OAC evangelists are trained in open air work and creative outreach. Many can be seen on the street regularly leading their team to communicate the Good News. Innovative means include sketchboard illustration, drama, juggling, puppetry, escapology and illusion.
Preparing for open-air in Manchester at lunchtime (23/4/10). A lovely day here – great to proclaim the wonderful gospel to people who wouldn’t otherwise hear (Romans 10:14)
Weather deteriorated slightly – cloudy and cooler. We still had a great time. Not so many stopped as last week, but we did have reasonably good number and personal conversations with about 10 people.
Open-air on Friday was a good start to the season. Rain curtailed the session but I was able to preach twice to about 40 people in total and there were good conversations with a number of people who took gospel literature, some received John’s gospels.
We will be starting our open-airs in Manchester on Friday, March 26th, after a break caused by my health and then winter. The team are raring to go, but we could do with more on the team. Please pray for good weather, good crowds and good, positive conversations.
Geoff
Not sure if you will remember me. I did the OAC training at Birmingham while I was working with Belfast City Mission.
I was introduced to the Sketchboard by Roger Gray who I still count as a close friend and a great encourager.
I am still a regular user of ‘The Board’ in School and on the street.
During August 09 I had the privilege of helping a team of young people in Kilknenny involved in Street Evangelism.
May the Lord continue to bless you as you take the gospel into the open air.
Robin
Robin – Yes I do remember you and have from time to time asked Roger about you. I also think Roy Graham in Rathriland borrowed a board off you for me to use when I was over with them a couple of years ago.
Encouraging to hear that you are still using the board in your ministry – it is still, I believe, the most effective and versatile visual aid around.
Our open-air ministry in Manchester has been going really well however I have to put it on hold for the moment due to health problems.
It’s good to discover the OACweblog…keep up the good work in sharing the gospel!
The impossible can always be possible with the help of our Lord. You have the joy of sharing Him with others. He certainly blessed you in that!
Thank you Carole and two firm believers for your encouragement
Our open-air meeting today in Manchester was stopped by rain. However I did get one sketchboard message done beforehand and this was followed by a number of good conversations and one young woman asked Jesus into her life!
Last Friday (July 24th 09) we went out into Market Street, Manchester for our regular weekly open-air. The weather forecast had not been promising but when we arrived the skies were overcast, but it was dry. The team were excited and raring to go. After praying I set up my board (very close to where the photo above was taken). During my first talk, as about 20 people listened the skies darkened and the ‘heavens opened’ just as I finished – everybody scattered for shelter but most team members did manage to get conversations whilst David and I removed the sketchboard and other equipment to a dry place. Once the rain stopped, we could not return to the tree that the board had been secured to because of the drips from the tree so we had to re-erect in the open with a human board holder. The next meeting was amazing in terms of the numbers in the crowd, unfortunately no one took a picture but there must have been around 70+ in the crowd. The third session had a smaller, but still substantial crowd of around 30. Still people say that proclamation of the gospel like this is not relevant today – no-one has told the Holy Spirit that!
There were conversations with 24 people; here are some of them:
a 15 year old girl listened to the first talk with her younger brother. Doreen managed to talk with her during the ‘rain break’. The girl said that her mother had told her to go to church to find forgiveness with God. Doreen pointed her to Jesus as it is in Him that there is forgiveness not church. We did point her to an evangelical church near her.
A group of young African men listened enthusiastically to the second talk. One of them , L, was spoken to by Stephanie. He indicated he did not have a personal relationship with God – I was brought into the conversation when he revealed he lived in Gorton and I gave him details of our own church.
David W spoke with Kevin, another of that group. He had not been to church in a long time. David explained the importance of a personal relationship.
David also spoke with an Indian man whose English was very poor. We gave him two leaflets in Hindi; he immediately started reading one out loud, translating into English occasionally. He went away still avidly reading the leaflets so David and Carole approached him to ask if they could pray with/for him to which he responded positively and enthusiastically
I was giving out newspapers nearby. Carole spoke to him during the rain – he liked the “good way of getting the message across” – he had been to church, had fallen out with his brother – when asked if he would like to know God personally he replied “if it was possible I would”
God was at work.