Springfield Block Party
Go Where the People Are
Lots of Seeds
Springfield Block Party
Saturday was an absolute blast!
The Block Party we’ve been talking about finally happened! Rain or shine, and believe me there was rain. I’ll spare you the photos where I was soaking wet. Big shout out to MVP Athletic, who pretty much handed over the booth to us (it was intended to house three different tables). They have continued to be an enormous blessing to our church!
I wasn’t keeping count, but if history serves, likely over 10,000 people walked up and down main street mingling with vendors and talking with one another. It was a menagerie of people: jugglers, Homer Simpson, children, musicians, raincoats, and the occasional set of dreadlocks. Pretty typical Springfield.
What it was for us, however, was a stream of people who were looking for something. According to Augustine they were looking for God, restless souls seeking satisfaction. In some of their promotional material leading up to the event they shared from last years interviews. These interviews were commonly dealing with what makes Springfield so special. Much of this was around community. The Block Party certainly provides a sensation of community, but where does that go when Sunday comes? When suffering rears its head. Where is unity when our values and worldviews collide?
We recognize that true community, true human flourishing, true satisfaction is found rooted in Christ alone. For 8 hours we had a slightly captive audience to share the Gospel with and show the love of Christ.
So what made it a success? Here are two things that encourage us from our labors.
1| The Gospel
The Gospel went out. Our team had numerous Gospel conversations with folks. We answered a lot of Bible questions, or questions about God that folks had, but the Gospel was the landmark we were driving our conversations to. We had several significant conversations where we got to challenge worldviews, clarify Christ and His redemptive purposes, and bring the Law and Gospel to bare on our community. On top of that we handed out lots of flyers and information about our church where they can get more Gospel.
We sow the seeds and trust the Lord with the results.
2| Discipleship
For nearly everyone who joined us for our 8 hours of evangelism, this was their first time doing something like this. They got to witness and engage in this essential work for the first time! They saw the crowds ebb and flow, eyes dart away when they saw we were a church, even one heated confrontation. They got to see people asking real questions, weird questions, and share their worldviews. Worldviews that would ultimately leave them hopeless if they remained. They got to see how the Gospel threatens the dominion of darkness and shake the foundation that most leave unquestioned. They got to see wheels turning in the hearts of those that were really considering what we were saying.
A close runner-up to all of this was that the sentiment was a general eagerness to do this again! We’re already looking at the Springfield Farmers Market. See you soon!
Sunday
No rest for the wicked! We woke up Sunday morning and drove down to Roseburg to join Reformed Baptist down there for worship and fellowship after service. What a joy it is to be able to be met with such warmth, affection, and joy. I consider Paul’s experiences when I think of this kind of welcome and how much it means to co-laborers. We are thoroughly blessed to have so many churches that we can link arms with like this.
We are, however, very glad to slow down for a minute before we hit the next sprint.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Simeon Trust Workshop
Sign-up Here
Saturday, Sept. 19 and 26
9am-5pm
800 34th Ave SE, Albany, OR 97322
I’m a little late to the party here, but don’t miss out on this event. It’s a two-Saturday event that is intended to equip Christians. The Bible is not a book like any other. It is both accessible and also requires great study to engage with meaningfully for our good and God’s glory. This workship will help give you tools and frameworks as you study Scripture and lead others in the same. The WVBA is putting it on and I’ll be facilitating two sessions on the second Saturday.
Don’t miss out!
SUNDAY SERMON
Sunday we were faced with the zeal of our Lord Jesus as He purified the temple. The place where God has placed His name carries with it so little gravity in today’s culture. I hope this sermon can give you a greater view of the church and its weighty purpose for us today.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Pray that the seeds we sowed will produce fruit by God’s Spirit. Our hearts long for the lost to be saved and so many we visited with need Jesus.
Pray for Overton, a young man we spoke with at the block party, who seemed to be really wrestling with the claims of Christ and His deity.
Pray for the upcoming Simeon Trust Workshop. That we can help equip Christians to rightly handle God’s Word for their good and His glory.
