Today has been a long and tiring day at the Ambassador’s Academy here in sunny southern California. Our team spent nearly 12 hours today out on the streets of Hollywood and Brand Boulevard sharing the Gospel one-to-one and open-air preaching to the crowds of people. It was really an amazing day, even though I have been sick since late yesterday with a runny nose, headache, and sore throat. The highlight for me was getting to share the Gospel with Ren, a young man from Russia who has a Muslim background, but who believes primarily in the ideas of Buddhism. Ren was open as we talked and as I shared with him what the Bible instructs us about sin, righteousness, God’s justice, Jesus’ sacrifice, and God’s love demonstrated on the cross. I honestly don’t think he had ever heard the Gospel before at all.
I had almost decided not to personally talk to Ren after I had given him a tract and he seemed ready to move on down the sidewalk. Then he someone mentioned that he had been in the United States for 4 months and that tomorrow he would be heading back home to Russia. I knew in that moment that I had to do all that I could to share with Ren as much as I could. It really was a great conversation. At one point near the end, Ren said to me: “You are smart. You have studied and you know what you are talking about.” I immediately shot back at him: “Then please take this New Testament and study it so that you can understand the Gospel too.” He did just that. Please pray that he will read it and come to true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ!
(The above picture is of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, which is a very popular stop on Hollywood Blvd, and the location where much of our ministry took place today, including my conversation with Ren from Russia.)
