Sharing Jesus with Those at the Pride Festival
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet, listen to, and speak with a few people about who Jesus is and why He matters. The context was at a local pride festival. I'm very thankful for the leaders who helped organize the group to go down. I'm also very grateful for the security at the event who were hospitable and firm in their duties.
The events of the afternoon went something like this:
A group of Christians gathered to pray together for about an hour or so before going down to the festival. Each person was put into groups with group leaders to keep track of everyone for safety. We were not to wander alone, or aggressively approach or speak with anyone who was not willing to engage. There was a meet-up point in a parking garage near the festival, and the group once again stayed together until everyone was accounted for. We then made our way to a prominent piece of public land (a grassy raised yard in front of a local court building) and set up there.
We had multiple different ways to engage in conversation. A few of the brothers who are street preachers had microphones and speakers (and appropriate paperwork, with clearance and notification from the local police department) to engage in conversation and read from the scriptures. A few others would walk together and greet people, handing out gospel tracts to those who would take them. A few others would stay near the preacher to engage in conversation with the crowd that would gather. One of the brothers who would be preaching gave us a preview, having had much experience at various events preaching in the open air, "once we start preaching, the word will draw in many". That proved to be quite true.
Just before the preaching began, an event organizer on a golf cart drove up, saw our group beginning to set up, and got on their radio. "We have a hostile group of protestors here. I need security over here immediately. A violent group is here threatening people, being very aggressive, and threatening to hurt people. I need security here ASAP to get this group out of here". As a group, a few of us looked around, wondering where this violent, hostile group was. For a split second, I thought, "Oh that's very nice, this event organizer is looking out for everyone here". Then I realized, of course, this event organizer wasn't pointing out a hostile group, but was flat out lying about our group.
Security personnel came to check in and observe our group very politely. It was most encouraging. Instead of having the effect of removing us, the security reinforced our place at the gathering and ensured a level of added safety at the event. The security checked our noise ordinance permission to use controlled sound amplification (which a local city judge has approved). After all was squared away with security, a sort of perimeter was created by the security giving a sort of "amphitheater-like effect for a crowd to gather.
A crowd of maybe 10 or 15 began to gather around, listening to the preaching. Some were quite depraved in their activity. Many gestures, words, and raised curses were heaped upon those preaching and those standing near. Yet these actions did not deter the preaching or conversations that began to take shape. It was a tremendous display of humble power for the preachers to maintain conversations with some who wanted to dialog, all the while as other individuals shouted, or even entered the personal space of the preachers. The preachers never responded with anger, but were gentle, and maintained self-control despite all the provocations. The only words I can use to describe such patient love on display in the face of opposition are "Christ-like patient humility". That is what our brothers and sisters who were engaged in conversations and preaching continually showcased throughout our time witnessing.
I was honored to meet two individuals in particular who were interested in dialoging. One conversation was for almost an hour, and another for about half an hour. It was good to get to share who Jesus is and why he matters, and listen in a respectful and kind conversation. Many questions were asked about God's character, the trustworthiness of the scriptures, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the creation of the universe, and the hope of eternal life.
It is important to note that different groups have different approaches to public witness. The group I was privileged to accompany spent time in prayer, and spent time in the word, reminding one another of the grace of God to save sinners as wretched as us. There was a great dependence on the Holy Spirit to move among us and to move among those we would witness to. I believe this is key in public witnessing to Christ and follows the call and pattern of the early church. No one in our group conducted themselves in a haughty or self-righteous manner. As the law of God was spoken of, it was spoken of as a reality that we all (including our group!) are law breakers justly deserving of God's wrath. While some groups of Christians have earned a reputation for bringing nothing but judgment, hostility, bad news, and self-righteous moral deism. This group I was honored to assemble with made sure that the cross of Christ, the grace of God, and the hope for eternal life were good news worth sharing. We were a group who has been given a great treasure, and we were aiming to point others to that same great treasure.
To say this experience was an encouragement would be something of an understatement. It was a delight and joy, even in the midst of difficult conversations, even with some tense moments, even with much temptation to fear, to bring good news of great joy to fellow people who either had not heard, or had doubts regarding who Jesus is and why he matters.
As final words, I encourage more of my brothers and sisters who love the Lord to seek out and pursue opportunities to, with great humility, patience, self-control, and dependence on the Holy Spirit, share with all sorts of people from all sorts of walks of life about the good news of Jesus Christ.
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