On Friday, September 18^th we were met by a contingent of missionaries and “newbies” from Southern Oregon.  A friend, Mark Mayberrry, had been spending two weeks with them in a mission’s seminar.  So they came up to Portland to put what they learned to task.  Amongst the group was a couple from Romania who suffered persecution for their faith…  Their parents were killed because they followed Jesus.  Another fellow spent 17 years in Mongolia as a missionary, as well as a couple who spent several years in Mexico.  Plus there were a couple of well seasoned street missionaries and a handful of young men and women who are new to doing street ministry.  After we gathered to pray and get introduced… we broke up into small groups.  The group I was with went to the south side of the square to witness along the MAX stop.

The missionary to Mongolia and I had a slow start, but things did pick up as the afternoon went.  For the most part the conversations were good.  Only one run in with a very troubled street kid got a bit contentious.  He got rebuked for using the Lord's name on his sign for begging money for drugs.   After that encounter the Romanian couple worked their way up towards us, as we were talking to a very curious intellectual.  He went on about the Bible written by the wealthy to oppress the poor, and that it can't be trusted.  So we explained to him the Bible's accuracy and how diligent the writers and translators were to the original manuscripts.  He wanted to talk about U.S. politics and Christian "oppression" that he studied from the Internet.  The two Romanians spoke up and told him what happened to their parents for their faith in Jesus.   He just rambled on about his distrust of Christianity and America to justify his unbelief.   So we cut to the chase and asked him about Jesus.  Immediately he ran off to make a phone call. 

Then another fellow and his Korean wife came by... He was bugged about the Republican Party and Christianity, and the “Religious Right.”  He wanted to know if we were a part of “them.”  We set him straight that it is all about Jesus, not politics.  His wife wanted no part of it as she tried to pull him away.  The really amazing thing of all this is how many people fall for all the trash they read on the Internet… because that is the first source they say they got their information from.  We just turn them back to the original Source… Jesus.  Either they’ll stick around or have a sudden errand to run.

“Prayers, a warning, and preaching”-

We also prayed for a homeless man that was in pretty rough shape.  He said he is a believer and wants desperately to get off of the streets.  He said he needed a job and was tired of that nowhere lifestyle.  We prayed God would grant him the desires of his heart, and also would strengthen and protect him as he makes this transition. 

Down on 6^th and Morrison Ron preached as Karen and others passed out calendar cards and tracts.  Besides me, Mark and another brother carried their own banners and signs…  Notice the banner with a very familiar statement on it?  On another banner came the following warning: “God bless America, Why?”

We thank our brother Jim Weber for making most of our signs and banners.  Many like these are being used all around the world. 

“Cloud of witnesses”-

As the afternoon progressed, several stopped by to thank us for being there.  We prayed with several believers for their needs, this nation, and for awakening.  It was a very good day, and that makes going through the challenges and opposition all worth while.  We greatly appreciate your prayers as we stand in the gap for Portland and the Pacific Northwest.  Thank you.  God bless you!