Beautiful Feet

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! – Romans 10:15b

I returned home yesterday after an incredibly edifying time on our missions trip to London for the 2012 Olympics. For several reasons I was not able to keep you updated on the last few days of the trip as I wished, but hopefully in the coming days I will be able to reflect on some of the experiences.

In the meantime, I’d like to share the following letter I received early last week after a brother had passed by the preaching of Robert Gray. I had a chance to speak with him briefly and he encouraged us and thanked us for what we were doing. I had no idea of what was to come in his letter, and God used it to inspire us to keep our focus on the mission at hand. We just never know who is listening to us as we exalt Christ in the open air, and I hope it will serve as a great encouragement to biblical open-air preachers around the world.

The feet of those who preach the Good News of Jesus Christ truly are beautiful to the glory of God!

Robert’s preaching from that day can be found here.

Note: I have changed some names in the letter to protect identities.

Hi, I am a Christian living in South London and yesterday I was at work in Central London when I heard one of your members preaching outside Green Park Station. I was greatly encouraged to hear someone preaching the true Word of God in London and spoke briefly with a man called Justin Edwards who was standing close by handing out leaflets. I mentioned to him that my younger brother Matthew Littleton was a preacher and used to work for the OAM (Open Air Mission).

I am a policeman (in plain clothes) and was on duty and therefore was unable to stay for a good chat. I just wanted to say thank you for coming to my city during this busy time and reaching out to people with the true word of God. To hear somebody reading from the book of Romans and preaching what I would consider as the true gospel was a real encouragement to my soul. I worship at a small Evanagelical church in Camberwell and members of our church do open air preaching every Sunday evening after the evening service. We are not far from The Tabernacle at Elephant and Castle.

There is a great deal of need in London for the gospel to be preached as many of my fellow Londoners have long forgotten the goodness that this country recieved from God in the past, when we were a God fearing nation. We have literally turned full circle now and people seem to actively hate our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Government seem to pass laws each week abolishing Christian values and at present are debating same sex marriage and extended business hours on the Lords’ Day. Materialism is the religion England now and there is a growing culture of no accountability for one’s actions. It’s a sorry state of affairs considering how greatly blessed our country has been in the past. God has saved us from two world wars, blessed us materially, economically and so much light has been given to this country. Now however, as your preacher said, it’s all about Me, look at Me, I want my 15 minutes of fame! Not a thought for God.

I don’t know the preachers name, he was a black man with glasses however, I would like to pass on my thanks for the encouragement he gave my soul. It really was a blessing to hear the Gospel being preached. Hopefully I will see him again this week as I am on duty throughout the Olympics so I might be able to have a chat with him.

With Christian Love,

Richard