October 22, 2018
“Oh that I was all heart, and soul, and spirit, to tell the glorious gospel of Christ to perishing multitudes!”
Rowland Hill (1744–1833)
“Oh that I was all heart, and soul, and spirit, to tell the glorious gospel of Christ to perishing multitudes!”
Rowland Hill (1744–1833)
Dear Friends,
Our last ministry update covered through the month of July. This update covers our ministry labors in the months of August and September. We are very grateful to the Lord for the opportunity, liberty, and ability to share the gospel of Christ with so many perishing souls. We are grateful also to those who pray and, in some cases, support the ongoing gospel labors of our little church.
Since the beginning of the year, by the grace and help of the Lord, members of our little church have given out, one by one, 40,885 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as 90 Scripture portions and 1 Bible; posted our gospel message on 8 more billboards in 6 towns; and shared a gospel message to multitudes using our large signs during gospel ministry. But the year isn’t over yet!
Ralph Ovadal
Our last ministry update covered through the month of July. This update covers our ministry labors in the months of August and September. We are very grateful to the Lord for the opportunity, liberty, and ability to share the gospel of Christ with so many perishing souls. We are grateful also to those who pray and, in some cases, support the ongoing gospel labors of our little church.
Since the beginning of the year, by the grace and help of the Lord, members of our little church have given out, one by one, 40,885 gospel tracts and gospel booklets as well as 90 Scripture portions and 1 Bible; posted our gospel message on 8 more billboards in 6 towns; and shared a gospel message to multitudes using our large signs during gospel ministry. But the year isn’t over yet!
Ralph Ovadal
Sharing the Bread of Life at the Beloit Farmers Market
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
On Saturday, August 18, seven of us traveled to Beloit, Wisconsin to share the gospel at a farmers market. Two of our number held our large Scripture signs, handing out tracts as best they could at the same time. The rest of us concentrated on giving out our Heaven or Hell gospel tracts. By the grace of God, 1,103 people accepted gospel tracts from us. We also had some conversations with a number of people. Of course, it was obvious some individuals did not appreciate our witness, and in fact, an older man became quite agitated at one point. But there were also a good number of individuals identifying as evangelicals who were greatly encouraged by our presence and shared words of encouragement. I am convinced that a sound Christian gospel witness tends to convict other Christians of the essential need, blessing, and benefit of gospel witness and provokes some of them to seek the Lord, in essence asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” We have been at this work many, many years, and I can tell you that I am increasingly seeing, year by year and here and there, other Christians out with the gospel and also hearing of such work in our state. This is not to say it is a common occurrence, but it is certainly more common than it used to be.
The highlight of our time at the farmers market was one of those situations which we pray will happen more often. At one point, a party of oriental young men—I would speculate they were Korean—approached where I was handing out gospel tracts while my wife Linda held a Scripture sign (which, by the way, was very visible also to occupants in cars on the busy adjacent street). These young men were in our country under some sort of student program and looked to be college age. As they approached, I felt a strong draw toward one of them and stepped into his path to face him, which is not generally the thing to do since we certainly do not want to be blocking people. But, it turned out, this was of the Spirit of the Lord. He accepted a tract, and I immediately began witnessing to him and could see he was soon under conviction. He began asking questions, even as one of his friends impatiently, almost vehemently, urged him to move on as they had things to do and had only come to check out the farmers market. I urged the young man not to allow anyone to come between him and the salvation of his soul, and he continued to talk to me.
The highlight of our time at the farmers market was one of those situations which we pray will happen more often. At one point, a party of oriental young men—I would speculate they were Korean—approached where I was handing out gospel tracts while my wife Linda held a Scripture sign (which, by the way, was very visible also to occupants in cars on the busy adjacent street). These young men were in our country under some sort of student program and looked to be college age. As they approached, I felt a strong draw toward one of them and stepped into his path to face him, which is not generally the thing to do since we certainly do not want to be blocking people. But, it turned out, this was of the Spirit of the Lord. He accepted a tract, and I immediately began witnessing to him and could see he was soon under conviction. He began asking questions, even as one of his friends impatiently, almost vehemently, urged him to move on as they had things to do and had only come to check out the farmers market. I urged the young man not to allow anyone to come between him and the salvation of his soul, and he continued to talk to me.
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I shared various Scriptures with him concerning the need and way of salvation and then asked if he had a Bible. Hearing he had none, and would like one, I told him we had one for him. But, alas, the Bibles were in a roller bag with our other gospel team at a different part of the farmers market. I pointed to the end of the farmers market where our other team was and told him I would go get the Bible for him. But at that point, his friends urged on him the necessity for leaving the farmers market. To this, he finally acquiesced while stating, “I will get that Bible.” We watched as his friends walked briskly away from the market and out of sight, with him in tow. But he left with the word of life in his mind, and we hoped in his heart, even as we were left with the overwhelming conviction that the Lord was effectually drawing him to Christ and to life.
At the end of our ministry time, when we reunited with our other team, we were overjoyed to find that after the young man and his friends had reached their destination, he had doubled back and made a beeline for our other team, and that Bible, which he not only received, but also, Tom showed him the Gospel of John, telling him it was a good place to begin reading, and also shared some other things with him. We left for home with a confident expectation that God would, perhaps that very day, save that convicted, sincere seeker and translate him into “the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). |
“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book! O give me that book! At any price, give me the Book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me.” John Wesley (1703-1791)
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Labor Day Disappointment
“When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” Jeremiah 10:13
We conduct a gospel witness at a number of parades every year. Labor Day parades are always on our ministry schedule. Last year, we handed out tracts at the Labor Day parade in Rockford, Illinois. This year, we planned on being in Janesville. But due to much rain and threats of severe weather, the parade organizers called off the event. By the grace of God, this was one of the very few times something like this has happened. But it was a great disappointment anyway, since we had a good expectation of getting out around 3,000 gospel tracts at this event.
Cheese Days Gospel Blitz
“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Revelation 21:6
Cheese Days is a biennial event in Monroe which draws huge crowds of people from around the state, nation, and even other countries. As in the past, we were geared up and ready to go when the event got underway on Friday, September 14.
Unfortunately, Mark and Janet, through unavoidable circumstances, were not able to travel from Omaha to join us as they usually do. Both do an excellent job of getting out tracts, and so that cut down some on the total number we were able to get out. Also, this year, there were several Christians from two other churches, one of Illinois, handing out gospel tracts as well, though I believe they were only out for awhile on Saturday. This did not use to be the case, but things seem to be gradually changing in that regard, as I explained in my report on the ministry at the Beloit farmers market. But it would stand to reason that having other Christians also handing out gospel tracts would likewise cut down on the number we would get out. Add to that the fact that we have given out tracts at Cheese Days for many years. But, in spite of all of what I just mentioned, by the grace of God, we were able during the three-day event to hand out 12,422 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract! As you might expect, we put in a lot of hours in order to get to that total. Among our sign holders and tract distributors, there were three who were only able to be out a couple of hours each. The rest of the labor was done by just seven of us with at least one, and sometimes two, holding signs. It was a good work out in hot weather, but a blessing beyond measure to be able to share the gospel with so many people.
Unfortunately, Mark and Janet, through unavoidable circumstances, were not able to travel from Omaha to join us as they usually do. Both do an excellent job of getting out tracts, and so that cut down some on the total number we were able to get out. Also, this year, there were several Christians from two other churches, one of Illinois, handing out gospel tracts as well, though I believe they were only out for awhile on Saturday. This did not use to be the case, but things seem to be gradually changing in that regard, as I explained in my report on the ministry at the Beloit farmers market. But it would stand to reason that having other Christians also handing out gospel tracts would likewise cut down on the number we would get out. Add to that the fact that we have given out tracts at Cheese Days for many years. But, in spite of all of what I just mentioned, by the grace of God, we were able during the three-day event to hand out 12,422 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract! As you might expect, we put in a lot of hours in order to get to that total. Among our sign holders and tract distributors, there were three who were only able to be out a couple of hours each. The rest of the labor was done by just seven of us with at least one, and sometimes two, holding signs. It was a good work out in hot weather, but a blessing beyond measure to be able to share the gospel with so many people.
Of course, we had good responses and bad responses. In the bad category were two homosexuals who were extremely angry with me for sharing the gospel at a public event. This was an evil which they felt ought not to be allowed; and there is no doubt that if they had their way, it would not be allowed.
A good many men and women who said they were Christians thanked us for being out sharing the gospel. It was a sign of the times that a number of them who did so were holding a glass of beer in one hand. Shamefully, during Cheese Days, open containers of beer are allowed on the city square of Monroe where the booths and stages are set up and the big crowds gather. One cheerful man very sincerely raised his beer up high and said, “Jesus is Lord.” And then of course, there were numerous representatives from several of the new evangelical churches in Monroe “showing the love of Christ” by handing out free water and doing volunteer work such as cleaning tables as well as picking up empty plastic beer glasses and other trash. Many of these evangelicals have a low view of our gospel work.
A good many men and women who said they were Christians thanked us for being out sharing the gospel. It was a sign of the times that a number of them who did so were holding a glass of beer in one hand. Shamefully, during Cheese Days, open containers of beer are allowed on the city square of Monroe where the booths and stages are set up and the big crowds gather. One cheerful man very sincerely raised his beer up high and said, “Jesus is Lord.” And then of course, there were numerous representatives from several of the new evangelical churches in Monroe “showing the love of Christ” by handing out free water and doing volunteer work such as cleaning tables as well as picking up empty plastic beer glasses and other trash. Many of these evangelicals have a low view of our gospel work.
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One man took the time out of his busy day to instruct one of our young men that his approach to evangelism was all wrong. The right way to share the gospel, this Christian sage insisted, is to just put a gospel tract in the back pocket and strike up a conversation with someone. Then, if things go well, that was the time to share a tract rather than getting the gospel into as many hands as possible.
We had other conversations as well; for instance, another of our young men had a very good conversation with a man who certainly seemed to be seeking after heavenly truth. Also during Cheese Days, we had two billboards in Monroe running our gospel message. All things considered, Monroe really did get gospel blitzed! |
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Gospel Lit Dropping
Mark and Janet have begun lit dropping our gospel tracts door to door in Omaha. We hope to also get some of the same work done here before the snow flies.
Gospel Billboard Campaign
Since the beginning of our gospel billboard campaign, we have had our message on twenty-five billboards all around Wisconsin; two in Illinois (Freeport and Rockford); two in Dubuque, Iowa; and three in Omaha, Nebraska. Currently, we have billboards reserved in Baldwin, Wisconsin; Barneveld, Wisconsin; and near Omaha, Nebraska. We hope to continue this campaign which is directing people also to the text of our From Death unto Life gospel booklet.
Psalm 144:1—“Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight . . .”
July 26, 2018
“The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10
“The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10
Dear Friends,
The last time we sent out a summary of our public ministry was the end of April. So, for those interested, here is a rundown on what we have been up to since as to our open-air gospel labors. We have been constantly encouraged in so many ways that our Sovereign Lord is graciously blessing our concern for the perishing and our rock-solid conviction that His word never returns void.
Ralph Ovadal
The last time we sent out a summary of our public ministry was the end of April. So, for those interested, here is a rundown on what we have been up to since as to our open-air gospel labors. We have been constantly encouraged in so many ways that our Sovereign Lord is graciously blessing our concern for the perishing and our rock-solid conviction that His word never returns void.
Ralph Ovadal
May 5, 2018 Cinco de Mayo, Omaha, Nebraska
The Cinco de Mayo celebration in Omaha includes a parade which draws very large crowds. Mark walked the parade route by himself, giving out our gospel tracts. He then went home and loaded up a gospel sign, Janet and their two little ones, and headed back to the Cinco de Mayo celebration. When all was said and done, a multitude had read the gospel message on their large sign; and 1,511 individuals—the vast majority of them Roman Catholics but also several Muslim ladies—had accepted our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners gospel tracts, many of which contained inserts featuring Scripture verses in Spanish. Also given out were 24 of our An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tracts in Spanish and 2 of the same tract in English.
Cinco de Mayo, Darlington, Wisconsin, May 12
This year’s Cinco de Mayo in Darlington was held on May 12, one week late. This event is not a large one to start with, and unfortunately, it was also a cold and rainy day. Seven of us were on hand to share the gospel with the crowd, which, of course, was overwhelmingly Hispanic. The folks we witnessed to, including a great many families, were, as a general rule, very friendly, humble, and most willing to accept our gospel tracts. We split into three teams, making use of two gospel signs. Eventually, off-and-on drizzle turned to rain, and the event was pretty much washed out, but not before we were able to hand out 426 of our Heaven or Hell gospel tracts which also had Spanish inserts.
Nebraska State High School Track Meet, May 18
At this event, Mark handed out tracts while Janet, with the two little ones, stood with a Scripture sign. They were able to give out 460 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts. They were greatly encouraged to meet a Christian couple from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, who were sincerely glad to see Christians out sharing the gospel. The lady told them, “You ought to be commended” (now if she could just talk to the many new evangelicals who express a different sentiment when they see us witnessing). The couple shared other encouraging words as well, and as they were leaving, the lady gave Janet a hug.
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May 28, 2018 Memorial Day Parade in Freeport, Illinois
Seven of us split up into two teams and walked both sides of the Memorial Day parade route in Freeport, handing out tracts to the crowd lining it. We met a very receptive people, for the most part, and were able to give out 1,791 Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts as well as 86 Gospels of John.
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The College World Series, June 15-28, Omaha, Nebraska
One disgusted Omaha fireman to another at CWS: “Always evangelizing, always evangelizing.”
The CWS is a golden opportunity to share the gospel with multitudes of lost souls from all around this nation who attend this event. Thus Mark and Janet, augmented part of the time by two members of Monroe PCC, made a maximum effort to share the gospel with as many of the fans as possible. Also, we rented two highly visible billboards on heavily traveled multilane streets on which we posted our gospel message, with its web site address to the text of our From Death unto Life gospel booklet.
Michaela and Joy both traveled to Omaha to give a hand to Mark and Janet during this event, working long hours sharing the gospel. Michaela took part in the ministry work the first Friday night, that weekend, and on Monday before leaving for home. Joy began her labors on Friday, June 15, and stayed with it through the following Friday before heading back to Monroe on Saturday, the 23rd. Janet, with the two little ones, was unable to help the first weekend of the ministry due to the high temperatures, but then was able to be part of the ministry a number of times. Mark held down the fort at CWS fifteen times over the two weeks! A Christian brother named Larry also helped out on one occasion.
When it was all over, 14,311 of our gospel tracts (either Christ Jesus Came into the World or Heaven or Hell) plus 1 Gospel of John, 2 gospel booklets, and 1 An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract were given out. Now, just consider the hundreds of man hours and labor that took to put that much truth into the hands of that many individuals, speaking to and offering tracts to each one and to many more who declined accepting a tract. Further, just think of how many individuals from around this nation also received a gospel message by reading one of the Scriptures signs our brethren held and/or seeing one of the two gospel billboards we had up during CWS.
As our brethren went into action the first Friday night at CWS, one Omaha fireman was heard saying with disgust to another about them, “Always evangelizing, always evangelizing.” Little did this man know the compliment and encouragement he gave the gospel workers right at the start of the labors at CWS! Also during the CWS ministry:
Michaela and Joy both traveled to Omaha to give a hand to Mark and Janet during this event, working long hours sharing the gospel. Michaela took part in the ministry work the first Friday night, that weekend, and on Monday before leaving for home. Joy began her labors on Friday, June 15, and stayed with it through the following Friday before heading back to Monroe on Saturday, the 23rd. Janet, with the two little ones, was unable to help the first weekend of the ministry due to the high temperatures, but then was able to be part of the ministry a number of times. Mark held down the fort at CWS fifteen times over the two weeks! A Christian brother named Larry also helped out on one occasion.
When it was all over, 14,311 of our gospel tracts (either Christ Jesus Came into the World or Heaven or Hell) plus 1 Gospel of John, 2 gospel booklets, and 1 An Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract were given out. Now, just consider the hundreds of man hours and labor that took to put that much truth into the hands of that many individuals, speaking to and offering tracts to each one and to many more who declined accepting a tract. Further, just think of how many individuals from around this nation also received a gospel message by reading one of the Scriptures signs our brethren held and/or seeing one of the two gospel billboards we had up during CWS.
As our brethren went into action the first Friday night at CWS, one Omaha fireman was heard saying with disgust to another about them, “Always evangelizing, always evangelizing.” Little did this man know the compliment and encouragement he gave the gospel workers right at the start of the labors at CWS! Also during the CWS ministry:
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• Joy and Michaela spoke with a Roman Catholic man with a lot of questions. He ended up accepting a From Death unto Life booklet, an Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract, and a Gospel of John.
• One woman who accepted a gospel tract said, “I went to church this morning. I need to see how I’m a sinner.” She and her husband then sat together, as the lady read the tract out loud. After that, she came back and accepted a From Death unto Life booklet. • A bitter ticket scalper with a filthy mouth ended up meekly accepting one of our gospel tracts. • A man let our brethren know he had seen many people reading the tracts which they were handing out. • One young man, apparently a Christian, was heard telling another, “That’s what we should be doing,” after seeing our brethren handing out gospel tracts. |
One of our gospel billboards is very close to a Jiffy Lube and, in fact, is very visible through the large garage doors of the place. After that particular billboard had been up for some time, one of the Jiffy Lube workers, a young man twenty-two years old, was tragically killed in a motorcycle wreck. Who knows but that he first came to a saving faith in Christ on account of that gospel message on the billboard? And who knows how the Lord may be using the same message in the hearts of his fellow workers who, no doubt, have been moved to think of eternity due to their friend’s early demise, even as they see our gospel message time after time from Jiffy Lube.
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Rock Concert at Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska, June 29
The day after CWS got over, Mark and Janet conducted a gospel witness to fans attending a rock concert at Memorial Park. It was a tough crowd, as to being willing to receive a gospel tract. But 224 did accept our gospel tracts, and a great many more saw the Scripture sign Mark held. A number of Muslim ladies passing by accepted gospel tracts. During their time of ministry, Mark also was able to share much gospel truth in conversations with 1) a Roman Catholic woman who asked what the verse on the sign meant, 2) two Roman Catholic high school boys, 3) a college student from Saudi Arabia. This young man said he had been thinking about such things as Mark spoke of and accepted one of our gospel booklets.
Fourth of July Parade, Evansville, Wisconsin
Evansville, population 5,000, had a very well attended Fourth of July parade this year. Six of us walked the long parade route, both sides, handing out our gospel tracts and working up a good sweat as it was a very hot and humid day. But considering that multitudes of our brethren over the centuries have shed their blood on account of their gospel witness, and many today in other lands are likewise suffering for the gospel, Christians in this country ought to be willing, gladly willing, to labor and sweat for Christ as they honor and glorify Him by following His example “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Perhaps if more would sweat now, taking the gospel to the perishing, none would have to bleed later.
Evansville is closer to liberal, leftist Madison, and we did run into more individuals who were hostile to the gospel. But, at the same time, the vast majority of the people were still open to receive a gospel tract, and a great many even said “thank you” upon receiving it. We were overjoyed to give out 3,000 Christ Jesus Came into the World tracts at this parade as well as 2 Gospels of John.
Evansville is closer to liberal, leftist Madison, and we did run into more individuals who were hostile to the gospel. But, at the same time, the vast majority of the people were still open to receive a gospel tract, and a great many even said “thank you” upon receiving it. We were overjoyed to give out 3,000 Christ Jesus Came into the World tracts at this parade as well as 2 Gospels of John.
Sesquicentennial Parade, Elizabeth, Illinois, July 21
We traveled to Elizabeth, Illinois, Saturday, July 21 to share the gospel at a parade being held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of that town, population 761. I assumed the numbers of people at the parade would be fairly small, thus just three of us undertook the ministry. It turned out that my estimate of the situation was correct, and the people watching the parade were quite spread out. So, one of us handled one side of the street and the two others the other side. The reception of our gospel tracts was phenomenal, and we were able to offer them to virtually everyone watching the parade. We ended up handing out 978 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tracts.
Gospel Billboard Update
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So far this year, we have put up billboards in the following cities: Marshfield, Superior, Manitowoc, and Dodgeville, all in Wisconsin; also two billboards in Omaha, Nebraska. Presently, we have another billboard reserved on a busy thoroughfare near Omaha and two more reserved for Monroe during a time span that will include Cheese Days which draws massive crowds. Lord willing, we will continue our gospel campaign with billboards in a number of other cities yet this year. Since we began this campaign in May, 2016, we have had our gospel message, with its internet address to our gospel booklet, on thirty billboards. Eternity alone will show how many perishing souls have been saved, and will be saved, by that gospel witness; and further, we know that any faithful gospel witness is also used by the Lord as a savoring, preserving influence on a people and nation.
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Omaha, Nebraska
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Manitowoc, Wisconsin
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say,
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10
April 21, 2018
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Dear Friends,
The last time we sent out a ministry update was in January of this year. The period of time from then until now does not present many opportunities for open-air evangelism to large numbers of people. As you will see, the month of March is an exception. Beginning in May and through to the end of November is the season when we have a great many opportunities to conduct gospel witness at large public events. Lord willing, we do intend to make the most of these opportunities to share the gospel of Christ with multitudes of perishing souls.
By the way, recently, we were blessed to be able to send 3,000 of our gospel tracts and some of our Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract in Spanish to a faithful Christian couple who live in Maryland and are involved in much evangelism at large public events in the Mid-Atlantic.
Our thanks to those who pray for this ministry work and also those who have helped us to have the means to fund it.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
The last time we sent out a ministry update was in January of this year. The period of time from then until now does not present many opportunities for open-air evangelism to large numbers of people. As you will see, the month of March is an exception. Beginning in May and through to the end of November is the season when we have a great many opportunities to conduct gospel witness at large public events. Lord willing, we do intend to make the most of these opportunities to share the gospel of Christ with multitudes of perishing souls.
By the way, recently, we were blessed to be able to send 3,000 of our gospel tracts and some of our Urgent Plea to Roman Catholics tract in Spanish to a faithful Christian couple who live in Maryland and are involved in much evangelism at large public events in the Mid-Atlantic.
Our thanks to those who pray for this ministry work and also those who have helped us to have the means to fund it.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Witness at a Roman Catholic Parade
As I am sure you all know, we of PCC are very pro-life and are all for efforts to save the unborn, so long as such efforts by evangelicals are not at the expense of the true gospel, the spiritual purity of Christ’s blood-bought flock and in disobedience to the Scriptures which forbid Christians to spiritually, religiously yoke with Roman Catholics or other false religionists. Of course, such ecumenical error by evangelicals also deceives Roman Catholics that their church is Christian and that they are safe in Christ, when neither is true!
On January 27, our “Omaha Connection,” as we call Mark and Janet, witnessed to many thousands of Roman Catholics in Lincoln, Nebraska during the Walk for Life parade in that city. Mark held appropriate Scripture signs and preached to the marchers as Janet, literally dodging idolatrous statues and tapestries portraying “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” handed out our gospel tracts, each with an insert titled “Dear Roman Catholic.” Remarkably, over 230 individuals, by far mostly Roman Catholics and a good share of them young, accepted those tracts with inserts. The following is excerpted from a report Mark sent us on the ministry in Lincoln.
On January 27, our “Omaha Connection,” as we call Mark and Janet, witnessed to many thousands of Roman Catholics in Lincoln, Nebraska during the Walk for Life parade in that city. Mark held appropriate Scripture signs and preached to the marchers as Janet, literally dodging idolatrous statues and tapestries portraying “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” handed out our gospel tracts, each with an insert titled “Dear Roman Catholic.” Remarkably, over 230 individuals, by far mostly Roman Catholics and a good share of them young, accepted those tracts with inserts. The following is excerpted from a report Mark sent us on the ministry in Lincoln.
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The march draws between four and five thousand people. Over the years, the march has gone from an ecumenical event (although we know that would not be right either) to an almost total Roman Catholic event. And they make no apologies for it, even from the microphone at the state capitol. The march is filled with statues, pictures of “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” people reciting the rosary, dozens of priests and nuns. Young boys painted letters on their chests to spell out “PRO-LIFE,” and the whole thing is kind of what I term a “block party” for the Diocese of Lincoln.
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Witness to Wrestling Fans
On Saturday, March 3, nine of us traveled to Madison to share the gospel with fans attending the 2018 WIAA state high school wrestling championships at the University of Wisconsin field house. We split up and covered both of the entrances to the event. Each team held one of our large gospel signs by the door, while the rest of us handed out gospel tracts—in fact, 1,037 gospel tracts. Something to keep in mind, regarding the number of tracts we hand out at such events, is that the persons taking them know what they are getting since our large gospel signs are very visible to all.
As usually happens at this particular event, a UW security guard told us we had to leave. As usual we told him we had a constitutional right to do what we were doing, how we were doing it, and where we were doing it, that is, on the grounds of a public, tax-funded university. The security guard huffed off to speak with the police, and that was the last we heard of him.
One of the most encouraging things to occur during this ministry concerned a Muslim man, his wife, and their three children. Before anyone even had time to offer gospel tracts to the family, the man approached Joy. In her own words, this is what then took place.
As usually happens at this particular event, a UW security guard told us we had to leave. As usual we told him we had a constitutional right to do what we were doing, how we were doing it, and where we were doing it, that is, on the grounds of a public, tax-funded university. The security guard huffed off to speak with the police, and that was the last we heard of him.
One of the most encouraging things to occur during this ministry concerned a Muslim man, his wife, and their three children. Before anyone even had time to offer gospel tracts to the family, the man approached Joy. In her own words, this is what then took place.
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Before I could say anything to them, the man asked, “What is going on up there?” I told him it was the state wrestling tournaments, to which he replied, “What is wrestling?” I tried to explain! His English was good, but I guess that was something he was not familiar with! Then I said, “But I’m here to share the good news of Jesus Christ.” He very willingly took a gospel tract, and so did his wife. Then the Lord, I believe, caused me to remember the New Testament in my camera bag, and he willingly took it, saying, “New Testament,” as he looked at it in his hands.
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This is not the first time Muslims have accepted gospel tracts from us. I hope all of you are encouraged as we are by the knowledge that there are Muslims in this country who are open to receiving the gospel, and in the case just mentioned, even a Bible!
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Meanwhile, on the Same Day in Nebraska . . .
While we were sharing the gospel with wrestling fans in Madison, Wisconsin, Mark and Janet were doing the same thing on the same day at the 2018 Nebraska girls basketball championships. They gave out 540 of our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract, the same tract we gave out at the wrestling championships.
A Very Good Time of Witness in Madison
Since 2003, we have given out well over 38,000 gospel tracts at the state basketball championships at the Kohl Center in Madison. We have also witnessed of the way of salvation to many times that number at the same event with our large gospel signs.
This year, on March 17, and by the grace of God, eight of us were able to witness for the Lord to the fans, including a very great number of high school students, arriving for the boys basketball championships. Two of our number held gospel signs on two different sidewalk approaches to the Kohl Center. The rest of us handed out gospel tracts. By the grace of God, 2,150 basketball fans accepted tracts from us, and again, even though those individuals saw our gospel signs and knew what we were handing out. Sad to say, but consistent with our experience, the fans from a Roman Catholic school which had made it to the championships were the most unreceptive to the gospel. But some still did accept tracts, and we trust the Spirit of the Lord to do the needed work in their hearts.
At one point in our ministry a UW event person, a lady, informed one of us, Joy, that we could not hand out gospel tracts on a UW sidewalk. Before Joy could respond, a nearby ticket scalper with whom we have had conversations many times over the years, stepped in and said to the UW official, “They can be there. They’ve been coming for years. They can be on university property because it’s freedom of religion.” At this, the event woman cheerfully said, “I stand corrected then!” Many encouraging things took place during our time of ministry at the Kohl Center.
This year, on March 17, and by the grace of God, eight of us were able to witness for the Lord to the fans, including a very great number of high school students, arriving for the boys basketball championships. Two of our number held gospel signs on two different sidewalk approaches to the Kohl Center. The rest of us handed out gospel tracts. By the grace of God, 2,150 basketball fans accepted tracts from us, and again, even though those individuals saw our gospel signs and knew what we were handing out. Sad to say, but consistent with our experience, the fans from a Roman Catholic school which had made it to the championships were the most unreceptive to the gospel. But some still did accept tracts, and we trust the Spirit of the Lord to do the needed work in their hearts.
At one point in our ministry a UW event person, a lady, informed one of us, Joy, that we could not hand out gospel tracts on a UW sidewalk. Before Joy could respond, a nearby ticket scalper with whom we have had conversations many times over the years, stepped in and said to the UW official, “They can be there. They’ve been coming for years. They can be on university property because it’s freedom of religion.” At this, the event woman cheerfully said, “I stand corrected then!” Many encouraging things took place during our time of ministry at the Kohl Center.
NCAA Basketball Tournament Regionals
On March 23, Mark and Janet witnessed at the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball regional tournament. It was a windy day, in fact, too windy to even hold a gospel sign. But the dedicated twosome did hand out close to 400 gospel tracts to basketball fans from all over the country, and Mark had a good conversation, sharing the gospel with a Roman Catholic man.
Gospel Billboard Update
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We began this year with billboards in Fort Atkinson and Rockford, Illinois. These two went up in mid-December and stayed up through mid-January of this year. Toward the end of this month, April, our billboard will go up in Superior and Marshfield. Then in June, we have two billboards going up on heavy-traffic streets in Omaha, Nebraska. These will be up during the 2018 College World Series baseball championships, at which Mark and Janet and at least one of our PCC congregation will be sharing the gospel with teeming multitudes from all around the nation. In July, our billboard will go up in Dodgeville. Then in September, we have two digital billboards which will run our gospel message in Monroe, including right over Cheese Days when huge crowds gather here for that event at which we conduct much gospel ministry over three days.
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“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
January 22, 2018
“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant . . .”
Genesis 32:10
“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant . . .”
Genesis 32:10
Dear Friends,
2017 has passed into the history books. Looking back, we are thankful for the rich abundant grace and tender mercy of the Lord which He has shown us all: personally, as a church, and certainly in our public ministry gospel work. We do want to thank each one who has prayed for that work this past year and those who sent gifts to help our little church reach such a great multitude of the perishing with the gospel of Christ. Our last public ministry update went out in mid-September. The months December through February do not feature the sort of opportunities for mass evangelism which the other months of the year do. But we continue to pray on during those months in preparation for the start of our gospel work the end of February or very early in March. At the same time, our gospel billboard campaign does continue through those same months. After updating our gospel ministry work since that last ministry report in mid-September, I hope you may also be interested and encouraged to read a brief summary of our public ministry work for 2017.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
2017 has passed into the history books. Looking back, we are thankful for the rich abundant grace and tender mercy of the Lord which He has shown us all: personally, as a church, and certainly in our public ministry gospel work. We do want to thank each one who has prayed for that work this past year and those who sent gifts to help our little church reach such a great multitude of the perishing with the gospel of Christ. Our last public ministry update went out in mid-September. The months December through February do not feature the sort of opportunities for mass evangelism which the other months of the year do. But we continue to pray on during those months in preparation for the start of our gospel work the end of February or very early in March. At the same time, our gospel billboard campaign does continue through those same months. After updating our gospel ministry work since that last ministry report in mid-September, I hope you may also be interested and encouraged to read a brief summary of our public ministry work for 2017.
Sincerely,
Ralph Ovadal
Return to the Dubuque Farmers Market
In our last ministry update, I shared with you how last summer, on August 19, while several of us were sharing the gospel on the public sidewalk at the farmers market in downtown Dubuque, Iowa, we were told by city police, at the behest of a foul-mouthed farmers market manager, that we had no right to share the gospel there and that we would be arrested if we did not leave immediately. As I informed you in that last ministry report, though I did share with the officer why we had the constitutional right to do what we were doing and where we were doing it, the officer, a self-professed Christian who was nevertheless furious with me for not leaving immediately, did not want to hear anything having to do with the law, the Constitution, or US Supreme Court rulings. It was leave now or wind up behind bars fast. Consistent with the wishes of constitutional attorneys we have worked with over the years, just as the handcuffs were about to come out, we finally left rather than wind up with two simultaneous court cases, one in a state court for the charged “offense” and one in federal court dealing with the constitutional issue. But I did let the officer know that we would be back.
On October 7, we finally did return to that farmers market after the Center for Religious Expression had set the city of Dubuque straight on the constitutional issue involved. By October 7, the farmers market crowd was much smaller, and off-and-on heavy rain further diminished the crowd. However, the Lord graciously gave us a window of opportunity, with the rain giving way to only a very light drizzle over the city of Dubuque the moment we arrived on the scene, even as the heavy rain continued around the city. We set up our gospel sign and handed out tracts while a market manager in her booth nearby took pains to act as if we did not exist. A young Christian woman came over to thank us for what we were doing and ended up expressing her outrage that the city had attempted to outlaw the sharing of the gospel on the public sidewalk. One middle-aged man, who was obviously very sick, gaunt, and full of despair, took our tract Heaven or Hell, and on seeing the title, said, “I’ll be there soon”—meaning, we took it, that he would soon be dead. He walked away looking at the tract. We were so thankful to have been able to get that gospel into his hands and “love our neighbor” by sharing the gospel of life even as he stood on the brink of eternity and knew it.
After spending some time in one place, we walked through the entire market with our gospel sign and handing out tracts. I ended up talking of the gospel with two men in the doorway of a bar for some time. Both took tracts and said they were going to read them. As the rain began, we headed for the car. As we were waiting to cross a street, a woman read our gospel sign out loud and began asking questions. We ended up ducking into a doorway to get out of the rain, and I answered her questions and shared the way of salvation with her, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. When all was said and done, it was clear to us that even though the spiritual principalities and powers spoken of in the epistle to the Ephesians had determined to rid that farmers market of our gospel witness and us, by the grace of God, it ended up for us as the apostle declared in 2 Corinthians 2:14: “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.”
On October 7, we finally did return to that farmers market after the Center for Religious Expression had set the city of Dubuque straight on the constitutional issue involved. By October 7, the farmers market crowd was much smaller, and off-and-on heavy rain further diminished the crowd. However, the Lord graciously gave us a window of opportunity, with the rain giving way to only a very light drizzle over the city of Dubuque the moment we arrived on the scene, even as the heavy rain continued around the city. We set up our gospel sign and handed out tracts while a market manager in her booth nearby took pains to act as if we did not exist. A young Christian woman came over to thank us for what we were doing and ended up expressing her outrage that the city had attempted to outlaw the sharing of the gospel on the public sidewalk. One middle-aged man, who was obviously very sick, gaunt, and full of despair, took our tract Heaven or Hell, and on seeing the title, said, “I’ll be there soon”—meaning, we took it, that he would soon be dead. He walked away looking at the tract. We were so thankful to have been able to get that gospel into his hands and “love our neighbor” by sharing the gospel of life even as he stood on the brink of eternity and knew it.
After spending some time in one place, we walked through the entire market with our gospel sign and handing out tracts. I ended up talking of the gospel with two men in the doorway of a bar for some time. Both took tracts and said they were going to read them. As the rain began, we headed for the car. As we were waiting to cross a street, a woman read our gospel sign out loud and began asking questions. We ended up ducking into a doorway to get out of the rain, and I answered her questions and shared the way of salvation with her, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. When all was said and done, it was clear to us that even though the spiritual principalities and powers spoken of in the epistle to the Ephesians had determined to rid that farmers market of our gospel witness and us, by the grace of God, it ended up for us as the apostle declared in 2 Corinthians 2:14: “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.”
Sharing the Gospel at the Harry Potter Festival
On Saturday, October 21, nine of us traveled to Jefferson, Wisconsin, to share the gospel with the crowds who turned out for the Harry Potter Festival which was spread out over a large area of downtown Jefferson and also in the city park. The weather was near perfect and the crowd during the course of the day was estimated to be about 35,000 people. We broke into two teams, each with one large gospel sign, and handed out our Christ Jesus Came into the World to Save Sinners tract. At this particular event, the crowd in general, many of the adults dressed up like witches and wizards and weird Harry Potter characters, was much more cold toward the gospel than at most events we attend; and we did run into more individuals who were openly contemptuous of our gospel labors. Nevertheless, after 2½ hours of concerted effort to get the gospel into the hands of as many as would receive it, we had given out 2,085 gospel tracts; and several of us had conversations, including in one case with a “real” witch, and also saw a Satanist wearing a pentagram and other satanic symbols on his shirt. “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Romans 16:20).
Our Gospel Witness at the WIAA State High School Football Championships
On Thursday, November 16, just five of us were on hand to share the gospel to the football fans arriving at Camp Randall stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, for the high school football championships. The teams playing were from the smaller schools, and so there were much smaller crowds as compared to when we have witnessed at the games featuring the bigger schools. The fans at these games are predominately high school age, and many younger children as well. We made use of two gospel signs at two locations while three of us concentrated strictly on getting out tracts—in all, 729 gospel tracts.
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On Friday, November 17, with the weatherman promising heavy rain, two of us decided on the spur of the moment to head back for Madison and Day Two of the football championships. One of us held a gospel sign while the other focused on getting gospel tracts out under a lowering, threatening sky. In time, the clouds finally poured out rain, but not before we had handed out 385 more gospel tracts, raising our two-day total to 1,114 gospel tracts. By the time we arrived at our car, we had been thoroughly drenched by a cold, driving rain but were also thoroughly glad to have been able to share the gospel with so many perishing souls, both by gospel tracts and our sign.
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Gospel Billboard Campaign Update
So far for 2018, we have reserved billboards in Superior, Wisconsin (May 21-June 17); Marshfield, Wisconsin (May 28-June 24); Dodgeville, Wisconsin (July 16-August 12). We have secured two billboards in strategic locations in Omaha, Nebraska (June 4-July 1). The time these Omaha billboards will be up includes the dates of the 2018 College World Series in that city. We have also reserved two electronic billboards for Monroe, Wisconsin (September 1-September 30). The multi-day biennial Cheese Days celebration in Monroe will take place within that time frame.
2017 PCC Gospel Billboard Campaign in Review
As the new year dawned on January 1, a PCC gospel billboard was bearing witness of the way of salvation in Dubuque, Iowa. By the end of the year, we had put up that same billboard in the following Wisconsin cities: Watertown, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Shullsburg, Fort Atkinson, and on a busy traffic artery just outside Madison. We also put up our gospel message on billboards in Freeport and Rockford, Illinois, as well as one in Omaha, Nebraska. In all, during 2017, we had eleven billboards in ten cities and towns. As I mentioned, thus far, we have already reserved a total of seven billboards for 2018. We hope to reserve, and put up, more gospel billboards this year than last year. As I have mentioned in the past, we choose billboards in very good locations, and our billboards not only have the gospel message but a simple, easy to remember Internet address to a much more in-depth message—in fact, the text of our gospel booklet From Death unto Life.
2017 PCC Gospel Witness at Public Events
We held gospel signs and passed out a total of 30,515 gospel tracts at the following public events in 2017: the Roman Catholic Walk for Life, Lincoln, Nebraska; wrestling tournament, Madison, Wisconsin; basketball tournament, Madison, Wisconsin; Nebraska state track meet, Omaha, Nebraska; Cinco de Mayo, Omaha, Nebraska; Cinco de Mayo, Darlington, Wisconsin; Memorial Day parade, Rockford, Illinois; College World Series, Omaha, Nebraska; Memorial Park concert, Omaha, Nebraska; farmers market, Beloit, Wisconsin; Fourth of July parade, Mineral Point, Wisconsin; Labor Day parade, Rockford, Illinois; SeptemberFest, Omaha, Nebraska; farmers market, Dubuque, Iowa (2x); Harry Potter Festival, Jefferson, Wisconsin; football tournament, Madison, Wisconsin.
This year, 2018, is once again a biennial “Cheese Days” year in Monroe. Cheese Days years always help us to get out even more gospel tracts. In 2016, the last Cheese Days year, we handed out 13,450 tracts at that one event and so over 40,000 tracts over the entire year. To put this in perspective, if those 40,000 individuals stood in line, with three feet allowed for each one of them, that line would stretch for 22.73 miles! Lord willing, this year, we are hoping to put the gospel into the hands of as many as 45-50,000 people. It takes plenty of hard work to get the gospel into the hands of that many people, one by one. But though our church is small, we have willing workers eager to serve the Lord of the harvest. And for that I am very thankful.
This year, 2018, is once again a biennial “Cheese Days” year in Monroe. Cheese Days years always help us to get out even more gospel tracts. In 2016, the last Cheese Days year, we handed out 13,450 tracts at that one event and so over 40,000 tracts over the entire year. To put this in perspective, if those 40,000 individuals stood in line, with three feet allowed for each one of them, that line would stretch for 22.73 miles! Lord willing, this year, we are hoping to put the gospel into the hands of as many as 45-50,000 people. It takes plenty of hard work to get the gospel into the hands of that many people, one by one. But though our church is small, we have willing workers eager to serve the Lord of the harvest. And for that I am very thankful.