Open Air: SAG*

What is it that seagulls have against the gospel? Not content with swooping down and stealing people’s snacks at the seaside, they then make their way inland and perch on top of lampposts near wherever gospel preachers position themselves. And then they attack, covering the unwary ones below in ignominy - or something like that. So it used to be on Thursdays in Great Harwood, and so it was last Wednesday on the edge of Piccadilly Gardens.

It took my freshly-laundered handkerchief (which I then abandoned in a nearby bin) and a packet of tissues, courtesy of the ever-resourceful Stephen, to clean myself up. And no, I didn’t use the incident as an illustration (“What can wash away the stain of sin?” etc.) because I was too annoyed to do so - although I suspect that I will be mentioning it on Wednesday this week…

That said, it was an otherwise agreeable afternoon, despite the numbness that crept into our fingers and toes before our time was up. There were several useful encounters. Ethan had a long conversation, which he summed up as follows…

(Spoke to) someone who has a large following on TikTok** and often engages in debates with Christians. He is an agnostic/atheist and struggles to be convinced by the evidence for Christianity. He did not ask for prayer, but please pray that his heart may be opened to the gospel.

Along with Ethan, we had Janette and Peter, and, for a short while, David, an old friend, who told us that Kieran couldn’t make it because of car trouble. (We missed you. Hope it doesn’t cost you too much to fix it, brother…)

Quite a few folk stopped to listen to Stephen and myself, but mostly only for a short time, which is understandable when the weather is so cold. M., a lady who listened longer than most, then came for a free bible for her son, D. She also asked that we pray for him, which I said we would.

Next Wednesday it’s back on the X43, since Stephen has other responsibilities that require his attention; so, if you’re at a loose end and want to make up our numbers, feel free to join us at about 12.30pm on the edge of Piccadilly Gardens, just opposite Superdrug. You can’t miss us. That seagull didn’t…

Otherwise, please pray for us, and for one or more of those mentioned above, if our Lord puts it upon your heart to do so.

Every blessing!

* “Seagulls Against The Gospel.”

** I have no idea what this is, but perhaps some of you will have heard of it. Like these mobile phones people keep talking about, I don’t suppose it’ll ever catch on…