June 2007
Dearly Beloved of Our Lord:
Greetings in the mighty and wonderful name of our Lord, Savior, and King – Jesus! We have been enjoying some wonderful weather and the opportunities it brings the share the gospel open-air. Unfortunately Pioneer Courthouse Square, or Portland’s Living Room, has been a big mess. So has SW 5th & Morrison. The construction of the new MAX lines on SW 5th and 6th have been very noisy and dusty, making our times there quite difficult. There are times when you cannot carry on a conversation because of the concrete saws, jackhammers, backhoes, etc. And SW 6th is closed off to all traffic because of the construction at the old Meier & Frank building. Fewer people are in the Square these days but that could change when their summer schedule gets under way after Rosefest.
We have spent more time up in the Park Blocks, especially at Portland State University where it is usually much quieter with cleaner air. Except on those days when there is a loud rock band scheduled. Even though we feel like we have been chased around from place-to-place in downtown Portland we are usually able to talk with a few people and pray with some.
Ron has been able to meet up with various brethren at PSU – Marty, Jim, Morris, and others who travel through. He was able to preach with Brother Jed Smock of Campus Ministries a couple of days (www.brojed.org). Jed travels around to university campuses all over the nation. It was good to fellowship and hear about what is happening on various campuses in the U.S.
One thing which is in common is the increase in the awareness of Islam on the campuses. At PSU we see Muslim women dressed modestly with a hijab head covering or covered completely from head to toe with a khimar or burqa, leaving only a slit for the eyes. It is quite a contrast to see a young Muslim woman next to some of the American college coeds with their revealing clothing. We have met both American men and women students who have converted to Islam and changed their style of dress. Could this be a new form of rebellion against American culture with both a religious and fashion twist?
One Wednesday afternoon Ron had a breakthrough with several young Muslim students from Iraq, Dubai, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. while preaching with Brother Jed. A student from Ramallah tried to convert Ron to Islam upon hearing him preach about the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. He had great difficulty with English so he kept lapsing into Arabic. He started out objecting to the preaching of the death of Jesus. In the Quran (Qur'an) it is stated that Jesus did not die but His body was taken to paradise and another body was substituted in His place. This leaves the Muslim with no sacrifice for sin. The student's difficulty with English caused him to look to other Muslim Arab students to help him with Arab to English translation so soon there was a small group of eight or nine men trying to explain Islam to Ron, with other Muslim Arab men and women looking on and listening. This discussion went on for about twenty minutes and gave Ron ample opportunity to explain clearly the work of the cross and the resurrection of Christ. Jed had to leave and the interaction ended in a very friendly manner with smiles and laughter along with some special handshakes and motions used among young men these days. Ron and Jed went on their way home rejoicing as it neared five in the afternoon.
Please pray for us as we continue through the spring and summer at various places in downtown Portland, including Pioneer Square and PSU. Thank you for your intercession and your support as we continue with our missionary work. You go out with us through your encouraging notes, financial gifts, and heartfelt prayers. May you be richly blessed in all you put your hand to.
~ Ron & Karen
E-mail: awakening1s@comcast.net
Home Page: awakening1s.net
church @ 24/7
Ron & Karen Rohman
PO Box 14292
PORTLAND OR 97293