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Evangelism
Fall Festival in Evansville Indiana - Evangelism 2006
Evansville Fall Festival
By Adam Bartlett
Kevin Wilson and I once again passed out tracts and witnessed at the Evansville Fall Festival as we have for over 10 years faithfully. This festival is the second largest street festival in the country, with the Mardi Gras being number one. There are over 100,000 people that pass through Franklin Street through this week long festival. There are over 125 booths set up in this four block section and of that are over 25 main line churches that should be witnessing. We have tried for all these years to get these churches to put tracts on their window ledges for people to take. I have included pictures below of some of these churches and it is truly a shame that they are more concerned about money rather than souls. Below are some pictures of Franklin Street after the booths have been set up before the festival opens and after with the crowd.
Hall Of Spiritual Shame
Below are pictures of some of the churches I personally visited in 2001 and encouraged them to pass out tracts and witness at this event. They would not do it then and to this day still do not promote the Gospel at this event. Each of these churches have proved that they are more interested in their "SALES" rather than the souls that they sell to. This year I sent a letter to these churches once again encouraging them to perform the Great Commission as we are commanded. They once again refused to reach out to the thousands that come to their booths. They don't mind taking their money, but they are afraid to give them the Gospel. It may infringe on their sales.
I spoke to the Youth Pastor at this church and he said it was a good idea but for some reason they could not do it.
What a paradox, they tout "Mission Outreach" on their booth yet they fail to reach the very mission field right in front of them.
A so called "Full Gospel" church that cannot even put tracts on their window ledge for the lost souls.
This pastor talked to me on 9-11-2001 of all days. Of course it was a great idea according to him but they failed to follow through as the rest of them.
"Outreach Ministries" apparently that does not consist of reaching out to those at this festival. Could it be that they were afraid of losing sales?
This one is really ironic and would be funny if it weren't for the seriousness of the matter. They claim to be "On Fire for Jesus" yet they do nothing to tell the thousands of people passing by about HIM!
This is the church where the pastor told me that they had done that type of evangelism before and it was not profitable for them. When I asked what he meant by not being profitable, he said, "the church was not full the following Sunday." I am sure he will explain that to Jesus when he sees Him face to face. I also find it ironic that they tout World Missions but can't reach the local mission right here, right now!
Not concerned about the Harvest at their front door, only $$$$$$$$$$
Unfortunately I used to attend this place and it is sad that they are in the same boat with the rest of these spiritually dead churches. They have no concern for evangelism or the lost, only the $$$. A few years ago the pastor committed to have people help and witness with us and guess how many showed up? NONE! Needless to say I have not been going here for several years.
A Light Among the Darkness
There was a great LIGHT that appeared at the Fall Festival this year. It was a booth that the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International placed there. It was so refreshing to see this that I had to join them and help out in the booth witnessing to individuals as they passed by. Getting people to stop and take a simple spiritual test and then sharing with them the plan of salvation. They did not sell anything, only giving away the Gospel!
I sat in this booth for only about 4 hours and there were probably about 100 people that came to the booth and took the test. They kept a log of those that accepted Christ and I don't know the count but there were many pages of names at the end of the week.
What is wrong with the churches? Why does it take an independent group like Full Gospel Business Men and our ministry from Boonville to come to this local festival and witness and present the Gospel?
The pastors of each of these churches will have to answer to Jesus one day as to why they could sell merchandise in then name of their church but could not tell anyone about Him. I believe that is the reason, because it is "THEIR" churches and not HIS!
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