New Life in Tough Neighborhoods

Praying church members saw lives changed through the Intentional Community Evangelism (ICE) evangelistic efforts the weekend of September 28-October 1. Twenty-four men came together from across the nation to witness along side members from five different churches and one church plant in Toledo, Ohio. As a result of many prayers, evangelism training, community ministry, prayerwalking, follow-up training and three days of intentional evangelism emphasis, 298 people trusted in Jesus Christ and gave their hearts and lives to Him!

Prayer and fasting went into the entire weekend, in particular, for those going into high crime areas. This was especially good to know when we learned that three of the six areas we were working had five shootings the week before the ICE impact weekend. Praise the Lord; we went in encountering very little resistance from people on the street.

Sunday evening churches in the community gathered for a Celebration Baptism Service at East Toledo Baptist Church. The service began with 10 new believers being baptized. It was obvious that God's Spirit was present. People cried and others came down during the invitation and hugged the pastors and ICE team members.
It was clear that communities had been "prayed in" as residents thanked us for coming into their neighborhoods to talk to them about Jesus. Several young men said, "Now we know that someone cares about us, because you came here to talk with us." God gave us favor with the residents as we walked up and down the streets to tell others about our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As you can imagine, there are tremendous stories to share after spending six to eight hours a day for two and half days doing street witnessing in the inner city and urban centers. Below is just one of those stories from an encounter I had the last night of the weekend evangelism emphasis.

I first met Maurice who is 14 years old, in a church parking lot. I was completing information on two cousins who had prayed to receive Christ and Maurice was returning from a football game carrying his shoulder pads and wearing his football pants. As I began to talk with him, his attitude was very arrogant with me and smart-aleck. I saw him again Saturday evening and told him he needed to get saved and be born again. He just laughed at me.

On Sunday evening after our Celebration Baptism Service I was crossing the street and headed to our van parked in a dark alley when I saw a young woman approaching me. I offered her a book of wisdom that explained how much God loves her and was able to share the gospel with her. As I finished writing down her information, Maurice showed up again, this time on a motor-scooter.

I told him I was leaving town in the morning, I wouldn't be back and that he needed to get saved. I shared with him that I wanted him to go to heaven and not to hell. I explained that if he didn't trust in Jesus, he would not get into heaven. He asked me if I would ever be back again. I told him chances were very slim and if he was going to trust in Christ now would be a good time to make sure his sins were forgiven and have assurance he was going to heaven.

So, I asked him once again if he wanted to get saved and this time, he nodded his head yes. I explained to him that his sin was keeping him from heaven and explained why Jesus died for his sin. After I shared why he needed to be born again, he was ready to trust in Jesus and he did! There are times after we pray with individuals they are leery of giving out their personal information for follow-up - which indicates that they might have not been serious about accepting Christ as Lord. However, for Maurice, as I was filling out his information, I forgot to ask for his phone number. He quickly said, "Hey you forgot to ask me for my phone number!" Right then, I knew there had been a change and that he was indeed a new brother in Christ.

Victor Benavides, ICE Strategist, North American Mission Board

Frontline Stories from Toledo ICE team

• Saturday morning in Toledo found us at a park where a high school cross-country track meet was taking place. Everyone was busy moving from place to place to watch the runners. We walked over to a small pavilion where one of the teams made up of 12 boys was gathered. I began asking them about the meet and how long before their run. They said it would be an hour, so I asked if I could give them a little booklet that tells them how much God loves them. As they each took one, I asked if they were confident they would go to heaven. A few said yes, but most were not certain. So I ask if I could tell them how they could know for sure. As I began to share the Gospel, Brian (one of the boys) would look up at me on every point. When I gave the invitation, Brian was eager to accept Christ and know for certain he would go to heaven. Before I could lead him in prayer, Brian had bowed his head and began praying out loud asking for forgiveness and for Jesus to come into his heart and life. This took real courage and was clearly the leading of the Holy Spirit. God is good.  
   
   Bill Plymale, Evangelist, Jobs Assistance Ministry

• While in Toledo, I met Clarissa. As we talked, I made inquiry regarding her assurance of salvation. She said she wasn't sure, but had actually been thinking about the matter. I asked if I could share with her the truth of Jesus Christ. Using a New Testament, I found Scriptures and had Clarissa to read them to me as I explained what each one meant. It was amazing to watch as the Holy Spirit working in her heart and she began to comprehend the magnitude of God's love, which had been displayed by Christ. At that point, she chose to reject her sin and receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Clarissa's smile after receiving Christ was a radiant sign of what had taken place in her heart. With the use of an EvangeCube, I witnessed to David and Donte. Both young men prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. After sharing some basic principles of discipleship we parted company. Later, my partner Mark and I saw David talking to two girls and showing them his Bible. Mark then went to share with the two young ladies. Shortly thereafter, the girls also received Jesus as their Lord.

           Dennis Mohr

• I encountered two young ladies walking out of a discount store. They were sisters and in their early 20's. I handed them a tract and explained to them how much God loves them and wants to be a part of their life. The older sister said that she had a personal relationship with Jesus however she knew that she needed to get back in church. When I ask her younger sister what her opinion was of what it took for a person to go to heaven? She told me that she did not know. I shared the wonderful salvation story of God's amazing love using the EvangeCube and asked if she would like to ask God to forgive her of her sins and invite Jesus into her heart as Savior and Lord. Without hesitation she said yes! Right there on the side walk with people coming in and out of the store she prayed out loud asking Jesus to save her. Her sister then prayed, rededicating her life to Jesus. Both of them shared that this moment would live in their memories for eternity and that they were going to start going to church immediately.

           Lynn Webb, Out Reach Leader, Morganton, N.C.

• "KEVIN"
  Saturday morning several men from La Premiera Baptist Church went into the sanctuary to pray for us as we began our witness encounter on the streets of Toledo, Ohio. We walked one block from the church and I noticed a tall, slim African American man approaching us. The closer he got to me the more I realized this was a divine appointment. His right eye was blackened and the skin under the eye was busted open with dried blood on his cheek, there was dried blood on his upper lip obviously from his nose and his right cheek swollen so bad that I was unable to see his ear as he approached me. He told me that his name was Kevin and that five men had jumped him in the night. His breath smelled of alcohol but after I asked a lot of questions I felt he was sober. When I asked him if he was tired of living this kind of life Kevin replied, "I am 36 years old with 2 children at home and as I was walking down this road I told myself, I need to change my life." Immediately I remembered the men at La Premira praying! I shared the Gospel with Kevin and now he celebrates a brand new life in Jesus Christ!

• "BILL"
  Saturday as were coming into La Premira Baptist Church for lunch, I noticed a young Hispanic boy sitting at a table in the fellowship hall. The young man was playing with an Evangecube so I said, "Hey, you have an Evangecube, do you know how to use it?" He shook his head no, so I asked if I could show him and he replied "yes". He told me that his name was Bill and he was 9 years old and his father Raul was very instrumental in working with us in many ways. So I showed Bill how to use the Evangecube and got to the invitation and asked Bill if he ever asked Jesus into his heart as I was pointing to the heart on the cube. Bill hesitated and replied "yes". I looked over Bill's shoulder and his father Raul was shaking his head NO. Bill and I then went into a Sunday School room for further counseling. After about 10 minutes of prayer and scripture Bill realized his lost condition and invited Jesus into his heart for real.
  Never pass up an opportunity to teach evangelism, someone might get saved

           Mark Yoho, Evangelist, Sugar Valley, GA.