Week 2 With Shawn the Baptist
I had the privilege of joining Shawn the Baptist in South Dakota at two Universities. On Monday, we travelled to USD in Vermillion, and on Wednesday, to SDSU in Brookings. These were campuses where Shawn was forcibly removed from last year, even spending time in Jail after being arrested in Vermillion. We went there, permits in hand, to ‘redeem’ these campuses to the glory of God.
At Vermillion, we met a lot of people who identified themselves as Athiests, but many more who identified themselves as Christians who lived as though Christ did not exist. I think the latter is far worse than the former, as far as dealing with them. At least the Athiest is wrong, but intelectually honest. The Christian is wrong, and dishonest. 
There was one young lady in particular who said she was born again, but she was a lesbian. She did not agree with the teaching of the Bible in that area, to say the least. She was very proud of her otherwise moral lifestyle. She had ( according to her) really done nothing wrong. She had been saved, according to her, but it seemed like just an add on to her life, a label she kept for herself. Other Christians argued that they could live in a variety of other lifestyles of sin, and still be a Christian. We preached the gospel while we responded to questions with answers from the Bible.
This guy hated our preaching so much he wanted to steal our sign.
All in all, the day at Vermillion was filled with typical things. Christians who objected verbally to our method of preaching the law, warning sinners of a wrath to come. Honest questions, as well as some mocking ones. People who stayed to watch the spectacle, others who listened and learned. I am praising the Lord because the following day, Shawn found out that all the classes were talking about what went on the day before. The fascinating thing is that a professor brought his world religion class to come out to ask questions. Shawn, of course, preached the Gospel while answering their questions. Isn’t God good? Also, there were some Christians who came around and were built up and encouraged in their faith. This letter from a Christian reflects on that:
Hi,
I just wanted to write you and kind of say thank you in a way. I am a born again believer too.. and the last six months or so I drifted away from God and His ways.I feel like this was God at work in my life. When I got into the conversation with you at first I was defensive and wanted to argue with you, but as soon as I heard what you were saying I agree with what you were saying. The feeling I got from listening to you was warmth, I felt like I was back in My Fathers arms again. I just wanted to thank you for relighting that fire inside of me. I may not agree with your approach of sharing the gospel, but you are speaking truth, which is great! I have been praying for you through out the day and the students that you got a chance to talk to. I pray that God will give you the words and wisdom, and that the students would have an open heart to what God wants them to hear. Thanks so much!! I just want this email to be an encouraging email and an email that glorifies God!!! God bless.
When we preach the Gospel, we do it for the glory of God, humbled by the responsibility and the privilege to preach. It is nice to hear from these students, and encouraging to hear how their walk has been challenged, but whether or not people enjoy what we say, we are ultimately there to give glory to God.
I had the privilege of rejoining Shawn in Brookings on Wednesday, and we preached at SDSU. It was COLD! For a long time, we preached and handed out tracts as students few and far between stopped and listened. Finally, after a long period, we got a crowd, and it kept on growing! This crowd could be characterized as a lot of very religious people who called themselves Christians. What blows me away is how many of these young people give Satan a foothold by justifying and defending their pet sin. Why do we not go to Jesus, and ask him, and plead with him to SAVE us from sin? We had one young man, as a claimed Christian who boasted in his porno and masturbation. His justification? God will forgive him, after all, we all fall short. I wasted my time for YEARS with that justification in smoking pot and committing sexual sin (among others). We can be saved from that by the Gospel! Now, we will never be sinlessly perfect (until heaven) but we will be sanctified and progressively look more and more like Jesus.
It was cold, but we got a crowd!
Again, after a long time of preaching, Shawn spent time afterward addressing questions from a large crowd and ended up encouraging Christians to be strong in their faith. You should go to his site and see some of the amazing letters he has received from believers who have been challenged in their faith.
Shawn the Baptist doing a forum with those who claimed Christianity.
Continue to pray for Shawn the Baptist as he travels across the country, but also pray for us as we go to our local campus and continue the work there for the souls of this generation.
With all due respect, I don’t believe your method works. You have so much to preach and to save others. Yet, you don’t listen.
My Dear,
I will address you on your blog, but thank you for your comments here. You misquoted me; I never said the thing about women with little feet, that is my brother Shawn’s really bad joke. I think that we try to lighten up the mood, and in some ways may be offensive to some in doing so. My jokes were about Iowa, and again they were in fun, but there was a point to them.
I am also sorry you perceived me as sarcastic. I was deadly serious. If you die in your sins, you will face judgment. I was not judging anybody, I was warning people just like if you were in a fire I would warn you. All people who die in their sins will be judged. The good news of the Gospel is that you can be saved from your sins, because Christ bore the wrath for you. What you must do is acknowledge your condition before Him, agreeing (confessing) that you have sinned (be specific) repent (turn from and forsake) your sin and trust Jesus alone to wash your sins away.
I hope and pray that you can find Jesus.
Great update. Keep the faith bro. John. Your walk is an encouragement to all who believe.
Shawn, you are epitome of a modern day “the Baptist”. I would preach with you anywhere, any time. If I did not have a family and a church, I would follow you around the country and would back you up anyplace. Your family and sacrifice for the Lord’s work and your faith testify volumes.
Now quit stealing my jokes!