A Letter to Street Preachers

I just wanted to share some things here that might be of use for all you street preachers.

Prayer and time spent with God is first base, if you don’t do that forget it. Be an intercessor, that means that you’ve spent time standing between fallen man and an Holy God pleading for His mercy for those you’re about to preach to. That is the place of tears, the secret prayer closet, alone before your heavenly Father, he who sees in secret He will reward openly. When you come together as a group of two or more at the location it would probably be good to start with prayer again and invite the Lord’s presence into your midst. Ask Him to lead you and teach you by His Holy Spirit.

Next is to know who your audience is. Jesus was always aware of His audience, who they were, and the things or environment surrounding them. God will use those things surrounding you inspirationally to help make relevant illustrations. Since most people, you speak to do not know religious terms and phrases learn to speak plainly, simply. It would do you no good at all to speak French to a group of Americans who did not understand French. This alone cancels out almost 75% of all public preaching.

Rember whose image it is you represent and bear. I liken the street preacher to the Old Testament prophet who comes with the Word of God, and that word can be gentle. The word gentle would be a good word study for most of you street preachers, it is not a long study so you can do it in less than an hour but it will reap huge rewards. I rember one night after we had been presenting the gospel message a certain young man who had heard us for well over a year, came out a bar and mounted his motorcycle. One of the team members approached him and asked him to accept Jesus because it would be his last chance to. He declined, rode down the road less than one mile to his eternal death. We all just wept. God takes no delight in the death of the wicked, neither should we.

I respect the likes of Ray Comfort and it is true that the Law of God is perfect converting the soul, however, it is always better to be lead of the Holy Spirit than to blindly apply the methods that God has shown another man. Every message and method will be different, in this do not limit God, and you will see His glory. Your own faith will become incredibly strong as you become a co-laborer with Christ Jesus. You will find that you actually start to bear a burden, a passion (could this be the love of God?) for those to whom you are sent to MINISTER the grace of God to. Much like the woman with oiled perfume did on the feet of Jesus. For all you hellfire preachers, explain what hell is. A good rule is to be able to reduce everything to the understanding of an eight year old, if you can’t , start reading dictionaries and learn to.

I have more but I will keep this short.

A special note to all my brothers and sisters here on SI. We should handle the Word of God the same way a surgeon handles a scalpel. We should go out on the streets no less prepared. We have all complained at times about the pulpits in our countries , let us lead by example. Let the Love of Christ be our motive in all things. I might write on law enforcement and dealing with them when I get back. I’ll be gone for a week in Minn. God Bless, Brother Daryl Miller.

Amen, brother Daryl! Your insights are very rich and profitable--not for just street preachers, but any believer sharing the gospel. The comments you made about bringing the message down to an 8-year-old is great. So many times I hear my fellow brothers and sisters, when speaking to the unsaved, use spiritual terminology which are indeed true--saved, born again, righteous, justified--without explaining what that really means, so it does sound like French to an unlearned hearer. Simplicity has its own beauty, especially in presenting truth with the intent of leading a wandering soul to our blessed Savior Jesus Christ. Take care that our words to not lead people away from Him.

I respect the likes of Ray Comfort and it is true that the Law of God is perfect converting the soul, however, it is always better to be lead of the Holy Spirit than to blindly apply the methods that God has shown another.

Again, I heartily agree here. This is such a temptation for us to "blindly apply" methods of other men and move subtly away from dependence upon the Holy Spirit. I have recently come to a great appreciation of Ray Comfort's use of the law, and I see it as a tool in my toolbox. My toolbox at home is not loaded only with hammers. Hammers work great when I need to pound nails, but it makes a lousy screwdriver or a level :-) We need to be sensitive to the Spirit, realizing that this tool may be very effective, and at other times something else is needed. Only the heart-searching God truly knows what words will most effectively hit the mark. I find it a very safe practice to always go back to the life of Jesus in the Gospels and say, "Can I see Jesus doing this?" If this isn't a way or method Jesus would do, then I have to ask myself, why would I want to use it?

Thanks again for sharing,

Ken

I was reading this yesterday and it's from a dear brother, John Hames who wrote this nearly 100 years ago. He is very practical. This chapter is entitled "Untempered Zeal."

Comment(I have found in my brief number of years walking with Jesus is that he never treats any two people the same way. Frankly, I'm amazed at how kind God is to me, as well as others as He begins to deal honestly with a man's sin. He never, ever winks at sin regardless of the circumstances.

The only ones that he seems to be harsh with are those who have hardened their hearts and most of those are in the church, not outside of it. I'm not disagreeing with what Jesse is doing necessarily but would say "Walk in the Spirit" versus relying on some method to preach the Gospel.)

[b]"Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Matt. 10:16)[/b]

One of the many things which furnished material for shame and regret in the early part of the writer's Christian experience was the rash and unwise way we approached and dealt with the souls we were trying to help. We sincerely thought it was our duty as a Christian to exhort about every person we met on the street to get religion. As a result, we became a public nuisance. We considered it almost a sin to be in conversation with a person more than ten minutes and not to speak to him on the subject of religion. It was not a great while, however, before we discovered the fact that we were driving souls away rather than winning them to Christ.

This is a point where newly converted souls need much instruction. They are so happy and full of joy that they try to talk religion into nearly every one they meet. If they should continue this unwise action they would talk themselves clear out of employment and out onto the sidewalk.

I hope the reader will not mistake my meaning. It is perfectly right to speak to people on the subject of religion; however, it is not using the best wisdom to buttonhole every person you meet, neither is it wise to speak to the same man on the subject every time you meet him.

We have found it more harmful than helpful to argue on the Scriptures with sinners and carnal-minded church members.

We were once accustomed to awkwardly approach people with the following question: "Do you live without sin?" This method, of course, called forth an argument wherever we went. Our intentions were good but our judgment was tremendously faulty.

We were also accustomed to putting the following question to strangers on the street: "Are you saved?" "Are you a Christian?" This method tended to stir up strife and the devil rather than produce conviction. The question was alright but we did not properly put it. We should have first prepared the way for our question by saying, "Good morning; how are you today?" etc., and after passing a few brief remarks on the general topics of the day then put our question.

Should we have adopted this method no doubt the people would have accepted our question in a better spirit and been profited thereby.

Hi dohzman...

That's a very interesting word! While not all of us work as full time as such, we are all called to be "street preachers." It is important that we know what our message is -- and to also know the way that God compells us to speak.

Personally, I believe that the "harshest" examples of preaching were reserved for certain hypocrites in the time of Christ and the early Church. Our Lord was incredibly blunt to the Pharisees and Sadducees, yet we know little of what his precise message was to the prostitutes and tax-collectors. Yet we know that the Pharisees were upset that Christ was not particularly "harsh" on them (and even mocked Him for eating and drinking with them).

There is a definite need for sinners to know that they are lost (like Ray Comfort relates in [i]Hell's Best Kept Secret[/i], etc...). Unfortunately today, many "sinners" don't realize that they are "sinners." So the question remains, how do we relate this to them without condemning them?

In Finney's day, America was a completely different place. Many Americans were quite aware of their spiritual conditions. But today, many people do not even believe in God (and more particularly, the God of the Word). The broadcast "gospel" (from radio and television) has seemed to cheapen the message of Christ. The "popular gospel" messages being preached from many pulpits seems to also cheapen the need for a real relationship with Christ.

Have you ever been to a meeting where the minister will [i]do [u]anything[/u][/i] to pressure people into publicly choosing Christ? Have you ever seen a minister "beg" or "bribe" people into the Kingdom of God? It seems that many Churches will resort to any number of gimmicks in order to simply get people into the doors of their Church buildings (and into the "fold").

I suppose that we really need to know what it is that God wants us to preach. And of course, we need to see everyone with the same love and compassion of Christ -- enough to die for them. We need to see this world as "sheep having no shepherd" and even befriend the friendless (regardless of how unpopular we could become). And of course, we should be completely selfless in our message. We shouldn't bring a "gospel shoebox" message (which we can open and close at will), but a message that accompanies us at all times.

Here is a [url=http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/howtobeawitness.html]message from Charles Finney[/url] (and edited by Keith and Melody Green) about reaching the lost. This is an old "wise tract" from Last Days Ministries. I've always gotten a laugh at the cover art from this particular tract -- where you can see people running to avoid the "preacher."

I am interested in knowing the thoughts of others on this issue!

:-)

The one thing I have noticed about the many street preachers I have come across these days is that street preaching seems to be reduced to a mere skill that anybody can learn with enough trial and error. Street evangelism is often treated like a portable mega-church, where the preacher setups shop wherever he wishes, and brings along enough props, gimmicks, and clever sayings in order to draw a crowd. Over time, pragmatism becomes lord of the work. Art form takes precedence over anointing. It's [b]amazing[/b] how little you hear about anointing mentioned by many modern day street preachers. There is almost an entire lack of inspiration in much "preaching."

Such is the case of individuals like perhaps the most famous "campus preacher" of all time, the [b]false evangelist[/b] (and I don't use those words lightly), Jed Smock- and the many who have fallen in his footsteps.

Many of these guys are quite the site to see. They generally dress up in the most out-of-date formal suits one has ever seen. I'll give some the benefit of the doubt, that perhaps simply such is all they could afford at local thrift stores.

Then they approach whatever campus or street corner they can find. Some come bearing props and games. Others simply come bearing a loud mouth. Sometimes the loud-mouth's will also come bearing props, but since some props are quite cumbersome to carry, a loud-mouth will do just fine.

Many campus preachers have a "draw-a-crowd-at-all-costs" mentality. Like modern church growth specialists, many street preachers think the only succesful meeting is one where a lot of people attend. Since normal type preaching often goes unnoticed by most passer-by's, and one's voice can only last so long before it needs a rest, many street preachers are reduced to being crude versions of Balaam's donkey. Preaching then becomes more about defaming people, all in the name of "telling-it-like-it-is."

When all these things are combined, one gets a Jerry Springer like atmosphere going. Instead of actually ministering to others, people are treated like objects for the purpose of drawing a crowd. One prays to God that hecklers pop up so that one's crowd size doubles in a matter of seconds. The heckler then unknowingly becomes a mere pawn in one's street preaching game. Brother's, this is not the attitude of Christ!

I really feel sorry for many hecklers. Not simply because they are often angry individuals lost in their sin. But because the street preachers that came out to save them and tell them about the kingdom of God are actually [b]preventing[/b] them from entering the kingdom of God, because they are used merely to draw a crowd.

If it were not bad enough, many of these street preachers are often fail to even getting around to actually preaching the gospel. I remember once hearing the local pit preacher here in North Carolina, Gary Birdsong. I had showed up to preach at UNC Charlotte one day, but found UNCC was already on his itinerary. For nearly 45 minutes I listened to him "preach." He did a lot of denouncing of sin, was full of clever expressions, colorful analogies, etc. He drew quite the crowd, and many people, even Christian people, were angry at him.

Yet for the 45 minutes I listened to him, he never once taught even the basic gospel message. And even if he had, it would have been drowned out by everything else he had to say. One would undoubtedly characterize his preaching as a hell-fire message. Sadly brethren, I fear many of us street preachers are merely such. When many unbelievers come away from out street meetings, they are no closer to the kingdom of God than they were before they heard us. And why? Because no message of the kingdom was actually preached. There was no word of God that was actually planted in their hearts that could ever spring forth and bear fruit.

Paul said that faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God. Much street preaching simply focuses on sin. And if one's not careful, one's message will entirely be on sin. Yet, if all you do is preach on sin and hell, you've yet to give your hearer anything that they can take hold of and be saved. [b]If all you do is preach on sin and hell, you are not preaching the word of God![/b]

When we preach, our hearers ought not be able to walk away and think we are simply a hell-fire preacher. When they walk away from our meetings, if they did not give their hearts to the Lord, they should feel some sort of guilt about their sin. However, the chief thing they should understand about our message is how God came down to the earth in the person of Jesus Christ, performed many mighty miracles, and taught the way of righteousness, then after being crucified was brought back to life after three days, and ascended to the right hand of God. If you study the messages preached in Acts closely, you will find out this was the center of the gospel content, and this was also centrally what was understood by those who heard the first street preachers. Oh yes, they preached against sin. But preaching against sin was not the center of their message.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: [b]hell-fire preaching never saved one soul.[/b]

Such is the case of individuals like perhaps the most famous "campus preacher" of all time, the false evangelist (and I don't use those words lightly), Jed Smock- and the many who have fallen in his footsteps.

I don't know a whole lot about this guy, but can you explain why you call him a false evangelist?

I have never seen him in person so I don't really know what he is like from begining to end. Can you fill me in?

Hi Dohzman and everyone else.

Dohzman, you brought up something that I would like to share some thoughts and experiences on

it is always better to be lead of the Holy Spirit than to blindly apply the methods that God has shown another man.

When I first began sharing the Gospel I started out with a Bible in my hand and prayer(and I believe anointing also). I would walk the streets and always be praying, asking God to give me something from His word to share with someone and to lead me constantly. I never used tracts to approach people and would only rely upon God. Looking back I think there were times when I followed well and there were times when I blundered badly, for various reasons not the least of which was pride.

Some time after this I came across Ray Comfort's ministry and Hell's Best Kept Secret. I was amazed and found the teaching brought together alot things that I knew to be correct but nerver understood or grasped as a whole. For instance, there were times before when I went through the Ten Commandments with people, though I would start with Adam and the fall, before, or along the way, in explaining the Gospel; I never had however a firm understanding why I should do that and the times I did this were rare. Besides this I knew and even felt convicted that there were things missing from what I told people, specificially about sin(not in general terms). Something felt very wrong about giving the Gospel to people who had heard it(probably many times) and did not appear to esteem it one bit(which I found to be many many people).

Eventually I have found that the prinicples of the Way of the Master can be applied in a very mechanical fashion and have found myself at times increasingly relying upon that, rather than the anointing and the leading of God. So what I see is a need for balance of Biblical principles and leaning upon God. For instance, I do believe that the Lord never gave the Gospel to those whom God was resisting(not in personal conversation at least); I believe He did give them the Law instead. I perhaps see this also in Paul turning away from those who mocked at hearing of the resurrection. For this reason I have no regrets about not mentioning the Gospel to people who seem to be hardend to it and leaving them with the Law.

On the other hand I see the danger in [b]blindly[/b] repeating a method apart from God's leading, even if it is biblically sound.

I'd like to share an experience that I posted in another thread as I think it is helpfull in illustrating the value of following or seeking to follow after God's leading...

"The bus stop was empty when I got there and as I stood around I noticed that two of the planks from the bench which made part of the seat were broken? off and laying on the ground. Now I don't know exactly how long I was there but I remember getting the impression that I should take the planks and make them into the form of a cross! I can remember sort of debating this and thinking it was silly perhaps but nevertheless I felt I should do it.

So I did.

After some time a young man comes to the bus stop and sits down on the bench. Sometimes you can look a person over for things that might help you start a conversation(a slogan on a T-shirt for instance). In this case he had a book and the title of it was... get this.. 'The Fall'.

So, I struck up a conversation with him about the book and soon learned that the subject was something that must have had some parallel with the actuall Fall of man, although I think the book itself was fiction. I explained to him that the book he was reading actually had an interesting correspondence with reality and the issues of life and death and so on. After I told him about the actuall fall of man and sin he asked something along the lines of 'so what is the solution to it?'

Now you have to picture this becuase I don't think it could have been actually scripted any better if it were an actuall movie. While we were talking he had gotten up and without knowing it had actually positioned himself DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE MAKESHIFT CROSS.

So get this, when he asked in affect 'what is the solution to the issue of man's sin and death' my reply to him was to point right behind him! It was the CROSS!

You should have seen the startled look on his face. He turned around and looked back then said 'who put that there!'"

**end of cut and paste**

I would also highly recommend the message Absolute Surrender, given by Keith Daniel and available on this site. The stories are powerfull and inspiring. I highly recommend it.

Chris

what do you all think about when the street preacher and his group goes around with video cameras and cameras?

what do you all think about when the street preacher and his group goes around with video cameras and cameras?

I don't see anything wrong with this, especially if things are being recorded for the purpose of providing training others in how to share their faith e.g. Ray Comfort. I've personally thought about doing it for the sake of putting it up on a local cable access channel, as a means of edifying the saints and perhaps as a means of still reaching out to the lost.

There also might be good legal reasons to do it, in case you have some sort of confrontation with police.

However, if you are doing such to simply make some sort of glorified video about yourself e.g. Jed Smock, then you shouldn't.

I don't know a whole lot about this guy, but can you explain why you call him a false evangelist?

Greg posted a link to his web site. It's been a while since I viewed it, so I can't say a lot about what is on it anymore. I think such will speak for itself. If you wish to find out more, there are plenty of web sites done by other college students who have encountered him over the years that give the general picture of this guy, even if obviously unfair in some of their comments.

I was just wondering because I watched a DVD of him (the one that is two hours) and I can't remember any reason I would call him a false evangelist. The only statement he said that I remember disagreeing with is that he said that God didn't know the future, because if he did that meant it was determined. Now this DVD may have edited out alot of the things people disagree with, I don't know.

I was just wondering if you called him false because of his doctrinal beliefs or his presentation.

EDIT: The reason I said I don't know alot about him is because all I know is what I've seen on the DVD. I figured there was something I didn't know for someone to call him false.

So far as I know, Smock is orthodox in all the essential major christian beliefs. Though I have seen some web sites out there (secular ones at that!) that said he preaches a Pelagian view of sin and such. Aside from that though...

His preaching is simply extremely hatefull. It has not one ounce of love in it. He merely bashes people.

No such person is sent by God, therefore, they are false because they have gone out without being sent out.

All I can say is just dig a little deeper in his web site and google searches and the like. One can defend him if they wish, but I see no need to make further comment.

So far as I know, Smock is orthodox in all the essential major christian beliefs.

I thought it worth posting this quote from Jed Smock concerning Pelagianism....from his [url=http://www.brojed.org/comments.html]website in an email[/url] he had written to a young lay preacher.

I consider it an honor to be consided a modern day Pelagius...I am in agreement with the basic theology of this holy man and his emphasis on free-will. He is more of an ascetic than myself and I have a higher view of the state of marriage than Pelagius, but for the last few years I have been calling myself a Pelagian.

Jed Smock

MC

Well, then the man is a heretic. While Arminian's (such as myself) believe in free-will, Pelagius believed one didn't need the grace of God to be saved, denied such things as original sin and the like. Kinda strange though, because the impression I get from Smock is that he believes one needs the grace of God to be saved and believes in original sin.

However, I also know that Smock likes to try to say things simply to fire people up and create a Jerry Springer type atmosphere in his open-air meetings. Such would probably do such if there were any Christians in the circus that day who had some a basic thoeological or philosophical background, and knew of St. Augustine and the struggles he had with Pelagius.

Why don't you just you ask Brother Jed to clarify his views? Here is his email address: [email]BroJed@aol.com[/email].

I met him back in 1980, when I was a religionist and not really a follower of Christ. My understanding from viewing his website and talking with him via email is that he is Wesleyan.

I would be very hesitant to call another man or woman a heretic based on limited information on a website. This man has been preaching the gospel for nearly 30 years. Frankly, I don't agree with many of his methods but my concern is that he follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, not what I think he should do.

He is and always has been as far as I can tell a very approachable man.

Hello Everyone,

Spirit-filled preaching, overflowing with the unconditional sacrificial love of Christ is of the utmost importance. Early in my walk I had such a passion for reaching the lost I didn't want to set foot out my door without being first saturated in the love of my Lord... to be able to love others the way He loves them.

Unfortunately, I soon got involved with a congregation in inner city Baltimore which equated preaching the truth with love. While I never fully bought into their belief, I found myself slowly beginning to adopt that attitude and it became easy for me to reprove sin and speak the truth, without compassion and love.

Now if speaking the truth to someone equals loving them, why did the Spirit say to speak the truth IN LOVE (Eph 4:15)? And why did the Lord have such a problem with those in Ephesus (who labored for the sake of Christ without growing weary, hated evil, had patience, and were able to expose false apostles), that He was about to cut them off from His Body (Rev 2:1-5)? Because they lacked Love! Those who lack true love, lack God, for God is love.

While I firmly believe that the majority of the modern American/Laodicean Church-goers in America who think they deserve the best in life because they're "not that bad," need to be jarred awake with some of the more terrifying verses of Scripture, such as Rev 3:14-19, I also recognize that with that jarring must come the message of the power of grace to overcome their damnable, lukewarm condition. Notice, even to Laodicea, Jesus did not condemn, but after His rebuke He offered life... He offered a most gentle (considering who He was speaking to) solution to their problem... Revelation, Ch.3 vs. 18 & 19.

There is no cookie cutter recipe to preaching, but the main ingredient to every evangelism recipe must be the love of the Father through the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. As the wind blows and we don't know from where it comes or where it is going, so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Now in regards to this wind, I saw a most amazing true-life documentary about a police office who pulled over a man who had warrants for his arrest and as the officer was waitng for backup (he was a motorcycle cop) and filling out the ticket/paperwork, the Lord "spoke to Him" and said something like, "you are not going to ticket this man... you are going to tell him about Me!" The next things that transpired are nothing short of tear jerking inspiring... and most amazing, the cop preached to him what us holiness, hell-fire preachers would consider to be a watered down, namby pamby Gospel! It is amazing what God can do through just ONE man who is humble enough and loves His Heavenly Father enough to lay aside all preconceived ideas and religious training and job security, etc., etc., and simply obey the leading of the Holy Spirit!

It was after watching this video however that I had a whole new understanding of Jude 1:21-23 which reads, "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. On SOME HAVE COMPASSION, making a distinction, and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. (WEB)"

I always thought it was only the likes of poor little old widows and such that we were to gently preach an easy gospel to, but now I see ever more clearly, God's ways are not my ways and His thoughts are way above my thoughts. Truly, murderes, adulterers, and thieves will enter in before those that think they are good enough!

The name of the movie is 70 x 7 - Extreme Forgiveness... I got permission from the publisher to make 25 DVD copies to freely give away. I recommend this movie to everyone, especially us called to evangelism! For more info visit [url=http://www.esundayschool.com/videos/videos.htm#70x7]www.esundayschool.com[/url] where you can also watch a 7 minute clip of the documentary.

Much love in Christ,

Adam

Thanks Greg,

I think I understand what you're saying.

It seems to me that there is a preaching out of hatred and not that much of the character of the Holy Spirit displayed.

That being said, Jesus always confronted sin but was much harsher to the religionists of the day because their hearts were much harder than the publicans and the harlots. This is simply because the outwardly religiously have calloused hearts that are very difficult to penetrate.

I oftentimes talk and pray with homeless men and find their hearts are much more receptive to the gospel than those who are in the church but aren't really following Jesus. It's the Holy Spirit that brings conviction of sin, so it's important to walk in the Spirit.

Wesley's sermons were convicting but never mean spirited yet he was often physically threatened. May we never be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal as Paul said in 1 Corinthians. How will the lost ever be drawn to Christ if we're not broken over them? I understand what you're saying and agree, although I'm unwilling to cast judgment on Brother Jed particularly having just read this from Oswald Chambers [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=11137&forum=45]Unchanging Law of Judgment[/url].

Hi everyone.

Habakkuk,

I oftentimes talk and pray with homeless men and find their hearts are much more receptive to the gospel than those who are in the church but aren't really following Jesus.

I do not doubt the truth of your experience brother and have shared it, however one of the reasons I found so much encouragement when I found Ray Comfort's ministry and Hell's Best Kept Secret was alot of the opposite experience. In the neighborhood that I first stepped out in sharing the Gospel, I found sooo many people who were heroin addicts, homeless, and prostitutes that either claimed to be born again or had a great deal of knowledge about the Bible and the Gospel that I was very discouraged(not only them, it seemed to be everyone really). It was very discouraging. These people had been saturated with the 'things of the Bible and Bible knowledge(these included people who claimed to have been filled with the Spirit and spake with tounges)' but look at the fruit I thought!! So when I came across Hell's Best Kept Secret and true and False Conversion it made alot of sense for me and explained much of what I had seen first hand.

On a positive side, since using the principle of law before grace in sharing the Gospel, I have now lost track of the times people have told me or expressed in similar terms how 'they never understood it that way before.' I've also lost track of how many times people have thanked me for sharing the Gospel with them in that way.

I was thinking about this thread here and there since yesturday and the theme of 'the teaching priest' has come to mind...

Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

and here also...

And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord....

Brother Adam, welcome to SI! The area I was talking about was in Brooklyn, Baltimore, patapsco ave, are you familiar with it? Good to see someone from Baltimore on the forum.

I covet your prayers brothers.

Almost forgot, but after I read this yesturday I listened to the first two chapters of Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds, available here at SI, and I was amazed at how much it spoke to our current discussion! I would definitely recommend those first two chapters.

Love in Christ to you all.