Liberty, MO

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The following report is a continuation of yesterday’s story and comes to us from team leader John with our team in Liberty, MO:

A young couple in their 20s were walking by pushing a baby stroller with a beautiful newborn boy inside. Gavin and Olivia just had their first child only nine days earlier and named him John Allen Joseph. RC, Hermann and I complimented their choice, a strong Biblical name. Gavin’s eyes lit up and he said that John is based upon the Hebrew translation “Graced by God”, Allen is Gaelic for “little rock” (like Peter I interjected with a smile), and Joseph is Hebrew for “God shall add”. I asked Gavin if he and his wife were Catholic. He indicated that they were non-denominational Christians and had recently moved to the area and were looking for a new church. He was raised in a faith-filled family where his father was a Pentecostal minister to whom he credits his fiery love for Jesus. I asked him if he ever considered Catholicism. He said he always respected Catholics and their reverence toward God. He confessed that he wished that Protestants were more reverent; they can be very enthusiastic and evangelical, but their services lack the reverence that he has seen in Catholic Mass. He wished there was a way to combine the enthusiasm of Protestants with the reverence of Catholics. Don’t we all. Opportunity presented itself and I handed him a brochure to our local Catholic parish in Liberty and invited him to join me at Mass sometime and a cup of coffee afterward to continue our conversation. We exchanged cell phone texts so we could keep in touch. Lord, we pray for Gavin, Olivia, and John Allen Joseph to find their way to You through the reverence of the Catholic Church.

We always enjoy it when fellow Catholics stop by too…great conversations, kind words, and gratitude toward our evangelization efforts. But all gratitude, praise, and honor go to God. His Holy Spirit is the source of all of our efforts and inspiration. We even had a couple interested in joining our motley crew. The more the merrier!

Just before noon under the backdrop of soulful Juneteenth music nearby, we packed up our gear after our first successful day on the street. We de-briefed, prayed for all of the souls we encountered that day, and departed with joy in our hearts. ‘Til next time friends!

Praised be Jesus Christ!