JESUS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

DOWNTOWN STREET WITNESS IN NASHVILLE 2004 RIVER STAGES MUSIC FESTIVAL

Texas Street Evangelist / Pastor John Shelton flew in from Dallas to team with me in this music festival which draws thousands to downtown Nashville. Once we arrived there, we joined Evangelist David Cobb, who had assembled a team of 10 other street evangelists for the event. Over 10,000 Gospel presentations in the form of tracts and booklets and Gospels of John and New Testaments were distributed these three days and nights. WE KNOW OF TEN PEOPLE WHO PROFESSED GIVING THEIR LIFE TO CHRIST AS WE MINISTERED TO THEM THERE.

THANKS TO GOD WHO SUPPLIES ALL OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY

Although we knew The Lord wanted us to come and preach Jesus at this event, we had very little in expense money just prior to departure.
But God has never let us down, and this time was no different.

I THANK GOD FOR USING PEOPLE WHO LISTEN AND OBEY HIS VOICE.
The exact amount needed was provided by some precious followers of Christ just a few days before we left.
We didn't ask them to contribute, but we DID ask God, and HE spoke to them on our behalf.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

"Every good and perfect gift comes down from The Father of lights, in whom there is no darkness or shadow of turning."

God Always Provides Where He Guides

While planning this trip, we asked God where He wanted us to stay while we were there.

He used Chris Buckner and the Baptist Christian Ministries on campus at Vanderbilit University to provide great lodging for us.
We were able to rest in very comfortable and roomy quarters within ten minutes of the event we were there to work for Christ.

Three stories, four souls ...

JESUS CHRIST COMES LOOKING FOR BIG GEORGE ACEY

Friday Night ~ I was walking down 3rd Avenue about 9 o'clock, handing out "Smile! Jesus Loves You" booklets and striking up conversations with anyone and everyone who would talk with me.
I came upon the entrance to a nightclub...loud music and cigarette smoke pouring out, and a few people were coming and going from it.

Also standing just outside the door was a tall man, who was working as the club's bouncer.

As I started to pass by him, The Spirit spoke quietly but urgently to me to talk with him.

I handed him a "Smiley," as we call the little "Jesus Loves You" booklets.

He responded with a big smile himself, and said,
"Thanks, I really need this!"

I introduced myself, and asked him if he knew that Jesus loves hIm.

"Yes, I DO know that!"

I knew that at any moment our conversation could be interupted, and that he could be called inside or distracted by any number of things. Time is a precious commodity, and these moments were no exception. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and He had come for Big George Acey this night.

Stepping up close to him, I said, "George, just suppose you died right here and now, and suddenly found yourself at the gate of Heaven, facing Jesus Christ."

I had his attention.

"And suppose Jesus said to you, 'George, I'm so glad to see you!
But tell me, WHY SHOULD I LET YOU COME AND LIVE WITH ME HERE IN HEAVEN FOREVER?"

I let it sink in.

Then, I asked, "What would your answer be?"

He studied for a few long moments...even on that noisy downtown night street the silence was deafening for those few long moments...

"I guess I don't know what I'd say."

I said, "Let me tell what The Bible says about that."

Then I personally preached Jesus Christ to him.

And then, as I have in so many different places and with so many different people, I asked him this question:

"Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to give up your sin, trust Jesus Christ and give your whole life to Him...right here, in front of all these people?"

There was no hesitation this time...
"No, no reason," he replied.

"Do you believe that Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross for all the things you've done wrong? And do you believe that He rose from the dead just as He said He would?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then, if you will repent of your sin and take Jesus Christ to be your own Lord and Saviour, reach out and take my hand!"

My hand almost disappeared as his big hand reached out and shook mine firmly.

"Now, George, let's seal this with a prayer to God.
Pray this prayer after me, ONLY if you mean it."

And I led him in the sinner's prayer on the doorstep to that old nightclub, the devil's trap.

Then and there, a change came on that man.
"Old things passed away, and all things became new."

Because Jesus came to Nashville looking for George Acey on Friday night, April 30th, 2004, and snatched his soul from the devil's grasp.

SOLDIER COMES HOME FROM IRAQ TO MEET JESUS

It was Saturday afternoon, and John Shelton and I were walking slowly up and down the streets among the crowds, watching and listening for God's Voice. We talked with lots of people and handed out thousands of Gospel tracts. In a little while, I found myself talking with a polite but inquisitive young man named Jeremiah. When he told me his name, I was glad because it gave me the opportunity to point out the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. 35 years ago, God used the first chapter of this book to make it clear to me that He wanted me to give all my life to proclaiming His message to the whole world. I took this chance to share my personal testimony with this likable young man. At this point, may I take a moment to encourage you to always be ready to share YOUR personal testimony of how Christ changed your life? It is so very powerful when witnessing to anyone. Be able to share it 30 seconds, 3 minutes, or 30 minutes! Tell them what it was like before you met Christ, what happened to you when you DID meet Him, and how it has affected your life since. After telling Jeremiah of Jesus' saving me, I asked him if he was sure of his eternal home. He was not. Then, I shared the basic plan of salvation simply but carefully with this thoughtful man. We talked. God's Holy Spirit drew him, and it turned out that Jeremiah gave up living life the way HE wanted to live it, and decided to follow Jesus Christ as His Lord and Saviour. After he gave his life to Christ, and we talked about baptism and church membership and personal growth, he told me somethig that really blew me away...he had just returned from active duty in Iraq! Think of that! God protected him all through combat to bring him home to Nashville, Tennessee, where he would encounter me on a busy, festive street and find eternal life in JESUS CHRIST, THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

GEORGIO AND VICTOR

Early Sunday afternoon, the last day of the festival found me on the busiest street corner in the area. We have been using this location for the years we have come to work this event, and found it once again to be one of the main arteries that the crowds used to flow into the gates to the stages. One of the evangelists was just bringing a cross out, and he and i stood there together. I got ready, stuffing my pockets full of tracts from my full backpack, praying a prayer of thankfulness to God for allowing me to come there to this event again this year. Just then, amidst all the sights and sounds and excitement, two boys came scurrying by me having the time of their lives it seemed. They looked to be 10 or 12 years of age, and had a 'Tom Sawyer' way about them...out of school and church and nothing but time and fun ahead of them today. I love sharing Jesus with children! They are so receptive and eager to hear the Gospel when it is shared clearly, simply, and sincerely. This two young fellows were no different...Georgio was the bigger of the two, but Victor was talkative, too. Once I made sure they understood the concept of sin ('the bad things we do make our heart dirty, etc.'), I knelt down with them on that street corner and told them all about Jesus. They knew alot about Him already, but had never turned away from sin and given their all to Christ Jesus, asking Him to come and take control of their lives and save them. The sweetest song you'll ever hear is the sound of precious little voices sincerely praying to Jesus to save them and be their Lord! My! How God blessed me there that day to allow me to watch Him draw these boys to Jesus Christ! As we all bowed our heads and prayed, the traffic and the people and the noise and the smoke and the music went on, but I believe Heaven got quiet and smiled as Victor and Georgio were born again on the corner of Broadway and 2nd Street in downtown Nashville early Sunday afternoon, May the 2nd GLORY TO GOD!

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU ~

Feel free to email me at GoPreach@webtv.net, or simply mail me at:
Mark Martin Ministries
PO Box 1161
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
37868





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