Do You Love Him?

The 91st annual Tulip Time festival in Pella, Iowa, began on Thursday, May 7, 2026. This vibrant and eagerly anticipated three-day celebration, which runs from May 7 – 9, features a spectacular array of Dutch heritage events, lively parades showcasing traditional costumes, and breathtaking displays of tulips in various colors and varieties. Visitors can immerse themselves in the rich culture through various activities, including authentic Dutch food tasting, craft demonstrations, and engaging storytelling sessions, all within the charming backdrop of Pella’s beautiful parks and historic architecture. Each year, the festival triples the population with locals and tourists alike, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate community, culture, and the beauty of springtime.

This is why we do the Tulip Time Gospel Outreach each year. The apostle Paul, Peter, and many others used events and festivals as an opportunity to share the gospel with those that attend. This is why we do it every year. The bonus for us evangelists is that it is also a family reunion and we gather to worship the Lord together as well as catch up.

When it came to the Tulip Gospel Outreach convention, it was quite different compared to previous years.

• The smallest Tulip Gospel Outreach attendance we have had in a while.
• We were moved to the chapel instead of the large sanctuary we normally used.
• We were not allowed to put up our booth or prayer stand at the church.
• The fair-goers seemed more jaded this year. I received more rejections than anything else.

Once again, I led an evangelism team into the fair on Thursday and Friday. We got into several gospel conversations, but not as many as previous years. Because I had such a small group, I could do more one-on-one training. This was beneficial to the people I were leading.

Conversation with three young men

One of the memorable conversations I had were with three young men whom I gave Living Water’s million-dollar bills. They all read the back of it and asked if they agreed with what it said. One of them, who wore a Nordic Cross, said he wore it for good luck. All three said they hadn’t been to church in a while, but believed in God and Jesus to some extent.

I’ve been toying with the idea of trying to get people to think that belief in Jesus’ existance is not the same as belief in Him. Nor is it saving faith. A head knowledge about someone or something is not the same as actually putting your trust in them. So, I pushed a little with the guy in the middle (sorry, I didn’t get their names).

So I said, “Do you believe IN Jesus? What does that mean to you?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I believe He existed. I believe that because He sacrificed for my sins I could go to heaven.”

“Well, James 2:19 says that even the demons believe, and they shudder. They’re fearful of Him. What makes you different than demons?”

He paused for a moment and thought. “I don’t know.”

“Do you obey Him?” He looked even more puzzled. So I asked, “Do you love Him?”

He stopped and froze. “I think so. I guess?”

That bothered me. So, I asked him, “Suppose you’re married and your wife were here and I asked you, ‘Do you love her?’ You answer, “I guess so?” Do you think she would be happy with your answer?”

But, isn’t that really the issue? Jesus isn’t a “get out of hell free” card. He is our everything, our guiding light in both joyful and challenging times. Is He a treasure to you? Is He the most important person in your life, serving as your source of comfort and strength? Do you frequently spend time with Him, in prayer and reflection, adoring Him for His unwavering love and compassion? Do you worship Him with all your heart, acknowledging His greatness through songs and acts of service? When you read His Word, do you allow it to penetrate your heart and transform your thoughts? Are you grateful, taking moments in your day to thank Him for all that He is and what He has done in your life and the lives of others? Belief that God exists is not saving faith, for even demons believe that, and they tremble (James 2:19). A mere head-knowledge about God didn’t save anyone, but true faith coupled with total surrender did, leading to a profound relationship that changes everything.

So, instead of asking potential Christians, “Are you born again?” I am going to start asking, “Do you love Him?” and follow up with, “How?” Because Christians really need to start examining themselves and hold themselves accountable.