Thanks to My Partners on the Streets of Portland

It has been over a year since I have written a post. This is mostly due to my lack of enthusiasm for the work. It is very easy to grow cold towards the work of the ministry, especially the open air ministry of the gospel.

If you have read my earlier entries you know that my partner in ministry was Daniel Balter. Daniel made it clear to me last year that he did not believe in the diety of Christ....Yeh, you read that right. I love Daniel and pray for his repentence and salvation, but it has taken me a little while to return to the streets to minister. It should not have been that way but it was.

The Lord sent them out two by two to preach the gospel. There are reasons for this. First, I think that we need the support of a partner to encourage us when things get tough. Also, there is the training factor and then there is the 'watch my back' factor. It is always comforting to have a partner to watch out for the one who would disrupt or even attack the person preaching! And then there is the imprtant task of praying for each other and others on the street taking part in the gospel ministry.

The Lord has given me a brother to stand with on the street. Barry Gorter is very faithful to come down town and hand out tracts and keep an eye on things. This last week I was comtemplating whether or not to come down to the Saturday Market and I had just about "talked" myself out of it (I had to work that afternoon and I was worried about Rose Parade traffic) when Barry dropped a text on me, "Dost thou intendest to go down to Vanity Fair and listen to the Ruskies preach to the commies?" After calling Barry I learned that the Parade was not until next week.

Thanks for the encouragment Barry.

In addition to Barry, my sons Jim and Jon have come down to hand out tracts this year. We are usually at the Skidmore Fountain at between 10:30am and 10:45am, on Saturday.