Today was Montgomery, Alabama's Christmas tree lighting and Christmas Parade. And David Day of www.evangelizeyourcity.com organized a outreach for the parade. David uses a Prayer Station as a springboard for the Gospel. Sometimes people are more willing to stop and talk when you are willing to pray for them.
David setup the Prayer Station on Dexter Avenue across from Chris' Hot Dogs. I work about 5 blocks from there, so I got to walk the parade route on the way to the Prayer Station. On my way I handed out about 200 "Million Dollar Bill" tracts to the people gathering for the parade. By the time I got there David had already setup his Prayer Station and he had all kinds of tracts on display. As we were handing out the MDB tracts to the people walking by, I kept looking at the stool I brought to stand on to open-air preach. I wanted to open-air preach for the first time tonight, but fear was coming over me. My old insecurity surfaced..."What if people don't like me? What if they think I'm weird?" But, the whole time leading up to tonight I reminded myself it was not about me, it was about Jesus!! All these people are dying and I have the cure. Who cares what they think about me
With much fear I stood on the stool. I had bookmarked my Bible with the verses I wanted to use. I was standing on the stool looking down at my Bible, and saying a little prayer, "Lord I am scared...but I'm gonna do it." I looked up and raised my voice as loud as I could (no amplification). I said, "Ladies and Gentleman welcome to Montgomery's Christmas Parade". At that instant literally hundreds of people turned around and looked at me. My natural instinct would have been even more fear, but at that very moment all my fear was gone. God kicked in. He took over.
I introduced them to this "Christ" in Christmas. I challenged them, "Why did God become man? Why do we need Jesus? If He's our Savior what is He saving us from?" I took them through the law. I showed them our guilt before a Holy and Righteous God. Then I showed them Grace. I showed them the Cross. And all this was not me, it was God leading me.
I saw David talking with people who walking by as I preached the Cross. I saw some people listening and some mocking. Some were ignoring the message, some were enthralled with the message (or the loud weird guy on the stool). Either way they heard the Gospel. I pleaded with them to evaluate who was their lord. Was their sins their lord or was Jesus their Lord? I urged them to turn from their sins, to repent and put their trust in Jesus and Jesus alone. Not their good works. No amount of good deeds can make up for breaking God's law. I took them though the analogy of a court room and the "good judge" who has to punish law breakers. And when it was over I got off the stool. I felt at ease, unlike ever before. Also, when the parade was over I open-aired again to the people who were leaving. I was still a little scared, but no where near as scared as the first time.
It's getting late so I'm going to wrap up Part 1 tonight. Tomorrow I'll post Part 2 of the Montgomery Christmas Parade, and talk about the one-2-ones I did at the parade. Also, I will talk about the Christian brothers whom I labored along side with tonight.
Until then, What are you waiting for?? Go preach the Word!!!
Payton Dooley
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