West Port Experiment

Over the last few weeks, I’ve made more progress door-to-door in Woodbine. It’s got some character to be sure. There are some nice, even stately old homes alternating with run-down and abandoned shells. The one below had the front door completely knocked in to the ground. With poorer judgment, I could have just walked throughout the place.

I’ve encountered and visited with a number of Spanish speakers here in Woodbine. One had me inside. And not long into this first round I’ve discovered just how many African Americans there are. And their relatively openness to talk and comparative friendliness from past experience elsewhere has been mildly surprising–and definitely encouraging.

One of my most recent encounters was with “Dequan.” As I walked up to his house, he stood there, music blaring from his car. He looked late 20s, dressed in typical urban street-wear. As I introduced himself and handed him a leaflet, he very quickly got exercised and said that there was ‘no forgiveness for him–he killed a man!’ I noticed beer on his breath. Hard to say whether he was serious or not; but I had little reason to doubt him as the conversation progressed. I spoke to him of the infinite love of God in Christ who willingly died for wicked sinners like him and like me. I told him, as for his despair of pardon, that there was a great believer in the Bible who killed a man, and yet God forgave him. “Moses!” he replied. I was thinking David. (This fellow probably had a Christian upbringing, maybe even a godly mother or grandmother still praying for him. O, let us never despair of our prodigals!) So now Dequan had two witnesses of divinely pardoned murderers, and “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” I was grateful that he did not brush me off for who I was, and I certainly treated him with the dignity he deserved as a human being. But, I explained to him, he and I were both in the same boat. We are helpless sinners in desperate need of mercy! I got his phone number. Then I asked if I could pray with him? He had quite calmed down by now. As I prayed for Dequan, he volunteered an arm around me. So touching, and I responded in kind as I led our poor souls to the throne of grace.

Another striking experience was from last Saturday’s outing. I knock on the door, and it opens. This time, I look up (me at 6′ 2″!). Filling out the door frame is a very tall, heavy set black man in his late 60s I would guess. But dressed up and in a tie. “Harvey” was a Jehovah’s Witness, and he was leading a Bible study. I observed with amusement, “Well, I guess the shoe is on the other foot!” He smiled knowingly. Then he invited me in, and there we stood for some time theologically sparring as his wife and a disciple listened in. He was courteous and rather friendly, and I responded in kind. Very likeable, very biblically literate and astute, but Oh so sadly, very deceived. Made a start with Romans 5, then after some spirited back-and-forth took the off ramp to exchange some pleasantries and learn more about the family. Next time, I hope to bring Aubrey with some treats and build some more connections. I have his number now, so I can connect with him one-on-one any time. I assume Harvey’s retired. A beautiful ebony home, but enslaved to the wiles of heresy. Please pray for all of these souls.

I continue to develop my relationship with “Lazaro” my Hispanic pastor friend who has embraced Calvinism and practices expository preaching. He has become a pariah among his former Hispanic evangelical friends. They cannot understand his new fascinations; they are just all about volume, emotion, and the cult of personality. So he has welcomed my friendship; and believe me, it’s a two-way street. We connect to visit and pray together every Saturday afternoon now, he in Spanish and I in English. Only, I ask him to pray a bit more slowly so I can track more with him. What a blessing. May God use him and help him bring his church even further down the road to Geneva, as well as join me in advancing reformational Christianity among Spanish-speaking communities in their U.S. diaspora.

Learn more about RPM here. The last RPM quarterly update is below, where I give a little backstory to “Lazaro.” And consider signing up for the blog over to your right to get all the updates or even supporting me financially. But above all, brethren, please pray for us.