THE GATEWAY CITY
A REPORT ON THE 2002 SAINT LOUIS MISSION TRIP
by
R. Alan Streett
Professor of Evangelism, The Criswell College, Dallas, TX

Towering high above the skyline, the trademark silvery Arch magnificently testifies that St. Louis is the "Gateway to the West." Located on the western bank of the Mississippi River, America's most strategic inland port city was the starting point for the famous Lewis and Clark expedition westward in 1804. Nearly two hundred years later it was the chosen site for the SBC annual Convention.

A team of two dozen Criswell College students joined me to reach as many St. Louisans with the gospel as possible. Our trip was divided into two segments. We first attended the three-day NAMB seminar "Reaching the Remnant" (A large Jewish population calls St. Louis home). Word of our presence somehow reached the ears of the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai Brith, causing quite a stir! On Friday evening we visited an Orthodox Jewish synagogue to observe worship, but were asked to leave the premises. A second synagogue also promptly turned us away.

Discouraged but not despairing, we took to the streets the following day, sharing the Gospel door to door in Jewish neighborhoods. We faced strong resistance. Despite the opposition, five non-Jews gladly received the gospel and were saved.

Sixteen students remained for the second phase of our mission trip. At the invitation of Pastor Danny O'Guin we joined forces with Tower Grove Baptist Church to reach the community for Christ. We sensed God was about to move greatly in our midst.

At the conclusion of the Sunday morning worship service, following the invitation, Tom Faltysek noticed a young woman standing alone in the pew. Sensitive to God's leading, Tom approached her and began sharing the gospel. She listened intently and came under conviction of sin. When challenged to trust Christ, she bowed her head in repentance and asked Christ for forgiveness. The Tower Grove staff began immediate follow-up.

On Monday, we visited the American Dome, the site for the SBC Pastor's Conference. Our desire was to witness to as many security personnel, maintenance workers, police officers, concession stand operators, and protestors as possible. Sheri Graham, a master's student, approached Aaron, a worker at a coffee kiosk, and asked if he had assurance of eternal life. He had no clue. For the next half-hour, in-between customers, she explained the clear gospel. Right there on the spot, Aaron surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.

Two international students, Barbara Ngobeni and Narcissus Noriega, teamed up to win three more people to Christ outside the convention center. Meanwhile Tom Faltysek and David Arndt were inside sharing the gospel with a security guard, who has now found eternal security in Christ.

On our way back to the church, we stopped for lunch at a Sonic Drive-In. I noticed a black man around 20 years old with braided hair sitting alone at an outside table. Believing this to be a divinely appointed moment and opportunity, I approached him and said that I had come all the way from Dallas, Texas, to speak to him about eternal life. I had his immediate and undivided attention. It was amazing to watch the Holy Spirit pierce his heart with the truth of the gospel. Despite being surrounded by a dozen other customers, and waitresses whirling about on roller skates, Crozier Jones indicated a desire to publicly bow in prayer and repent of his sins.

As the week progressed, we witnessed to hundreds of people, passed out a thousand gospel tracts, conducted block parties, served as counselors during the invitation at the church, debated representatives of Soul Force, the homosexual protestors, witnessed to a group of anti-Baptist demonstrators, shared the gospel with a vegetarian, and preached on street corners.

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting nursing homes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Our students went room to room sharing the gospel and inviting residents to the chapel hour. On Wednesday, Eugene Orr preached the gospel and Bryan Young read the Scriptures. Sheri Graham, Cara Cozart and Gina Dower made balloon animals and passed them around. We gave each person a Tootsie Roll Pop or a piece of sugarless gum.

Gertrude Blumberg (another resident) and I sat for an hour talking about her life. When I asked if she had any children, tears came to her eyes and she choked up. After regaining her composure, she said she always regretted not having children. Feeling this to be an opportune time to share the gospel, I told Gertrude that God loved her "just as she was." He was not punishing her for childlessness, but He was concerned over her sin. Strong conviction gripped her heart and she asked what she could do. I told her that Jesus Christ alone could forgive sin and offer her eternal life, and asked her if she wanted to trust Him to be her Savior. Nodding her head, she closed her eyes and gave her life to Christ for time and eternity. Gertrude is a Reform Jew. Despite opposition from the Jewish community, the Lord had His way in the life of this lonely Jewish lady.

God again moved in our midst as Stephen Thomas, a Criswell College graduate student, shared the gospel with Tom, a worker at the nursing home who was buffering the floor. Tom shut off the polisher and listened closely. At the conclusion of the presentation, he said he wanted to give his life to Christ and bring his family to church.

On Friday morning at another nursing home, after preaching a short message on John 3:16, I invited those wishing to trust Christ for eternal life to raise their hands. Six of the fifty people in attendance responded. Our students talked with each convert. I then went around, prayed with all the people in the meeting, and gave them a hug and a kiss. It was a precious time.

For many souls, the "Gateway to the West" became the "Gateway to Heaven." For others, it was the place where they first heard the gospel. In time, the Word will take root in their lives and they, too, may come to Christ.