Several months ago we designed an Oklahoma Trivia Gospel tract with the plan to take them to Arlington prior to the Oklahom-BYU game last weekend and to Norman before the Oklahoma – Idaho State game. The plan was to meet several hours before the game in Norman. However, things changed a little due to the rain and leaving home later than expected. Never the less, we arrived in Norman about two hours before kick off and still had some good time to do some witnessing.
The entire drive from Dallas to Norman was slowed by the heavy rain. When we reached Norman the rains let up a bit to where we could walk around without getting too wet with out the need for poncho or umbrella.
I headed to campus corner just in time for the Pride of Oklahoma band to march past in route to the stadium. There were thousands of Oklahoma fans lining the streets and h
eaded towards the stadium. I pulled out a stack of tracts and started handing them to the fans streaming past. A short time later Shane joined up with me. He took one side of the street and I was on the other. Every minute or so the light would change and a new group of people would cross Boyd onto campus and head towards the stadium. We greeted them with a smile and a question, “did you get your Oklaahoma football trivia?” Many fans took them. Many were confident that they knew the answers. Many of the fans did know the answers. In about an hour we handed out probably 1,000 or more Gospel tracts.
Some would not take the tracts saying things like, “sorry, my hands are full”, as they clung to a beer in each hand. It is sad to me that someone will cling to a beer which provides, at best, a fleeting enjoyment, and not even consider taking a card with a message that could save their soul for all of eternity.
As a good sign that last weekends outreach effectively reached lot’s of people, I even had a couple of people say, “thanks, but I got one in Dallas last weekend”. My son had already suggested that we should make a second edition with additional trivia questions. This seemed like good confirmation to do that since we could then say, “oh these are different”!
Now, Shane and I had not come here simply to stand around in the rain and hand out tracts. We really were there to do some open air preaching. So we began searching for a good spot to preach the Law and the Gospel. Since it was raining we had left the PA in the car. So we needed a place where our voices would carry and be close enough to the people that they could hear us. Doing a quick sound check, it quickly became apparant that they could not hear us on the other side of Boyd Street.
So we decided to cross to the North side of Boyd street onto campus corner to see if we could do it there. However at that location there was no good spot for elevation. Finally, I suggested we head towards the stadium and find a location there.
As we approached the stadium we continued handing out tracts and had a couple of one on ones with people that we were walking with. This prompted some good discussion about the Oklahoma Trivia questions and the real question – where will you spend eternity?
As we approached the stadium, some of the sidewalk was flooded out. We started to detour around to get ahead of the slower moving crowd. Then I saw the perfect spot. The sidewalk went right past a side entrance to Price Hall. There are about three steps up and then a little raised area. I poi
nted it out to Shane and we headed to that area. The picture shows the area. Note: this was taken while the Sooners game was in progress and about half hour afetr we were done preaching, hence the lack of any people in the area. I also apologize for the picture quality. I had my iPhone in a plastic bag to protect it from the rain.
We prayed, then I got up on the steps. I moved out onto the elevated area. I was now about 18 inches elevated and right at the edge of the sidewalk. Certainly people would be able to hear me as the sidewalk went directly past this spot.
As I began, I asked the trivia questions that are on the tract and then made a segway to the Law and finally the Gospel. I shared that it was appointed once for man to die and then face the judgment – based on God’s perfect standard, The Ten Commandments. I went through the Law so people could examine their sin. And then shared God’s one and only provision to save them from their sin, Jesus Christ! As I preached, I was laughed at, riduculed, flipped off and even cursed. A few thanked me for being there. After running through the Law and Gospel a few times, I stepped down, sat down and wept for these people. We know that God’s word does not return void. Please pray that all who heard will listen to the message, repent of their sin and trust in Jesus for their salvation.
At that it was Shane’s turn. He got up in the same place. Asked some trivia and handed out some tracts. Then he also preached the Law and the Gospel.
I took one more turn preaching. Then since the game had already started the crowd thinned dramatically. So we decided to pack up. We went off rejoicing that God’s word was preached!
Next time, pray for no rain. Bring the AMP! We may possibily print a second edition of the Oklahoma trivia tract with some additional questions.
