Mission Mondays – 06/04/18

CLARKSBURG, WV – After dodging an unusually large amount of rain storms, we finally were able to start our Monday evening outreaches again.  “Mission Mondays” are now in full swing as we setup across from the Clarksburg Mission and minister to folks passing by.  The evening started out slow but was eventful by night’s end.

Get That Noise Out of Here!

After we were setup, I began to preach.  There was a handful of folks in the usual area where they come to smoke and hangout.  I began preaching through John 3:16-21.  After about 5 minutes, they made their way either into the Mission or down the street.  However, I kept preaching as those in the dorms can hear the preaching there as well.  Preaching without being able to see a crowd is difficult, but a necessary skill to develop.  Especially if one is desiring to preach at abortion clinics, as I hope to do soon with some brothers and sisters in Christ.

As I continued through the message, I heard and then saw some commotion to my right.  A local resident was less-than-thrilled with the preaching of the Gospel.  At one point, I was all but sure either Eric, Adam, or myself were going to get swung at.  After I determined he wasn’t going away anytime soon after Eric and Adam dealt with him, I paused and turned my attention towards him.  He claimed to be a Christian as he spewed F-bombs and other obscenities.  I told him at one point that Christ could heal him from the hatred bound up in him, but he wasn’t having any of it.  Pray for him.

Old Time Friends

After the fireworks settled and I finished my message, we sat and had a few conversations with some passing by, but nothing of an extended conversation.  That is until an old friend we met last year returned (pictured above in title).  We met Hannah last year (see story here).  She is still doing great in her own place and expecting baby #2.  Please pray for her as she continues to seek to Lord and find her way.

Get That Junk Off My Playground!

As we were wrapping up for the night, a shiny, silver car (out of place for the neighborhood) pulled up.  Out steps a couple of young men with white, short-sleeved dress shirts, name tags, and snake oil salesmen smiles.  The Mormons had arrived.  I loaded my stuff into my vehicle, grabbed my Sword, and headed back down in an attempt to reason with them.  Eric and Adam remained in our original spot across the street and prayed.

I introduced myself and asked them to explain the Mormon plan for salvation.  Immediately I realized they were either extremely ignorant of Mormon doctrine (unlikely) or very well endowed with a silver tongue.  Their message sounded “Christian” on the surface, but I know of the rotten doctrine underneath.

I then asked some basic questions, starting with God.  Mormon doctrine teaches “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see,” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345), God the Father had a Father, (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 476; Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 19; Milton Hunter, First Council of the Seventy, Gospel through the Ages, p. 104-105), and that God resides near a star called Kolob, (Pearl of Great Price, p. 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428).  If they were honest about Mormon doctrine, they would have had a better attempted answer for Isaiah 43:10 than stumbling all over themselves.

It is important to remain aware of your surroundings, especially who is listening as you can often evangelize false teachers (Mormons) and the lost (bystanders) at the same time.

Being mindful of many from the Mission who were gathering seeing and hearing this conversation, I then took them to task on justification by faith alone.  They immediately denied that and pointed to works.  Yet when I read Ephesians 2:8-10, they quickly changed their tune to “…oh yeah that’s what we meant” as they too sensed many standing around watching and listening.

They were trying desperately to hold it together in front of the bystanders.  After this carrying on for about 10 minutes, Eric walked over and politely dropped a nuclear bomb in their lap.  Asking a Mormon if Jesus is God is an instant mushroom cloud of truth and defeat of their claims to be Christian.  And that’s exactly what he did.  He politely asked, “So let me ask you something, is Jesus God?” Checkmate. Game over.

I then explained that is why Mormons are not Christian, because they deny the very truth that Jesus is God (John 8:24)!!! The one younger man jumped back and shouted, “What do you mean we’re not Christians?!”  This is the first time I’ve experienced a Mormon react like that.  Most hold it together much better.

Knowing they were defeated, they pulled the “woe is me” sympathy card for the bystanders telling us that we were being very hurtful and offensive saying such things and they were going to leave.  Though retreat is the typical reponse when you lay waste to Mormonism’s damnable teachings, I did plead with them to turn to Christ, the true Christ of the Bible.  When they hunkered down even more in rebellion, I assured them that if I saw them there again, I would follow them and tell everyone they were talking to of their lies.  They quickly left.  Please pray for them.

Overall, it was a great start to what we hope and pray will be a fruitful time of ministry on Monday nights.  Please pray for us and those we’ll minister to, that God would be glorified.

Soli Deo Gloria!

JS