Ministry Report: Getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out in Portland, OR.
In our last ministry update from July 2016, we outlined the different tactics implemented by the True Vine soul-winning team to reach the lost people in Portland, OR. We are pleased and thankful to God that, by His grace, we are still at it and determined to remain faithful, despite having a cold climate this winter, both spiritually and physically. Fortunately for this church, and many others like it across the globe, our success or failure is not hinged upon visible results. Although praise God when we do see them, and we have.
Here are just some of the most recent ministry experiences we have had the opportunity to be a part of:
Street Work:
The word of God instructs us to be “wise as serpents, harmless as doves.” Given the political uproar in America, specifically Portland, OR, we decided to improvise our witnessing strategy when going downtown on Saturday nights. Amid the chaos of unruly and violent protesters, we “snuck in the back door” and sowed the seed of the of the gospel of Jesus Christ where the trouble wasn’t. We can actually say we went downtown Saturday night and avoided trouble while unruly protesters were causing it. Armed with the word of God, prayer, and hundreds of tracts, we managed to reach these folks in a way we wouldn’t have been able to if we approached them individually.
High School Ministry:
Passed out a large number of Chick tracts at many different high schools in the Portland area containing subject matter relevant to these student’s age and interests. The reception is nearly always positive, and most kids show a genuine curiosity and began reading them right away. Please pray for these teens who are still open to finding the truth if given to them.
Bro. Fred Dye sent off to the mission field:
A faithful member of True Vine Baptist Church for at least fifteen years, bro. Fred has been involved in multiple missions trips to Nogales and Juarez, Mexico as well as a trip to Nairobi, Kenya. With a burden to see souls get saved, bro. Fred has been consistent in going downtown in Portland, OR and has now hit the ground running in Nogales, Mexico. From passing out tracts at the border, to assisting the national pastors in whatever capacity is needed. He has not only carried on the work from Portland, OR, but has a vision for new ministries and plans of outreach in Mexico as well.
Reaching Arabic speaking people:
Now more than ever, we have an open door to reach the people from Muslim countries with the gospel. We have talked to Muslims from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen and other countries. God had given us an opportunity to witness to people in the safety of our country by bringing them to us. Like being a missionary but working from home.
We’ve learned several key witnessing points:
- They are born into this religion and have very severe consequences for leaving their religion. Therefore the concept of freewill is virtually unknown to them and a vital witnessing doctrine.
- They appear to know little if anything about the love of God but only the judgement of their god. This too is a great witnessing tool, John 3:16.
- They are taught from the Quran that only Jesus Christ performed actual miracles and Jesus Christ is virgin born. They may need to be reminded of this but they will admit that their prophet did not perform miracles and was not virgin born. This virgin birth also means that Jesus Christ had God’s blood flowing through His veins and not man’s, the blood of Jesus Christ God’s son cleanseth us from all sin.
- They will take tracts written in Arabic.
Please pray the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, would shine unto them. I’m hoping to meet up with some of these people we’ve witnessed to and passed out tracts to in Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
Please continue to pray for True Vine Baptist Church
1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.