By Pastor Al Hughes
Sunday, October 3, we held a “Round-Up Day” at our church. On this special day we all dress “western” style. The church facility is decorated in a cowboy theme. Our guest preacher was Dr. Gene Howard, nationally know “John Wayne” impersonator (www.GeneHoward.org).
We put a lot of effort into promoting this day. First, we send out several mailings alerting people of the Round-Up. Our G.R.O.W. ministry makes many contacts inviting people to come. Ads are placed in the local newspapers two weeks before the special day.
The day before Round-Up Day, we sent teams to one of the busiest intersections in our city to wave professionally made signs promoting our church and the special day. We have a team of “sign-wavers” on each corner of the intersection so no one can miss us. Dr. Gene Howard, all dressed up in his “John Wayne” attire, joined us as we waved signs to passerby’s. His presence really attracted people to notice our signs (see attached picture and www.GeneHoward.blogspot.com).
Another thing we did to encourage people to invite visitors was award free gift cards to Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Q to the ones who brought in the most “strays” (visitors). A couple of people brought in five “strays” each!
God saw fit to bless our efforts with a full auditorium of people, over 20 visitors, and five people coming to trust Christ as Savior. Four of these visitors came as a result of seeing us sign waving the day before, and one of them also got saved! (Sign waving really works if it is done right.)
I want to highly recommend Dr. Gene Howard to any church or pastor who would like to have a special patriotic or “Round-Up Day.” His visual message on “Freedom and Sacrifice” is an excellent sermon that ties the sacrifice of our forefathers to secure our freedom in America to the sacrifice of Christ to provide freedom from sin. I’ve never heard a better Gospel presentation (preached with a “John Wayne” flare, of course). His sermons on “The Alamo” and the “The Big Ring Rifle” are also great sermons with Biblical applications.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.
Loved the John Wayne impersonator. We have a Western Round-Up Oct 24 with John Bailey…3X World Champion Knife Thrower.. Whip Cracking. (www.lash&steel.com) Best part..8 people saved at last
year’s Round-Up.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have both of these men at the same Round-Up?
Brother Bailey is also a great preacher.
This comment sounds more like an advertisement doesn’t it?
Just got excited about the possibilities.
Angela Jolie,s Bible
1. Dencel Washington,s Bible
2. Britney Spear,s Bible
3. Aurora,s Atentat!!! Holy Bible is a Killology!
4. Chris Keye= The best Us-Snipers of Iraqwar!!!
5. Auroras Hero-Holmes! Made in USA! Psalm 144:1.
Atheist!
Dear Mr. Atheist, it appears that you have some concern about the people you listed as owning Bibles. Do I sense that you have some hint of morality by using their names? I can’t imagine why a real atheist would be concerned about who’s Bible was awarded; even if it was from your alias; Karl Marx.
Psalm 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
Oh, by the way, we know that Karl Marx did not believe in war, nor did his followers. If you are really opposed to fighting and war, you should choose a different hero. I wonder who taught him and his followers to slaughter millions. I’m sure you believe in fighting.
Karl Marx was a Satanist not an atheist as explained at the following link: http://www.cuttingedge.org/pages/seminar2/MARXPASS.htm