Montgomery, Alabama ~ Nashville, Tennessee

February 25-29

These were days of listening for God's Voice and hearing Him change my plans:

  • After 6 consecutive years of street ministry at mardi gras in new orleans, God closed that door emphatically.
  • Instead of new orleans, john shelton and i felt impressed to go to MONTGOMERY,ALABAMA, and seek out inner city areas to share Christ in on a rainy wednesday, jan. 25.
  • Another speaking engagement came just days before my going to VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, where i was scheduled to speak to the BCM (BAPTIST STUDENT UNION)...as a result, i also was able to speak on 'street preaching' at the ASIAN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP at vanderbilt.
  • Also, I was able to hand out gospel tracts at the VANDERBILT/MISSISSIPPI STATE BASKETBALL GAME
  • And God presented me with some WONDERFUL HOMELESS AND STREET PEOPLE who needed His Love

Wednesday, 2/25/04...John Shelton and I leave Gatlinburg, Tennessee...destination....south Alabama!


after seven hours of driving in the rain, we arrived in montgomery, and found our way to the area where God had guided us.

As we got to the neighborhood, THE RAIN STOPPED for the entire time we were on the street sharing Christ...right up until dark. Though it was cold and not many people were on the street, nine souls came into the Kingdom of God!

When we got to the First Baptist Church, where we attended the Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting, THE RAIN BEGAN AGAIN AND CONTINUED ON THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Thursday, 2/26/04...We drive back to Nashville, Tn. where I drop John off at the Nashville International Airport...he flies back to Dallas, Texas, and I head off downtown...



NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ~ Ministry at VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

This was a great weekend of sharing the ministry with which God has entrusted me with great Christian young men and women. I was very impressed with with the brilliance...intellectually and spiritually... of these living for Christ on a very secular and worldly campus.

Friday night I was able to share for almost an hour with Jonathan Wong and the ASIAN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, a lively, vibrant, evangelistic group of student believers, all of Asian descent. I remember powerful worship, God's obvious Presence and Hand on this gathering. These bright, Christlike young people honored me, listened attentively and treated me like a king. Thank you, God, for allowing me to meet so many wonderful brothers and sisters.

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Saturday night, the VANDERBILT/MISSISSIPPI STATE BASKETBALL GAME was played right there on the campus where I was staying. I was able to pass out hundreds of Gospel tracts..."Jesus Loves You..." to those coming to the game.

Then God led me to walk away from the game, off the campus, and to encounter some street people.
James is living under a bridge, but I met him as he was asking people for money for food. He and I talked for a long time over a hamburger and fries and some hot, black coffee...James told me he had given his life to Christ when he was 17, but that he had been backslidden for many years. He prayed the prayer of repentance and surrender, and I saw another prodigal come home to The Father. I rememer the look on his face when I told him, "James, your Heavenly Father is not mad at you...He loves you, and it's ok for you to come home." It was another moment I won't forget.
God is so good to me to allow me to watch Him work 'up close and personal!'
Remember to pray for James and Daisy...living under a bridge in Nashville...but now living for Jesus.

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Sunday afternoon my friend Chris Buckner had scheduled me to speak to the BAPTIST CHRISTIAN MINISTRY, or as it used to be known, the Baptist Student Union. For about two hours I spoke to yet another group of young, gifted Christians about sharing Jesus with people encountered on the streets of the cities of the world.
This active Baptist student group was about to leave for a mission trip to New York City. (This time last year, they took their mission to Mardi Gras in New Orleans!) I have also ministered on the streets of New York City; Evangelist David Cobb and I were there a month and half after 9-11, and shared the gospel and prayed with the people stunned by that huge tragedy.

The street ministry God has put me in fit right in with their plan at the BCM, and we had a great seminar in which i spoke and then had a couple of periods of questions and answers.
I'm looking forward to hearing of the results of their trip to New York and what God did through them.

One young man was so motivated that he even took me in his truck out on the streets of downtown Nashville late Saturday night to take food and the Gospel to those on the dark streets in the 'bad parts of town.'
Yes indeed, they were dark streets, but we saw The Light of the world set a man named Daryl free from following the devil in the shadows. He was standing on the street wanting to buy cocaine when we drove up. After The Holy Spirit moved on him, he eagerly asked Jesus to come into his heart and take control, and denounced satan and his control!
THAT was worth the trip!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AS I CONTINUE TO GO PREACH THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST~

Next week...March 14-22, I'll be with Inner City Evangelism Team again.

Please remember me as i seek open doors to go where, when and to who The Lord leads me.


MARK MARTIN
PO BOX 1161
PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE
37868

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