly so, with many “adults” in this country. Given the direction our nation is headed, how long before it becomes the most popular “holiday” of the year? But this is all the more reason why we Christians need to truly be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, even as we pray for a badly needed revival in the churches and an awakening in the world.
This parade in a rural area in the heartland of America included a hearse advertising an event called Fear Fest being touted as “Halloween in July” and accompanied by walkers promoting the event including one man in a costume with a face made up to look like a gruesome Zombie-like creature. It was incredibly sad to see that one of these persons promoting the event had a little girl in tow. Another parade at which we shared the gospel also had a similar entry. The celebration of Halloween has in recent years become very popular, increasingly so, with many “adults” in this country. Given the direction our nation is headed, how long before it becomes the most popular “holiday” of the year? But this is all the more reason why we Christians need to truly be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, even as we pray for a badly needed revival in the churches and an awakening in the world.
Big Top Parade, Baraboo, WI
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On June 25, we headed for Baraboo to share the gospel at the annual circus parade, complete with clowns, pirates, elephants, and other such circus attractions. With a very heavy, thick cloud cover over our state, with rain predicted for the day, and falling heavily as we headed toward Baraboo, we prayed for a window of opportunity for the parade to take place, thus giving us the opportunity to share the gospel with those attending. As has happened more than once in such a ministry situation we have been in, the rain stopped a short time before the parade.
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As the parade was starting, and with heavy, threatening clouds hanging low over us, four of us went to work. In general, the crowd was very open to receiving gospel tracts, including a great many young people! But of course, as usual, there were some who were not happy to have Christians sharing the word and way of salvation. In one case, the rebuke one of our team received had a humorous twist to it. It involved a man dressed in the full getup of a clown including a painted face, featuring a big, wide, red smile. Upon being offered a gospel tract the clown responded with a fierce scowl which sharply contrasted with his painted-on smile and snarled, “This is inappropriate.”
By the time we reached the end of the parade route, we had handed out 3,789 of our gospel tracts. In one case, a lady who received a tract, upon reading the title of it, exclaimed, “This is what I’ve been waiting for.” Right at the end of the parade route, it began to sprinkle some. After we and all of the parade watchers had just time to get to our cars, the rain began to come down. Simply put, it poured! For our part, we rejoiced and gave thanks to our prayer-hearing God.
By the time we reached the end of the parade route, we had handed out 3,789 of our gospel tracts. In one case, a lady who received a tract, upon reading the title of it, exclaimed, “This is what I’ve been waiting for.” Right at the end of the parade route, it began to sprinkle some. After we and all of the parade watchers had just time to get to our cars, the rain began to come down. Simply put, it poured! For our part, we rejoiced and gave thanks to our prayer-hearing God.
Independence Day Parade, DeForest, WI
The Fourth of July was another very rainy day, with a forecast for much and sustained rain, as well as possible storms. Under a dark, threatening sky, we set our sights on DeForest, praying that the Lord would give us the opportunity to share the gospel at the Independence Day parade in that town. This He graciously did, with the rain holding off until we finished our gospel labors and returned to our vehicles. At that point, it began raining, and soon the rain was coming down in buckets. We rejoiced that once again the Lord had mercifully allowed a great multitude of perishing men and women and young people to have the gospel shared with them.
In all, 4,865 persons each received one of our gospel tracts, including a very sincere lady who asked for a second tract and upon receiving it, went directly to a friend, gave it to her and began earnestly speaking to her. An older lady received one of our gospel tracts, quickly looked it over, and then pointed to a teenage boy standing nearby and said, “Give one to the big guy also.” Upon having a gospel tract handed to him, the older lady – we surmised his grandmother – said to the young man, quietly but firmly, with loving concern in her voice, “Now read it.” And read it he did!
In all, 4,865 persons each received one of our gospel tracts, including a very sincere lady who asked for a second tract and upon receiving it, went directly to a friend, gave it to her and began earnestly speaking to her. An older lady received one of our gospel tracts, quickly looked it over, and then pointed to a teenage boy standing nearby and said, “Give one to the big guy also.” Upon having a gospel tract handed to him, the older lady – we surmised his grandmother – said to the young man, quietly but firmly, with loving concern in her voice, “Now read it.” And read it he did!
ByronFest, Byron, IL
Five days after our ministry in DeForest, on July 9, we were headed south to Byron to share the way of salvation from sin, death, and hell with those gathered for a parade during the aforementioned event. As could be said of virtually all of our gospel witnesses, there were those present at the parade which would have rather we “keep our religion to ourselves.” Then there were also those professing to be the redeemed of the Lord who said so (Psalm 107:2) and thanked us for sharing the gospel with the lost. Finally, there were those without Christ and salvation who were willing to receive our gospel tracts. These amounted to 1,161 persons, and this in a small town!
At this parade one of the entries was a large van covered with occult type pictures and painted to look as if blood was running out of it. The purpose for this entry was to advertise a very large future “haunted house” event in another town. In a sign of the times, the crew riding in and walking along with this vile vehicle threw candy to the children and also handed out a card advertising their vicious, gory, occult business. Included with the attractions of the place were some with a lewd aspect, to sum it up. At the end of the parade, when we were distributing gospel tracts to those who had been in it, two of us approached the entry just spoken of and offered gospel tracts to each of the rather rough, scruffy persons. To our joy, every one of these people accepted a gospel tract; and surprisingly, none of them exhibited any hostility toward us. The Lord is well able to save the darkest hard-hearted sinner; and besides, sometimes the best dressed, neatest of men and women are the darkest, most hard-hearted.
At this parade one of the entries was a large van covered with occult type pictures and painted to look as if blood was running out of it. The purpose for this entry was to advertise a very large future “haunted house” event in another town. In a sign of the times, the crew riding in and walking along with this vile vehicle threw candy to the children and also handed out a card advertising their vicious, gory, occult business. Included with the attractions of the place were some with a lewd aspect, to sum it up. At the end of the parade, when we were distributing gospel tracts to those who had been in it, two of us approached the entry just spoken of and offered gospel tracts to each of the rather rough, scruffy persons. To our joy, every one of these people accepted a gospel tract; and surprisingly, none of them exhibited any hostility toward us. The Lord is well able to save the darkest hard-hearted sinner; and besides, sometimes the best dressed, neatest of men and women are the darkest, most hard-hearted.
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At this parade, a local church entered a float, and members of the church walking with the parade handed out, not gospel tracts, but the disc-like item pictured to the right. That was the sum total of that new evangelical church’s version of witnessing to the lost. At other parades, we have run into churches handing out pens, candy, and it would seem anything but a sound, scriptural gospel tract. 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
Boscobel, WI Farmers Market
On July 16, three of our number along with two small children on a day trip took occasion to make a quick stop in Boscobel on their way through that small town, so to do a sweep through the local farmers market handing out gospel tracts. In a short time, they handed out 101 of our tracts.
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Witness to Green County Fairgoers
One of our ladies, namely Joy, lives in close proximity to the Green County Fair Grounds. Thus many people attending the fair walk on the sidewalk past her house. This year, as she did last year, Joy set up a very attractive table next to that sidewalk, a table laden with Bibles, Gospels, as well as a little booklet titled Grace and Truth. Also included were Trinitarian Bible Society Scripture text bookmarks as well as coloring books which feature Scripture on each page. By the time the fair ended, 32 Bibles were taken, one by one, as well as one Gospel of Matthew, one Gospel of Mark, two Spanish New Testaments, four Gospels of John in Spanish, 14 coloring books, 4 Grace and Truth booklets, and two TBS bookmarks.
Elizabeth Community Fair, Elizabeth, IL
We had another fruitful day of ministry on July 23 in the small town of Elizabeth as we handed out gospel tracts at a parade held as part of the annual community fair. We covered the small crowd very well, and by the grace of God, were able to hand out 839 of our gospel tracts.
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Janesville, WI Farmers Market
Three of us hit the road to the farmers market in Janesville on August 13. Due to a prediction of wind gusts up to 30 MPH, we made use of a small Scripture sign, rather than one of the large ones we normally display during our gospel labors at such events as a farmers market. During the course of our time of witness at this event, we were enabled by the Lord to hand out 425 gospel tracts to quite a cross-section of ethnic and religious backgrounds. For instance, three different Muslim women of Middle Eastern descent, at three separate times, each politely – in one case, seemingly gratefully – accepted gospel tracts, knowing full well what they were receiving.
As usual, at this event, we also had some interesting interactions. In some cases, persons professing to be Christians let us know they were greatly encouraged by our witness. On the other hand, a few hostile individuals made it plain they were not happy to have us on hand sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I offered a gospel tract to one older woman, she stopped and declared, “I am a pastor” – in fact, a minister of the United Methodist Church who had a few members of her flock with her. After she had made the proud announcement declaring her office, I responded by saying in a conversational tone of voice, “A lady pastor?” To this she replied, “Yes, a lady pastor,” which in turn I answered by saying, “But the Scriptures are clear that women are not to be pastors,” and quoted from the second chapter of 1 Timothy for starters.
Thus began a fairly long disputation involving several specific doctrines during which it became very clear that the UMC woman minister was all but ignorant of the Scriptures, never once quoting from them and obviously helpless to refute my application of them. At one point, a women member of the UMC “pastor’s” church put her arm around her and said, “Come on, Nancy; they’re not worth it” – meaning the likes of us who believe the word of God is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and life. Not worth it? So much for the “unconditional love” of apostate churches such as the UMC! But “Pastor Nancy’s” pride would not let her give up yet, though it was not long before she abruptly fled. She quickly turned on her heel and put distance between us when I asked her about regeneration and if she could tell me what it was to be born again. Apparently, the wind had now gone out of her sails after being repeatedly shown to those listening that she had little knowledge and no understanding of the Scriptures, and she stood speechless. When I said, “You do not know what it is to be born again because you have not been born again, have you?” she fled the scene. But, praise the Lord, the woman had heard a good deal of the word of God declared and explained as had those with her and other persons passing by.
As we were wrapping up our ministry time, it began to lightly rain. Then, after we were back in our car, the rain came down in earnest. Once again, in mercy to perishing sinners, our sovereign Lord had held back the rain until we had completed our gospel witness. “For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly,” Job 36:27-28.
As usual, at this event, we also had some interesting interactions. In some cases, persons professing to be Christians let us know they were greatly encouraged by our witness. On the other hand, a few hostile individuals made it plain they were not happy to have us on hand sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I offered a gospel tract to one older woman, she stopped and declared, “I am a pastor” – in fact, a minister of the United Methodist Church who had a few members of her flock with her. After she had made the proud announcement declaring her office, I responded by saying in a conversational tone of voice, “A lady pastor?” To this she replied, “Yes, a lady pastor,” which in turn I answered by saying, “But the Scriptures are clear that women are not to be pastors,” and quoted from the second chapter of 1 Timothy for starters.
Thus began a fairly long disputation involving several specific doctrines during which it became very clear that the UMC woman minister was all but ignorant of the Scriptures, never once quoting from them and obviously helpless to refute my application of them. At one point, a women member of the UMC “pastor’s” church put her arm around her and said, “Come on, Nancy; they’re not worth it” – meaning the likes of us who believe the word of God is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and life. Not worth it? So much for the “unconditional love” of apostate churches such as the UMC! But “Pastor Nancy’s” pride would not let her give up yet, though it was not long before she abruptly fled. She quickly turned on her heel and put distance between us when I asked her about regeneration and if she could tell me what it was to be born again. Apparently, the wind had now gone out of her sails after being repeatedly shown to those listening that she had little knowledge and no understanding of the Scriptures, and she stood speechless. When I said, “You do not know what it is to be born again because you have not been born again, have you?” she fled the scene. But, praise the Lord, the woman had heard a good deal of the word of God declared and explained as had those with her and other persons passing by.
As we were wrapping up our ministry time, it began to lightly rain. Then, after we were back in our car, the rain came down in earnest. Once again, in mercy to perishing sinners, our sovereign Lord had held back the rain until we had completed our gospel witness. “For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly,” Job 36:27-28.
Farmers Market, Beloit, WI
The next Saturday after our witness at the farmers market in Janesville, on August 20, we conducted a gospel ministry at the farmers market in Beloit. Once again, our team numbered just three members, which was a sufficient number to cover this event well. Once again, rain was forecast for the day, but once again, we prayed that the Lord would enable the gospel to be shared with the perishing. As the threesome headed for Beloit, the rain fell steadily. But once again, the fountains of heaven were shut off in time for the gospel witness to take place.
We have conducted a witness at this farmers market several times in the past, though not for a couple of years. But for the first time, the management of the farmers market, represented by a very wrought-up woman, attempted, almost frantically and certainly fanatically so, to eject our team. After being informed of the constitutional issues involved, she finally backed off and made no more trouble.
But she was not the only one determined to cleanse the public square of a gospel witness. A young, very upset lesbian accosted our Joy twice, the second time with more vehemence and making the tired old accusation that Joy was seeking to force her religion on others, as well as venting her hostility with other angry words. Even as Joy began responding to this young woman, several persons took it upon themselves to speak up for Joy and her right to share the way of salvation, though none of them ever gave any indication that they were Christians themselves. In Joy’s defense, one lady said to the lesbian, “She’s not doing anything wrong! She can be here!” Another of those whom the Lord raised up in defense of His people and their gospel witness was a man who bluntly told Joy’s verbal assailant, “Go away! Get out of here!” This individual later told Mark, “Hardly anyone stands up for what they believe. You’re here just trying to save souls, as you believe.” As for the nature of that person’s comment, about fifteen minutes before the incident in question, he had taken a tract from Janet and had also stared for some time at the Scripture sign she was holding which proclaims, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15.”
We have conducted a witness at this farmers market several times in the past, though not for a couple of years. But for the first time, the management of the farmers market, represented by a very wrought-up woman, attempted, almost frantically and certainly fanatically so, to eject our team. After being informed of the constitutional issues involved, she finally backed off and made no more trouble.
But she was not the only one determined to cleanse the public square of a gospel witness. A young, very upset lesbian accosted our Joy twice, the second time with more vehemence and making the tired old accusation that Joy was seeking to force her religion on others, as well as venting her hostility with other angry words. Even as Joy began responding to this young woman, several persons took it upon themselves to speak up for Joy and her right to share the way of salvation, though none of them ever gave any indication that they were Christians themselves. In Joy’s defense, one lady said to the lesbian, “She’s not doing anything wrong! She can be here!” Another of those whom the Lord raised up in defense of His people and their gospel witness was a man who bluntly told Joy’s verbal assailant, “Go away! Get out of here!” This individual later told Mark, “Hardly anyone stands up for what they believe. You’re here just trying to save souls, as you believe.” As for the nature of that person’s comment, about fifteen minutes before the incident in question, he had taken a tract from Janet and had also stared for some time at the Scripture sign she was holding which proclaims, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15.”
During this witness a Russian Christian, a Baptist named Igor, spoke to Mark for some time. He shared of how in Russia there is a very clear-cut distinction between the true church and the Orthodox Church. He also said that here in America, so much of the church is, as he put it, like Walmart.
A Muslim woman accepted a gospel tract and even was happy to allow a tract to be given to her young daughter who was eager to read it. One woman, no doubt a new evangelical, curtly told Janet concerning our gospel witness that there is “a better way” to share the gospel. Of course the “better way” of such folks is to not share the gospel in public at all. Janet gave the woman a good response and some things to think about. Such professed brethren would do well to search the New Testament Scriptures as well the history of the church as to the wonderful workings of the Lord by His witnessing people.
Another lady, apparently in the mid-50s, gratefully accepted one of our tracts and declared that she needed it! Unfortunately, a Buddhist woman wanted nothing to do with the gospel. But, praise be to “the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2), a total of 665 individuals did willingly receive gospel tracts.
A Muslim woman accepted a gospel tract and even was happy to allow a tract to be given to her young daughter who was eager to read it. One woman, no doubt a new evangelical, curtly told Janet concerning our gospel witness that there is “a better way” to share the gospel. Of course the “better way” of such folks is to not share the gospel in public at all. Janet gave the woman a good response and some things to think about. Such professed brethren would do well to search the New Testament Scriptures as well the history of the church as to the wonderful workings of the Lord by His witnessing people.
Another lady, apparently in the mid-50s, gratefully accepted one of our tracts and declared that she needed it! Unfortunately, a Buddhist woman wanted nothing to do with the gospel. But, praise be to “the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2), a total of 665 individuals did willingly receive gospel tracts.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Ralph Ovadal
June 15, 2022
Dear Friends,
As you read this, we have three gospel witnesses planned at large public events, all parades, in the next three weeks. Suffice it to say, things are really picking up now, as they always do in June and into the fall. For our part, we will be striving to take advantage of a great many opportunities to share the “word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16) with multitudes of perishing souls.
Our open-air gospel season got off to a little bit of a rough start on March 5 when circumstances allowed only two of our number to be present at the 2022 WIAA Boys Wrestling Championships. Things were a little slow at this event as well. Nevertheless, 373 individuals accepted our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners gospel tracts; and many more men, women, and young people of all ages read the large gospel sign which was also displayed.
Then on March 19, lightning struck again in the same place, so to speak; and again only two of our number, though not the same two who labored on March 5, were able to make it to the WIAA Boys Basketball Championships. But the Lord graciously enabled us to hand out 754 of our gospel tracts to a crowd that had a high percentage high school and younger students, a great many of whom also saw our large gospel sign. In one case, every one of a group of young teenagers, one group of many who walked by us and our large gospel sign which no doubt all read, declined to take our tracts. Clearly, there was a certain amount of peer pressure responsible for the situation as the first several young people turned us down, and the rest then followed suit. However, after the group was past us, one young man of perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old suddenly and loudly said, “Wait, I want one of those.” He did indeed want one as he came quickly back and cheerfully, humbly, and gratefully accepted a gospel tract. Such a happy occurrence among young people is not all that uncommon with us; each time it is still a glorious and glad encouragement.
Our next gospel witness found us in Darlington, Wisconsin to share the gospel with the mostly Hispanic crowd attending a Cinco de Mayo celebration in a Darlington park. The Darlington area is home to a large number of Hispanics who work in the local cheese factories and on local dairy farms. Some of these cannot yet speak English; others speak broken English; and still others are fluent in both languages. As to the immigration status of these men and women and their families, most are here legally; but it is entirely possible some are not. Yet when it comes to our gospel labors, that subject, important as it is in the temporal sense, is not our concern. The salvation of these men and women and young people is our concern. I would just mention that the event organizers did have an American flag flying. I would add also that the vast majority of the Hispanics with whom we interacted with in Darlington were very polite, cheerful, humble, hard-working people; and a great many had all the appearance of being dedicated to their families.
During this witness, the five of us made use of three Scripture signs, two in English and one in Spanish. The English signs declared, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15,” while the Spanish sign read (in Spanish, of course), “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Isaiah 55:6.”
At one point, a young boy riding past on his bicycle came to a dead stop in front of our Spanish Scripture sign, read it and remained as frozen to the spot. One of us spent time with him sharing the need and the way of salvation. He received a gospel tract from us which, as was the case with all our tracts at this event, included an insert with Scripture texts concerning the need and way of salvation in Spanish. Though this lad obviously understood English in the main, he doubtless was more fluent in Spanish; and so, he was also offered a Spanish New Testament, which he willingly accepted. Then, to top it off, along came one of his friends who also accepted one of our gospel tracts with the insert as well as a Gospel of John!
If our witness to those two Hispanic boys was all the encouragement we had in a given year of gospel labors, it would make that year more than worthwhile. But praise be to God, we always have many such encouragements over the course of any given year of gospel labor.
At this relatively small event in Darlington, we were blessed to hand out 502 of our gospel tracts each with the Spanish Scripture text insert as well as the Spanish New Testament and Gospel of John previously mentioned. By the way, the only surly, nasty people we met were several “gringos” attending the event.
As you read this, we have three gospel witnesses planned at large public events, all parades, in the next three weeks. Suffice it to say, things are really picking up now, as they always do in June and into the fall. For our part, we will be striving to take advantage of a great many opportunities to share the “word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16) with multitudes of perishing souls.
Our open-air gospel season got off to a little bit of a rough start on March 5 when circumstances allowed only two of our number to be present at the 2022 WIAA Boys Wrestling Championships. Things were a little slow at this event as well. Nevertheless, 373 individuals accepted our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners gospel tracts; and many more men, women, and young people of all ages read the large gospel sign which was also displayed.
Then on March 19, lightning struck again in the same place, so to speak; and again only two of our number, though not the same two who labored on March 5, were able to make it to the WIAA Boys Basketball Championships. But the Lord graciously enabled us to hand out 754 of our gospel tracts to a crowd that had a high percentage high school and younger students, a great many of whom also saw our large gospel sign. In one case, every one of a group of young teenagers, one group of many who walked by us and our large gospel sign which no doubt all read, declined to take our tracts. Clearly, there was a certain amount of peer pressure responsible for the situation as the first several young people turned us down, and the rest then followed suit. However, after the group was past us, one young man of perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old suddenly and loudly said, “Wait, I want one of those.” He did indeed want one as he came quickly back and cheerfully, humbly, and gratefully accepted a gospel tract. Such a happy occurrence among young people is not all that uncommon with us; each time it is still a glorious and glad encouragement.
Our next gospel witness found us in Darlington, Wisconsin to share the gospel with the mostly Hispanic crowd attending a Cinco de Mayo celebration in a Darlington park. The Darlington area is home to a large number of Hispanics who work in the local cheese factories and on local dairy farms. Some of these cannot yet speak English; others speak broken English; and still others are fluent in both languages. As to the immigration status of these men and women and their families, most are here legally; but it is entirely possible some are not. Yet when it comes to our gospel labors, that subject, important as it is in the temporal sense, is not our concern. The salvation of these men and women and young people is our concern. I would just mention that the event organizers did have an American flag flying. I would add also that the vast majority of the Hispanics with whom we interacted with in Darlington were very polite, cheerful, humble, hard-working people; and a great many had all the appearance of being dedicated to their families.
During this witness, the five of us made use of three Scripture signs, two in English and one in Spanish. The English signs declared, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15,” while the Spanish sign read (in Spanish, of course), “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Isaiah 55:6.”
At one point, a young boy riding past on his bicycle came to a dead stop in front of our Spanish Scripture sign, read it and remained as frozen to the spot. One of us spent time with him sharing the need and the way of salvation. He received a gospel tract from us which, as was the case with all our tracts at this event, included an insert with Scripture texts concerning the need and way of salvation in Spanish. Though this lad obviously understood English in the main, he doubtless was more fluent in Spanish; and so, he was also offered a Spanish New Testament, which he willingly accepted. Then, to top it off, along came one of his friends who also accepted one of our gospel tracts with the insert as well as a Gospel of John!
If our witness to those two Hispanic boys was all the encouragement we had in a given year of gospel labors, it would make that year more than worthwhile. But praise be to God, we always have many such encouragements over the course of any given year of gospel labor.
At this relatively small event in Darlington, we were blessed to hand out 502 of our gospel tracts each with the Spanish Scripture text insert as well as the Spanish New Testament and Gospel of John previously mentioned. By the way, the only surly, nasty people we met were several “gringos” attending the event.
2022 Beloit Memorial Day Parade
Our next gospel witness was to the crowd lining the streets for the Memorial Day parade which actually began in South Beloit, Illinois and then continued on into Beloit, Wisconsin. At this parade, our little team of four workers (and we did work hard) handed out our gospel tracts to 5,300 individuals, many of whom were obviously far from being the well-to-do of society, to put it that way! Among those accepting our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract were white, black, Hispanic men and women. It was encouraging to be able to witness to such a cross section of Americans. It was encouraging also to see all of these men and women sitting peacefully intermingled together, waving American flags and at times expressing gratitude to policemen present.
A week after this parade, our gospel message went up on a billboard situated at an extremely busy thoroughfare in Beloit very close to the parade route—a thoroughfare used by in-town and out-of-town traffic.
Thank you to all who pray for this gospel ministry, and to those also whom the Lord has led to help us to fund it. In regard to the latter, last month we picked up another 30,000 gospel tracts from the printer and have well founded hopes we will be needing to print more before this open-air gospel season is done.
A week after this parade, our gospel message went up on a billboard situated at an extremely busy thoroughfare in Beloit very close to the parade route—a thoroughfare used by in-town and out-of-town traffic.
Thank you to all who pray for this gospel ministry, and to those also whom the Lord has led to help us to fund it. In regard to the latter, last month we picked up another 30,000 gospel tracts from the printer and have well founded hopes we will be needing to print more before this open-air gospel season is done.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Ralph Ovadal
April 30, 2022
Dear Friends,
Normally about this time we would send out the latest update on our gospel ministry. We have shared the gospel at a couple of events so far this spring, namely the WIAA State Wrestling Championships and the WIAA Boys Basketball Championships. Our gospel labors will pick up considerably starting in May when large public events begin to be much more numerous. So we will wait until early June and then, Lord willing, send out a ministry update on all the events we have witnessed at this spring, including how things went at the two events I just mentioned and an update on our gospel billboard campaign. By the grace of God and thanks to some who have been led of Him to help our little church keep our gospel ministry going, we picked up 30,000 more gospel tracts from the printer just this week. Our thanks also to those who have been praying for this gospel ministry.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Dear Friends,
Normally about this time we would send out the latest update on our gospel ministry. We have shared the gospel at a couple of events so far this spring, namely the WIAA State Wrestling Championships and the WIAA Boys Basketball Championships. Our gospel labors will pick up considerably starting in May when large public events begin to be much more numerous. So we will wait until early June and then, Lord willing, send out a ministry update on all the events we have witnessed at this spring, including how things went at the two events I just mentioned and an update on our gospel billboard campaign. By the grace of God and thanks to some who have been led of Him to help our little church keep our gospel ministry going, we picked up 30,000 more gospel tracts from the printer just this week. Our thanks also to those who have been praying for this gospel ministry.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
January 10, 2022
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:13-14
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:13-14
Dear Friends,
By the grace of God, we begin another year. Our nation is in turmoil and being torn apart by competing and increasingly vicious factions as well as an ever increasing danger from without. At the same time, we are in the midst of a great spiritual downgrade among evangelicals, with compromise in doctrine and practice the norm among the great majority of Christians, Reformed and Arminian. But of course, the second thing, the condition of the church, is the reason for the first thing, the condition of our beloved nation. It is tragic that many Christians who rightly demand elected officials shun political compromise on life, liberty, law, and property, nevertheless willingly compromise on the word of the Lord in any number of ways. Yet, a law-abiding population and government as well as security of life, liberty, and property cannot be maintained unless the Lord’s people return to the old paths (Jer. 6:16), to the right ways of the Lord (Acts 13:10). Then too, with a growing percentage of this nation on that dark, depraved Romans 1:18-32 road to destruction (but no marvel when much of the church has lost her savour), the great need is for the gospel of grace, of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, to be taken out to the perishing. In light of that, I hope you will be encouraged by this update of the open-air gospel work of our little church which picks up where our last update left off. The gospel tracts mentioned in this update are our Heaven or Hell tract and our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract. We usually use all of one or the other during each particular witness. Each of those tracts has an internet link address which goes straight to the text of our From Death unto Life booklet.
Our heartfelt thanks to those who pray for our gospel work and to those who make it possible for us to stay supplied in gospel tracts and keep our gospel billboard ministry going. Concerning the latter, among the billboards we currently have up are two in the area of Kentucky hard hit by the tornados December 10-11. More on that at the end of this report. As I mentioned in our last update, our church has greatly downsized during the past two years. Our open-air gospel ministry is carried on by at the most just four of us actively handing out tracts, ably assisted by one more who manages a wagon loaded with her two small children and a good number of gospel tracts to keep us supplied as needed.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
By the grace of God, we begin another year. Our nation is in turmoil and being torn apart by competing and increasingly vicious factions as well as an ever increasing danger from without. At the same time, we are in the midst of a great spiritual downgrade among evangelicals, with compromise in doctrine and practice the norm among the great majority of Christians, Reformed and Arminian. But of course, the second thing, the condition of the church, is the reason for the first thing, the condition of our beloved nation. It is tragic that many Christians who rightly demand elected officials shun political compromise on life, liberty, law, and property, nevertheless willingly compromise on the word of the Lord in any number of ways. Yet, a law-abiding population and government as well as security of life, liberty, and property cannot be maintained unless the Lord’s people return to the old paths (Jer. 6:16), to the right ways of the Lord (Acts 13:10). Then too, with a growing percentage of this nation on that dark, depraved Romans 1:18-32 road to destruction (but no marvel when much of the church has lost her savour), the great need is for the gospel of grace, of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, to be taken out to the perishing. In light of that, I hope you will be encouraged by this update of the open-air gospel work of our little church which picks up where our last update left off. The gospel tracts mentioned in this update are our Heaven or Hell tract and our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract. We usually use all of one or the other during each particular witness. Each of those tracts has an internet link address which goes straight to the text of our From Death unto Life booklet.
Our heartfelt thanks to those who pray for our gospel work and to those who make it possible for us to stay supplied in gospel tracts and keep our gospel billboard ministry going. Concerning the latter, among the billboards we currently have up are two in the area of Kentucky hard hit by the tornados December 10-11. More on that at the end of this report. As I mentioned in our last update, our church has greatly downsized during the past two years. Our open-air gospel ministry is carried on by at the most just four of us actively handing out tracts, ably assisted by one more who manages a wagon loaded with her two small children and a good number of gospel tracts to keep us supplied as needed.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
September 4: Viroqua Again
Some of you will remember how last spring when three of our number traveled to Viroqua to visit an old, faithful saint there, they made time to pass out gospel tracts at the farmers market in that town. On September 4, being back in the same town for the same reason, they also were able to find some time to share the gospel at that same market, this time handing out 127 gospel tracts.
September 6: Shannon, IL
During this ministry outing, we shared the gospel with the crowd lining the long route of the well attended Shannon Homecoming Parade. This was not one of the typical high school homecoming parades held in towns all over our nation before a football game and dance. This parade, and the accompanying event, was started in 1919 to welcome home soldiers who had served during WWI. No doubt for those families whose fathers, sons, husbands, or brothers had survived the war to return to the Shannon (current pop. 757) area, it was a joyous event. It turned out to be a joyous event for us as well, since we handed out, to individuals one by one, 2,633 gospel tracts! We trust the Lord will be pleased, by the work of the Holy Spirit with the gospel we shared, to bring men and women home to Him by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
September 11: Platteville, WI
The event which drew us to this college town was a Dairy Days Parade. The people to whom we witnessed were a very mixed multitude. In short, while some gladly received the gospel tracts we offered along the parade route and others did not betray their feelings one way or another, there was a sizable number of people who were stone cold and even antagonistic toward us because of our not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the word of life we offered to them. This was not unexpected, Platteville being a college town. Nevertheless, by the grace of God and some hard work, we were enabled to put 2,450 gospel tracts into the hands of as many people. Included in that number were some members of Boy Scout groups who walked in the parade and some members of the bands that played in it. Those particular individuals we were able to mingle among after the parade as they were dispersing and heading in all directions. As for the hard hearts, we are content to know that the gospel is the sword of the Spirit by which He is well able to pierce the hardest heart and bring the hardest sinner to his knees in repentance and belief, calling upon the name of the Lord for salvation.
Waiting in Platteville for the parade to start
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Walking the Platteville parade route – one of us on the sidewalk, one on the street
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September 17: Monroe, WI
This was a spur of the moment ministry undertaken by just one of our number, Joy, when she realized that the Monroe homecoming parade was about to begin that afternoon. Arming herself with gospel tracts, she headed directly to the parade route and began handing them out. Not surprising, there were a good number of parents and young people at this parade. There were some parents that refused the tract and did not want their young people to have it either; but there were also those who seemed to gladly receive the gospel, including some teachers! At one point, Joy saw a younger boy, perhaps 12 years old or so, join a group of friends on a curb she had already passed by. Consequently, she heard him say something about Jesus and realized he wanted a gospel tract, which of course, she was more than happy to give to him! In her last minute, spur of the moment witness, Joy gave out 302 gospel tracts.
September 18: Belmont and Blanchardville, WI – One Day, Two Parades
Mark handing out gospel tracts in Belmont
On this Saturday, we began the day with a gospel witness in the town that was Wisconsin’s first capital, Belmont (pop. 986). The event was the Belmont School & Community Fair Parade. This was another event that involved a great deal of young people of all ages. We walked each side of the parade route with our usual goal of offering a gospel tract to each onlooker, and then at the end of that route, were also able to give out gospel tracts to some of the young people who had been in the parade, such as members of the high school football team. In all, we handed out 1,259 gospel tracts.
With little time to spare, we then headed for Blanchardville (pop. 825). Unfortunately, we ran into a road construction detour resulting in a meandering cross-country jaunt for us which featured beautiful scenery but a certain amount of tension as we certainly did not want to miss an opportunity to share the gospel in the town we were hoping to end up after our scenic perambulating. Yet, the Lord helped us, and we arrived at Blanchardville in time to walk the homecoming parade route, which was only 3-1/2 blocks long but well filled with onlookers. We quickly found that we were witnessing, other than with some exceptions, to a cold and hard people. Nevertheless, we were still enabled by the Lord to hand out 888 gospel tracts.
With little time to spare, we then headed for Blanchardville (pop. 825). Unfortunately, we ran into a road construction detour resulting in a meandering cross-country jaunt for us which featured beautiful scenery but a certain amount of tension as we certainly did not want to miss an opportunity to share the gospel in the town we were hoping to end up after our scenic perambulating. Yet, the Lord helped us, and we arrived at Blanchardville in time to walk the homecoming parade route, which was only 3-1/2 blocks long but well filled with onlookers. We quickly found that we were witnessing, other than with some exceptions, to a cold and hard people. Nevertheless, we were still enabled by the Lord to hand out 888 gospel tracts.
September 25: Warren, IL
This day in September found us sharing the gospel at the Warren (pop. 1,428) Pumpkin Fest Parade. The parade was a long one and turned out to be good ground for sowing gospel seed – in fact, 1,317 gospel tracts. Of course, there were a certain number of hostile individuals, including one very bitter woman who snarled at one of our ladies, “I don’t want to hear about Jesus. Get away from me!” But on the other hand, another lady, upon receiving a gospel tract, read on the front of it, “Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners,” and then held it up declaring loudly, “This is what we need!” As in most of the other towns in which we witnessed this past year, a good number of young people received the gospel, some of them gladly, including a whole group of teenage boys standing together on a lawn.
September 30: Monroe, WI
One of us handed out 106 gospel tracts at the 2021 Cross Country Middle School Invitational. This was again a chance to share the gospel with a group of people that included a good many young people from nine schools.
October 1: Benton, WI
Three of us found ourselves in hostile territory as we walked the homecoming parade route in this town, offering gospel tracts to onlookers. Benton (pop. 973) is a very Roman Catholic town with the historic background of being the sort of headquarters and burial place of a famous RC priest, the “Venerable Father” Samuel Mazzuchelli. In1831, Mazzuchelli began establishing the first Roman Catholic parishes in Wisconsin. During his career, he founded the first diocese in Wisconsin, a number of other dioceses in Wisconsin and Iowa, as well as many individual Roman Catholic churches.
Many men and women attending the parade made it plain they wanted nothing to do with our gospel message. At the end of the parade, we were blessed to have a number of the young people who had been in the parade accept tracts from us. But our great spiritual adversary (1 Peter 5:8-9) stirred up a woman teacher who snatched gospel tracts out of the hands of some the young people, though others had already put the tracts in their pockets, in some cases, apparently to keep them away from the anti-gospel vigilante. She then came up to us with a very dark face, thrust the stolen tracts at us and made clear what she thought of our sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with young people. In return, I shared a few words with her by way of a scriptural rebuke and warning concerning what she had done in stealing the word of life from those young people who had willingly accepted it. By the time all was said and done in Benton, we felt glad to have given out at 294 gospel tracts. Given the hostility that was in the air, and the hard coldness on many faces, we felt it was a pretty good time of gospel sowing and just where we were supposed to be on that fine fall day in October.
Many men and women attending the parade made it plain they wanted nothing to do with our gospel message. At the end of the parade, we were blessed to have a number of the young people who had been in the parade accept tracts from us. But our great spiritual adversary (1 Peter 5:8-9) stirred up a woman teacher who snatched gospel tracts out of the hands of some the young people, though others had already put the tracts in their pockets, in some cases, apparently to keep them away from the anti-gospel vigilante. She then came up to us with a very dark face, thrust the stolen tracts at us and made clear what she thought of our sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with young people. In return, I shared a few words with her by way of a scriptural rebuke and warning concerning what she had done in stealing the word of life from those young people who had willingly accepted it. By the time all was said and done in Benton, we felt glad to have given out at 294 gospel tracts. Given the hostility that was in the air, and the hard coldness on many faces, we felt it was a pretty good time of gospel sowing and just where we were supposed to be on that fine fall day in October.
October 9: Argyle, WI
The people with whom we shared the gospel during the homecoming parade in little Argyle, Wisconsin (pop. 857) were, in general, a cheerful, friendly group. Considering the total number of individuals on hand to watch this Saturday afternoon parade, we felt blessed of the Lord to give out 685 gospel tracts.
October 30: Belleville, WI
The pendulum swung back the other way again during our gospel witness in Belleville at the UFO Day Parade. Though the population of this town is only 2,385, a very great crowd was on hand for UFO Day which featured the parade but also other doings in the local park, various booths, bands, and so forth. We ran into a quite a number of hostile men and women who coldly refused our offer of a gospel tract. The parade itself featured various weird floats and a number of individuals in devilish costumes. I suppose this is not surprising, given the theme was UFO Day and the event was one day before “Halloween.” But, it was a blessing to bring the light of the gospel into such a dark place, and with all of the refusals we met with, we also were enabled to hand out 1,360 gospel tracts.
November 19: Madison, WI
Last year, due to the Covid situation, the WIAA state football championship games were cancelled. Up until then, we had shared the gospel at that event nineteen years straight. So it was good to be back again at the University of Wisconsin football stadium this year to again share the way of salvation with football fans, the majority of them high school age. We made use of one of our large gospel signs, which was seen and read by a great many fans as they arrived at the stadium. In fact, a number of young people loudly read the gospel message on the sign, thus calling all the more attention to it. At the same time, we offered tracts to those same fans. It is always gratifying to be able to witness to so many young people in one place.
During our time of witness, one man, who appeared to be a driver of one of the school buses bringing young fans, commended us for handing out gospel tracts and quoted a number of Scripture passages. One very sincere young man, high school age, took the time to read our tract and then, with a smile, held it up and declared, “What you are doing is a good thing.” Another young lad, perhaps 14 or 15 years old, made time to come back to us after having earlier received a tract and obviously read through it. He held up the tract, and with a broad smile loudly proclaimed, “It’s true!” We saw a young girl who had not yet received a gospel tract spot one on the sidewalk and pick it up in order to have one.
As usual, some young people, mostly in juvenile mocking, loudly read the title of the tract we were handing out, Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners. But we rejoiced at the unintended witness made to all those around such “preachers” who unwittingly helped us in our effort to touch as many football fans as possible with a gospel message, even if in that case an abbreviated one. But this was not the only unintended assistance we received in that regard. A group of high school girls asked one of our ladies if they could pose with her beside our large gospel sign for a picture. They gave no indication of being Christians but neither were they acting in a mocking fashion. In fact, they seemed to be very nice girls. While three of the girls crowded in close beside the sign on each side, a fourth took pictures. Afterward, all accepted gospel tracts as well. As they walked away, we rejoiced with thanksgiving to the Lord who had provided this way of multiplying our witness since we knew the pictures taken would be spread far and wide through the internet on social media by a generation that is, sadly, addicted to that very media.
For whatever reason, the attendance at the games, at least on the day we were present, was down considerably from other years. But, as just mentioned, the Lord graciously multiplied our witness in other ways in addition to the total of 1,078 gospel tracts that we handed out.
During our time of witness, one man, who appeared to be a driver of one of the school buses bringing young fans, commended us for handing out gospel tracts and quoted a number of Scripture passages. One very sincere young man, high school age, took the time to read our tract and then, with a smile, held it up and declared, “What you are doing is a good thing.” Another young lad, perhaps 14 or 15 years old, made time to come back to us after having earlier received a tract and obviously read through it. He held up the tract, and with a broad smile loudly proclaimed, “It’s true!” We saw a young girl who had not yet received a gospel tract spot one on the sidewalk and pick it up in order to have one.
As usual, some young people, mostly in juvenile mocking, loudly read the title of the tract we were handing out, Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners. But we rejoiced at the unintended witness made to all those around such “preachers” who unwittingly helped us in our effort to touch as many football fans as possible with a gospel message, even if in that case an abbreviated one. But this was not the only unintended assistance we received in that regard. A group of high school girls asked one of our ladies if they could pose with her beside our large gospel sign for a picture. They gave no indication of being Christians but neither were they acting in a mocking fashion. In fact, they seemed to be very nice girls. While three of the girls crowded in close beside the sign on each side, a fourth took pictures. Afterward, all accepted gospel tracts as well. As they walked away, we rejoiced with thanksgiving to the Lord who had provided this way of multiplying our witness since we knew the pictures taken would be spread far and wide through the internet on social media by a generation that is, sadly, addicted to that very media.
For whatever reason, the attendance at the games, at least on the day we were present, was down considerably from other years. But, as just mentioned, the Lord graciously multiplied our witness in other ways in addition to the total of 1,078 gospel tracts that we handed out.
Gospel Billboard Campaign
Since our gospel billboard campaign began in the spring of 2016, we have had our message posted on 69 billboards in 44 towns and cities. In 2021, we posted our gospel message, along with a website address to our gospel booklet From Death unto Life, on 12 billboards in as many cities, all in the state of Wisconsin. When deciding which boards to rent, we take into account speed of traffic, projected number of viewings per week by persons in passing cars; we also take into account pedestrian traffic in the area and location as to what businesses, jails, bars, schools, stores, or large public events are in close proximity to the billboard on which our message will be posted.
After the tornadoes in Kentucky, we moved quickly to secure billboards in the hard hit area. By the grace of God, on January 3, our gospel message was posted on two billboards in Kentucky. One billboard is in Bowling Green and the other in Glasgow. Both cities were hit hard by the December tornado with Bowling Green having 17 fatalities. But at the same time, neither town was laid waste to the extent some other towns were. Thus both are serving as staging areas for aid workers and other workers, such as utility crews, construction workers, and so forth. Also, there are no doubt individuals from the devastated areas staying in Bowling Green and Glasgow. Thus, there are multiple benefits to having the billboards in those cities. We have found by firsthand experience that in such situations, many people are genuinely thirsty for the word of God. Both of our billboards are on very heavily travelled streets, and one is right in front of a motel with some forty rooms which will no doubt be housing the sort of out-of-town workers mentioned and perhaps refugees who lost their homes. So please pray that the Lord would greatly bless our gospel sowing in Kentucky with a gospel harvest. Our church also sent a case of Bibles to Kentucky to be offered to persons coming to a distribution center in hard hit Mayfield for clothing, food, and so forth.
Thus far, we have two other billboards already reserved for 2022 as well, namely in South Beloit, IL and Onalaska, WI. Our gospel message will be on the Onalaska billboard Sept. 12 – Oct. 9. This billboard is located on a very busy street, with heavy vehicle traffic and much pedestrian traffic. But our message will also be up during the Oktoberfest in La Crosse which brings 150,000 people for that weekend event. Onalaska and La Crosse are two cities joined together. We hope to rent a good many more “boards” for this year as well.
Recently, we also learned that a billboard in Freeport, IL on which we had our gospel message shows up on a Google Maps street view. Thus that gospel message continues to be read by a great many people, and no doubt will be for a number of years!
After the tornadoes in Kentucky, we moved quickly to secure billboards in the hard hit area. By the grace of God, on January 3, our gospel message was posted on two billboards in Kentucky. One billboard is in Bowling Green and the other in Glasgow. Both cities were hit hard by the December tornado with Bowling Green having 17 fatalities. But at the same time, neither town was laid waste to the extent some other towns were. Thus both are serving as staging areas for aid workers and other workers, such as utility crews, construction workers, and so forth. Also, there are no doubt individuals from the devastated areas staying in Bowling Green and Glasgow. Thus, there are multiple benefits to having the billboards in those cities. We have found by firsthand experience that in such situations, many people are genuinely thirsty for the word of God. Both of our billboards are on very heavily travelled streets, and one is right in front of a motel with some forty rooms which will no doubt be housing the sort of out-of-town workers mentioned and perhaps refugees who lost their homes. So please pray that the Lord would greatly bless our gospel sowing in Kentucky with a gospel harvest. Our church also sent a case of Bibles to Kentucky to be offered to persons coming to a distribution center in hard hit Mayfield for clothing, food, and so forth.
Thus far, we have two other billboards already reserved for 2022 as well, namely in South Beloit, IL and Onalaska, WI. Our gospel message will be on the Onalaska billboard Sept. 12 – Oct. 9. This billboard is located on a very busy street, with heavy vehicle traffic and much pedestrian traffic. But our message will also be up during the Oktoberfest in La Crosse which brings 150,000 people for that weekend event. Onalaska and La Crosse are two cities joined together. We hope to rent a good many more “boards” for this year as well.
Recently, we also learned that a billboard in Freeport, IL on which we had our gospel message shows up on a Google Maps street view. Thus that gospel message continues to be read by a great many people, and no doubt will be for a number of years!
So long, 2021!
As mentioned, our church is smaller now than it ever was, and so is our open-air gospel team. Also this year, there was still somewhat a shortage of large events such as Cheese Days and parades in the larger cities such as Freeport, IL and Beloit and Janesville, WI at which to witness. Yet we were enabled by the Lord to pass out 27,332 gospel tracts this year at 29 different events in 24 towns and cities in Wisconsin and Illinois. Added to that is our gospel billboard witness. As President Reagan famously said as he concluded his farewell address, “Not bad, not bad at all!” But to God be the glory!
2021 PCC Public Ministry Events
Christ Jesus Came into the World tracts unless otherwise noted
- March 20 – Scripture signs in Monroe
- April 24 – Freeport Pretzel Fest – 279 tracts
- May 15 – Baraboo Fair on the Square – 876 tracts
- May 22 – Viroqua Farmers Market – 74 tracts
- May 31 – Rockford Memorial Day Parade – 1,392 tracts
- June 4 – Monroe Car Show – 500 tracts
- June 13 – Darlington Canoe Fest Parade – 911 tracts + 26 Spanish tracts
- June 19 – Cottage Grove Firemen’s Festival Parade – 1,270 tracts
- June 26 – Brodhead Family Fest Parade – 962 tracts
- July 3 – Evansville 4th of July Parade – 3,308 tracts
- July 17 – Elizabeth 100th Community Fair Parade – 783 tracts
- July 17 – German Valley Days Parade – 815 tracts
- July 31 – New Glarus 175th Anniversary Parade – 1,164 tracts
- July 31 – Janesville Farmers Market – 233 tracts
- Aug. 14 – Lodi Susie the Duck Parade – 1,227 tracts
- Aug. 21 – Monroe Concerts on the Square – 324 Heaven or Hell tracts
- Aug. 28 – Pearl City Boulevard Bash Parade – 689 tracts
- Sept. 4 – Viroqua Farmers Market – 127 Heaven or Hell tracts
- Sept. 6 – Shannon Homecoming Parade – 2,633 Heaven or Hell tracts
- Sept. 11 – Platteville Dairy Days Parade – 2,450 tracts
- Sept. 17 – Monroe Homecoming Parade – 302 tracts
- Sept. 18 – Belmont School & Community Fair Parade – 1,259 Heaven or Hell Tracts
- Sept. 18 – Blanchardville Homecoming Parade – 888 tracts
- Sept. 25 – Warren Pumpkin Fest Parade – 1,317 tracts
- Sept. 30 – Monroe Cross Country Meet – 106 tracts
- Oct. 1 – Benton Homecoming Parade – 294 tracts
- Oct. 9 – Argyle Homecoming Parade – 685 tracts
- Oct. 30 – Belleville UFO Day Parade – 1,360 tracts
- Nov. 19 – WIAA Football Tournaments – 1,078 tracts
Total: 27,332 Gospel Tracts
September 7, 2021
“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
“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
Dear Friends,
Below you will find brief summaries of the various gospel witnesses we have engaged in since June 13 and up until, but not including, the Labor Day weekend. The Lord has truly done great things for us, and we trust by us, in spite of the fact that we have fewer workers now due to a shrinking of our church congregation in the past year and a half. But in this time of spiritual downgrade, we know that we are not alone in that respect. Our thanks to all who pray for us and also for those who have chosen to help us cover the costs of this work.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Below you will find brief summaries of the various gospel witnesses we have engaged in since June 13 and up until, but not including, the Labor Day weekend. The Lord has truly done great things for us, and we trust by us, in spite of the fact that we have fewer workers now due to a shrinking of our church congregation in the past year and a half. But in this time of spiritual downgrade, we know that we are not alone in that respect. Our thanks to all who pray for us and also for those who have chosen to help us cover the costs of this work.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Darlington Canoe Fest Parade
There was a fair turnout for this June 13 parade in Darlington, Wisconsin (pop. 2,451). We walked the parade route with four of us doing nothing but giving out tracts and one of our number pulling a wagon with extra tracts as well as her two children. No matter the size of the town in which we are conducting a gospel witness, we always go loaded down with a high number of gospel tracts. We have found it is wise, and only right, to not limit the Lord with respect to how many perishing sinners He may provide for us with whom to share the gospel of life. There have been times when the demographics of the area and event dictated far, far fewer tracts than we have ended giving out. As is our goal with all parades, we covered this one in Darlington very thoroughly in accordance with our goal to offer everyone on hand a gospel tract.
At one point in the parade route, there were three nice, younger ladies from a Lutheran church sitting at a table adorned with a banner bearing their church name. Their “ministry” consisted entirely of handing out free bottles of water. They were offered gospel tracts, which each very cheerfully accepted. Our prayer is that they, and many others who received our tracts, would repent, believe the gospel, and call upon the Lord to save them from sin, darkness, death, and hell. When all was said and done in Darlington that day, we had handed out 911 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners gospel tracts and also 26 gospel tracts in Spanish. There are a large number of Hispanics in that area working on large dairy farms, and some preferred a Spanish tract when offered. A Roman Catholic priest also accepted one of our gospel tracts.
At one point in the parade route, there were three nice, younger ladies from a Lutheran church sitting at a table adorned with a banner bearing their church name. Their “ministry” consisted entirely of handing out free bottles of water. They were offered gospel tracts, which each very cheerfully accepted. Our prayer is that they, and many others who received our tracts, would repent, believe the gospel, and call upon the Lord to save them from sin, darkness, death, and hell. When all was said and done in Darlington that day, we had handed out 911 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners gospel tracts and also 26 gospel tracts in Spanish. There are a large number of Hispanics in that area working on large dairy farms, and some preferred a Spanish tract when offered. A Roman Catholic priest also accepted one of our gospel tracts.
Cottage Grove Firemen’s Festival Parade—June 19
Six days after our gospel labors in Darlington, we headed for Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. At this parade, we handed out 1,270 of our gospel tracts. We ran into somewhat more than the average of refusals at this event. But considering the nearness of Cottage Grove to Madison, reception was still quite good. A Roman Catholic group, complete with a priest in full garb, sent a wrought-up representative to me with the demand that we cease our witness. They were obviously frantic at the thought that we were handing out gospel tracts and worried to distraction that some in the crowd might associate them with the likes of us! I made it plain to the Romish spokesman that we had no desire whatsoever to be associated with them and were going to make certain to stay well ahead of their float, or if it became necessary, well behind it. But, as he made apparent that they still wanted us to simply go away, I also made it clear we were going to do what we had set out to do—that is, share the gospel of grace with everyone on hand. No doubt a good number of Roman Catholics were among those who did receive our gospel tracts, which are scriptural and sound; and one of them was a local priest standing in front of his church.
Brodhead, Wisconsin Gospel Witness
June 26 found us in Brodhead where we conducted a gospel witness at the Brodhead Family Fest parade. It was a rainy day. As we drove to Brodhead, it was lightly raining. As we drove home after the witness was over, it was rainy. But during the parade, and thus our time of witness for the Lord, there was no rain. This is far from the first time the Lord has given us a dry window in the midst of an otherwise rainy day. So it was far from the first time numbers of perishing sinners have had the gospel, the word of life, shared with them who otherwise would not have if it had continued raining since rain soaks gospel tracts, wrecking them. Finally, it was far from the first time we went home praising God for His sovereign mercy and power in causing the rain to cease at just the right time to enable us to witness of the way of salvation through “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). The total number of tracts we were enabled to hand out at this event was 962.
Evansville, Wisconsin Fourth of July Parade
We celebrated the 245th anniversary of the independence of our nation by proclaiming “liberty throughout” (Leviticus 25:10) the town of Evansville—that is, gospel liberty. We walked the route of the Independence Day parade, held on July 3, and handed out our gospel tracts. The Lord was truly with us, enabling us to give out 3,308 gospel tracts, and this in a town which is also closer to Madison. Among those receiving the tracts were a number of students from the local school who rode on and marched alongside a float touting “gay pride.” These poor, deceived young people were not all homosexuals, but they had been convinced they were taking part in a noble cause. Several hard-bitten older individuals who made it known they are homosexuals also took tracts after a short discussion. The Lord is well able to save “the chief of sinners,” and that certainly includes even long-time homosexuals.
Two Parades in One Day
Our next gospel ministry effort was a double header and a remarkable one at that! In truth, what happened was an obvious display of the Lord’s sovereign mercy, grace, and power. Elizabeth, Illinois and German Valley, Illinois both held events on July 17. These towns are 47 miles apart, and both had parades but at times which allowed us to witness at both of those parades. First came Elizabeth, population 761, and the 100th Community Fair parade. We were happy and grateful to be enabled to hand out our gospel tracts to 783 individuals.
But the best was yet to come! Truly the Lord is well able—not only in His people but also by them and in all things—to do “abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). After Elizabeth, it was on to German Valley, Illinois, population 463. At this German Valley Days parade, 815 gospel tracts were handed out to those watching the parade.
Obviously, farm folks and other country dwellers also come into town for these sorts of events. But just as obviously, the population of any town includes babies and very young children whom we do not give tracts to, as well as individuals who cannot or do not want to attend a parade. In addition, not everyone at one of these events accepts a gospel tract. To make a comparison, the equivalent of what happened in German Valley would be for us to give out almost 40,000 tracts at one parade in a town of 20,000 people. Suffice it to say, the day was for us a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord of the harvest.
But the best was yet to come! Truly the Lord is well able—not only in His people but also by them and in all things—to do “abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). After Elizabeth, it was on to German Valley, Illinois, population 463. At this German Valley Days parade, 815 gospel tracts were handed out to those watching the parade.
Obviously, farm folks and other country dwellers also come into town for these sorts of events. But just as obviously, the population of any town includes babies and very young children whom we do not give tracts to, as well as individuals who cannot or do not want to attend a parade. In addition, not everyone at one of these events accepts a gospel tract. To make a comparison, the equivalent of what happened in German Valley would be for us to give out almost 40,000 tracts at one parade in a town of 20,000 people. Suffice it to say, the day was for us a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord of the harvest.
Another Two in One Day Gospel Ministry
On July 31, we split our already small force with two of us heading to the Janesville, Wisconsin farmers market and three to the 175th Anniversary Parade in New Glarus, Wisconsin. The farmers market crowd was not what could be called huge; but at the same time, there were people constantly coming and going. One of us held a large Scripture sign while the other one concentrated on getting out gospel tracts.
I generally avoid getting tied up in conversations when doing gospel ministry unless it is with a person who seems to be genuinely seeking the Lord. But I made an exception to the rule when a young, very sincere Christian couple stopped to thank us for being out. They had come under the conviction that perhaps they should engage in such a gospel witness at the farmers market but had held back, not being sure if a witness at such a place was legally possible. I assured them it was and explained the law to them in that regard. They seemed quite excited by the prospect of conducting an open-air gospel witness. We also talked over some other important issues with regard to the state of the church, including ecumenical error and New Evangelicalism in general. I was uneasy spending close to a half hour with these two, but they certainly came across as sincerely wanting to know the will of the Lord in all things. My hope is that our time was well spent.
I generally avoid getting tied up in conversations when doing gospel ministry unless it is with a person who seems to be genuinely seeking the Lord. But I made an exception to the rule when a young, very sincere Christian couple stopped to thank us for being out. They had come under the conviction that perhaps they should engage in such a gospel witness at the farmers market but had held back, not being sure if a witness at such a place was legally possible. I assured them it was and explained the law to them in that regard. They seemed quite excited by the prospect of conducting an open-air gospel witness. We also talked over some other important issues with regard to the state of the church, including ecumenical error and New Evangelicalism in general. I was uneasy spending close to a half hour with these two, but they certainly came across as sincerely wanting to know the will of the Lord in all things. My hope is that our time was well spent.
We had a good deal of encouragement from other Christians who were visibly glad to see us sharing the gospel, and as some made clear, especially in times like these. We gave out a total of 233 gospel tracts, and far more people than that saw our double-sided gospel sign.
Meanwhile, our hard-working trio in New Glarus handed out 1,164 gospel tracts at the parade there! One of those who received the gospel was a man who appeared to be in his seventies who said, “I need help,” as he took the tract. We pray he sought the Lord for that help and was saved.
Meanwhile, our hard-working trio in New Glarus handed out 1,164 gospel tracts at the parade there! One of those who received the gospel was a man who appeared to be in his seventies who said, “I need help,” as he took the tract. We pray he sought the Lord for that help and was saved.
Gospel Witness at the Susie the Duck Parade, Lodi, Wisconsin
A local church's version of witnessing to the perishing
Some parades are held to honor great men or women or to memorialize great events. On August 14, we conducted a gospel witness at a parade which is held to honor a duck! In brief, Susie, the memorialized duck, achieved celebrity status (at least in Lodi) by yearly hatching out a brood of ducklings under a small bridge on a downtown street of Lodi.
The Lord truly blessed our gospel labors in this small town, enabling us to pass out 1,227 gospel tracts, including one to Congressman and devout Roman Catholic Glenn Grothman.
The Lord truly blessed our gospel labors in this small town, enabling us to pass out 1,227 gospel tracts, including one to Congressman and devout Roman Catholic Glenn Grothman.
Monroe Concert on the Square
Three of our number shared the gospel with the crowd which attended this event on August 21, a crowd which was on the cold side when it came to accepting gospel tracts. But 324 individuals did accept our tracts, and those who did not still saw the large gospel sign which was held for all to see as part of the witness.
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Sharing the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:46) in Pearl City, Illinois
We traveled to this small town on August 28 for the purpose of sharing the gospel at the Boulevard Bash parade. The parade route was one mile long, but the crowd was about as sparse as a “crowd” can get. But amazingly, the Lord still enabled us to hand out 689 gospel tracts, including to the Pearl City High School football team which was on a float in the parade. We also were enabled to get tracts to some others on floats, including some members—one man and several young people—of the local Methodist church.
Gospel Billboard Update
As of the date of this ministry report, we have had our gospel message on 65 billboards in various cities, mostly in Wisconsin but also a few in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Currently, we have upcoming billboards in the following cities: Monroe, Wisconsin and Sparta, Wisconsin.
Our billboard in Marshfield, Wisconsin, which went up on August 16, is one example of the sort of locations we look for when renting a billboard. Our gospel witness in Marshfield is on the same busy street corner as a Mexican grocery store and on the same block as an “adult” store, a tattoo parlor, and a night club. On the other side of the street from our billboard, there is a movie theater, a family restaurant, a small park, and a picnic area where there is live music on weekends. The billboard is kitty-corner from another restaurant with an outside dining area. Next on that block, there is a bar and a big Mobil gas station. To top it off, our gospel message was on that billboard during the Central Wisconsin State Fair. Lord willing and as our resources permit, we intend to continue posting our gospel message on such billboards.
Our billboard in Marshfield, Wisconsin, which went up on August 16, is one example of the sort of locations we look for when renting a billboard. Our gospel witness in Marshfield is on the same busy street corner as a Mexican grocery store and on the same block as an “adult” store, a tattoo parlor, and a night club. On the other side of the street from our billboard, there is a movie theater, a family restaurant, a small park, and a picnic area where there is live music on weekends. The billboard is kitty-corner from another restaurant with an outside dining area. Next on that block, there is a bar and a big Mobil gas station. To top it off, our gospel message was on that billboard during the Central Wisconsin State Fair. Lord willing and as our resources permit, we intend to continue posting our gospel message on such billboards.
June 9, 2021
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Dear Friends,
We are thankful that more public events are finally being held after virtually all were cancelled last year due to Covid-19, although the boys state basketball championships and the state wrestling tournaments, both held in Madison in early spring, were still cancelled this year. We have witnessed at those two events for many years. But we are grateful that towards the end of April this year, things began loosening up, and ministry opportunities have begun to spring up to the point that we are looking forward to what will now be a very busy time of gospel witness. So far, attendance at the events where we have shared the gospel has been, with one exception, smaller than we expected, but this too should improve as the weeks go on.
We are thankful that more public events are finally being held after virtually all were cancelled last year due to Covid-19, although the boys state basketball championships and the state wrestling tournaments, both held in Madison in early spring, were still cancelled this year. We have witnessed at those two events for many years. But we are grateful that towards the end of April this year, things began loosening up, and ministry opportunities have begun to spring up to the point that we are looking forward to what will now be a very busy time of gospel witness. So far, attendance at the events where we have shared the gospel has been, with one exception, smaller than we expected, but this too should improve as the weeks go on.
Janet during a witness on a busy intersection in Monroe
Several of our number held Scripture signs and handed out tracts at a busy intersection in Monroe during the early spring. But now we will be able to do more, much more than that.
We deeply appreciate those who remember this ministry in prayer and also those who have helped fund it. With respect to the latter, we have just recently picked up another order of 25,000 gospel tracts, and we are continuing our gospel billboard campaign as well. You will find an update of that campaign below.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
We deeply appreciate those who remember this ministry in prayer and also those who have helped fund it. With respect to the latter, we have just recently picked up another order of 25,000 gospel tracts, and we are continuing our gospel billboard campaign as well. You will find an update of that campaign below.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
At the Freeport Pretzel Fest, “Ben Franklin” says no to the gospel.
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April 24 Gospel Witness at the Freeport, Illinois Pretzel Fest
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 This was the first of what organizers hope will be a yearly Pretzel Fest. It turned out to be a very small event—very small indeed, being only one block long and sparsely attended. But by the grace of God, and some diligent work, we were able to hand out 279 of our gospel tracts, including three Spanish tracts. Two of our number also held large gospel signs at the entrance points at each end of the block in which the Pretzel Fest was held. So not only did persons attending the event read the gospel message on those signs but also persons in the passing cars on the busy streets bordering the event area.
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Baraboo Fair on the Square
“. . . Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,
saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 On May 15, five of us traveled to Baraboo, Wisconsin to conduct our first ever gospel witness at that city’s Spring Fair on the Square. Here again, the lingering pall of Covid-19 kept numbers lower than in the past, as we understand it from reports of this event pre-Covid. Upon arriving at the site of our witness, the courthouse square in downtown Baraboo, two of our number posted themselves at strategic locations on a busy street bordering the square where they each held one of our large Scripture signs and gave out tracts. Thus once again, persons arriving at this event read the gospel message as did occupants of passing cars on the very busy street bordering it. Meanwhile,
We work hard to be thorough during our gospel witnesses.
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Joy sharing the gospel during Baraboo Fair on the Square
three of us concentrated on handing out gospel tracts, one on the perimeter of the event and two of us circulating among the crowd. We kept hard at it, and when the dust settled, we had given out 876 Christ Jesus Came into the World tracts.
A Gospel Target of Opportunity
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Luke 14:23 Saturday, May 22 found several of our members traveling to the town of Viroqua, Wisconsin to visit an elderly saint, and a choice one at that! On arriving at the town of their destination, they noticed a farmers market in progress. One of our brethren jumped out of the car and, as she put it, did a “very quick hit” during which she handed out 74 of our gospel tracts before the trio moved on to their scheduled rendezvous with their older sister in the Lord.
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But consider how quickly and easily 74 individuals—by all appearances, perishing souls—received the word of life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. All that was needed to accomplish that was a love of the lost and some sound, scriptural gospel tracts. Evangelism is the first and supreme duty of the body of Christ outside the church in the world around us. A great multitude of faithful brethren, past and present, have sacrificed much and, in many cases, risked their very lives to share the gospel with the perishing. It seems shocking that many evangelical churches in this free land have no ongoing gospel ministry out in the “highways and byways” of the world.
Memorial Day Witness
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life . . .” Philippians 2:15-16
This year, many Memorial Day parades were still cancelled, but not all. On May 31, four of us travelled to Rockford, Illinois in order to share the gospel at the parade in that city, a city which we have found to have a tremendous attendance at parades in the past. The last time we conducted a gospel witness in Rockford, we gave out well over 5,000 tracts at the Labor Day parade. So, this year, we went well loaded with tracts and great expectations. On the one hand, we were disappointed to see that the crowd along the one-mile-plus parade route was small, and in spots, sparse. But on the other hand, we were blessed by the very high reception rate of our gospel tracts which were received—in many cases, gladly received—by 1,392 individuals. That number includes some police officers.
Speaking of police officers, one of Rockford’s finest voiced a warm “God bless you” to one of our number. There was a sizable number of police units, state and local, who marched in the parade. Although this has nothing to do with our gospel work, the reader may be interested in knowing that the great majority of the American flag-waving parade watchers, white and black, loudly, enthusiastically showed their support and appreciation of those officers as a small band of Black Lives Matter militants began shouting “murderers, murderers” at them.
Speaking of police officers, one of Rockford’s finest voiced a warm “God bless you” to one of our number. There was a sizable number of police units, state and local, who marched in the parade. Although this has nothing to do with our gospel work, the reader may be interested in knowing that the great majority of the American flag-waving parade watchers, white and black, loudly, enthusiastically showed their support and appreciation of those officers as a small band of Black Lives Matter militants began shouting “murderers, murderers” at them.
Gospel Light at the Monroe Car Show
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:2
upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:2
On the early evening of June 4, three of our number, armed with gospel tracts, headed for the courthouse square in Monroe. The event at which they shared the gospel was a car show which in the past has been a fairly small event. But while other events thus far have had lower attendance, this one had a higher than expected number of attendees. That being said, the witnessing trio were satisfied that they had offered gospel tracts to the vast majority of all those who came to look at a number of older cars. Our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts were accepted by 500 individuals. Hopefully the increased attendance of this event is an earnest of things to come!
Gospel Billboard Campaign
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
So far this year, we have already had our gospel message on five billboards. We currently have seven more billboards reserved for that same message, all in great locations at great times. As I have mentioned in the past, in each case, our gospel message is up for a minimum of thirty days; but often, we get more days than we paid for—in fact, in some cases, many more days. Since my last update, we have secured billboards in Manitowoc, Richland Center, and Sparta. Counting those billboards thus far scheduled for this year, the total number of gospel billboards in this campaign comes to 67 but still counting!
We face a task unfinished,
That drives us to our knees,
A need, that undiminished,
Rebukes our slothful ease,
We, who rejoice to know Thee,
Renew before Thy Throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee
To go and make thee known.
February 18, 2021
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
Dear Friends,
We are in the habit of sending out an update on our public ministry, that is, our gospel witness out in the world, about every three months. 2020 was a disappointing year for us due to the cancellation of virtually all large events such as parades and even most small events. We did what we could, taking advantage of opportunities we did find, and we trust the Lord will bring in a harvest of souls by the gospel seed sown.
With this being the dead of winter, our efforts at this time consist of preparing for the upcoming gospel season by praying, scheduling another large printing of gospel tracts, and securing more billboards for our gospel message.
We are in the habit of sending out an update on our public ministry, that is, our gospel witness out in the world, about every three months. 2020 was a disappointing year for us due to the cancellation of virtually all large events such as parades and even most small events. We did what we could, taking advantage of opportunities we did find, and we trust the Lord will bring in a harvest of souls by the gospel seed sown.
With this being the dead of winter, our efforts at this time consist of preparing for the upcoming gospel season by praying, scheduling another large printing of gospel tracts, and securing more billboards for our gospel message.
Since we began that campaign in May of 2016, we have posted our gospel message on 56 billboards in prime locations mostly in Wisconsin; but we have also shared the same message on billboards in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. The Nebraska boards, with two exceptions, were posted during the time that the College World Series was on in Omaha, and we had brethren conducting gospel ministry at that event.
So far this year, we have reserved nine billboards, again all in prime locations. One of these, in Milton, WI, was already up from January 11—February 7. Added to that billboard are ones scheduled for Stevens Point, Stoughton, Montfort, Beaver Dam, Oshkosh, Marshfield, Monroe (during Cheese Days), and Menomonie.
I mentioned that we seek prime locations for billboards on which to post our gospel message. Several examples of this from the billboard locations we have reserved this year might encourage you in that regard. Our gospel message will appear in Beaver Dam on a billboard which is literally on the outside wall of a building housing a bar and over a parking lot the bar shares with a bank. It is low on that wall but above the vehicles which will park in that lot. It is wonderful to think of patrons of that bar having that gospel message right in front of them as they come to the bar and as they leave after a night of drinking. The sidewalk between the billboard and the street is fairly narrow, and those slowly driving past in vehicles will have plenty of time to read our message. The area is very busy with pedestrian traffic in the summer (our message will be posted from the end of June to the end of July). The same area also has many shops, a historical site across the street from our billboard, an apartment building with many windows through which our billboard will be plainly visible, and a major business district nearby.
Our billboard scheduled for Marshfield August 16—September 13 is located on a busy traffic artery but specifically in what might be called a somewhat seedy part of town with a nightclub, a tattoo parlor, and an “adult”-type store on the same block. But there are also other businesses in that immediate area such as restaurants and a movie theater; and there is a park close by in which live entertainment is provided during the warmer months, including the time when our message will be up. Another event which will take place in Marshfield during the time our gospel message will be up is the Central Wisconsin State Fair.
These two examples of our gospel billboards are good representations of the locations where we have posted our gospel message. Some locations may not have been quite as good; others have been better, including, for instance, a billboard right by a county jail and visible from it, as well as to all inmates being brought to the jail and those coming to visit loved ones in jail.
As mentioned, our general rule is to look for areas where our message will have a very high rate of viewing. But that is not to say we have not had some billboards in areas where the viewing may not have been as high, but the need was great. In the providence of God, a number of our billboards have stayed up past, and sometimes well past, our paid-for time. This apparently happens when the billboard company has no other renter for the particular billboard at the time our contract runs out. Now, this has been amazing because the locations where we have been blessed with extra free time have always been excellent ones. A number have been up for weeks after they were scheduled to come down. The record though was a billboard we rented on a busy highway near Omaha. Amazingly, this billboard remained up for at least nine months! But there is more. During that time, there was major flooding, and a number of highways were shut down with traffic routed to the highway beside which our gospel billboard stood!
Speaking of disasters, soon after the “Derecho” devastated a huge part of Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, we had our gospel message posted on not one, but two billboards in that stricken city.
We have had responses from those gospel billboards which have been seen by uncounted multitudes. We have faith that the Lord has used, and will use, our gospel signs for the saving of many souls. I know I have mentioned this before, but perhaps it bears mentioning again that the simple website address on our billboard, pccmonroe.org/salvation, goes directly to the substantial gospel message which is contained in our gospel booklet, From Death unto Life.
We are eagerly looking forward to our 2021 gospel campaign. The need for a gospel witness in the world has certainly not decreased! For our part, we are committed to do our best in 2021 for the Lord and the perishing.
Thanks again to those who pray for this work and help with the expense of it. The Lord bless all of His faithful people in this time of great falling way from faithfulness.
Ralph Ovadal
So far this year, we have reserved nine billboards, again all in prime locations. One of these, in Milton, WI, was already up from January 11—February 7. Added to that billboard are ones scheduled for Stevens Point, Stoughton, Montfort, Beaver Dam, Oshkosh, Marshfield, Monroe (during Cheese Days), and Menomonie.
I mentioned that we seek prime locations for billboards on which to post our gospel message. Several examples of this from the billboard locations we have reserved this year might encourage you in that regard. Our gospel message will appear in Beaver Dam on a billboard which is literally on the outside wall of a building housing a bar and over a parking lot the bar shares with a bank. It is low on that wall but above the vehicles which will park in that lot. It is wonderful to think of patrons of that bar having that gospel message right in front of them as they come to the bar and as they leave after a night of drinking. The sidewalk between the billboard and the street is fairly narrow, and those slowly driving past in vehicles will have plenty of time to read our message. The area is very busy with pedestrian traffic in the summer (our message will be posted from the end of June to the end of July). The same area also has many shops, a historical site across the street from our billboard, an apartment building with many windows through which our billboard will be plainly visible, and a major business district nearby.
Our billboard scheduled for Marshfield August 16—September 13 is located on a busy traffic artery but specifically in what might be called a somewhat seedy part of town with a nightclub, a tattoo parlor, and an “adult”-type store on the same block. But there are also other businesses in that immediate area such as restaurants and a movie theater; and there is a park close by in which live entertainment is provided during the warmer months, including the time when our message will be up. Another event which will take place in Marshfield during the time our gospel message will be up is the Central Wisconsin State Fair.
These two examples of our gospel billboards are good representations of the locations where we have posted our gospel message. Some locations may not have been quite as good; others have been better, including, for instance, a billboard right by a county jail and visible from it, as well as to all inmates being brought to the jail and those coming to visit loved ones in jail.
As mentioned, our general rule is to look for areas where our message will have a very high rate of viewing. But that is not to say we have not had some billboards in areas where the viewing may not have been as high, but the need was great. In the providence of God, a number of our billboards have stayed up past, and sometimes well past, our paid-for time. This apparently happens when the billboard company has no other renter for the particular billboard at the time our contract runs out. Now, this has been amazing because the locations where we have been blessed with extra free time have always been excellent ones. A number have been up for weeks after they were scheduled to come down. The record though was a billboard we rented on a busy highway near Omaha. Amazingly, this billboard remained up for at least nine months! But there is more. During that time, there was major flooding, and a number of highways were shut down with traffic routed to the highway beside which our gospel billboard stood!
Speaking of disasters, soon after the “Derecho” devastated a huge part of Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, we had our gospel message posted on not one, but two billboards in that stricken city.
We have had responses from those gospel billboards which have been seen by uncounted multitudes. We have faith that the Lord has used, and will use, our gospel signs for the saving of many souls. I know I have mentioned this before, but perhaps it bears mentioning again that the simple website address on our billboard, pccmonroe.org/salvation, goes directly to the substantial gospel message which is contained in our gospel booklet, From Death unto Life.
We are eagerly looking forward to our 2021 gospel campaign. The need for a gospel witness in the world has certainly not decreased! For our part, we are committed to do our best in 2021 for the Lord and the perishing.
Thanks again to those who pray for this work and help with the expense of it. The Lord bless all of His faithful people in this time of great falling way from faithfulness.
Ralph Ovadal
“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
and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
November 6, 2020
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1
Dear Friends,
I must admit that writing updates on our gospel ministry out in the world has not been quite as enjoyable this year as in other years. This is not to say I am not thankful for the opportunities we have had to sow gospel seed, nor do I doubt that the Lord is willing to bless our efforts in this time of COVID-19 above what we could ask or think. But when I do write up these updates, I think of those readers who are praying for our work and those who even send gifts to help keep it going; and I cannot help but wish that I could report the sort of bountiful sowing that has been typical in other years. Last year by now, we had handed out, one by one, 40,192 gospel tracts and booklets, as well as 188 Gospels of John and two Bibles, and were not yet done for the year. So far this year, we have given out 2,925 gospel tracts, though we hope that we are not yet done. The limiting factor, as you know, has been the cancellation of virtually every large open-air public event including parades and sports events.
I must admit that writing updates on our gospel ministry out in the world has not been quite as enjoyable this year as in other years. This is not to say I am not thankful for the opportunities we have had to sow gospel seed, nor do I doubt that the Lord is willing to bless our efforts in this time of COVID-19 above what we could ask or think. But when I do write up these updates, I think of those readers who are praying for our work and those who even send gifts to help keep it going; and I cannot help but wish that I could report the sort of bountiful sowing that has been typical in other years. Last year by now, we had handed out, one by one, 40,192 gospel tracts and booklets, as well as 188 Gospels of John and two Bibles, and were not yet done for the year. So far this year, we have given out 2,925 gospel tracts, though we hope that we are not yet done. The limiting factor, as you know, has been the cancellation of virtually every large open-air public event including parades and sports events.
In the face of that discouraging development, we have done what we could at the few events that have been held, sparse attendance-wise as they have been; and we have also made even an increased use of billboards, having rented eighteen billboards in fifteen towns just since the beginning of April. Two of those billboards went up on August 31 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa which was absolutely devastated by the derecho storm just a couple of weeks before that. We are hopeful our gospel message, and the link to our gospel booklet on the same billboards, will be the means of drawing many to the Lord and faith in Him.
The billboards I will return to shortly and tell you a bit more about that campaign. But first, I hope you will be encouraged to hear about the places where we have done what we could in these tumultuous times. You will no doubt notice that the places where we have been able to find public events at which to share the gospel have all been small towns, whereas in past years, while not neglecting small towns, we have always done a great deal of gospel ministry at public gatherings and parades in large towns. Obviously, large towns equal large events with small towns being the opposite. But, we do what we can and thank the Lord for the opportunities. We have been wearing masks during our interaction with the public during our gospel work since some of those with whom we share the gospel wear them; and, quite frankly, it does not hurt us to wear masks in such close interactions, and it may just keep one of us from contracting COVID-19.
On Saturday, August 1, we made our way to Browntown, Wisconsin to hand out gospel tracts and hold gospel signs at a car rally in that hamlet’s large park. It ended up a situation which was almost humorous in a way—or maybe rather one where if you did not laugh, you might cry. During the time we were there, in the whole big park, there were no more than 60 people on hand! When all was said and done, 51 of them took gospel tracts. We encouraged ourselves with the knowledge that every one of those perishing sinners ought to be of concern to the Lord’s people, and none of us knows how the Lord of the harvest may multiply that gospel seed sown and do great things with some saved by the witness.
The next public event we came across was a Labor Day parade held in little Gratiot, Wisconsin, population 280. As is our parade tactic, we walked the route of it with one of us going along the curb on each side and one on each side walking the sidewalk, all handing out tracts. By the time we reached the end of the parade, we had handed out 506 of our gospel tracts which, in a rural village the size of Gratiot in the time of COVID-19, was an astounding blessing for which we returned thanks to the Lord; and I hope you will do likewise on hearing of it.
On September 19, several of our number set up a gospel witness, holding large Scripture signs on a busy intersection by Walmart in Monroe. One young man passing by yelled out, “No one cares about your (obscenity) signs.” But during the witness, a number of “nobodies” expressed approval, and even joy to see such a public witness for Christ and the gospel. Some waved; others gave thumbs up; one lady gave a loud “Amen”; a man went through the intersection slowly to shout “thank you” two times. We always feel blessed by such reactions for several reasons, not the least being that when it is other Christians who express their approval, we have hope that those brethren will be encouraged to likewise be a witness for Christ to the perishing if they are not already such a witness. But most of all we are encouraged to know that it is by His own word that the Lord saves sinners—that is, by the effectual, sovereign power of the Holy Spirit with the word shining the light of the gospel into the hearts of men and women dead in trespasses and sins, working repentance, faith, and new life.
The next opportunity that came our way was the annual Pumpkin Festival parade in Warren, Illinois, population 1,428. At this parade, we handed out 897 of our gospel tracts, specifically our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract which is a three-fold tract with a substantial gospel message. As we were busy handing out those tracts, we ran across a local church conducting what is considered a gospel witness by such new evangelical ministers and churches. Faced with the opportunity of somewhere over 1,000 men, women, and young people gathered together, the vast majority of them perishing souls, that local church gave out ballpoint pens with the church’s name on it, not even a Scripture verse on it, just the church’s name.
We next set our sights on the Taste of Shullsburg (Wisconsin), population 1,226. At this event, we made use of two large gospel signs, one holding a gospel sign on each end of the blocked-off street in which the event was held while the rest of us handed out gospel tracts. This was a sparely attended event in a small, very rural town; but by the grace of God, we managed to hand out 272 gospel tracts. Also, a number of individuals in cars also saw the gospel signs we held at intersections on each end of the event. In fact, the traffic coming by the gospel sign on one end of the event was amazingly steady, resulting in a good number of individuals reading the gospel message on that sign. This we recognized as being of the Lord, given the location and situation.
By the grace of God and the help of some of you, we are continuing on with our gospel billboard campaign. Since May, 2016, we have rented a total of 57 billboards, all in excellent locations. The greatest number of them have been in Wisconsin, but a good number also in northern Illinois. Then also, we have had several in Dubuque, Iowa; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Omaha, Nebraska. At the time of this report, we have a billboard up in Darlington, Wisconsin very close to the high school; and school is being held in that school. We also have two more billboards reserved. One billboard is in a prime location on Hwy. 51 on the edge of Stoughton where the speed limit is lower, and there are a number of restaurants and businesses. The other billboard is on Hwy. 18 in the little town of Montfort right by a busy filling station/convenience store—in fact, on the edge of the parking lot so that everyone parking on the lot for any reason will see that gospel message. Lord willing, we plan to continue this gospel billboard campaign.
That’s it for now. All of us, like all of you, are looking forward to the passing away of this COVID situation once the Lord has accomplished His purposes for it. Certainly, we here are looking ahead to next year with high hopes that we will again have many opportunities to share the gospel of salvation with multitudes of perishing sinners. The Lord be with all of you.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
The billboards I will return to shortly and tell you a bit more about that campaign. But first, I hope you will be encouraged to hear about the places where we have done what we could in these tumultuous times. You will no doubt notice that the places where we have been able to find public events at which to share the gospel have all been small towns, whereas in past years, while not neglecting small towns, we have always done a great deal of gospel ministry at public gatherings and parades in large towns. Obviously, large towns equal large events with small towns being the opposite. But, we do what we can and thank the Lord for the opportunities. We have been wearing masks during our interaction with the public during our gospel work since some of those with whom we share the gospel wear them; and, quite frankly, it does not hurt us to wear masks in such close interactions, and it may just keep one of us from contracting COVID-19.
On Saturday, August 1, we made our way to Browntown, Wisconsin to hand out gospel tracts and hold gospel signs at a car rally in that hamlet’s large park. It ended up a situation which was almost humorous in a way—or maybe rather one where if you did not laugh, you might cry. During the time we were there, in the whole big park, there were no more than 60 people on hand! When all was said and done, 51 of them took gospel tracts. We encouraged ourselves with the knowledge that every one of those perishing sinners ought to be of concern to the Lord’s people, and none of us knows how the Lord of the harvest may multiply that gospel seed sown and do great things with some saved by the witness.
The next public event we came across was a Labor Day parade held in little Gratiot, Wisconsin, population 280. As is our parade tactic, we walked the route of it with one of us going along the curb on each side and one on each side walking the sidewalk, all handing out tracts. By the time we reached the end of the parade, we had handed out 506 of our gospel tracts which, in a rural village the size of Gratiot in the time of COVID-19, was an astounding blessing for which we returned thanks to the Lord; and I hope you will do likewise on hearing of it.
On September 19, several of our number set up a gospel witness, holding large Scripture signs on a busy intersection by Walmart in Monroe. One young man passing by yelled out, “No one cares about your (obscenity) signs.” But during the witness, a number of “nobodies” expressed approval, and even joy to see such a public witness for Christ and the gospel. Some waved; others gave thumbs up; one lady gave a loud “Amen”; a man went through the intersection slowly to shout “thank you” two times. We always feel blessed by such reactions for several reasons, not the least being that when it is other Christians who express their approval, we have hope that those brethren will be encouraged to likewise be a witness for Christ to the perishing if they are not already such a witness. But most of all we are encouraged to know that it is by His own word that the Lord saves sinners—that is, by the effectual, sovereign power of the Holy Spirit with the word shining the light of the gospel into the hearts of men and women dead in trespasses and sins, working repentance, faith, and new life.
The next opportunity that came our way was the annual Pumpkin Festival parade in Warren, Illinois, population 1,428. At this parade, we handed out 897 of our gospel tracts, specifically our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract which is a three-fold tract with a substantial gospel message. As we were busy handing out those tracts, we ran across a local church conducting what is considered a gospel witness by such new evangelical ministers and churches. Faced with the opportunity of somewhere over 1,000 men, women, and young people gathered together, the vast majority of them perishing souls, that local church gave out ballpoint pens with the church’s name on it, not even a Scripture verse on it, just the church’s name.
We next set our sights on the Taste of Shullsburg (Wisconsin), population 1,226. At this event, we made use of two large gospel signs, one holding a gospel sign on each end of the blocked-off street in which the event was held while the rest of us handed out gospel tracts. This was a sparely attended event in a small, very rural town; but by the grace of God, we managed to hand out 272 gospel tracts. Also, a number of individuals in cars also saw the gospel signs we held at intersections on each end of the event. In fact, the traffic coming by the gospel sign on one end of the event was amazingly steady, resulting in a good number of individuals reading the gospel message on that sign. This we recognized as being of the Lord, given the location and situation.
By the grace of God and the help of some of you, we are continuing on with our gospel billboard campaign. Since May, 2016, we have rented a total of 57 billboards, all in excellent locations. The greatest number of them have been in Wisconsin, but a good number also in northern Illinois. Then also, we have had several in Dubuque, Iowa; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Omaha, Nebraska. At the time of this report, we have a billboard up in Darlington, Wisconsin very close to the high school; and school is being held in that school. We also have two more billboards reserved. One billboard is in a prime location on Hwy. 51 on the edge of Stoughton where the speed limit is lower, and there are a number of restaurants and businesses. The other billboard is on Hwy. 18 in the little town of Montfort right by a busy filling station/convenience store—in fact, on the edge of the parking lot so that everyone parking on the lot for any reason will see that gospel message. Lord willing, we plan to continue this gospel billboard campaign.
That’s it for now. All of us, like all of you, are looking forward to the passing away of this COVID situation once the Lord has accomplished His purposes for it. Certainly, we here are looking ahead to next year with high hopes that we will again have many opportunities to share the gospel of salvation with multitudes of perishing sinners. The Lord be with all of you.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
July 31, 2020
Dear Friends,
Approximately every three months, we send out a summary of our open-air, public gospel ministry since we know that there are those of you who are praying for this ministry, and others who also help us to meet the expenses connected to it. We never ask for such gifts but do deeply appreciate them. As I shared in the last quarterly update, these have been very frustrating times for us in that regard, due to the COVID-19 situation. Last time around, I told of our gospel witness at the WIAA State Wrestling Championships in Madison on March 7. Though that event was in doubt, it ended up being held. As I previously mentioned, the numbers of fans attending was down due to the growing concern over COVID-19. But still, by the grace of God, we handed out 866 gospel tracts at the two different entrances to the facility where the event was held. The year before, we gave out 1,042 at the same event and at the same time of day. Nevertheless, we were still thankful and glad to be enabled to get a gospel message to that many individuals this year. Of course we also had a large gospel sign at each door again this year. Shortly after that gospel witness, we got word that the WIAA boys basketball championships, an event we have also been witnessing at for many, many years, had been cancelled. At that point, one after another public event was cancelled, including the parades where we have always handed out so many tracts. For instance, last year at two different parades on Memorial Day, we handed out a total of 6,260 gospel tracts and 110 Gospels of John. But after early March of this year and for some time, our opportunities for open-air gospel witness at public events suddenly were gone. This gospel work has always meant so much to us, and we trust the Lord has used that labor for the salvation of many souls and as a restraining, preserving influence in our area of ministry. So as I mentioned, it has been quite a frustrating year thus far.
But as you know, things have loosened up in recent weeks. There are still no large public events scheduled that we know of, such as Labor Day parades, fairs, and so forth. But recently, we were blessed, even thrilled, to conduct a gospel witness at a unique parade which took place on July 4th in Evansville, Wisconsin. This was a parade put on by some local citizens. They did not have a parade permit. The police department made it known that those who took part in it would have to follow all traffic laws and be aware of potential hazards to pedestrians and themselves. Obviously, this put a big crimp in the plans of those citizens who put the parade together. We had real doubts as to whether or not there would even be a parade at all. But three of us traveled to Evansville, and with a flexible plan and the means to carry it out depending on the situation. As it turned out, the parade sponsors did pull off a short parade of sorts which consisted of patriotically decorated trucks playing patriotic songs and also tractors pulling similarly decorated wagons. Also in the parade were a number of horses, some of whose riders held flags. So much for following all traffic laws! Amazingly, there were also some queens in the lineup, whether dairy, pork, or beef, this I cannot tell since we were in the parade some distance back from the cars with the queens in them.
Approximately every three months, we send out a summary of our open-air, public gospel ministry since we know that there are those of you who are praying for this ministry, and others who also help us to meet the expenses connected to it. We never ask for such gifts but do deeply appreciate them. As I shared in the last quarterly update, these have been very frustrating times for us in that regard, due to the COVID-19 situation. Last time around, I told of our gospel witness at the WIAA State Wrestling Championships in Madison on March 7. Though that event was in doubt, it ended up being held. As I previously mentioned, the numbers of fans attending was down due to the growing concern over COVID-19. But still, by the grace of God, we handed out 866 gospel tracts at the two different entrances to the facility where the event was held. The year before, we gave out 1,042 at the same event and at the same time of day. Nevertheless, we were still thankful and glad to be enabled to get a gospel message to that many individuals this year. Of course we also had a large gospel sign at each door again this year. Shortly after that gospel witness, we got word that the WIAA boys basketball championships, an event we have also been witnessing at for many, many years, had been cancelled. At that point, one after another public event was cancelled, including the parades where we have always handed out so many tracts. For instance, last year at two different parades on Memorial Day, we handed out a total of 6,260 gospel tracts and 110 Gospels of John. But after early March of this year and for some time, our opportunities for open-air gospel witness at public events suddenly were gone. This gospel work has always meant so much to us, and we trust the Lord has used that labor for the salvation of many souls and as a restraining, preserving influence in our area of ministry. So as I mentioned, it has been quite a frustrating year thus far.
But as you know, things have loosened up in recent weeks. There are still no large public events scheduled that we know of, such as Labor Day parades, fairs, and so forth. But recently, we were blessed, even thrilled, to conduct a gospel witness at a unique parade which took place on July 4th in Evansville, Wisconsin. This was a parade put on by some local citizens. They did not have a parade permit. The police department made it known that those who took part in it would have to follow all traffic laws and be aware of potential hazards to pedestrians and themselves. Obviously, this put a big crimp in the plans of those citizens who put the parade together. We had real doubts as to whether or not there would even be a parade at all. But three of us traveled to Evansville, and with a flexible plan and the means to carry it out depending on the situation. As it turned out, the parade sponsors did pull off a short parade of sorts which consisted of patriotically decorated trucks playing patriotic songs and also tractors pulling similarly decorated wagons. Also in the parade were a number of horses, some of whose riders held flags. So much for following all traffic laws! Amazingly, there were also some queens in the lineup, whether dairy, pork, or beef, this I cannot tell since we were in the parade some distance back from the cars with the queens in them.
We had come prepared to walk the parade, wearing masks, if there were large numbers of individuals watching. If that was not the case, we were also prepared to join the parade if that was the best way to witness of the way of salvation. When we saw the viewers widely spread out and separated into little groups of two in some cases, and perhaps up to a half dozen in other cases, we attached two signs on Mark’s truck, one on each side. These read, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people,” Proverbs 14:34, and, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near,” Isaiah 55:6. Then we also affixed one of our gospel signs to my van, a sign reading, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” 1 Timothy 1:15.
Having all things ready, we fell in at the back of the parade. As we slowly moved along with the other parade participants, as we came to little groups of people, I stopped the truck and daughter Joy or I would jump out to hand out gospel tracts. Then we would catch up to the slow-moving parade. Soon we worked out a system where Joy walked wherever there were several groups of people in close proximity, then where there were none, jumped in the van until we came to some. At the same time, I did some preaching out the window.
Having all things ready, we fell in at the back of the parade. As we slowly moved along with the other parade participants, as we came to little groups of people, I stopped the truck and daughter Joy or I would jump out to hand out gospel tracts. Then we would catch up to the slow-moving parade. Soon we worked out a system where Joy walked wherever there were several groups of people in close proximity, then where there were none, jumped in the van until we came to some. At the same time, I did some preaching out the window.
In all honesty, I do not believe there were more than 250 people total watching the parade, and they were well scattered along the route. I do not say that by way of complaint, just comparison to other years. Certainly, it is a blessing anytime Christians can share a gospel message with 250 people by tracts, preaching, and signs. As for the former, we did get out 121 of our gospel tracts, and then all present read our signs with a good many also taking pictures of them. We are always glad when people take pictures of our Scripture signs since that means everyone who sees those pictures in the coming years will get the same witness.
Certainly, we know that not everyone was happy with our efforts in Evansville, but a number did express their approval, saying things like, “That is exactly what we need in this country.” Like us or hate us, the thing that matters to us is to get the gospel to perishing souls.
After the parade, we took a quick trip through downtown Evansville with our signs in place. Though there were not many people on the sidewalks, and there were not many people at the parade, we trust the Lord will use our witness for His glory and the good of many. By the way, two years ago when we gave out tracts at the July 4th parade in Evansville, our total was 3,000 gospel tracts and 2 Gospels of John. But we do not want to be among those who would despise the day of small things. Zechariah 4:10: “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”
On the way home from Evansville, Joy and I came through the town of Albany, through which the Sugar River flows. We knew there was a place on Main Street that rents large tubes on which people float down the Sugar River, but we were not thinking of that as we entered the town. When we hit the main street of Albany where the tube place is adjacent to the river, we were shocked to see a crowd of hundreds lined up for blocks waiting their turn to rent a tube and start down the river. In fact, in a television news report, the owner of the tubing business said it was the biggest crowd in the history of the business. But as soon as we saw them, inspiration hit Joy and me at the same time. Of course, the tubers were far from modest as to their swimwear. In fact, lewd attire was the rule, rather than the exception. Added to that, they obviously had nowhere to put gospel tracts! So for these reasons, we ruled out walking the line handing out tracts.
But soon we had a large sign reading “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Proverbs 15:3 affixed to the passenger side of the van, which of course is closest to the sidewalk. Then we slowly drove along right next to the curb allowing the packed, stretched-out crowd to read that message. After we covered the whole route, we then replaced that sign with one reading “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” 1 Timothy 1:15. Again, we slowly drove along the curb, but this time, I also preached to the crowd concerning the judgment to come and the way of salvation. When all was said and done, we left town rejoicing that, according to the gracious providence of the Lord, we came through that town at that time and were able to be a witness to that crowd.
Certainly, we know that not everyone was happy with our efforts in Evansville, but a number did express their approval, saying things like, “That is exactly what we need in this country.” Like us or hate us, the thing that matters to us is to get the gospel to perishing souls.
After the parade, we took a quick trip through downtown Evansville with our signs in place. Though there were not many people on the sidewalks, and there were not many people at the parade, we trust the Lord will use our witness for His glory and the good of many. By the way, two years ago when we gave out tracts at the July 4th parade in Evansville, our total was 3,000 gospel tracts and 2 Gospels of John. But we do not want to be among those who would despise the day of small things. Zechariah 4:10: “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”
On the way home from Evansville, Joy and I came through the town of Albany, through which the Sugar River flows. We knew there was a place on Main Street that rents large tubes on which people float down the Sugar River, but we were not thinking of that as we entered the town. When we hit the main street of Albany where the tube place is adjacent to the river, we were shocked to see a crowd of hundreds lined up for blocks waiting their turn to rent a tube and start down the river. In fact, in a television news report, the owner of the tubing business said it was the biggest crowd in the history of the business. But as soon as we saw them, inspiration hit Joy and me at the same time. Of course, the tubers were far from modest as to their swimwear. In fact, lewd attire was the rule, rather than the exception. Added to that, they obviously had nowhere to put gospel tracts! So for these reasons, we ruled out walking the line handing out tracts.
But soon we had a large sign reading “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Proverbs 15:3 affixed to the passenger side of the van, which of course is closest to the sidewalk. Then we slowly drove along right next to the curb allowing the packed, stretched-out crowd to read that message. After we covered the whole route, we then replaced that sign with one reading “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” 1 Timothy 1:15. Again, we slowly drove along the curb, but this time, I also preached to the crowd concerning the judgment to come and the way of salvation. When all was said and done, we left town rejoicing that, according to the gracious providence of the Lord, we came through that town at that time and were able to be a witness to that crowd.
Saturday, July 25, five of us headed to Platteville, Wisconsin to share the gospel in a city park which featured a farmers market. The attendance was very sparse, again thanks to COVID-19, but we were able to give out 212 gospel tracts and held two of our large gospel signs. A number of the people that we interacted with were wearing masks, and we followed suit. One older Christian couple expressed their joy that we were sharing the gospel, coming up to us early on. Then as we were leaving, the man returned and told us, “We have been praying that this will bear fruit.”
In the past couple of months, we have also conducted three gospel sign displays with our two-sided gospel signs, twice in Monroe and once in Freeport, at busy intersections. At one of those gospel witnesses in Monroe on June 6, Joy talked to a boy about eleven years old who knew nothing at all about the Lord or the message of the gospel. He told Joy he sometimes thinks about how everything got here. Joy shared what was, we trust, an effectual gospel witness with the boy and gave him a tract as well. As he left, the boy told Joy, “Thank you for teaching me about these things.”
In the past couple of months, we have also conducted three gospel sign displays with our two-sided gospel signs, twice in Monroe and once in Freeport, at busy intersections. At one of those gospel witnesses in Monroe on June 6, Joy talked to a boy about eleven years old who knew nothing at all about the Lord or the message of the gospel. He told Joy he sometimes thinks about how everything got here. Joy shared what was, we trust, an effectual gospel witness with the boy and gave him a tract as well. As he left, the boy told Joy, “Thank you for teaching me about these things.”
The first thing which happened during our Freeport witness was that a long, very slow moving funeral procession was seen approaching us. We quickly spaced out our gospel signs in one row so that the procession drove by all of them. We trust many were at that moment thinking about death, that truly it is appointed unto man once to die. We fervently hope they also were provoked by our witness to think of the judgment to come and the salvation that can only be received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Once the procession was gone, we spread out on the intersection with our gospel signs facing different lanes of traffic coming from two different directions. In fact, the traffic flow was quite heavy with multiple lanes in each direction.
We currently have our eyes on two public events in southern Wisconsin that are scheduled to take place in early August, and we hope to now begin having other such witnessing opportunities as well.
We currently have our eyes on two public events in southern Wisconsin that are scheduled to take place in early August, and we hope to now begin having other such witnessing opportunities as well.
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Of course, our billboard campaign goes on. Over the past two years and two months, we have posted our gospel message on forty-seven billboards. Due to the coronavirus putting such a large crimp in our normal gospel witness at large public events, we have, just since the beginning of April of this year, had our gospel message on eight billboards, and so far, we have another six billboards reserved with hopes of also securing more boards. Those six are located in Lake Geneva, Monroe, Prairie du Chien, Dodgeville, and Darlington.
Sincerely, Ralph Ovadal |
“Thank you for the sign on Hwy 12, Sauk City, WI. It was exciting to see the Scriptures proclaimed to our town outside of the church buildings! May the LORD bless you & keep you...as you love the LORD & love His people!” |
April 4, 2020
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psalm 115:3
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psalm 115:3
Dear Friends,
There is never as much to tell you about in the ministry update we send out in the beginning of April since the season of large, open-air events and also parades has not yet begun. Once we get into that time of the year, it becomes a challenge to keep our ministry updates from becoming a volume rather than a summary due to the many events where we share the gospel with multitudes, using our gospel signs, gospel tracts and booklets, as well as one-on-one witness as we have opportunity. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation, I have very little to share with you in this April, 2020 ministry update.
On Saturday, March 7, we conducted a gospel witness at the WIAA boys team wrestling championships at the UW Field House in Madison. We divided into two teams, each with a large gospel sign, and stationed ourselves at the two main entrances to the field house. It was not long before we noticed that the number of fans attending the event was noticeably lower than normal, no doubt due to rising concern over the coronavirus. Last year, we were able to hand out 1,042 gospel tracts at this event. This year, though we did our best as we always seek to do, we were only able to give out 866 of our gospel tracts. I say “only” with respect to the number of tracts we had hoped to hand out. But we were thankful to be able to get the gospel into the hands of so many individuals, and especially at the time when our nation was already being shaken by the fears of the known, and unknown, dangers of the COVID-19 virus. In short, it was a very opportune time to share the gospel; and in addition to those who received the gospel tracts, many more individuals read the gospel messages on our two signs.
The next event we had on our ministry schedule was the WIAA boys basketball championships at the Kohl Center in Madison. Much to our dismay, this very large event was subsequently canceled. Then within a short time, all public events had been cancelled.
There is never as much to tell you about in the ministry update we send out in the beginning of April since the season of large, open-air events and also parades has not yet begun. Once we get into that time of the year, it becomes a challenge to keep our ministry updates from becoming a volume rather than a summary due to the many events where we share the gospel with multitudes, using our gospel signs, gospel tracts and booklets, as well as one-on-one witness as we have opportunity. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation, I have very little to share with you in this April, 2020 ministry update.
On Saturday, March 7, we conducted a gospel witness at the WIAA boys team wrestling championships at the UW Field House in Madison. We divided into two teams, each with a large gospel sign, and stationed ourselves at the two main entrances to the field house. It was not long before we noticed that the number of fans attending the event was noticeably lower than normal, no doubt due to rising concern over the coronavirus. Last year, we were able to hand out 1,042 gospel tracts at this event. This year, though we did our best as we always seek to do, we were only able to give out 866 of our gospel tracts. I say “only” with respect to the number of tracts we had hoped to hand out. But we were thankful to be able to get the gospel into the hands of so many individuals, and especially at the time when our nation was already being shaken by the fears of the known, and unknown, dangers of the COVID-19 virus. In short, it was a very opportune time to share the gospel; and in addition to those who received the gospel tracts, many more individuals read the gospel messages on our two signs.
The next event we had on our ministry schedule was the WIAA boys basketball championships at the Kohl Center in Madison. Much to our dismay, this very large event was subsequently canceled. Then within a short time, all public events had been cancelled.
Some time prior to the coronavirus outbreak, some gospel lit dropping in Monroe had been accomplished by several members of our church. But as much as we would like to at least get the gospel out by lit dropping homes until the current situation passes and public events are once more taking place, we decided it was not a good idea. The reason for that conclusion is because there is so much fear over the COVID-19 virus and that it possibly can be spread from touching materials which are handled by individuals with the virus. Thus we realized that putting gospel tracts on the doors of homes at the height of this COVID-19 scare could set off a firestorm of anger and lead to charges that we Christians do not care if we infect others, including children, with the virus. It is one thing to be the target of anger and suffer vilifying for sharing the gospel. But in this unique situation, it seems to be the wise thing to avoid giving such an "appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22). Of course, if there is a chance one of us would contract the virus and we could spread it to others by lit dropping gospel tracts, we would not want to have that happen.
At the same time, it is so frustrating to know that this current crisis is a very opportune time to share the gospel of Christ. So, I contacted the representative of the billboard company which we rent billboards from for our gospel billboard campaign. Our goal was to secure some prime billboards for April and May while the people of this nation will still be unsettled by the virus outbreak. We have been able to contract for five more billboards, so far, which together with two we had already reserved for that time period will make a total of seven billboards which will be displaying our gospel message in those two months, the first going up April 13. Each is in a very good location, with very slow traffic going past and plenty of it as well as pedestrians who will also be reading our message.
The timing of this gospel billboard campaign within a campaign, to put it that way, ought to be very good indeed. Certainly, the Lord is well able to save perishing sinners by the message on those billboards, but there is also with the message that short Internet address which goes right to the text of our gospel booklet, From Death unto Life. We know that a great many who pass by our gospel billboards will go to that gospel message. Experience has proven that to us, and in these current times, we believe there will be even higher numbers than ever who read that gospel message.
Below you will find a list of all of the billboards we currently have secured for our gospel message.
We are hopeful that in May, public events will again be scheduled. I will promise you this much: when things do return to “normal,” and I trust that will happen in the not too distant future, we of Pilgrims Covenant Church will simply work all the harder to make up for lost time. With faith in the providential workings of the Lord, we are looking forward to a very fruitful gospel season as we share Christ and salvation through faith in Him to a people who have been shaken by this sudden and wholly unexpected COVID-19 plague.
All of you who pray for this work have our sincere thanks. We are also deeply grateful to those who help make it possible for our little church to undertake such a big gospel work.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
At the same time, it is so frustrating to know that this current crisis is a very opportune time to share the gospel of Christ. So, I contacted the representative of the billboard company which we rent billboards from for our gospel billboard campaign. Our goal was to secure some prime billboards for April and May while the people of this nation will still be unsettled by the virus outbreak. We have been able to contract for five more billboards, so far, which together with two we had already reserved for that time period will make a total of seven billboards which will be displaying our gospel message in those two months, the first going up April 13. Each is in a very good location, with very slow traffic going past and plenty of it as well as pedestrians who will also be reading our message.
The timing of this gospel billboard campaign within a campaign, to put it that way, ought to be very good indeed. Certainly, the Lord is well able to save perishing sinners by the message on those billboards, but there is also with the message that short Internet address which goes right to the text of our gospel booklet, From Death unto Life. We know that a great many who pass by our gospel billboards will go to that gospel message. Experience has proven that to us, and in these current times, we believe there will be even higher numbers than ever who read that gospel message.
Below you will find a list of all of the billboards we currently have secured for our gospel message.
We are hopeful that in May, public events will again be scheduled. I will promise you this much: when things do return to “normal,” and I trust that will happen in the not too distant future, we of Pilgrims Covenant Church will simply work all the harder to make up for lost time. With faith in the providential workings of the Lord, we are looking forward to a very fruitful gospel season as we share Christ and salvation through faith in Him to a people who have been shaken by this sudden and wholly unexpected COVID-19 plague.
All of you who pray for this work have our sincere thanks. We are also deeply grateful to those who help make it possible for our little church to undertake such a big gospel work.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
PCC Public Ministry Billboard Campaign
We have had 39 billboards at various locations since May, 2016.
Upcoming billboards:
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Rockford – E. State St. east of Shaw
Janesville – Hwy. 51 east of Franklin St. Beloit – Park Ave. north of Alice St. Rockford – East Riverside west of East Dr. Sauk City – Hwy. 12 west of Leuders Rd. Brodhead – Hwy. 11 east of 4th Ave. Freeport – Galena south of Spring St. Stockton – US 20 east of Hwy. 78 South Monroe – Hwy. 69 and 30th St. – Cheese Days Monroe Digital – 8th St. east of Hwy. 69 Cheese Days Weekend Prairie du Chien – WI Hwy. 35, north of US Hwy. 18 |
4-13-20
4-13-20 4-13-20 4-20-20 5-4-20 5-11-20 5-18-20 6-8-20 9-14-20 9-18-20 9-14-20 |
5-10-20
5-10-20 5-10-20 5-17-20 5-31-20 6-7-20 6-14-20 7-5-20 10-11-20 9-20-20 10-11-20 |
December 30, 2019
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 107:8
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 107:8
Dear Friends,
For those interested, here is a somewhat overdue summary of our public ministry work. In the past, I have included the work of Mark and Janet, whom we sometimes called our PCC “Omaha Connection.” In mid-August, Mark, Janet, and their two small children moved to Monroe. So our Omaha Connection is no more. But Omaha’s loss is the gain of Pilgrims Covenant Church and, by the faithful gospel labors of Mark and Janet, also to the gain of this area of the country.
We do appreciate all who are praying for the work, and those who have helped us with the expenses of it. I hope all will be encouraged by this report and rejoice to know that this year, counting just our open-air gospel work and not the tracts given out by some of our members in other ways when they are out and about, we have handed out 42,943 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as 188 Gospels of John and 2 Bibles. That is 43,133 men, women, and young people who were given, one by one, those tracts, booklets, Gospels of John and Bibles by members of our little church, even though this was not a Cheese Days year. Were all of those individuals who received our gospel tracts, booklets, and the Gospels of John lined up in single file with just 2-1/2 feet of space allowed for each, the line would stretch for 20.4 miles! Of course, an uncounted multitude also read our gospel signs and gospel billboards. For our part, we have no doubt that some of that gospel seed was sown on good ground and will reap a harvest of souls.
For those interested, here is a somewhat overdue summary of our public ministry work. In the past, I have included the work of Mark and Janet, whom we sometimes called our PCC “Omaha Connection.” In mid-August, Mark, Janet, and their two small children moved to Monroe. So our Omaha Connection is no more. But Omaha’s loss is the gain of Pilgrims Covenant Church and, by the faithful gospel labors of Mark and Janet, also to the gain of this area of the country.
We do appreciate all who are praying for the work, and those who have helped us with the expenses of it. I hope all will be encouraged by this report and rejoice to know that this year, counting just our open-air gospel work and not the tracts given out by some of our members in other ways when they are out and about, we have handed out 42,943 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as 188 Gospels of John and 2 Bibles. That is 43,133 men, women, and young people who were given, one by one, those tracts, booklets, Gospels of John and Bibles by members of our little church, even though this was not a Cheese Days year. Were all of those individuals who received our gospel tracts, booklets, and the Gospels of John lined up in single file with just 2-1/2 feet of space allowed for each, the line would stretch for 20.4 miles! Of course, an uncounted multitude also read our gospel signs and gospel billboards. For our part, we have no doubt that some of that gospel seed was sown on good ground and will reap a harvest of souls.
Janesville Corn Roast
Saturday, August 17 found seven of us sharing the gospel to those who had come to this event to feast on sweet corn. The cost they paid to get into the fenced-off park was just one dollar, and it entitled them to all of the sweet corn they could eat. As you can imagine, this drew a good sized crowd, although the fenced-off area was packed even before we arrived to witness.
Two of our number held large gospel signs, one at each of the two entrances to the event, while the rest of us handed out gospel tracts, in fact 1,152 of our Christ Jesus Came into the Word to Save Sinners tracts. The event organizers complained about us, coming to me with a police officer in tow. I asked the officer, a very professional nice officer, if we could speak in private, to which he readily agreed. The end result of it all was that the organizers had to put up with the terrible presence of sincere Christians sharing the gospel with perishing sinners, and this in a way which we believe honored the Lord.
Two of our number held large gospel signs, one at each of the two entrances to the event, while the rest of us handed out gospel tracts, in fact 1,152 of our Christ Jesus Came into the Word to Save Sinners tracts. The event organizers complained about us, coming to me with a police officer in tow. I asked the officer, a very professional nice officer, if we could speak in private, to which he readily agreed. The end result of it all was that the organizers had to put up with the terrible presence of sincere Christians sharing the gospel with perishing sinners, and this in a way which we believe honored the Lord.
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Cars – and Christians – on the Square – August 23, 2019
Three members of Pilgrims Covenant Church spent time sharing the way of salvation with individuals who came to this event on the square in Monroe. One gospel sign was used and gospel tracts were handed out, namely 200 of our Heaven or Hell tracts and also 9 of our From Death unto Life gospel booklets.
Gospel Labors on Labor Day
When Labor Day rolled around this year, we chose Rockford, Illinois to share the gospel. Six of us walked the parade route, three on each side, handing out our gospel tracts. Two more of us stood at the end of the parade route with two gospel signs. By the grace and help of the Lord, we handed out a total of 3,346 gospel tracts.
Gospel Husbandmen at a Farmers Market
Late September is not the optimum time to share the gospel at a farmers market as we did on September 28 in Beloit. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a very fruitful time of ministry. Four of us concentrated on handing out the tracts while two of our number held gospel signs. Mark ended up spending a good deal of his time witnessing to a humble young Roman Catholic man who seemed to be sincerely seeking to know the gospel truth. Mark grew up Roman Catholic, and so no marvel that the Lord directed this young man to Mark. They had a very long conversation in which Mark shared much needed truth and the only way of salvation. The young man gladly took a gospel tract and a gospel booklet. Considering the time of year and how long Mark spent with the young man, leaving just three of us to concentrate on handing out tracts to a smaller crowd, what was it but the grace and mercy of God to perishing sinners that we were yet able to give tracts to 870 people?
Gospel Lit Drop in Orangeville, Illinois
On October 19, several PCC members went south of the border, so to speak, to the small town of Orangeville in order to go door to door leaving gospel tracts, in total 189 of our gospel tracts and 2 of our gospel booklets.
October 26, 2019 Brodhead Fall Festival
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This event was also shamefully promoted as “Day of the Dead,” which is a yearly event in Mexico. During Day of the Dead, families visit the graves of their deceased loved ones and perform such rituals as lighting candles, leaving notes and also the favorite food of the individual buried in the grave. Sometimes the food is left on altars built at or on the graves. The spirits of the dead are believed to visit the living on this day as well. Various celebrations of the Day of the Dead feature all manner of devilish costumes and masks celebrating death. In Mexico, Roman Catholic priests play a big part in the Day of the Dead rituals. This festival is beginning to also become common in the American southwest and, apparently, is now spreading into the Midwest as part of the Roman Catholic Hispanic culture.
Four of us from PCC were on hand in Brodhead for this year’s Fall Festival which, considering the Day of the Dead connection, was quite small, and it must be said the Day of the Dead trappings were few. One of our number held a gospel sign that those arriving for the event read, as did the individuals in passing cars on Highway 11 which runs through the Brodhead downtown. By the grace of God, we were able to give out 225 gospel tracts. |
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Two Days of WIAA High School Football Championships
For the nineteenth consecutive year, a team of us from Pilgrims Covenant Church was on hand to witness to fans, a great many of them young people, arriving at the University of Wisconsin football stadium in Madison, site of the state football championship games. On Thursday, November 21, four of us were there, and all four of us gave out tracts the whole time. We also made use of one gospel sign. While these were the smaller schools, we still handed out 738 gospel tracts.
During the course of the ministry, Mark had a good conversation with a boy who had come back to him after first taking a tract and walking away. We had some good encouragement from Christian brethren at this event. In one case, a girl who I would guess to be about eleven years old accepted a gospel tract and walked away reading it; suddenly she turned around and with a sweet, very big smile loudly said, “Amen,” as she held up the tract. She certainly was not ashamed of gospel!
As might be expected, there were also fans who did not appreciate our presence. Nevertheless, it was encouraging to know that while they did not take gospel tracts many did read a gospel message on our sign. It ought to always be remembered that it is not so unusual that a lost sinner under condemnation might express anger or contempt when confronted with the gospel, but the Spirit then works repentance and justifying faith with that gospel witness.
On Thursday, the police on site made an attempt to forbid us from handing out tracts on the public sidewalk by the stadium. By the grace of God, they soon abandoned that approach, and the gospel had free course.
During the course of the ministry, Mark had a good conversation with a boy who had come back to him after first taking a tract and walking away. We had some good encouragement from Christian brethren at this event. In one case, a girl who I would guess to be about eleven years old accepted a gospel tract and walked away reading it; suddenly she turned around and with a sweet, very big smile loudly said, “Amen,” as she held up the tract. She certainly was not ashamed of gospel!
As might be expected, there were also fans who did not appreciate our presence. Nevertheless, it was encouraging to know that while they did not take gospel tracts many did read a gospel message on our sign. It ought to always be remembered that it is not so unusual that a lost sinner under condemnation might express anger or contempt when confronted with the gospel, but the Spirit then works repentance and justifying faith with that gospel witness.
On Thursday, the police on site made an attempt to forbid us from handing out tracts on the public sidewalk by the stadium. By the grace of God, they soon abandoned that approach, and the gospel had free course.
The next day, Friday, November 22, there were eight of us who traveled back to Madison for a second round of witness at the football championships. One of us held a gospel sign while the rest of us concentrated on handing out gospel tracts. Once again, a number of Christians gratefully thanked us for our gospel labors. Up until recent years, we rarely received encouragement from fellow believers when we shared the gospel at such events and, in fact, often received criticism. I believe there is a growing awareness among evangelicals that it is only the gospel that can stem our nation’s slide into depravity, lawlessness, and violence – only the gospel, and it must be taken out to the perishing. Hopefully, seeing us witnessing will motivate other brethren to pray for a true spiritual awakening and also to enter into sound, faithful gospel labors themselves.
As usual, not all response to our witness was positive. For instance, one foul-mouthed middle-aged man briefly spoke in a threatening manner to me. But overall, it must be noted that we had no real problems with anyone. When sidewalks were finally all but empty of people, we had passed out 1,846 Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners for a two-day grand total of 2,584 gospel tracts.
As usual, not all response to our witness was positive. For instance, one foul-mouthed middle-aged man briefly spoke in a threatening manner to me. But overall, it must be noted that we had no real problems with anyone. When sidewalks were finally all but empty of people, we had passed out 1,846 Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners for a two-day grand total of 2,584 gospel tracts.
Monroe Holiday Parade. Freeport and Monroe Gospel Sign Witness.
December 5, two of us stood with a large gospel sign each on one corner of an intersection which many hundreds of students in cars and buses pass through when the Freeport (Illinois) High, Alternative, and Middle Schools let out at the end of the day. In fact, we were located across from the street which comes directly out of the school grounds. The street into which that street empties, and along which we were standing is Business Highway 20. So all in all, thousands read our gospel signs.
At one point, eight big buses full of students were lined up in a row at a red light, so I walked slowly along the buses, holding up the gospel sign reading “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” I was greatly encouraged to see students crowded up to the windows reading those words of life. One of the bus drivers gave me a big thumbs up accompanied by a huge smile as I moved past his bus.
We also had many buses line up at the stop light on the street on the other side of us as well, and were able to show both our gospel signs to them, the second sign reading “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” In fact, we had buses coming at us from three different directions, perhaps as many as thirty busloads of students in all, and also floods of cars. Several men in construction trucks were obviously happy to see our gospel witness, with one of them so happy he stopped his truck in the middle of the busy intersection, leaned out of his window and shouted, “Thank you!” We had other encouragements as well, including an enthusiastic wave from a passing police officer.
On the flip side of the coin, there were some negative responses. But we would be surprised if that were not the case and always expect it. For instance, one man who went by in a car shouted a vile vulgarity at us. There were also two school bus drivers who took great pains to display their mocking contempt for us and the gospel.
We had very little opportunity to hand out gospel tracts, but a handful of kids did come by, and 15 of them accepted gospel tracts.
The next day, the evening of December 6, three of our PCC members handed out gospel tracts to a crowd assembled on the Monroe courthouse square to watch the yearly holiday parade. The crowd was made up predominantly of parents with their children. This is not an especially large event, but the threesome was enabled by the Lord to hand out well over 452 gospel tracts.
Then on December 24, three PCC members set up a gospel sign display at the very busy intersection of Highway 69 and 8th Street. There were many good responses from individuals in passing cars, though no doubt there were those who felt quite different about seeing the word of God displayed to the world. But what matters is that a great many perishing souls read the Scripture signs, and we can be sure that the Lord will, in His own time, bless the sowing of the gospel seed.
At one point, eight big buses full of students were lined up in a row at a red light, so I walked slowly along the buses, holding up the gospel sign reading “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” I was greatly encouraged to see students crowded up to the windows reading those words of life. One of the bus drivers gave me a big thumbs up accompanied by a huge smile as I moved past his bus.
We also had many buses line up at the stop light on the street on the other side of us as well, and were able to show both our gospel signs to them, the second sign reading “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” In fact, we had buses coming at us from three different directions, perhaps as many as thirty busloads of students in all, and also floods of cars. Several men in construction trucks were obviously happy to see our gospel witness, with one of them so happy he stopped his truck in the middle of the busy intersection, leaned out of his window and shouted, “Thank you!” We had other encouragements as well, including an enthusiastic wave from a passing police officer.
On the flip side of the coin, there were some negative responses. But we would be surprised if that were not the case and always expect it. For instance, one man who went by in a car shouted a vile vulgarity at us. There were also two school bus drivers who took great pains to display their mocking contempt for us and the gospel.
We had very little opportunity to hand out gospel tracts, but a handful of kids did come by, and 15 of them accepted gospel tracts.
The next day, the evening of December 6, three of our PCC members handed out gospel tracts to a crowd assembled on the Monroe courthouse square to watch the yearly holiday parade. The crowd was made up predominantly of parents with their children. This is not an especially large event, but the threesome was enabled by the Lord to hand out well over 452 gospel tracts.
Then on December 24, three PCC members set up a gospel sign display at the very busy intersection of Highway 69 and 8th Street. There were many good responses from individuals in passing cars, though no doubt there were those who felt quite different about seeing the word of God displayed to the world. But what matters is that a great many perishing souls read the Scripture signs, and we can be sure that the Lord will, in His own time, bless the sowing of the gospel seed.
Gospel Billboard Campaign Update
Thus far, we have six more billboards rented on which our gospel message will be displayed in the coming year. Those billboards are located in Sauk City, Brodhead, Monroe (two for Cheese Days), Prairie du Chien, and Stockton (Illinois). This brings our total gospel billboard count to 44. This year, our gospel message stayed up on a number of billboards for some time – in some cases, a long time – after the time period for which we paid rent. The record was eight months extra in Omaha, Nebraska!
We continue to look for billboards which are very visible, in well traveled locations, and with rare exceptions, in reduced speed limit zones. We certainly welcome any suggestions, though it must be a Lamar Advertising billboard. It staggers the imagination to consider the uncounted multitudes who have read our billboard gospel message. It is wonderful to think also that due to the simple website address included with that message, many have gone on to read the detailed gospel message on our website. The Lord only knows how many souls have been, and will be saved, through this campaign! To God be the glory!
We continue to look for billboards which are very visible, in well traveled locations, and with rare exceptions, in reduced speed limit zones. We certainly welcome any suggestions, though it must be a Lamar Advertising billboard. It staggers the imagination to consider the uncounted multitudes who have read our billboard gospel message. It is wonderful to think also that due to the simple website address included with that message, many have gone on to read the detailed gospel message on our website. The Lord only knows how many souls have been, and will be saved, through this campaign! To God be the glory!
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” Psalm 36:9
November 4, 2019
A high percentage of people who receive our gospel tracts read them.
Dear Friends,
Although it is time, even past time, to send out a quarterly summary on our public ministry gospel labors, I have decided to wait until after November to do so and include our gospel work for that month as well. The work does go on. So far this year, we have given out 40,192 gospel tracts and booklets, as well as 188 Gospels of John and two Bibles. We have had many good opportunities to witness to individuals; and of course, have made use of our large Scripture signs at a number of events.
Since the last report which went out the end of July, we have witnessed at more public events, done some gospel tract lit dropping door-to-door, and also reserved two more billboards for our gospel message, bringing to 43 the number of billboards which we have rented for that purpose. For whatever reason, a number of the billboards we have put up this year have stayed up well past the end date of our rental period; in fact, several have stayed up for months past that date.
Although it is time, even past time, to send out a quarterly summary on our public ministry gospel labors, I have decided to wait until after November to do so and include our gospel work for that month as well. The work does go on. So far this year, we have given out 40,192 gospel tracts and booklets, as well as 188 Gospels of John and two Bibles. We have had many good opportunities to witness to individuals; and of course, have made use of our large Scripture signs at a number of events.
Since the last report which went out the end of July, we have witnessed at more public events, done some gospel tract lit dropping door-to-door, and also reserved two more billboards for our gospel message, bringing to 43 the number of billboards which we have rented for that purpose. For whatever reason, a number of the billboards we have put up this year have stayed up well past the end date of our rental period; in fact, several have stayed up for months past that date.
This billboard is on a state highway near Hazel Green, a short distance before an intersection.
In October, we were at first disappointed to hear that a very large public event we were planning to witness at, and had witnessed at in the past, would no longer take place. On the other hand, the disappointment was soon outweighed by the gladness that the “Wizards and Warriors Festival” in Jefferson, Wisconsin is now a thing of the past.
I want to take this opportunity to emphasize how much we appreciate those who pray for this work, and also thank those who have helped our small church to fund it, even though we never make pleas for such help.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
I want to take this opportunity to emphasize how much we appreciate those who pray for this work, and also thank those who have helped our small church to fund it, even though we never make pleas for such help.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
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