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Sunday, 10 June 2007

"Contoversial Preacher" coming to a campus near you?


This newsletter has no copy-right. Feel free to share it by printing it off or by forwarding it on.
WE THANK GOD FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT

CLICK HERE to watch last year's video slide show of Ukraine Ukraine Support Still Needed I thank God for all who have helped support my fast approaching trip to Ukraine. Tho total cost of the trip is about $1,875. So far I have about $1,000 towards the trip. That leaves just under $900 left to raise. The absolute latest deadline to have the money in is June 15. I am being sent with Master Provisions to serve in doing street ministry as well as ministering to Chernobyl orphans. Last year I served with the youth camp team where many youths attended the camp and learned about Jesus and the true Gospel. Many people were baptized as we worked closely with the local church there. Please watch the video slide show above to be encouraged and to get a taste of what we do there. This year I will be ministering with the street and village team and there may even be some open air preaching opportunities! This year I think I will really be in my element using the giftings God has given me. Also, please pray and consider supporting me financially to once again go to Ukraine. 2 Cor. 9:6. We will be leaving on June 27 and returning July 10 of this year. Support needs to be in by June 15, 07. The total cost of the trip will be roughly $1,875. I can't do this without you. Every size gift helps. Perhaps you would consider giving. Checks can be sent to: Miles Lewis 323 Wells Ave East North Syracuse, NY 13212 I also accept PayPal and credit cards found below. All donations can be tax deductible but only if you send financial support directly to MASTER Provisions. This would be the preferred method especially as the deadline is fast approaching. If you would like to receive a tax deduction please send support to: Lucia Parker 1769 Promontory Dr. Florence, KY 41042 Also, please make the check out to "MASTER Provisions". Included in the envelope should be a note that the support is for Miles Lewis. Also, my name on the MEMO line would be helpful. DO NOT MAKE THE CHECK OUT TO MILES LEWIS IF YOU SEND SUPPORT TO Lucia Parker. PayPal: Click Here Thank you in advance for supporting the ministry of the Word. Remember, when you give to support missions you are giving to Him.			PRAYER Anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) That I would preach with power, conviction and compassion for the lost (1 Thes 1:5) For physical health and strength — especially for a strong and enduring voice (3 John 2) I would speak with wise words in making knowledge understandable (Prov 15:2) The students would be interested in the gospel message, that I would be able to get their attention and draw a large crowd (Acts 13:44) That God would supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Ph 4:19) Funds ($1,875) for mission trip to Ukraine The upcoming trip to Ukraine, that many souls would be saved and discipled Safety while in and traveling to and from Ukraine
To see the full photo gallery click HERE Our last campus that we (Eli and myself) preached at was University of Mass. in Amherst. It was a great meeting and we thought it was wonderful way to end the preaching tour. We stayed until nearly 7:30pm to continue reasoning and ministering to students. The campus newspaper ended up writing what I considered to be a decent article about the whole event. I like that they accurately (for the most part) got some pretty good quotes from us. Controversial preacher met with debate from students By: Wes Rahn, Collegian Staff Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News Media Credit: Cristian Gomez/Collegian Equipped with a Bible, a New York preacher drew a large crowd while lecturing about morals near a sex festival at the University of Massachusetts yesterday. Near the steps of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, the preacher spoke his often fiery interpretations of scriptures to anyone who cared to listen. Nearby, students took part in "Sex on the lawn," an annual event put on by Vox: Students for Choice, which encourages safe sex. While the preacher spoke, students took part in the sex festival about 50 feet away, handing out condoms, playing music and displaying various sex toys. The preacher, a young man, was clean cut, dressed in a blue suit and tie with a state of Texas pin on the lapel. He was identified by his mother Victoria Lewis as Miles Lewis. Lewis, 22, is an "open air preacher and a member of the group "Open Air Outreach," which was founded in Lewis' hometown of Syracuse, N.Y. The group considers it their duty to "take the gospel where it belongs," and has traveled around the nation and visited over 60 campuses. Open Air Outreach's demonstration at UMass was a random stop on their way to New Brunswick, and was unrelated to the sex festival. Victoria Lewis held a sign that read "know the God of the Bible" and "trust Jesus." "We heard that this was a big campus in this area and we thought we would stop here on our way to New Brunswick," said Victoria Lewis. Lewis preached a hard line interpretation of the Bible making comments about God as "having infinite power, infinite wisdom and that we're all created out of his image." He responded to those who shouted claiming they were "good people," that nobody was good in the eyes of God and listed all offenses against the "laws" of God. "Nobody is good in the eyes of God," said Lewis, "unless you follow the laws. If you've broken one point in the law then you are cursed. The law is good but it doesn't save us." Lewis said the only way to be saved from this was to repent sins through Jesus. "I love everybody" he said, "God loves everybody, but that does not mean he accepts the actions of everyone." When asked to explain the evidence for these things being true he said "God's not on trial here, you are. Many of you guys spend your time on playing X-Box and masturbation, but you should take an hour out of your life and read the scriptures." Lewis's view of religion was strict and d**ning. Holding a Bible in his hand he said, "you don't have your whole life. You don't know when you're gonna die and stand before God. It's a blessing if you follow and obey my commands. But if you commit all kinds of fornication and fulfill the lusts of your heart, if you sew to your flesh sin, you will reap death and destruction." "This is heresy; you're almost as eloquent as Hitler," one young woman shouted in response. Lewis's preaching drew a lot of attention, most of it negative. "A lot of you guys have a sewer in your heart and that's why you've got a toilet in your mouth," declared Lewis. He repeatedly responded to swearing by saying, "watch your language, there are ladies present." Lewis's condemnation of gays and lesbians caused a disgusted response. At one point two young women embraced in a defiant kiss directly in front of him. Lewis later recited his "homosexual song," with the words, "it's not OK to be gay, it's not OK to be perverted, it's not in your DNA, so repent and be converted." A woman in the crowd shouted back, "It's in my DNA." Although most of the crowd seemed to despise what Lewis had to say, many found it irresistible to watch the spectacle. "I think he's a nut," said one observer, "but it's really entertaining and I don't believe anything he says." One passer by shouted, "you're giving Christians a bad name." The passer-by then joined the crowd which at one point swelled to more than 30 people. Many students were calling friends on their cell phones and taking pictures. One student made a pentagram out of sticks in front of Lewis, and placed dandelions on the star. Lewis was gradually stepping back from the crowd, until he was almost standing in the shrubs. People said that he was threatened. "I'm not threatened," he said, "I'm standing here and you guys seem a little upset." When asked how he responded to all the criticism thrown at him, Lewis said, "I welcome the challenge, I welcome criticism and I always expect an open dialogue." Wes Rahn can be reached at wrahn@student.umass.edu.
Coming to a youth group near you? Myself and a few friends will be traveling around speaking in youth groups and congregations about holiness and purity and also speaking about courtship vs. dating. These topics are of utmost importance in guiding youth to follow Christ and stay committed to Him, especially as the cares and lusts of the world are ever increasing. If you are interested in having us speak to your group or your church please see details below. A flyer in .pdf format can be dowloaded HERE.
Open Air Videos To view more videos on Google click HERE Not too long ago a pastor in Montana had the entire OAO crew (except Jeff Olver) come out to preach at the local campus for a week straight. It just happened to be Gay Pride week and proved to be a very interesting and colorful week of preaching. There was some good preaching done and a lot of it was caught on tape. Below is a little over one hour of me at University of Montana. Miles on Montana part 1 Miles on Montana part 2 Miles on Montana part 3 Miles on Montana part 4 Miles on Montana part 5 Miles on Montana part 6 Miles on Montana part 7 Be sure to also look at some videos from Montana of the rest of the team. I was very blessed by some of Eli's preaching in Montana, especially when he read Paul's open air sermon found in Acts 17.			Email from Student Recently while we were in PA we teamed up with www.RepentAmerica.com and also www.LifeandLibertyMinisties.org to do a pro life tour and preach on some campuses. Being close to the VA Tech shooting and also being national day of silence (a pro homosexual "holiday") we were met with lots of opposition and even had near riots on some campuses. There were souls touched though. One student wrote a very encouraging email: Miles, Hello. My name is Megan, I met you today as you were leaving my school, East Stroudsburg University. I wanted to thank you again. I'm sure you know what you do is good, and effects the right people. But I just wanted to tell you myself. It made me sad to hear what my fellow classmates had to say to you today. I feel like crying right now, I don't even know why I am telling you that, but you really effected me today. It'd take too long, and I couldn't even find the words to try to tell you about myself, so I'll skip it all and just say Thank You. Because you really helped me. And I'm glad I got to meet you, because I felt some connection to you while you were talking, and I'm just so glad I got the chance to say hi. I respect what you do, and I hope you reach many more people throughout your lifetime. Sincerely!, Megan.
HOW YOU CAN DIRECTLY HELP REACH THE LOST We are supported entirely off the gifts of individuals. If you would like to send us financial support, you can do so very easily. All support from $5 - $100, either monthly or one-time, makes a huge difference. PayPal: Click Here Physical Mail: 323 Wells Ave. East, North Syracuse, NY 13212 Special thanks in advance to our supporters. *THE BATTLE IS ON!* We couldn't do it without you!
So Now What? Well, we have driven over 20,000 miles this school year and have been from sea to shining sea and back again. I was tremendously blessed to have Eli and Evan with me in the van on the road. We preached at nearly 60 campuses and believe that many lives were touched for the Gospel's sake. In late April Evan flew to California to be do ministry and to be closer to his fiance, Liz Juliot. After Evan left, Eli and I preached at a couple campuses and then we (Eli, myself, my mom Victoria, and family friends Peggy and her daughter Katie Woodford (and her dog Zelly, too)) took a road trip to New Bruswick, Canada to drop off Eli at home. We were very blessed to fellowship and worship the Lord with Eli's family and the saints that gather up there. I was sad to see this tour come to a close and look forward to meeting up with everyone again one day, whether here, there, or in the air. Since coming home I have been working at the custom cabinet shop I started at four years ago. I really enjoy the wood shop and it also pays well. After prayer, the Lord opened it so that I can continue to work at the shop after summer is over. Because it is flexible, I will still be preaching on campuses in the school year, but will try to limit myself to the northeast. Though it will not be full time preaching, I hope to reach at least 15 or more campuses throughout the year. I hope to take maybe 1 week off a month during the warmer months to travel and preach.

Past Newsletters: Click Here Visit Our Message Board: Click Here Visit Our Website: Click Here

Friday, 30 March 2007

"I got born again today." and Ukraine Support

This newsletter has no copy-right. Feel free to share it by printing it off or by forwarding it on.

WE THANK GOD FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT

CLICK HERE to watch last year's video slide show of Ukraine

Returning to Ukraine

After much prayer and consideration the Lord is leading me once again to return to Ukraine to serve on the mission field. I am being sent with Master Provisions to serve in doing youth camps and street ministry as well as ministering to Chernobyl orphans. Last year many youths attended the camp and learned about Jesus and the true Gospel. Many people were baptized as we worked closely with the local church there. Please watch the video slide show above to be encouraged and to get a taste of what we do there.

Also, please pray and consider supporting me financially to once again go to Ukraine. 2 Cor. 9:6. We will be leaving on June 27 and returning July 10 of this year.
Support needs to be in by May 1, 07. The total cost of the trip will be roughly $1,775.

I can't do this without you. Every size gift helps. Perhaps you would consider giving $50, $100, or $150.

Checks can be sent to:

Miles Lewis
323 Wells Ave East
North Syracuse, NY 13212

I also accept PayPal and credit cards found below. All donations can be tax deductible but only if you send financial support through my church. If you would like to receive a tax deduction please email by responding to this newsletter before making out the check.

PayPal: Click Here

Thank you in advance for supporting the ministry of the Word. Remember, when you give to support missions you are giving to Him.

PRAYER

Anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
That I would preach with power, conviction and compassion for the lost (1 Thes 1:5)
For physical health and strength — especially for a strong and enduring voice (3 John 2)
I would speak with wise words in making knowledge understandable (Prov 15:2)
The students would be interested in the gospel message, that I would be able to get their attention and draw a large crowd (Acts 13:44)
That God would supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Ph 4:19)
Funds ($1,775) for mission trip to Ukraine

I have decided to put one or two photos from nearly each place we have been. For most of the pictures if you place your mouse over the picture text will appear giving a brief explanation. To see the full photo gallery click HERE

Miles at Fresno City College. They hadn't seen a preacher in years and things got roudy.

Santa Rosa Junior College. Evan at Hyde Park. Picture by Shannon Cicely

Cal Berkely in front of famous Sproul Hall where Holy Hubert preached years ago

The gang on Telegraph Ave. and Bancroft Way at Cal Berkeley

Even in the rain a large crowd formed in front of Sather Gate at Cal

Preaching to a small crowd in the rain at San Fran State University

UC Santa Cruz. We were removed from this campus because a heckler kicked our briefcase.

Eli opens the briefcase at San Jose State University

Evan at San Jose reasoning with multitude

One young lady showed up to protest us with her own sign

Eli at UNM. We really had some good meetings here 4 days in a row.

UNM some students sit to listen to the word of God

The Bible vs. the Koran. Islam was a hot topic at UNM

Eli listens carefully over the wind to the question being asked at UNM

Eli sits to reason with the Muslim student group

How come pictures of me never show a crowd?

Many Christians supported us here and even cleaned up blasphemies drawn by a heckler

David Robert Tennent has an intense one to one. IHOP students joined us at UMKC

"I got born again today."

That is what a student said to Evan at the end of a rainy day of preaching at Santa Rosa Junior College. We had been preaching with our umbrellas open at the campus on which we were able to get student group sponsorship. I had spoken with the young man earlier in the day for about 30 minutes. He had a Catholic background and was very open to what I had to say. I stressed the need of the new birth (John 3) in order to see the Kingdom of God. He walked away having to go to class after I gave him a Hell's Best Kept Secret audio CD. About three hours later after we had just wrapped up a rainy open air meeting the young man returned and spoke to Evan.

"So, did you guys have any success today, did anyone get converted?" he asked.

Evan explained how we don't convert people, God does.

He then responded, "Well... I got born again today."

Praise God! We were then able to point him to the only person left at the meeting besides us; A girl who is part of the Christian student group that sponsored us, so he can start getting into fellowship and discipled. All glory to God!

A quick word from me at UNM on drawing a crowd and our objective on campuses CLICK HERE

To see footage from the day scroll down and watch Apologia Evangelion.

A MUST SEE!!!

Interview with Benji Van Fleet

A testimony of the power of the Gospel

Eli Brayley and Miles Lewis of Open Air Outreach interview Benji Van Fleet at Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas. Several months ago Benji ripped up a Bible in opposition to the preaching on his campus, but later went home and received a life changing touch from God. The next day, he came to the meeting with a custom made "Romans 6" shirt and helped preach the gospel on his own campus, and continued to help for the rest of the week. Click HERE

Open Air Videos

To view more videos on Google click HERE

Miles Lewis, David Robert Tennent, and Evan Schaible preach on State St. in Santa Barbara. Click HERE

Apologia Evangelion - Eli Brayley at UNM. I know you will be blessed by this longer (33 minutes) video of Eli. He covers many topics and preaches the Gospel with unction. Be sure to watch it all the way to the end as it gets better and better. Click HERE
This video will be available in high quality DVD upon request.

Miles Lewis - Faith and Works. Here I explain the relation of faith and works in justification at San Jose State University. Click HERE

Home-Made Salad- Just a light hearted video of us cooking on the road. CLICK HERE

Handling Hecklers

A great need today is the preaching of conditional security, that is, preaching the conditions of salvation. There is no other gospel other than the message of conditional salvation. Namely, those conditions are REPENTANCE (Luke 13:3), FAITH (John 3:18), and PERSEVERANCE (Matthew 24:14). If anyone preaches a gospel that does not include these conditions, they are not preaching the biblical gospel.

Many reject the conditions of salvation because they mistake them as the grounds of salvation. Some could say that they are evidences. I find no need to get into semantical arguments. For the pupose of simplicity if something is needed, I call it a condition. The grounds of salvation is the cross of Jesus Christ. It's on the grounds of the substitutionary atonement of Christ that we can have all of our past sins pardoned. But it's upon the conditions of repentance, faith, and perseverance, that the covering of the cross extends to us.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

And we all know that faith without works (that is fruit) is dead. If there are no works (fruit) it is because there is a problem with the faith. See James.

A great danger is the preaching of unconditional security. This leads to antinomianism or universalism. To say that a person has no conditions in which they need to meet in order to be eternally secure is to deny the cross which commands faith! It's to deny the Lord which commands obedience!

A person must meet the condition of faith in the Son of God or they are damned. (John 3:18). A person must meet the condition of obeying God from the heart to have eternal salvation. (Hebrews 5:9, Romans 6:17).

Miles Lewis AUDIO message of conditional security: Click Here

Also see video to the left on the relation of faith and works.

HOW YOU CAN DIRECTLY HELP REACH THE LOST

We are supported entirely off the gifts of individuals. If you would like to send us financial support, you can do so very easily. All support from $5 - $100, either monthly or one-time, makes a huge difference.

PayPal: Click Here

Physical Mail: 323 Wells Ave. East, North Syracuse, NY 13212

Special thanks in advance to our supporters. THE BATTLE IS ON! We couldn't do it without you!

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Currently we are in Lansing Michigan. Since September we have traveled about 17,000 miles from sea to shining sea. (That's a lot of gas!)

Itinerary (subject to change)

April 1 - 9 Missoula, MT

April 10 - 13 U of Cincinnati, OH

April 14 Arrive in Syracuse, NY

April 15 - 20 Syracuse Pro Life Tour LLM Ministries

SUNY Oswego TBD

April 23 - 24 University at Buffalo

April 25 - 27 NYC/NJ Campuses Montclair and TBD

April 27-28? NYC Streets with Tiffany Gelpi and team

April 30 - May 1? SUNY Oswego subject to change

May 3 - 5 Boston, MA TBD?

Past Newsletters: Click Here

Visit Our Message Board: Click Here

Visit Our Website: Click Here

Friday, 29 December 2006

Taking a hit for the gospel - Ministry Breakdown

This newsletter has no copy-right. Feel free to share it by printing it off or by forwarding it on.

WE THANK GOD FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT

http://www.openairoutreach.com/gallery/adobe/Aniversary?full=1

Open Air Outrech recently celebrated its one year aniversay of full time ministry on college campuses.

Ministry Breakdown

This semester the Lord has allowed Team 2

to minister on:

29 campuses
9 street/club districts
3 sporting events
2 concerts
3 churches
In 12 states
making 7 campus papers
3 radio interviews
1 TV News report
and many Mexican restaurants

PRAYER

Anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
That I would preach with power, conviction and compassion for the lost (1 Thes 1:5)
For physical health and strength — especially for a strong and enduring voice (3 John 2)
I would speak with wise words in making knowledge understandable (Prov 15:2)
The students would be interested in the gospel message, that I would be able to get their attention and draw a large crowd (Acts 13:44)
That God would supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Ph 4:19)

Highlight for Album: UNC Chapel Hill

At home for the holidays

Currently I am at home back in Syracuse, NY. The weather is not quite the same as what I left in LA but I am very glad to be able to relax and spend time with my family. Living on the road doing full time ministry can at times be a little draining, both physically and spiritually. It is good to take a little time to get refreshed and renewed. I wouldn't trade it for anything though. I love my "job" and it is a blessing serving the Lord. As this semester has just wrapped up and we are looking forward to another semester ahead of us of campus preaching, I have been reflecting on all that the Lord has taken me through, how He has stretched me, and blessed me abundantly. I just praise God for his faithfulness.

I have seen many things in my short time in full time ministry; three of the five members of the ministry have gotten engaged while traveling the road with me, I have seen preachers get beat up, nearly set on fire, smacked, property stolen, property returned, souls get saved, been forsaken by close friends, made many new friends, I have traveled from sea to shining sea, been there and done that, have seen the power of the devil, have seen the power of God, and the night is still young.

If God has called you to be a preacher, don't you dare shrink to be a king!

-C.H. Spugeon

A quick word from me on who I am and why we do what we do CLICK HERE

Eli takes a hit for the Gospel - In his own words

(Video clip click above)

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Ministry Update: Four Stitches in Upper Lip

Dear friends, last night I got punched in the face by an angry college student and had to be taken to the hospital. I received four stitches in my upper lip, my gums are cut up and my teeth are sore, but thank the Lord nothing is broken and I am recovering well.

We were doing outreach down on the main party street in Isla Vista Friday night, and at the time I wasn't even preaching. I had talked with my attacker earlier and he became extremely angry because I was showing him what the Bible said about his sin, and he was under conviction. He grabbed me by the collar but his friends held him back. After he had left I thought he was gone, and I started to talk with another student. About three minutes later he came out of no where and punched me right in the mouth. He hit me so hard I was thrown backwards to the ground and blacked out for a second. I didn't even see him coming, but Miles told me later that he saw him run straight out of the crowd and delivered a full blown punch to me. I was bleeding pretty bad, down my jacket and on the ground.

I am honored to shed my blood for my Lord Jesus. "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:12) Praise God.

visit Eli's site www.TimothyMinistry.com

Open Air Videos

To view more videos on Google click HERE

Miles at UCLA - Evidence for the Supernatural - Presuppositional Apologetics (if video does not show click HERE)

Inroduction to Team 2 - Miles Lewis, Evan Schaible, Eli Brayley (if video does not show click HERE)

Handling Hecklers

The unblieving worldview is at total odds with the Christian's. A worldview is a web of presuppositions not tested by natural science upon which all experience is related and interpreted. In short, your worldview is your basis for your outlook on life as you know it.

The two key intellectual sins which the unbeliever commits are:

1. Inconsistency

2. Arbitrariness

Jesus was always sure to point out hypocrisy in the Pharisees of his day, showing how they, on their own terms, became hypocrites; saying one thing but doing another. While today many of the critics we come up against are not of the professing religious type, they certainly hold to dogma very religiously, while at the same time criticizing "faith". Their grounds for believing these dogmas has no authority or grounds and thus becoming arbitrary and inconsistent.

Take for example the atheist. Many will claim to believe that they cannot believe in what they cannot experience with their senses; taste, touch, smell, hear, see. This presupposion is what is commonly called "empiricism". When probed about whether or not they believe in things that are immaterial and cannot be tested, things like the laws of logic, they quickly run into a problem. They either have to deny the laws of logic exist, or fish for a way to justify their belief in something that should not exist according to their worldview. In the video from UCLA to the left I had to deal with just this dillema. When asked how he knew he could trust the laws of logic, he said that the results from using them were testable; you could see results. I then stepped into his worldview and tried to see if he would be consistent and use that same test to see if supernatural claims could be true. He exposed his ungrounded commitment to an unbelieving worldview and a sinful bias. His very reason for not believing in anything supernatural such as God showed to be inconsistent with things he already took for granted.

(To see, watch the video or click HERE)

HOW YOU CAN DIRECTLY HELP REACH THE LOST

PayPal: Click Here

Physical Mail: 323 Wells Ave. East, North Syracuse, NY 13212

Special thanks in advance to our supporters. THE BATTLE IS ON! We couldn't do it without you!

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

THIS LEG OF THE TOUR IS OVER

Help us map out this upcoming semester's itinerary!

HOST HOMES NEEDED!

We return into LA on January 13, 2007. From there we plan on traveling up to San Franacisco and back down to LA again, preaching at campuses in between. This should take us into mid to end of February. From there we plan on traveling through AZ, NM and possibly Colorado and then from state to state until we make it back into NY by the end of the semester. If you have a host home available or know someone who does, especially along this route, please respond to this email or write me at Miles@OpenAirOutreach.com.

The itinerary is very flexible at this point and if you are near a public university and would like us to preach in your area, advance notice would be great. I hope to have the itinerary finalized within one week.

COMING SOON!

Past Newsletters: Click Here

Visit Our Message Board: Click Here

Visit Our Website: Click Here

Thursday, 23 November 2006

Preaching at Arizona State University in Tempe

Day 1 at ASU Eli starts off the meeting. We arrived somewhat late in the day. Here is a video of Eli on the topic of Islam and Judaism: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7738039536366183659&q=eli+brayley

The topic of feminism came up. One young lady who called herself a Christian got pretty upset with Eli. She actually threatened to beat him up and her friends had to hold her back.

This of course brought in a very large crowd. Another young lady who was an unbeliever, basically told Eli, "I like what you are are doing and the way you are going about it, I just don't like what you are actually saying." I found that very interesting because the Christians on campus almost always say the exact opposite; They say our messege is good but we are turning off unbelievers by our method. I guess you can't please everybody.

This was a very humorous moment. A very meek Christian student got up to share a few words... While this soft spoken guy addressed this monster crowd a police officer showed up to shut down the meeting. The officer came on the scene and thought this guy was the reason for the riot. The open air team stood off to the side laughing at what was happening while the hecklers in the crowd were trying to get the officer's attention and pointing at the real culprits... Us.

We were forced to move to the free speech area. A lot of the crowd followed us across campus as we marched with the banner flying high and we were able to continue a great meeting.

During some down time Eli was able to dominate at the chess table.

Evan calmed the crowd down by regaling them with the Parable of the Five Dormies (available on Google Video)

Some Christians were not too fond of what we were doing

This student however, along with quite a few of his friends, started open air preaching. They said that we gave them some inspiration to start preaching. I watched their group for some time. For first timers they did really good. I was honestly impressed.

This guy is a regular heckler to every campus preacher that comes through. To be honest he is not the greatest heckler. He is really loud and just keeps going and going and going...

Put your left hand in, put your left hand out...you do the hokey pokey and put your foot in your mouth.

This guy called himself a Christian but had nothing Christian to say. He stood for hours holding this sign.

We had large crowds every day.

Stephanie preached for her first time and was able to preach again on our last day there. Here is a video link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4682146404607707319&q=open+air+outreach

The day finished with many one to one conversations.

We were able to pray with this guy.

From left to right: Miles, Stephanie, Eli, Evan, Brian the ex-mormon

One of our favorite things to do is to sit down and have a meal with the hecklers and students from the day.