Encouraging Conversations in Portsmouth
It was a slower day in Portsmouth. Even when we arrived, we noticed the car park had fewer vehicles than usual. Yet, even though it was quieter, there were still some very good interactions, and many tracts were distributed.
Jim was the first preacher of the day. Speaking from John 1:1–5, Jim explained who the Bible declares to be the Creator, and how Christ is the life and light of the world.
As Jim preached, I was called into a conversation by Jyothi. She was speaking with two men from Sudan whose English was very poor. One of them had received an Arabic Gospel of John and said he wanted to learn more about Christianity. I asked where they lived, and they told me which part of Portsmouth they were from. As providence would have it, a pastor from a local church near them had joined us for the outreach. I was able to connect the pastor with both men, and they exchanged contact details. Hopefully, they will be able to meet to discuss things further.
When it came time for me to preach, I spoke on "God is Love!" As I preached, a few people sat nearby listening, and another lady stood right in front of me, paying close attention. At the end of the message, four people accepted the free offer of a John's Gospel.
Over at the literature table, I spoke with a young man who had grown up in an atheist family. All his family are closed to the idea of God, but he believes God is real. The question he is wrestling with is, "Who is God?" He had also noticed that all the world's major religions mention Jesus, so he was keen to discover more about Christ. We had a good conversation, and he took a Bible, along with a few booklets.
During this time, the team was kept busy with tract work and conversations. It is always encouraging to see so many people stopping to talk about Jesus. Even though the city centre was quieter than usual, many were still hearing the good news.
I had planned to preach once again, but the Lord had other plans. As I started to prepare, I noticed two young men stop at the literature table. Based on their build and demeanour, I could tell they were military personnel (both were in the Royal Navy). I went over to greet them, and then a long conversation commenced.
These young men both had good questions relating to God's existence, the Bible, love, justice, and the gospel. For over an hour, we went back and forth on different topics, and numerous times they got to hear the good news. One of them remained quite adamant in his atheism, but the other seemed much more open. He received a Bible, and both took booklets. They asked when we'd next be back in Portsmouth, as they'll have more questions. I assured them I'd be happy to chat whenever I saw them.
It was a very encouraging day in the city. Please take a few moments to pray for all those who heard the good news.
SDG!
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Josh Williamson is a full-time evangelist with The Open-Air Mission. Since 1853, OAM has been sharing the good news on the streets of the United Kingdom. To stay updated about the work of the Mission, please sign up for the free quarterly magazine and monthly prayer notes.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINE AND PRAYER NOTES