Europe in '00

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="084f0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="042203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>Crossbearer.net</B></FONT><B>      </B><B>| </B><B>    </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crossbearer.net"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>   </B><B>|  </B><A HREF="id303.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mardi Gras 2008"><U>Mardi Gras 2008</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id307.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Years 2006 2007"><U>Years 2006 & 2007</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id261.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Year 2005"><U>Year 2005</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Year 2004"><U>Year 2004</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id211.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Year 2003"><U>Year 2003</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id191.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Year 02 "><U>Year '02 </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fantasy Fest 01"><U>Fantasy Fest '01</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id156.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ireland UK 01"><U>Ireland - 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Return tomorrow.</div> <bR> <div> 5-3 Wed.     While at the Terminal in Chattanooga, we encouraged a <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Freemasonry and Shriners"><U>Mason</U></A></FONT> to renounce his satanic oath. He was under great conviction as we exposed the satanic secrets of the Masonic lodge. Yesterdays canceled flight blessed us with a first class seat. We were treated like kings.</div> <bR> <div> 5-4 Thurs.     Arrived in Barcelona, Spain 8 and one half hours from Atlanta. We met a precious couple, Roger and Nancy, who helped us to find a hotel. As Michael and I went looking for an “internet Cafe” to write home, Adrian saw our T-shirts and asked for a tract. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ. After  writing home we went to McDonalds (which became our European diet the next few weeks). At McDonalds we witnessed to 3 Navy men who all received Christ as Lord. Thank you Jesus!</div> <bR> <div> 5-5 Sat.          The crosses, which we cut into 5 pieces and  carried in Golf bags,  were then constructed  with screws outside the hotel. Many visitors from foreign nations had come to Barcelona and we ministered to many. The Lord blessed me with salvation's from many nations.  One man from Ivory Coast, Africa, 6 or 7 young people from Holland, 2 from Sweden and 1 from Australia all asked Jesus into their hearts. Met Christian brothers from Norway, North Ireland and Britain.  Adrian's Mother came out to meet us and invited us to the Assemblies of God church, which was a breath of fresh air.  </div> <bR> <div> 5-6 Sund.     Very difficult day.  At 1 PM we hooked the baggage to the rear of the crosses with a hook screwed into the cross. Wearing our white robes, we walked North. The city seemed to never end. John, a teenager who was not Christian (but was sent by God to guide us) rode his bicycle along side of us for several hours helping us to find the bridge crossing to pass over the river into Bardonia. We prayed for him and left him a Spanish Bible. We brought 2,000 tracts of which we had 500 in 4 languages (Spanish, German, French and Italian).  We passed out all 500 tracts in a single day. The Spanish I learned in Honduras was very helpful as it allowed me to communicate with the Spanish people.</div> <bR> <div>      While crossing the street at one intersection, my bags, attached to the cross, tipped over. While lifting it, the cross broke at one of the joints.  We temporarily repaired it. The day was now evening and we could not find a hotel anywhere. We received instructions to a hotel but from there it took several more hours of walking to arrive. My cross broke again the second time so we laid it down on the sidewalk in front of the bar where it collapsed. We were tired, exhausted, fatigued. As we put the cross back together, many people stood  around and watched, some trying to give their help. We finally finished rebuilding it and continued our marathon walk, looking for a place where we could lay our heads to rest. The city is not a welcome place at night. One man who watched us repair the cross followed us and took several pictures. He forced 1,000 pesetas (about $6-7) into Michael's hand gesturing that it was for food, wept and kissed us, then left.  We finally made it to the hotel at 11 PM but it was full. </div> <div>      I asked a police officer if we could sleep on the beach. He said yes, but then, as we put up our tents, 3 police officers walked up saying it was not permissible. I told the officers about my discussion with the previous officer and they called into the station and finally we had their OK. </div> <bR> <div> 5-7 Sund.     We returned to Barcelona by train where we bought tickets with 2 months to arrive in Rome. They were less than  $100 US and became a real blessing as we began a tour of riding the train one day, then walking the next. Every two days we were in another town. Today, however, was a very long day as we changed trains 4 times with our heavy luggage. We entered France as evening drew near. Michael had much fruit discipling a young man, Eric, an American in school in Holland, who accepted Christ on the train. The mountains towered at the border. Our 3rd train transfer was misdirected and we went to the wrong city.  Several <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mormon"><U>Mormons</U></A></FONT> were boarding a train here and I gave them my only two Mormon tracts. Here, we spent 11PM to 1:30 AM at a deserted train station which had closed for the evening. Only a handful of people waiting for the same train as Michael and I, were there. A drunk, passed out on the bench,  lay nearby with 2 dogs looking for scraps of food.  It was getting cold so I pulled out some warmer cloths and sat on my bags waiting. </div> <div>      We arrived in Montpellier at 3AM and found a cheap hotel next to the station.</div> <bR> <div> 5-8 Mond.     Montpellier. Spied out the city, wrote e-mail, and then as we returned, we encountered 6 Mormons at the square. Michael and I split them into two and disputed the scriptures with them. As Michael was slicing up their doctrine he made mention of the false prophet, Mohammed. A <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Muslim, Islam"><U>Muslim</U></A></FONT> from Fez, Morocco, overheard him and wanted to argue with Michael. After much debate, Michael quoted Phil. 2:6-11 and the man nearly passed out at the quoting of the verse. He grabbed Michael's hand and bent over. Michael led him in the sinners prayer of repentance and thereafter the man received everything Michael told him. We returned to the hotel and got him a Bible. He said “I can't believe that I have been in darkness all these years”.  He totally fell in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. Fez, Morocco is a place where Muslims who turn to Christianity are slaughtered. You can hear Michael tell the story about this man's salvation on a radio broadcast here: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF=" http://nextcrusade.com/show_harlot2.ram" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" http://nextcrusade.com/show_harlot2.ram"><U><U>http://nextcrusade.com/show_harlot2.ram</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> 5-9 Tues.     Montpellier. As we walked to get breakfast, a demon possessed man yelled at us “We don't want fundamentalists here, you are not tolerant!” So we knew it was going to be a good day.</div> <div>      We carried the crosses to the square in Montpellier and immediately encountered a Muslim who Michael witnessed to. The Lord blessed me with 3 who accepted Christ.  Michael had prayed with a Japanese young man earlier in the day and as we were leaving, the young man with his two friends returned. One of the friends who did not want to ask Jesus into his life earlier said “I want to be saved!” Mike prayed with him and then his third friend also wanted to be saved and prayed. </div> <div>      We were interviewed by 2 newspapers. During dinner at a hamburger restaurant, we witnessed to a Muslim who worked there and also to a Jew. They both listened and we left them tracts.</div> <bR> <div> 5-10 Wed.     Montpellier. We went to McDonalds for breakfast and ate outside in the square. As we ate a small group of street people gathered next to the trash bin. I went to place my trash in the bin, and as I pushed the door flap, the bin with wheels, rolled slightly.   Unnoticed to me, a beer bottle was next to it and it tipped over spilling its contents on the ground. One of the men started screaming at me in French. I couldn't speak his language so I gave him a salvation tract which he rejected. He cursed using English curse words and then pushed me. I lifted my hand, closed my eyes and prayed in the Holy Spirit. He punched me in the face knocking my hat to the ground. I walked away and we left. I wasn't bleeding and the pain quickly left, Praise the Lord. No broken bones, no bruises, no black eye. Hallelujah!</div> <bR> <div> We took a train to Nimes & arrived at noon. It's a rainy day. Sent email.</div> <bR> <div> 5-11 Thurs.     Walked Nimes, France. Police checked my passport and made some mocking comments to each other (there were 4 officers in the car of whom I gave tracts to each). Children were getting out of school at noon (possibly for lunch) and Michael and I handed tracts to many youths. They enjoyed mocking us but some gathered to ask questions and we explained as much with sign language as possible. Some knew a little English and would interpret for us.</div> <bR> <div>      A Pastor who had religion and no relationship with the Lord was interrogating me asking me questions about my beliefs. When he asked me what church I belonged to I said “Jesus” and pointed to the sky. He didn't like this answer and finally, with much anger, stomped away.  Another newspaper took our photos.  The Coliseum ticketers allowed us to take the crosses inside the coliseum and we climbed the stairs and lifted the crosses up in the stadium. German tour groups were gathered to see the stadium and took photos of us.</div> <div>      After changing, we went to a copier place to get more tracts made but we could only afford to make about 150 tracts, which we found that between the two of us, we were handing out about 500 tracts each day. I prayed and asked the Lord to help us get more tracts. </div> <bR> <div>      Michael wanted to buy a throw away camera and as we stopped at a camera store, the employee saw our Christian T-shirts and asked “Are you Christians?”  Joel said that he rarely ever sees another Christian come into his store. The Christian's here are very rare. It was the grace of God that we found this church.</div> <div>      He invited us to I'glise Evangelique de la Grace church that evening which was a blessing. They worshipped the Lord in Spirit and truth. We then picked up several thousand more tracts from the church, which was gone within the next day or two.  </div> <bR> <div> 5-12 Fri.     Took train to Marsellie, France. The same day we took the crosses to the streets at about 4PM till 9PM. I had one good encounter with an English speaking Muslim and a girl named Beth from Wisconsin who claimed to be agnostic. I prayed for both of them with their permission. </div> <div>      The whole city seemed to be Muslim. We stumbled into a Muslim Friday evening prayer vigil where they chant to the Meccan moon God, Allah. The crosses and robes were an unwelcome sight by the crowd. Michael had some strong arguments as I could see the Muslims across the street screaming at him. A young Muslim man cursed me as he passed by and then spit at me. Every time he looked back at me he would spit at me in disgust.</div> <bR> <div> Later, a drunk woman cried and kissed us. She seemed to be weeping at the presence of the cross as she obviously had repentance in her heart.</div> <bR> <div> 5-13  Sat.     Took train to Toulon. A beautiful city with mountains all around.  Met some Christians at the park and fellowshipped with them in the evening service. The Pastor refused us permission to sleep in the church. His attitude of rejection was less than Christian and grieved us.</div> <bR> <div> 5-14 Sund.     Went to church at the same place, then carried cross in Toulon. Handed out nearly 1,000 tracts and met many people. Walked past a soccer football stadium which brought in large crowds like Sunday football in America. Walked the waterfront past many outdoor restaurants with many tourists eating & drinking.  A French man took my tract and began to weep. I laid my hand on his shoulder and prayed for him. I believe he turned his life over to the Lord. As he walked away, he would periodically stop and look back at me. He was a changed man.</div> <bR> <div> 5-15 Mond.     Train to Cannes. No rooms anywhere in this city which is compared to Hollywood, where movies are made. After 2 hours of searching for a hotel room, I stayed with the baggage while Michael walked the city with the cross. Took train then to Nice. There were sex shops everywhere. Lots of pornography in Europe, and at this location it was getting worse. The streets were very crowded. Michael preached to 2 guys from Atlanta on the train. They didn't want to hear it so they got up and moved to another seat.  This city has the spirit of New York, everyone is out for self only!</div> <bR> <div> 5-16 Tues.     Walked Nice. I met Yudavich, who said he once believed in Christ but now his faith was shaken by the teachings of evolution and science. I spent much time rebuilding his faith.</div> <bR> <div> 5-17 Wed.     Took train to Italy. We hoped to stop at Genoa (Genova). It was a large, dirty and industrial city. Looked like we were in the heart of NYC. Rooms were nearly $100 US, much to high for our $30-40 per night budget. So we took the train to a smaller town called Recco. There were no hotels near the train station so we traveled again to Rapallo. I witnessed to a <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="JW doctrines"><U>Jehovah's Witness</U></A></FONT> at the dinner table.</div> <bR> <div> 5-18 Thurs.     Walked Repallo to St. Margherita. The many stories of Italy Police stopping the preaching of the Gospel gave us anticipation and fear. Yet we walked anyway. After several hours of no Police involvement, the fear went away. Then, as Michael was speaking to a couple, 2 police officers pulled in front of me and stopped. The driver stepped out with anger written all over his face. He screamed at me, saying, what I suppose was “What are you doing?” I smiled and handed him a tract and said “I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian. I'm from America.” He looked at the tract and said “America!?”  He asked for my passport and they both went to get Michael's passport. After writing down our passport info., they returned and we communicated with each other in broken language. I explained how we carried the crosses from Barcelona, Spain to here and were going to Rome. They now smiled, actually thinking it was funny how we took the crosses apart and carried them on the train. Then they left. 2 more times today, we were stopped by other police who did the same, excepting the angry approach of the first.       </div> <bR> <div>      A woman who received one of my tracts returned with her daughter. They were joyful even to tears that they had met another Christian. They both wept as I prayed with them.</div> <div>      As we walked the mountainous road to the next city nearby, St. Margherita, Rafael and his wife stopped, took a tract and drove away. Rafael returned to talk with us. It wasn't long before he was praying with Michael to receive Christ.  He took many pictures of us, then left. Later, he returned, and as he began weeping he said “I want to ask your forgiveness. I stopped so that I could make mockery of you  and get pictures of it. But .... I don't know what you two did to me...” he was weeping and I said “God touched you today, Rafael. You came to mock us, but God touched you and you will never be the same! Jesus said “No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.” and you were drawn by the Father in Heaven as He chose you today to become His son!” He wept on my shoulder. He testified to the police officers explaining what Michael and I were doing. Rafael and his wife bought Michael and I dinner and drove us home in their rented Mercedes Benz.</div> <bR> <div> 5-19 Fri.     Took train to LaSpezia. Went to printer to make 1,200 tracts. A <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seventh Day Adventist"><U>7th Day Adventist</U></A></FONT> helped us and we exposed many of the false teachings of the Adventists.  The tracts which we had copied needed to be cut and we finally found a place that would cut them. The man saw our Christian T-shirts and said “Missionaries!” and cut them for free. Praise the Lord! He handed them to us removing one for himself to read, as if to say “Thank you for coming.”</div> <bR> <div>      We then went to send e-mail. A woman sat next to Michael and she tried to hand him a Jehovah's Witness cult magazine. While Michael finished his e-mail, I read 2 John 7 to her and said “The  Bible says that the Watchtower Society is a deceiver and antichrist.” She argued with me so I prayed for her quoting Phil. 2:10-11 that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, at which she got up in anger to leave.  Outside, I continued to quote the verse of scripture that every  antichrist Jehovah's Witness hates, Phil. 2:10-11.</div> <bR> <div> 5-20 Sat.     Walked LaSpezia. Long day of walking. Along the waterfront, some Mormons tried to influence a Catholic woman when Michael came exposing their cult in front of her. She prayed with him to receive Christ in front of the Mormons. Many people tried to give us money when we handed them tracts, but when we refused the money, they were puzzled. Sometimes, many others in the crowd would grab a tract when they saw that we were not receiving money for them. </div> <bR> <div>      One man driving by in his car looked my way and slammed on his breaks. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He drove in a circle and pulled over to me. I handed him a tract as he stared at me.  I looked into his eyes and never took my eyes from his. He then drove away very slowly, stopping again to stare at me. He had obviously never seen a man holding a cross before.</div> <bR> <div> 5-21 Sund.     Train to Pisa. Walked to the leaning tower. On the return walk, we met 6 Mormons recruiting people in to their cult. I spoke to the female Mormon who said she hoped one day to become a “goddess.” We read various scriptures exposing their false teachings. Back at the hotel room, we met Jeff who worked for a European bicycle rental company and had 6 bikes to take back to Paris. He is a Christian, but not strong in faith. We spent several hours building him up in faith in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> 5-22 Mond.     Walked Pisa.  Jeff had one bike stolen the night before.  We stood out front of the train station with him and prayed with him. Suddenly Jeff ran off and intercepted a man walking with his stolen bike. He retrieved it and was in total surprise that the Lord had answered his prayer so quickly.  We helped him get the 6 bikes to the train terminal and then walked the crosses. </div> <div>      We prayed that we would not encounter the Mormons again in this city, and the Lord answered our prayer.  Many tracts of different languages where distributed. As we returned and crossed the bridge, we spent several hours with the large crowds of people who came asking questions. I had 7-8 teens with one of them interpreting, all prayed to receive Christ. Many more people would stop to listen to me preach to them.  </div> <bR> <div> 5-23 Tues.     Train to Levorno. Hotels too expensive so we continued to Grosseta. No hotels so we continued again to Rome. </div> <bR> <div> 5-24 Wed.      Walked Rome. Very fruitful day. Fear of Roman Police arresting us was great. We walked trusting the Lord. An Italian businessman stopped to ask questions and I spent some time with him preaching the Gospel. No police trouble at all until we approached the Vatican, which is considered another country. The guards stopped us and said that we could enter the Vatican, but NOT with the crosses. We kicked dust from our feet and stood just outside the Vatican. </div> <div> (Luke 9:5 KJV)  And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.</div> <bR> <div> The city of Rome is VERY idolitrous and reminded me of the scripture:</div> <bR> <div> (Acts 17:16-17 KJV)  Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.</div> <div> (Acts 17:29-30 KJV)  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.</div> <div> And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:</div> <bR> <div> A procession of <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Catholic Catechism reviewed"><U>Catholics</U></A></FONT> came in chanting their  prayers and carrying an<A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Catholic Idolatry"><U> </U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Catholic Idolatry"><U>idol</U></A></FONT><A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Catholic Idolatry"><U> </U></A>of Mary sitting on a throne, dressed in black, a black cross behind her, with a golden heart pierced with swords, holding the crucified Jesus in her arms. It took about 15-20 men to carry the “golden calf” of idolatry.  As the people walked past us, Michael and I both preached “NO! This is Idolatry! This is witchcraft! No Maria, Only Jesus! Pray to Jesus! Only Jesus can save you!”</div> <bR> <div> (Exo 32:8-10 KJV)  They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.</div> <div> And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:</div> <div> Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them  </div> <bR> <div> (Acts 19:24-27 KJV)  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;</div> <div> Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.</div> <div> Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:</div> <div> So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.</div> <bR> <div>  The guards gave us grace and didn't trouble us now that we were not on Vatican property.  We ran out of tracts. We had several salvation's on the way back to the hotel. Joseph, a young Christian from Pennsylvania was totally impressed as he watched people come to the cross to talk with me. He took many pictures as he left.</div> <bR> <div> 5-25 Thurs.     Rested. Sent e-mail, slept 3 hours. Then went to find a church referred to me yesterday. Ended up at a 4 square church. The Deacon blessed us with tracts, Bibles and fellowship. On the way to dinner, I met a young man drinking his case of beer on the door steps. After several hours, Sean took my hand and prayed with me. He wept with joy as he defeated Satan's hold on his life. He poured out the remaining bottles of beer and followed Jesus. While I was praying with Sean, several men stopped to inquire what this was all about. Michael prayed with them to receive Christ as well. Sean came to our room as we took him through scripture.</div> <bR> <div> 5-26     Fri.     Walked Rome to the Coliseum. Sean came with us and passed out many tracts. Prayed with many. I used the Italian Bible to preach with. I simply took people through the Bible showing them scripture and they read it in their own language.  I was hoping to make the 4 square church service so we could get more tracts. But we never made it as the time passed by and multitudes of souls gathered to talk with us.  I knew we would never make it and prayed the Lord that he would provide a way to get more tracts.</div> <bR> <div>      As we passed the train station, I met a Christian man. He introduced himself as <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/cults/exposejw/chap3.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/cul"><U>Eric Grieshaber</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/cults/exposejw/chap3.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/cul"><U> </U></A>and I lit up and told him, “I have your books on Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. I sat under your teaching at Christ for the Nations 10 years ago.” He lit up as well. Eric with his wife and 2 sons are living in Rome with the intent of handing out 2,000,000 tracts this year. They flooded us with many thousands of tracts and Bibles. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Eric and Jean are former Jehovah's Witnesses and they work with a former Priest and Nun who are now married to one another.</div> <bR> <div>      We learned today that the Pope promises lifetime forgiveness of sins to the Catholics who will come to Rome and walk through certain doors of Catholic churches.</div> <div>      As I returned to the hotel, a man came to give me 1,000 Liras. I refused it and said “It's free! It's for Jesus!” and I gave him a tract. I couldn't believe my eyes as this man wept like a child because I wouldn't take his money. In response, a crowd of people  then started taking tracts. </div> <div>      </div> <div> $100 = about 200,000 Lira</div> <bR> <div> 5-27 Sat.     Walked Rome. Sean came with us. Prayed with Spanish couple and Italian couple to receive Christ. As we passed one of the Catholic idols of Moses, a demon possesed street woman laying in front of it started screaming at us calling us every vile name. I stepped over to her and lifted my hand praying in the spirit. She kept smashing my hand with a large object in her hand. Police were coming so Michael called me away from her.</div> <div>      After dinner, two men who had seen us during the day asked many questions. They reminded us of the Epicureans in Acts 17:18.  </div> <bR> <div> 5-28 Sund.     Visited 4 Square church. Sean came as well. He is falling in love with Jesus. A newspaper reporter at the service interviewed us. </div> <bR> <div> 5-29 Mond.     Walked Rome to Piazza di Spagna. Sean came with us. A large crowd gathered here daily. A man taking pictures of me asked questions and as I exposed some false teachings of the Catholic Church, two Americans overhearing started defending the Catholic church angrily. The attack was fierce as they didn't want to hear me out but rather simply wanted to drown me out. Michael took over arguing with them as I then led the man in prayer to receive Christ. The two Americans were now starting an insurrection with the crowd. They said “These men speak blasphemies against the Catholic Church”. So then many Catholics would look at us with anger. Then they went to the Muslims and said “These men teach that Mohammed was a False Prophet!” Then the Muslims would look at us with anger.</div> <bR> <div> (Acts 6:12-13 KJV)  And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,</div> <div> And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:</div> <bR> <div>      They had created such attention that a large crowd now circled us. Michael then began to preach the Gospel as the two men continued their accusations. When Michael tired I then began to preach. As I preached I could see the faces of those who were being drawn by the Lord. Many wanted to take a tract to see what we were teaching. Sean was only several days old in Christ and he was now fearing for his life. I could see the fear in his face. The attack raged against us and suprisingly, no police interfered, except to ask Michael what was going on which he replied, these men are angry because we are speaking against the Catholic Church.</div> <div>      I was growing tired and wanted to leave, but one of the American attackers said “You had better leave!” I knew it was Satan and said to Michael “I guess we better stay!” So we stayed several more hours as the Lord sent Joe, an Italian, who took a tract from me and as the two men tried to rail against us with this man, he refuted their doctrine and turned to encourage Sean. The young man was a Spirit filled Christian. He helped to preach to many Italians who would come asking questions. He was sent by the Lord. The 2 Zealots were gone before we left.</div> <div>      On the way home I preached to a Jehovah's Witness and several Mormons.</div> <bR> <div> 5-30 Tues.     Walked Rome to Piazza del Popolo on Via del Corso. Sean came. Police stopped Michael and said he couldn't do this in Rome. Mike said “No, it's OK, the Police already said it was OK!” (Referring to the Vatican Guards who said we could take our crosses outside of the Vatican but not inside). So the Police officer let him go. Thank  you Lord!</div> <div>      A man from Iceland prayed to accept Christ. The large gathering  of Muslims who hang out at the train station were now getting used to us passing by each night and know that we taught against Mohammed and they would come to argue with us as we passed by.</div> <bR> <div> 5-31 Wed.     Last day. Left at 8 AM to get to the Vatican by 10 AM. Pope speaks today at 10AM. Sean came and as Mike and I walked past the Vatican, Police quickly stopped us. Sean stayed back handing out many tracts as the Police were focused on us. They interrogated us for an hour and in the meantime, as they forbid us to carry the crosses, even on the outside of the Vatican, Catholic idol worshipers carried a statue of Mary on the shoulders of 4 men, right past the police into the Vatican square. Only the cross is forbidden. </div> <bR> <div> (1 Cor 1:18 KJV)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.</div> <bR> <div> The officer threatened to arrest us if we didn't leave, yet he had our passports and we had difficulty communicating that we needed our passports back before we could leave. They finally understood and made us stay another half hour while they recorded our passports, giving us the ability to continue to hold up the cross for Christ to all the Catholics who passed by. Many of them had tracts in their hands as secret agent Sean kept passing them out. Thank you Lord for this precious brother in Christ who has already done more in 6 days to witness than most Christians ever do.</div> <bR> <div>      When they finally gave us our passports they said “Leave!” So we left turning to the right. The Police officer stopped us and forced us to walk through the tunnel to the left. Sean stayed back and passed out all the tracts he had. Later, on the other side of the tunnel, the police officer again came saying “Go further!” May God have mercy on this wicked man's soul. He hated the cross of Christ and could not push us far enough away.   Again, we kicked off the dust from our sandals.</div> <bR> <div> (Phil 3:18-19 KJV)  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the <U>enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction,</U> whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)</div> <bR> <div> The Lord Jesus Christ has a message for the Vatican:</div> <div> (Mat 11:21-24 KJV)  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, <U>they would have repented</U> long ago in sackcloth and ashes.</div> <div> But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.</div> <div> And thou, Capernaum, which art <U>exalted unto heaven</U>, shalt be <U>brought down to hell</U>: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.</div> <div> But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.</div> <bR> <div>      Later, I prayed with a Catholic woman from Sri Lanka to receive Christ. As I neared the hotel, a Japanese woman took my picture. She asked many questions as she had a very worldly understanding of the Gospel. It was wonderful ministry as I know that she was being drawn by the Lord.</div> <bR> <div> 6-1 Thurs.     Flew home from Rome, to Paris, to Atlanta, to Chattanooga. Flying over the Swiss Alps was truly awesome. The grand mountains with snow on top towered high into the sky. Our Lord is awesome! He is exalted over all that is created! Thank you Jesus for always giving us the victory!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> In Christ's Love, Brian</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Return to</FONT> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletters"><U>Newsletters</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id143.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current updates"><U>current updates page</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>