If Not You, Then Who?
Tuesday was St. Patrick's Day. Not a big deal in the lives of most of the people I know. For those who live in Savannah or Chicago, yes. For all the establishments serving green beer, yes. But in my little world, not so much. However, this year was different for the Price family.
St. Patrick's Day is a huge deal in Kansas City, MO. The parade downtown is enormous with 150,000-300,000 in attendance each year...it is a big deal, with a lot of people...a lot of people who don't know Jesus!!
So, as a outreach ministry IHOP has entered the parade for the last 4 years entering as their float a large green mountain. Atop the mountain is "St. Patrick" himself delivering 45 second "sermonettes". These messages are straight forward simple gospel messages. We are all sinners. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sin. Confess with your mouth, believe with your heart. Repent(turn from your sin) and be saved from eternal separation from God.
Then a worship band rode on a trailer behind the mountain. At the end of each of the sermonettes the band played, "Grace Like Rain....falls down, all my sins are washed away...." which was projected out from the 8 large speakers facing the crowds in every direction. The voices that sang to the music were the 700-1000 worshippers and dancers walking behind the float. Each of us had dowels with green/yellow crepe paper streamers attached which we waved in the air overhead. Staff members, interns, students, old, young, walking, riding in strollers, people from all walks of life, from many different geographic locations. The worshippers stretched across 4 lanes and trailed 4-5 blocks long. It was a very moving sight. I will try and upload some pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words... but yet a picture cannot capture the essence of a moment in time.
As we worshipped along that 1.2 mile stretch, I looked deep into the faces of the crowd. So many expressions. Disbelief. Disdain. Confusion. Disgust. Sheepish smiles on ones longing to openly participate. Then, the one, all alone worshipping the same Jesus with great passion in great abandonment. So many people. So few worshippers of the King.
I have asked myself many questions. Why were the majority there? What are they giving themselves to? What are they living for? Do they not know? Has anyone told them? Have we told them? Do we live our lives in a way that they will know? Do we live our lives in such a way to give a single, clear message? We very well may be the only one standing between life and death for them.
What will we say to that person at Walmart, Wendy's, the doctor's office, at school, or at the office? It is a matter of life and death.
I know the streets of Kansas City are lined with those who are perishing. What do your streets look like? We have the answer they are dying for. Will we tell them?
Blessings,
Kristian
St. Patrick's Day is a huge deal in Kansas City, MO. The parade downtown is enormous with 150,000-300,000 in attendance each year...it is a big deal, with a lot of people...a lot of people who don't know Jesus!!
So, as a outreach ministry IHOP has entered the parade for the last 4 years entering as their float a large green mountain. Atop the mountain is "St. Patrick" himself delivering 45 second "sermonettes". These messages are straight forward simple gospel messages. We are all sinners. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sin. Confess with your mouth, believe with your heart. Repent(turn from your sin) and be saved from eternal separation from God.
Then a worship band rode on a trailer behind the mountain. At the end of each of the sermonettes the band played, "Grace Like Rain....falls down, all my sins are washed away...." which was projected out from the 8 large speakers facing the crowds in every direction. The voices that sang to the music were the 700-1000 worshippers and dancers walking behind the float. Each of us had dowels with green/yellow crepe paper streamers attached which we waved in the air overhead. Staff members, interns, students, old, young, walking, riding in strollers, people from all walks of life, from many different geographic locations. The worshippers stretched across 4 lanes and trailed 4-5 blocks long. It was a very moving sight. I will try and upload some pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words... but yet a picture cannot capture the essence of a moment in time.
As we worshipped along that 1.2 mile stretch, I looked deep into the faces of the crowd. So many expressions. Disbelief. Disdain. Confusion. Disgust. Sheepish smiles on ones longing to openly participate. Then, the one, all alone worshipping the same Jesus with great passion in great abandonment. So many people. So few worshippers of the King.
I have asked myself many questions. Why were the majority there? What are they giving themselves to? What are they living for? Do they not know? Has anyone told them? Have we told them? Do we live our lives in a way that they will know? Do we live our lives in such a way to give a single, clear message? We very well may be the only one standing between life and death for them.
What will we say to that person at Walmart, Wendy's, the doctor's office, at school, or at the office? It is a matter of life and death.
I know the streets of Kansas City are lined with those who are perishing. What do your streets look like? We have the answer they are dying for. Will we tell them?
Blessings,
Kristian
1 comment:
Those are really sensitive observations and heartfelt thoughts with a deep passion for people and the eternity that they face. Very well stated.
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