There was talk of that Church making room at the inn for next year. Oh, and did I mention that this Church was only a block and a half from the Derby? What a LIVING God we serve. When preaching these big events, flights, car rentals and hotel are tripled in price, not to mention that parking can cost up to $50.00 or more daily at these events. So this Church was a gift from above in more ways than one. We were later joined by Brothers Bill & Kevin plus others (GA) that preached around the Derby.

The crowds were coming in all day, we started at 9AM and stopped about 7:30PM.  Preaching to this crowd going in the event was like shooting fish in a barrel, they were standing in large lines waiting to get into the grounds and could not help but hear our message and read the signs. 

At the end of the Derby the local police wanted to make sure the drunk, angry, moneyless crowd was not going to riot during their exit, so if someone is preaching that would be the hot spot for a angry mob. So they had about 12 bike officers standing to our right and to our left stood about 7 mounted horses ready to move large crowds away. Plus other officers standing around keeping the crowd at bay from us. Three times I was warned about our method and the mega horns, yet God gave me the right words to deal with the officer as the preaching continued. 

At the end of the day, we had much liberty. We never saw the Queen of England who was visiting the states and came to the derby, but there were a few times large buses with a police escorts that rolled by us.

Saturday night, the crew from NY started back home and those from GA headed south, so I took brothers Deane and Moore to downtown Louisville where the gangs were roaming the streets on what they call ‘cruise night’.  Police were everywhere as the three of us stood with sandwich signs preaching with a large mega horn in the streets at night during their yearly cruise fest. This event is not for everyone, even those seasoned preachers might count the cost on this gang outing. Every year after the Derby this will happen and every year after this event at least two people will be killed, with others stabbed or shot.

Knowing this I would walk up to cars sticking my head into the vehicle and asking these street thugs Are you ready to meet God tonight?  Is this your last night on earth? Is there a bullet out there with your name on it?  Not one response, only shock and jolt from their faces inside the car.

Sunday afternoon we were in Memphis at Beale Street, this would be their version of Bourbon Street, the event is called ‘Memphis in May’. We stood right in the middle of the street and boldly exposed sin, preaching the remedy. We were soon met by Larry Kraft and Larry from Tampa as we met many other believers that use this event as a school to teach Christians to preach or witness in public. 

The Brother that teaches public preaching is named Ken Lansing, a local preacher and his training school is called ‘the Memphis Blitz’.  We had heard of each other for years but never met and preached together, he seemed to enjoy our style and invited us for pizza, so I took advantage of that moment and joined them.

On Beale Street two guys that gave me that hardest time were broken before we left. One of them was talking with Deane and I as he seemed ready to fall on his knees right there and cry to God….then he was pulled away from a drunken friend. 

At the end of the day, the sinners were preached at, back sliders reproved, false believers rebuked and many saints were encouraged with their service. God/Jesus/Holy Ghost/Bible were amplified in public on many different fronts.  

I arrived at LAX at 11PM on Monday night, home and bed by 1:30AM and was in San Diego by 10:30AM Tuesday morning to preach at the ACOG convention where over 11,000 gynecologists attended of whom 2,000 do abortions. Sarah and I drove down south and met Brother David Smith to preach at this gig. 

The San Diego police called my cell phone that weekend and wanted to know if I was coming to town, so I said yes, but only on Tuesday.This happens often. I get phone calls from a police department asking if I will be in there city for a particular event.

We stood on two corners as David preached with a mega horn or NO-bull horn as his voice bounced off the convention center and landed everywhere. The location or people artery was great, because they had to pass right by us and cross over the train tracks at lunch and for break. At times many doctors had to wait for the train or trolley to pass and were sitting ducks for David’s preaching and our witnessing. About one hour into the preach a San Diego officer stopped his car and asked me if everything was ok and after a little chat, he walked back to his car and drove off…all while David echoed the whole block with his truth horn.

Some doctors and those in the ACOG very were thankful to us for coming out and said maybe 2% of gynecologists actually perform abortions.  I encouraged the majority to not allow the minority to rule the procedure. We were told that there are many pro-lifer Obstetricians and Gynecologists do resist and make a stand. This was not the most action filled preaching, but I think I passed out more tracts there, than I had combined all year long. 

From the WATCHTOWER

Ruben Israel