Good News from Our Last Outing
(Gatlinburg 4/19/2025)
On the last outing, we met a young man, Xavier (12 y/o), and his father, Ricky. The conversation started with Xavier. He was thrilled that we were handing out Bible tracts. At 12 years old, he was able to articulate the gospel clearly and proficiently throughout our conversation. At present, their family was not in church. Ricky, the dad, came back to join the conversation. He also was elated to hear the gospel proclaimed and to hear about what the next steps look like.
They had at one point been a part of a church, but for various reasons were not currently attending a local church. As we took them through the Scriptures, explaining to them and showing them in the Scriptures how important it was to be a part of a local body, they listened intently. Also, neither one of them had been baptized. As we encouraged them to attend a local church and follow up in believerâs baptism, they were elated at the idea. Both of them wanted to respond to Christ in obedience. The young man asked me at one point during the conversation, âIf I died today without being baptized, would I go to hell?â He was dead serious, understanding the implications of the conversation and the importance of responding to Christ in obedience in all things. (For the record, we explained to him the importance of baptismâthat it was not a salvific act, but rather an act of obedience to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.)
Xavier ended the conversation by telling us that he wanted to grow up and do what we were doingâhe wanted to share Christ with the lost. They were blessed, and we were blessed, and heaven was glad.
Thatâs just one of the many stories that happened in Gatlinburg the last time out. Each time we go out, there are multiple stories magnifying what God is doing in the world. I hope this encourages your soul and causes you to want to join us or perhaps be praying for us.
Your servant in Christ,
Mark Dew
(Gatlinburg 4/19/2025)
On the last outing, we met a young man, Xavier (12 y/o), and his father, Ricky. The conversation started with Xavier. He was thrilled that we were handing out Bible tracts. At 12 years old, he was able to articulate the gospel clearly and proficiently throughout our conversation. At present, their family was not in church. Ricky, the dad, came back to join the conversation. He also was elated to hear the gospel proclaimed and to hear about what the next steps look like.
They had at one point been a part of a church, but for various reasons were not currently attending a local church. As we took them through the Scriptures, explaining to them and showing them in the Scriptures how important it was to be a part of a local body, they listened intently. Also, neither one of them had been baptized. As we encouraged them to attend a local church and follow up in believerâs baptism, they were elated at the idea. Both of them wanted to respond to Christ in obedience. The young man asked me at one point during the conversation, âIf I died today without being baptized, would I go to hell?â He was dead serious, understanding the implications of the conversation and the importance of responding to Christ in obedience in all things. (For the record, we explained to him the importance of baptismâthat it was not a salvific act, but rather an act of obedience to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.)
Xavier ended the conversation by telling us that he wanted to grow up and do what we were doingâhe wanted to share Christ with the lost. They were blessed, and we were blessed, and heaven was glad.
Thatâs just one of the many stories that happened in Gatlinburg the last time out. Each time we go out, there are multiple stories magnifying what God is doing in the world. I hope this encourages your soul and causes you to want to join us or perhaps be praying for us.
Your servant in Christ,
Mark Dew
Testimonial from Gabriel Slate
(Gatlinburg 4/19/2025)
I ought to know better than to think of the Great Commission as a mere duty or arbitrary requirement, but I must admit that, not having shared the Gospel with anyone in a while, this was not far from the attitude with which I approached the Saturday trip to Gatlinburg. God had to remind me of the right mindset for evangelism. That day, my most encouraging encounter was with an Asian family. The husband and wife appeared to be in their early thirties, and they had two small children, a boy and a girl. They seemed very excited when I mentioned the Gospel. When I asked them what it meant to them, the mother asked her children to tell me John 3:16, which they happily repeated in unison. I was both surprised and very encouraged to find a committed Christian family during evangelism, when so many encounters are with apathetic or even hostile people. It takes a wonderful encounter like this one to remind me that the Lord often uses evangelism to strengthen the faith of the evangelist as well.
(Gatlinburg 4/19/2025)
I ought to know better than to think of the Great Commission as a mere duty or arbitrary requirement, but I must admit that, not having shared the Gospel with anyone in a while, this was not far from the attitude with which I approached the Saturday trip to Gatlinburg. God had to remind me of the right mindset for evangelism. That day, my most encouraging encounter was with an Asian family. The husband and wife appeared to be in their early thirties, and they had two small children, a boy and a girl. They seemed very excited when I mentioned the Gospel. When I asked them what it meant to them, the mother asked her children to tell me John 3:16, which they happily repeated in unison. I was both surprised and very encouraged to find a committed Christian family during evangelism, when so many encounters are with apathetic or even hostile people. It takes a wonderful encounter like this one to remind me that the Lord often uses evangelism to strengthen the faith of the evangelist as well.