Laingsburg, MI
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The following story comes to us from team leader Richard with our team in Ovid, MI:
This was an early morning for a 1/2 day festival called Summerfest in the city of Laingsburg. We evangelized until the event wrapped up at 12:30. There was lots of foot traffic with a car show, art walk and some entertainment. I had help at this event from some awesome guys on the Lansing Team, Tom and Dave. We had several encounters throughout the morning. One encounter was with “Mark” from the local Congregational Church. He readily engaged in a peaceful discussion about Catholicism and left with a sacramental and brochure called Why Be a Catholic.
Another encounter was with “John”. He was with another local church who also had a booth nearby. John approached me and stood intimidatingly close, asking if we pray to Mary. He stated that he used to work with a bunch of Catholics who all prayed to Mary. His interpretation of prayer was actually worship. We explained that our belief in prayer simply means “to ask” and that we do ask Mary for her to take our prayers to her Son. After several minutes of peaceful communication, “John” began to let down his hardness and before he left, he was more than willing to take the brochure What About Mary.
“Lisa” and her two daughters, one of which was participating in the local art walk competition, stopped by to collect some rosaries, two Miraculous Medals and a crucifix. We found out that “Lisa” and her children were baptized as Baptists but did not attend church any longer. We discussed Catholicism and she seemed interested. We then gave “Lisa” a bulletin and the local Catholic Churches contact information, along with our own contact information if she wants to discuss in person further.
“Jack and Diane” stopped by. Jack was a high school football player from another town visiting his girlfriend, Diane. We had a long conversation and discovered that Jack is a cradle Catholic but doesn’t attend Mass very often. Our discussion led to suggesting Jack surprise his parents and attend Mass with them this weekend, along with earnestly looking for ways to develop a relationship with God. We discussed several ways to begin a deeper relationship and what that might look like. We talked about what it feels like to go into an empty church and if he’s ever experienced that and what it felt like. After he acknowledged that it was an awesome feeling, we suggested that feeling could be the Holy Spirit and that maybe he should start recognizing these same feelings when they occur outside of church, in everyday life, as the Holy Spirit. He took a Miraculous Medal. Diane was not Catholic and occasionally attended the local Assembly of God Church. However, she seemed interested and engaged in a lengthy discussion about Catholicism and took some brochures, along with a Miraculous Medal.
Praised be Jesus Christ!