Report from Talladega Outreach

Talladega went great. We were able to have numerous 1-2-1's with people and we handed out close to 3,000 tracts, praise be to God. We saw many who professed to be "Christian", yet when we presented them with "the Law", they admitted they were sinning, but it was "only for the weekend". They did not have a heart of repentance, there was no fear of the Lord. One man I talked to quoted Psalm 111:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". I asked him, "Do you fear the Lord?" He said "yes". I asked, "Then why are you intoxicated? The Bible says no drunkard will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." He said he knew that, but he was just here to party. I saw that very man later that afternoon, he was so drunk he couldn't even walk straight. No fear of the Lord.

But there wasn't all bad news, several people we talked with were convicted and listened. I talked to one lady who said she taught Sunday School. I went through the Law of God with her. She admitted to being a liar, thief and a blasphemer and that if God judged her by the 10 commandments she would go to Hell. It was a sobering thought to her. I asked her, "Did you know what God did so you wouldn't have to go to Hell?" She had no idea, she taught Sunday School and did not know the Gospel!! What is happening in our churches here in the U.S.? What is being taught there?? She truly was convicted that day though. I have many stories, some encouraging, some not. But, I know that our job was to plant "seeds" of the Gospel. God will handle the rest.

Many people there did not like my testimony. I was a reminder to them that what they were doing was wrong. You see, if you had been visiting the campgrounds at Talladega about 10 years ago, you would have found me there. I was one of them, a bottle of beer in my hand while professing my own self-righteous goodness. I'd be saying I'm a "good person" as I passed the bottle of Jack Daniels to the next person sitting around the campfire. I reminded them of how they should be, how they should act. Now, all the glory goes to God. It was Him who saved me from that lifestyle, not myself. It was Him who changed my heart and showed me how repulsive my sin was, not myself. It was Him that made me a "new creature", not myself. And it's God that can save them too, if they repent (turn) from their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross, not their own "goodness". He bore the wrath of God on our behalf so we could be forgiven. But, you have to love Jesus more than your sins.

I have to give a thanks out to everybody who came out to help this weekend:
Bill Adams (and friends)
Leslie Tollett
Shelby Tollett
Dustin Casey
Glenn Parker
Troy Smith
and my two lovely children Diana and Britt


So, what are you waiting for? Go preach the Gospel to a dying world!!