Detroit - Eastern Market

Country: United States
State or province: Michigan

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Mark Nemecek
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"Prosperity Gospel"

October 22, 2024

This report comes from team leader Mark with the Eastern Market SPSE team in Detroit, MI:

Four evangelists went to Eastern Market last Saturday: Anne, Bill, Susan and myself. We were able to set up a table at one of the main intersections and close to a lot of foot traffic. It was a mild and sunny morning at the farmer's market with many shoppers looking for pumpkins and more.

About halfway through our 1.5 hour outing, a husband and wife approached our table. The wife said that she's Catholic but doesn't go to Mass anywhere. However, she is looking for a parish home. I pointed out three churches in the vicinity and asked where she lives. She said that she recently moved to a suburb several miles south of me. I pointed out a parish on the main street and near the middle of her town. It turns out that she lives just a few blocks away and goes to a gym across the street from that church. I looked up the parish website and told her the Mass schedule. She accepted pamphlets on Confession and Reasons to Return to the Catholic Church. I also told her to check masstimes.org for schedules of other churches as well.

The conversation went very well until the wife parted ways but the husband remained behind. At that point, he said that he is disappointed that many preachers don't preach enough about prosperity. I was stunned and speechless at first. He continued and said that God gives him anything and everything that he asks for, including but not limited to a new Cadillac for his wife's birthday. I tried to interject but he tried to continue to dominate the conversation and lecture me. After a few minutes, I said that I need to respond to a few of his points. First, God gives us something (material or otherwise) if it is according to His will and for our own sanctification. He agreed with that but somehow believed that a new Cadillac would somehow help him grow in holiness. Then I referenced "take up your cross" in Matthew 16 and "the world hated Me first" in John 15. I also mentioned the sufferings and challenges faced by Job, other prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus Christ Himself. After a while, it was clear that the man wouldn't budge on his belief in the false gospel of prosperity. We had to end the conversation on friendly terms and go our separate ways. Pray that he learns the importance of redemptive suffering and turns to the fullness of Truth in the Catholic Church.