Image left to right: Frank, Andrew, Jamie

Some nights of evangelism are filled with long conversations. Other nights are spent handing out gospel tracts with only a few brief interactions. And then there are those evenings where you get a front-row seat to watch God weave together conversations in ways you could never plan yourself.

This past Friday on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines was one of those nights.

The evening began by meeting up with Andrew, a gentleman who had reached out because he wanted to learn how to share the gospel biblically. We found a table outside of Hy-Vee, and before we ever walked the streets, we sat down to discuss practical ways to begin gospel conversations. We talked about asking thoughtful questions, listening well, and allowing the conversation to naturally transition to eternal matters.

It didn’t take long before our classroom became the mission field.

Jessie

A young homeless man sat down at the table next to us and struck up a conversation, offering us each a tangerine. Rather than seeing it as an interruption, I saw it as a divine appointment. I began talking with him about the gospel and handed him one of Living Waters’ Million Dollar Gospel of John.

During our conversation, he shared that several years ago he had been thrown from a vehicle during a serious car accident and nearly lost his life. That immediately opened the door to ask the question that really matters:

“If you had died that day, where do you think you would have gone?”

He never really answered.

Each time the conversation moved toward eternity, he gently redirected it somewhere else. I began sharing my own testimony and weaving the gospel throughout my story, hoping he would see the hope found only in Jesus Christ. Yet every time the discussion became personal, he changed the subject again.

Sometimes that happens.

Not every gospel conversation ends with repentance. Not every person is willing to wrestle with eternal realities. Our responsibility is faithfulness; God is responsible for changing hearts.

Then something completely unexpected happened.

A homeless man named Jamie walked up.

Jamie

Andrew immediately recognized him, they shook hands and both were happy to see each other. Turns out Andrew shared the gospel with Jamie a few weeks earlier and had been thinking about the conversation ever since, and had deeply impacted him.

I smiled and asked, “So, tell me about this message Andrew shared.”

What happened next was one of the most encouraging moments I’ve experienced in street evangelism.

Instead of simply saying he liked what he heard, Jamie began explaining the gospel back to us. He was stuck on a few things about the conversation and wanted to understand more. We talked about his about his sin, God’s holiness. He understood that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, and that forgiveness isn’t earned through good works but is received through repentance and faith in Christ.

As he spoke, you could tell this wasn’t merely information he had heard a few minutes earlier. The gospel had arrested his attention. Questions poured out. He wanted to understand more. He wanted clarity. He wasn’t arguing—he was listening and fully engaged.

The conversation continued as Andrew and I both encouraged him from the Scriptures, answered questions, and pointed him again and again to Christ rather than to religion or self-improvement.

Watching Andrew share the gospel and then hearing Jamie recount it moments later was an incredible encouragement. It reminded me that learning evangelism isn’t merely about acquiring techniques—it’s about lovingly proclaiming the truth and trusting God to work.

Satan Pushed Back

As the conversation progressed and Jamie was nodding in agreement more and more, I heard a ruckus behind me. As I was sharing the gospel and getting into sharing the gospel using my pen analogy, I looked at Andrew, and he was visibly shaken. I could see him twice almost get out of his seat. There was yelling, cussing, and a lot of movement behind me. But I stayed focused, told Andrew to pray, and Jamie to lock eyes on me. They did.

Then, I just happened to look in my peripheral, and there he was: Hank — the “spirit of distraction” from my article, “When De-escalation Doesn’t Work.” My heart jumped. I prayed he didn’t notice me as my back was towards him, and remained focused on the conversation.

Later on in the evening, Andrew said how crazy those guys got in a fight right near us. I said, “Satan will use anything and anyone to distract you from sharing the gospel. He uses fear, but when fear doesn’t work anymore — be ready. You’ll see and experience things that just defy logic.”

You never know what God is already doing

It was also a reminder that we never know what God is doing behind the scenes. Earlier that evening, we thought we were simply meeting for an evangelism lesson. Instead, God brought multiple people across our path, each at a different place spiritually.

One avoided the question of eternity despite having narrowly escaped death years earlier.

Another eagerly wanted to learn how to share his faith.

And another was visibly impacted by hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.

The results belong to the Lord.

As Paul wrote:

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)

Our calling isn’t to manufacture conversions. It is to faithfully proclaim Christ, trusting that the Holy Spirit will open blind eyes according to His perfect timing.

Court Avenue is often known for its nightlife, restaurants, and entertainment. But on this particular evening, God reminded us that it is also a mission field filled with people who will spend eternity in heaven reconciled to the Father, or in hell running away from Him.

Please be praying for Jessie and Jamie as they read the tracts and gospel of Johns they received from me.