Parking Lots

Parking Lots
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
                                                  Matthew 28:18-20.
Not much happens in parking lots. Yet on any given day a cross section of the local community can be found at least in shopping mall parking lots. Still to some people they are boring.
Think about the following.

Parking Lots

Parking lots are boring,

That’s what some people think,

My kids think mall lots,

Are most boring of all.

They see row on row,

Of cars and trucks and stuff,

Acres of Asphalt

Boring things like that.

Me

I think they’re alive!

A plethora of colour!

A sculpture in rubber, tin, and glass.

A

Symphony of noise,

Accompanying a commoners ballet,

On a stage of compact stone and oil.

A

Kaleidoscope.

An ever changing montage,

Of people, and things and stuff.

A 

Mission field,

Ripe for the harvest.

And that’s how I see parking lots.

Witnessing in parking lots, shopping malls or on the street can be a challenge. Still if done correctly it can be done effectively.
Although the years of going from car to car or handing out tracts to people in parking lots are sadly gone in many cities in North America, there still is a lot that can be done.
Over the years I’ve been part of some successful witnessing campaigns in malls.
On one occasion I was with a gospel group that got permission to sing in the mall both at Christmas, Easter and a couple of other times during the year.
We presented our message in a non-confrontational way while at the same time not compromising our beliefs. We planted many seeds, some of which we seen grow in a local church.
 One must remember malls are owned by private companies looking for value on their investment be it in cash or floor space.
Having a good professional group singing Christmas music in their malls is good for business it adds to the atmosphere. For that group to hand out invitations to their Christmas or Easter services is usually not a problem for most malls.
The key is to do things in a highly professional, non-threatening way. Remember, be a blessing. As the saying goes one attracts more bees with honey than with vinegar.
Wherever we witness we should remember the words of Jesus who said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
 Matthew 10:16.
We should know our surroundings and be cautious with respect to our personal safety. We should have an idea of who we are witnessing to. And we should be witnessing in an non-threatening, non-judgemental way
The apostle Paul writes,
“To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
                                                                               1Corinthians 9:20-23.
Witnessing to others is an essential part of being a Christian. It was Jesus who told us to go into all the world with the gospel.
It is therefor our duty spread the good news to all mankind at all times.
As Francis of Assisi put it, we should,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
He also reminds us,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
 Francis of Assisi
Think about it.