Olympia, Washington

Welcome to the State of Washington and its capitol Olympia!

Arriving Monday evening July 22^nd, I settled in at Westwood Baptist Church of Tucson. Where I enjoyed a park like setting which was quiet and secure.

Tuesday, I surveyed the area and found the pace to be slow and that there were no big events scheduled to take place.  At first being disappointed and later seeing it as a blessing.  Remember, I was in Virginia the week prior and now it was back to the streets.  Where the message of the Cross arouses the opposition and so it was in Olympia.  But as the railings of men come from every direction the foundation on which I stand “JESUS” is immovable.  Yes!

Without large crowds and being in a small city I realized it was all the more difficult to stand and speak aloud the gospel.  Hence I spent a lot of time in the word desiring to be better prepared for the next stop.

On Saturday as I drove through town I noticed a crowd and venders at Heritage Park.  A few blocks away I parked, loaded up on tracts, grabbed the small amplifier and hurried there.  Surprise and welcome to Washington!  This was the “FIRST LEGAL HEMPFEST IN THE NATION!” with bands, guest speakers and vendors selling all kinds of drug paraphernalia etc.  After taking this in I began handing out gospel tracts and soon needed more.  Meaningful conversations were hard to come by so the hope is that the Holy Spirit will work through the tracts.

Sunday evening I came across another gathering “Olympia Symphony Orchestra 7th Annual Capitol Concert” on the grounds of the State Capital.  As I waited for the event to end, hoping to herald the gospel, I checked with the capitol police and was given the go ahead but no amplification. When the show ended I walked out in the middle of the crowd, but to my dismay I could not compete with the noise level of so many people talking and the background music still coming from the loud speakers.  With regrets I left and went back to my retreat at Westwood Baptist Church.  Later I walked and talked with the Lord and looked up at the starry host and all my burdens were gone.  Praise God!

Throughout the week in Olympia the Banner of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Cross was lifted up before men and I thank God for the honor.

Thanks, all of you at home and those abroad for the various ways you support me in the Lords work.  May the Love and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ become all the more apparent that you may know the fullness to which we may obtain even now as we wait for the blessed hope in the age to come. Amen.

Lord willing next week I’ll write about the next stop along; The Journey 50 States One True Story JESUS!!!

Agape, David

Portland, Oregon

  My stay in Portland was for two weeks of ministry and then I caught a flight back to Virginia for a week.  West Hills Baptist Church was home base for me.  Pastor Gregory Sanders and the church family received me as their own.  Settled in, I set out to discover places and events that many might be impacted for Christ.  The past stops in Eugene and Salem had but a few and I was hopeful that Portland would be much different. Here’s a little about what happened.

  The first place I preached was Pioneer Square which is the public square.  This downtown attraction had three major draws; the surrounding retail department stores, small entertainment venues and public transit system.  The crowd here was diverse and so were the responses to the message of The Cross.  Pioneer Square became the focal point of ministry.    Although railers came and went, encouragement came by way of those I saw who seemed to listen intently for a while.  When my time here was done; the gospel had been preached around, through and on every corner of Pioneer Square.

  Another place was the Portland Farmers Market down by the riverside on Saturday which had a steady flow of traffic.  I set up across the street at a busy intersection and pleaded for souls.  Because, I know the Love of God through the Person of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit therefore, I cannot but proclaim:

This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.             (Psalm 118:20) 

Nor am I ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; (Romans 1:16)

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)

And saying the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.           (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Here’s a link to Video excerpts taken Saturday July 6th, 2013 Downtown Portland, Oregon as many went in and out of the farmers market.

http://youtu.be/SZx1iJsAJD8

As my second week in Portland was coming to an end I was blessed to have Brother Rob’s company as co laborer in the proclamation of the gospel.  Friday evening we met at the square and took turns preaching at a couple different locations.  Here’s what Rob posted about this on his Facebook Friday July 12^th, 2013;

“The gospel went forth tonight in downtown Portland tonight as David Banton and myself brought the truth to lost sinners. There was opposition, and the police told us we cannot use amplification at all in the city of Portland without a permit. This was actually my first run in with the authorities. The validity of the scriptures was questioned, moral relativism was discussed, and we were told that we were a stumbling block to Christ for preaching the gospel. One thing is true; Jesus Christ is still turning this world upside down 2000 years after He was crucified. To God be the glory.”

That’s how street ministry concluded in Portland.  On Saturday I flew to Virginia and returned in 8 days to continue; The Journey 50 States One True Story Jesus!!!

Thanks to Pastor Gregory at West Hills Baptist Church my Jesus truck and trailer were as I left them. 

  The four weeks in the State of Oregon are done (the time has passed) and only God knows what will remain after all to “The Glory of God!”

My beloved brethren in Virginia and those scattered abroad “Thank You” for your prayers and every support!    

  Until next week and God willing I will write to you again from the State of Washington.  

                                                          Agape, David

Salem, Oregon 2013

  Monday morning before I left Eugene I went to have breakfast with Brother Virgil and his wife Ilsa who I had met at Berean Baptist Church.   This is when I was introduced to Harley, Todd and Al.  They all have a common interest in Jesus Signs International.  In the business world the idea of using signage to deliver a message has to rank pretty high in terms of being effective.  Well of course I think so or else I wouldn’t be driving a billboard throughout the country.  Even so the marketing world agrees.

 Jesus Signs International is a non-profit organization, founded in 2007 by Al Jagger, Virgil Adams, and Willie Houmes—originally known as The Messengers of Truth.  “We believe there is power in numbers and there is power in the name of Jesus!”  They believe that our nation’s bedrock was founded in Jesus, but saw how God began to be removed from monumental areas in our Country.  They took a simple message and within 5 years had distributed 75,000 signs throughout the United States. Their mission is to spread the name of Jesus throughout the country and around the world.  

If you are looking for a way to raise money for your church, missions, or youth group, they have made a way to help you.  Large quantities are available at a lower cost for fundraisers.

Contact them at:  customerservice@jesussignsintl.com.

Al Jagger and Virgil Adams of Jesus Signs Int.

Here’s a personal challenge; what’s keeping you from publically announcing to the world your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Sure it’s not socially acceptable today nor has it ever been. But that doesn’t change the fact of who Jesus is, what Jesus has done and that without faith in Jesus no one will escape eternal damnation!

I understand that every Christian is not called to be a street preacher or a missionary to a foreign country but every one of us is called to fulfill the great commission.  There are really no excuses.  Do you purposely share the gospel in the area of influence God has you in?  If so, praise God!  But if you do not share the gospel the question is; “do you really believe in JESUS?” Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey my commands.”  That question was straight to the point but is one that must be sincerely considered.  There are many ways and tools available that we may incorporate in fulfilling the Great Commission like: (Tracts, CD’s, signage, one on one witnessing and public proclamation etc.).   I still find it difficult at times to share the gospel.  I know that it’s always a lack of faith (Fear) that hinders me. That you may be encouraged, I want you to know that six years ago I was so insecure about walking up to a stranger to talk about Jesus that most of the time I didn’t.  I was in love with Jesus but I was weak and needed a lot of help.  I remember attending a Wednesday night men’s service where the speaker said, “I want you to think about this; is there something you desire to do for the Lord that you think is so far away that it almost seems impossible.”

  Later each one of us was given a permanent marker and a wooden stake.  I thought a wooden stake, what are we going to plant tomatoes?  Then the speaker brought us back to the question he raised earlier and said, I want you to take the marker and write your desire on the wooden stake and when you get home I want you to drive it into the ground.  I know that sounds strange and I cannot remember the significance of doing that.  But I wrote the desire of my heart on it and when I got home I went out back and drove it in the ground.  Then I pretty much forgot about it.  So let’s fast forward to the present.

Back to the question; Are you actively sharing the gospel?  Remember it is every Christian’s obligation.  There are numerous ways and tools available to us like; Tracts, CD’s, signage, one on one witnessing and public proclamation etc.  But the most important tool is Faith in God.

Let’s look at the great commission: Matthew 28:18-20

“And Jesus came up to them and spoke to them saying all authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And lo I am with you always even till the end of the age.”

The two factors that encourage me the most are: First that in verse 18 Jesus said, “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” second in verse 20 Jesus said, “And lo I am with you always even till the end of the age.”  Putting these together with the command to go I believe Jesus is saying to You and to me:   There is no need to fear, go forth knowing all authority has been given to Me, I am always with you, when you are afraid I will carry you, so trust me as a little child, I am the good Shepard and remember that when you are weak I AM strong.

I pray this is an encouragement to everyone who reads it as that’s my heart’s desire. There’s one more thing I should mention before moving on.  Remember how earlier, I wrote that about 6 years ago I was afraid to talk about the gospel and how a speaker challenged the men to write their hearts desire towards doing God’s will on the wooden stake?    Okay, I wrote one word on the wooden stake and pounded it in the ground: “Evangelism”

Praise God and again I say Praise God!

My dear friends I want you to know that this took time and how the Lord was gentle with me.  It all started with the desire and a willingness to be stretched a little at a time or as you probably heard before a willingness to get out of your comfort zone.  Although today looking back some of those first steps look pretty small but then they seemed huge!  The Lord never allowed me to see any of them as insignificant nor did He allow the passion to come up higher grow dim.  Even this very day I’m confident the Lord will continue to comfort me each step of the way as I look forward to coming up a little higher.   Amen.

So dear friend what is the next step that God is calling you to take in fulfilling the great commission?  Maybe it’s writing “Jesus Loves You” on heart shaped sticky pad notes and putting them on mirrors in public places, on sliding glass doors as you enter and exit businesses? Or maybe it’s to take one in hand and reach out asking, “May I give this to you?”   The last one got me too, but after a while I did it.  Well, I could keep going but for now whether it’s sticky notes, tracts, a yard sign, CDs, one on one gospel presentations, car graphics, street preaching or ………… Just do it as unto the Lord, knowing Jesus is saying, I am always with you, when you are afraid I will carry you, so trust me as a little child, I am the good Shepard and remember that when you are weak I AM strong.  Amen.

 I will pick up where I left off; Monday morning I enjoyed sweet fellowship with my new friends from Jesus Signs International.  Thank you for the encouragement you are to me.  I think I should mention that Al is 95 years of age and still impacting the world for Jesus Christ! 

  Leaving Eugene it was but a short drive to my next stop in Oregon which was Salem.  Here I was blessed by Faith Baptist Church with a quiet and safe place to call home.  This was so on time as the week in Eugene was trying indeed. As I spied out the land for ministry I was surprised that though the population was greater than that of Eugene the activities here were minimal.  So there were no occasions to herald the gospel to the masses.  Salem in my estimation was a bit subdued as compared to most Capitol cities.  That in no way is a complaint because as in the past, weeks like these provide a time for bodily rest and time for going deeper in the Word.  I spent a lot of time on the park benches around the capitol building pondering the Word.  Matthews account of the gospel chapters 5 thru 7 were my focus.  For now I will only say that precious was the time I had in the word.

Circuit Rider Robert Booth Gospel Minister of The Oregon Country.

The week here went by pretty fast and I suppose that is at least in part due to the restful environment and enjoying time in the Word.   Now I fast forward to Sunday service at Faith Baptist Church where I enjoyed fellowship most of the day.   Starting with Bible fellowship on through the evening worship service I was with family.  Having been blessed by the teaching and preaching of the word and the Love of Christ extended to me was precious. Thanks to all of you for everything. Thank you Pastor Craig for every concern you demonstrated towards me the week I was in Salem and even to my next destination.

  In closing, once again God has provided everything I had need of and by that I’m all the more certain that God is with me as I approach the next stop.  Your prayers, support and encouragement are highly regarded.  Until next week, God willing I write to you again.

      Agape, David