Recap: Marshalltown Octemberfest 2024

Last night Paul and I went to the Marshalltown, Iowa Octemberfest to share the gospel to those at the festival. The weather was amazing for a late September and we never had to wear jackets the entire time. Because of the weather, the streets were packed with people, classic cars, rides, and food vendors as live music filled the air. It was a glorious night.

We found our regular street corner of E. Main & S. Center Streets and set up our spot getting out our gospel tracts to give away. I already had Trump/Biden million dollar bills from Living Waters, and decided to give them out first being they were old since Biden “dropped” out of the race. Paul gave out tracts from Moments With the Book. Almost instantly, we were into conversations.

Brandon the Catholic

The first conversation I got into was with a Catholic named Brandon. He was very nice, tall, and listened intently to every word I spoke. I gave him time to ask questions from me as well, and shared multiple verses regarding communion in John 6 was spiritual, and not physically the body and blood of Christ. For most of the conversation he mentioned his religion was the oldest, and claimed his knowledge of church history. But, I prompted him to study the real history found in the Holy Bible.

We spoke for about 45 minutes and I gave him a Got Questions card as well as the Why Christianity? booklet. Later on in the evening he came back twice to ask some more questions. Pray he looks at the books that I gave him, but more importantly, he reads the Gospel of John, and Hebrews I prompted him to look at.

A very angry and bitter woman

Throughout the rest of the evening, the atmosphere changed when it came to the people I witnessed to. I have a Trump/Biden million dollar bill to an older lady in a wheelchair and her husband. He took it and looked at the back and started reading. She saw the picture on the front and was instantly enraged.

“I don’t want anything witht that piece of sh-t on the front. He’s a piece of sh-t!”

“There’s two men on the front. Who are you talking about?” I said calmly.

“That piece of sh-t Trump. That f-in guy is a piece of sh-t. He wants to take away women’s rights?” yelling directly at me.

“You mean the right to murder their own children? No one has that right. This is a gospel tract. I’m just out here…”

“F–k Jesus, f–k Trump, and f–k you!” She looked at her son and said, “Give that thing back. I don’t want you to have it.” He declined, and kept it. As she was still yelling at me, I showed him the website (www.needgod.com) on the back to check out later. He thanked me.

She wasn’t the only one who was extremely hostile towards the former President of the United States. Many people whom I’ve given them to were very mad. Most of them I was able to have a calm conversation. One man agreed with me that the country is not doing good at all, but was willing to sacrifice his own economy just to keep Trump out of office. This was beyond anything I had ever seen before. Their hatred of one man was cultic, and reminded me of when the crowds yelled “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” at Jesus’ trial.

I love my life, I love my sin, and I don’t need Jesus.

Throughout the night I just concentrated on giving out tracts in hopes to share the gospel. I walked away from Paul and decided to take a stroll to see if I can find people on the outside away from the noise. No one really wanted to talk, but this guy, who I thought was someone I knew, and gave him a tract. He took it and put it in his pocket saying he was going to put it on his fridge. He was a window salesman all tatted up on his arms and hands.

He asked me what I was doing and I told him plainly, and started sharing the bad news test. He said he didn’t commit adultery, but in the next breath said he lusted over thirty times tonight! According to Jesus, that is adultery (Matthew 5:28). This 24-year-old never owned a Bible, never has been taught who Jesus was, and had absolutely no desire. When I gave him a gospel of John, he said, “Keep it. I wouldn’t bother to read it and will end up in the trash before I leave here. Listen, I love my life, my sin, and I don’t need Jesus. I have all I need.”

It was disheartening to say the least. As he ended the conversation, I was reminded of the entire night. I never once shared the good news of Jesus Christ with a single person besides giving them a tract. Not one person was ready for the Pearl of Great Price. He was worthless to them; like pearls before swine. I was grieved in my heart.

Encouragement and celebration

On our way out through the food court we stopped to get some popcorn at Zimm’s Kettle Corn stand. We went to pay and Shayla, who was working with her husband, gave us the packages for free. “We’ve been watching you both all night and praying for you. It really encourages us to see people out here sharing Jesus. Thank you. I wish someone would come to Knoxville and do it there! The popcorn is on the house!” Paul and I were elated as we were not there just to share the gospel, but to encourage and equip the saints.

We went back to his house, fired up the grill and firepit, and had our annual victory meal with his dog, Lou. Just the three of us sitting by a quiet fire. We prayed, ate, and gave thanks to the Lord for the victory for giving us boldness, encouragement, and opening the eyes of the blind who may see. Praise the Lord.

Next stop…the Marshalltown Holiday Stroll.