Houston, TX
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The following report comes to us from team leader Dcn. Alex with our Catholic Charismatic Center team in Houston, TX:
On two Saturday afternoons in April, the Houston Catholic Charismatic Center team set up a sidewalk display table in front of The Church of the Annunciation, right across the street of Astros Minute Maid Ballpark, before the Astros game. Fr Paul Felix, pastor, values the ministry of SPSE and has been pursuing evangelizing the downtown Houston area.
Both outreaches each had twelve evangelists from five different parishes participate, with many first-timers. Due to the “blessing” of having too many evangelists for the table, both events had two teams of two and three walk the stadium area to openly witness about Our Lord. (Lk 10 – He sent the 72, 2 by 2 sent to preach and heal). We encountered hundreds of people at the table and in walking the area. Most people turned down our efforts (usually politely), as they wanted to get to the game, but many were open to engagement, including some in deep spiritual need.
Most engaged were open to personal prayer, which our trained evangelists were ready and able to do. In an awesome move of God, one of our groups prayed for a woman with a hip problem, on a walker. Immediately after the prayer the hip pain left, and the woman left her walker outside, walking pain-free into the stadium. (Yay Jesus!) A man with serious, chronic back pain was prayed for and after (three) prayers was healed of all pain. A woman just diagnosed with breast cancer was ministered to and she experienced God’s peace, shed tears, then told us of losing her husband two years prior to cancer. She left with joy and hope, knowing God was with her regardless of the circumstances.
Many received free rosaries (with instructions), crucifixes, holy medals/cards, tracts and Annunciation Mass time cards. All were invited to attend Mass. A few were drawn to the table by the Free Prayer sign, including ballpark/security workers and homeless people. A homeless man asked me to bless his bicycle, which he did, and the man came by later to get a rosary saying, “I need to start praying this.” There were many more profound interactions. The downtown area has its challenges for evangelization (apathy, distraction, unbelief, etc.), but we know that God doesn’t measure our success by visible results but simply asks us to show up and trust Him.
Praised be Jesus Christ!