Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

Team Leader
Lucy Stamm
Contact

Admin
Login

Team Badges

The People God Loves - 2025-Aug-10

August 17, 2025

We try to communicate God’s love for each person. So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The non-Christian sect, which rents the sports arena twice every six months, had set up their pamphlet rack in our usual spot, which e. Nancy discovered when she arrived at the business park. She told the two men stationed there that she was Catholic, that we’d have a table nearby, and that maybe we could discuss religion. In the small talk that followed, the older man said he had “worked all over”, that he was an engineer and had lived in a certain bigger city for a while. They talked about Boise, how nice it is, etc. The younger man never said anything, but stood and smiled. When the rest of the team arrived, we set our table up across the park, on the other side of the fountain. We did this for several reasons. First, people often mistake that group as fellow Christians and we want to avoid making this look true. Plus, part of our unwritten agreement with the business park, and in return for being allowed to set up our table there for free, is that we won’t interfere with groups who’ve rented the plaza. So, e. Nancy went back to tell them we weren’t going to be next to them, after all. The older man wasn’t there, and another man was standing with the same young man. They just said, “OK.” Then, during our session, many of that group’s attendees walked by us during their breaks. Several, especially women, seemed afraid to make eye contact with us, even for long enough to say, “No, thank you.” May God bless them and lead them out of their bondage to lies and the fear of being ostracized by their fellow religionists, and into the Truth of Jesus Christ.

A Catholic family of six stopped at the table as we were setting up. The father, in his late 30s, told us he knew about the Rosary. Then, each of the family members chose one and took a copy of the pamphlet on how to pray it. They belong to a parish in a neighboring town. May God keep them Faithful.

Two boys in their mid-teens stopped at the word “free” and came to the table for a Rosary. When asked if they were familiar with the devotion, the taller boy said he’d “heard of it.” Asked if they were Christian, he said, “I’m trying to be”, and the other said, “Half my family is Christian.” So, e. Lucy gave the first boy a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet and went over the Rosary devotion with him as a way for him to get to know Jesus better. She looked him in the eye and told him that he’d find out that Jesus loves him. His manner seemed to soften a bit at that. Meanwhile, e. James talked with the other teen. May God draw them both to Himself and the full life He designed for them.

A tall, thin man, wearing dark clothes and headphones and walking “furiously fast” said, “no” when asked if he would like a Rosary. With perhaps a wistful smile, he added, “Everyone here hates me.” E. Nancy called to him in reply, “We don’t hate you” and then, louder, “Jesus loves you!” May God heal the man’s heart and let him know that there is still hope.

A couple in their late 20s pedaled past. When they were almost out of earshot, e. Nancy heard the man mutter a flippant remark, indicating that he is a lapsed Catholic. May God heal his memories and draw him back into full communion with Himself, the God Who loves him beyond all telling.

A teenage boy, somewhat unkempt, came to the table for a Rosary. When asked if he were familiar with it, he replied that he was Catholic but didn’t really know how to pray the Rosary. “What parish do you belong to?” one evangelist asked. He named a local parish. She then quickly described the devotion and encouraged him to spend time with it every day. Another evangelist observed that he seemed so sad and lost, almost as if he had just realized that he was lost and alone. May God reveal His constant love and presence to him and may He continue to bless him and inspire him grow deeper in his Faith.

A man in his late 20s told us, “ I have a Rosary [tattooed] on my hand.” He accepted the Rosary pamphlet in passing, but didn’t stop.

A curly-headed, blond male in his late teens said that he’s Catholic but didn’t know how to pray the Rosary. He and his mom each chose a nice chain Rosary and accepted its pamphlet.

A preteen boy grabbed a Rosary, while his parents stood quietly in the background.

A couple in their mid-20s stopped. He, sporting a mullet, said he grew up in “a Catholic area” and so was somewhat familiar with Rosary.

Another couple, this one in their late 20s, each took a Rosary and its pamphlet. The man was quiet, smiling, and listening. His wife was less so. As she left, with a skeptical smirk, she said (perhaps wanting the last word), “The point is to get it done in under 5 minutes, right?” Then she turned quickly away to avoid further conversation. May God actually draw her into the Rosary meditations and show her that the point is to spend time with God, who loves her so much!

An athletic male in his late teens told us that he attends a parish near here. He accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A somewhat goth-looking male in his late 20s stopped. He was sporting black fingernail polish, black t-shirt, and black shorts. He told e. Lucy that he was Catholic and “new in town”, so she gave him parish map, to go with the Rosary and pamphlet he’d already received. He repeatedly commented, “Oh, that’s lovely!”

A 20ish male, asked if he were familiar with the Rosary, said he’d “read about it”. He then chose one and accepted the pamphlet on how to pray it.

A male in his late teens replied, “Not really”, when asked if he were familiar with the devotion. After choosing one, he smiled and said, “thank you”.

A 20-something Catholic man, featuring a musician on his t-shirt, stopped for a Rosary. He attends a nearby parish.

Another 20-something male and his family pedaled by. He smilingly shouted back to us, “All Jesus, all the time!”

The weather continued hot, so foot traffic was light. People seemed to be in too much of a hurry to stop and talk. Still, we gave away another 20 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Good News/kerygma pamphlet and a map of area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

God meets each person where they are, and we try to be His instrument. So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

“Go with the strength you have” (Judg 6:14).