Westmorland County Show - September 2023

First of all we thank the Lord for His gracious provision of two good days of sunny weather, a slight cloud cover and only a light breeze.

Secondly, a big thank you to David Johnstone for bringing the van down on the Tuesday and setting up on our allocated stand.

Barry’s Notes:  

David spoke for a long time to S and her 11 / 12 year old son D.  She was from a Catholic background, born a catholic, raised a catholic, but……. However, they had more recently been attending a church where she was told frequently that she needed to be "born again", but she still did not know what this meant.  David explained the way of salvation and after about 45 minutes both Susie and her son accepted the Lord Jesus as their Master, Saviour and Friend! Yes, tears of penitence followed by tears of joy in knowing sins forgiven, and Peace with God. What rejoicing in Heaven! 

I spoke with ‘M’, a Cumbria Agricultural Chaplain.  very friendly.. She was glad we were witnessing.  Spoke to Christians W and her brother ‘C’.  

‘W’ is an ex RE Teacher but quit because of opposition to Christian teaching and hostility from other staff.  I prayed for C's recovering broken arm. Many children used the Guessing Box (GB) and took Josh and Jade leaflets.

David challenged a young boy to read a Gospel of Mark this evening, the boy said he would.  Some 10 year olds?) were on a school outing and David helped them do the Guessing Box (GB.)  The teacher took a "Christ’s Invitation" leaflet, a tract written by the late J C Ryle.

Barry spoke to ‘M’, a Cumbria Agricultural Chaplain.  very friendly.. She was glad we were witnessing.  Spoke to Christians ‘W’ and her brother ‘C’.  

‘W’ is an ex RE Teacher but quit because of opposition to Christian teaching and hostility from other staff.  I prayed for C's recovering broken arm.

Many children used the Guessing Box (GB) and took Josh and Jade leaflets.

David challenged a young boy to read a Gospel of Mark this evening.  The boy said he would.  Some (10 year olds?) were on a school outing and David helped them do the GB.  The teacher took a "Christ’s Invitation" leaflet, a tract written by the late J C Ryle.

Barry offered a Man’s Best Friend( MBF) leaflet to a couple with a dog.  They said they occasionally went to church and that the man's mother had a Bible. He received a NT and Psalms and I told him reading it could change his life.

‘J’ and ‘V’ said they occasionally went to church.  I related the modern parable about a coal fire keeping one coal alive when they all burn closely together - and similarly we all need the encouragement and prayers of other believers  when we meet up.  I then asked ‘J’ if he had ever come before God and admitted he was a sinner, ask for forgiveness and receive the gift of eternal life? ‘J’ said "No".  I said he should not delay.  He was really pleased to receive a New Testament& Psalms.

A man approached to view the literature and said he was a Catholic. I asked him if he had been "born again" He became rather defensive and I told him the story of Nicodemus and Jesus telling him that He needed to be born again [despite his religiosity).  Sadly this prompted him to shut down the conversation and he left.

I spoke to a Catholic man and wife and I again related the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus. I stressed the Christianity is essentially not a religion of rules, regulations and rituals - but a relationship with the Lord Jesus. I spoke at some length about God justifying sinners like us and that we are only put right with God through faith alone in Jesus.  They listened quietly but made little comment . Gave them leaflets to take.

Spoke to ‘R’ who said he always wanted to read the Bible.  He said he possessed a Family Bible dating from the 1700's, but found the language difficult to understand.  He looked really pleased to receive a modern translation of the Bible.  I advised him to start with the NT as we need to view the rest of the Bible through the perspective of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  I explained the good news from the perspective of penal substitution. Explained that no one is good enough for Heaven and that God justifies us by our faith in Jesus.

We must have handed out hundreds of leaflets on a fine and mostly sunny day'

Thursday 14th August, it was another fine day weather-wise.

David had a lengthy conversation with a group of teenagers who had used the Guessing Box.  The conversation centred on the wonder of God's creation, and how, when, for example, we look at the complexity of our human bodies, the evidence for an Intelligent Designer is overwhelming.  One of the girls replied that she believed in the Big Bang as an explanation of everything.  She and her friends, did, however take leaflets concerning Creation -Design or Accident?

An elderly man, when offered a leaflet, became very abusive, shouting and swearing at us.  We pray God will bless him by removing his veil... (The Bible tells us we are blessed indeed when we are reviled for the Name of Jesus!)

Many children (accompanied by Teachers or parents) were attracted to the Guessing Box - and Biblical connections from the Box's objects were explained, quite a few about the significance of the cross of Jesus.

Barry spoke to a lady Christian he knew who had formerly been a teacher of Yoga, but was now adamant that churches should not entertain yoga classes on their premises, because of their accompanying occult philosophies.

Barry spoke to quite a few people who said they had been "born again".  John spoke to man and woman couple who claimed to be Christian, but John said there was the danger of "Church-ianity"  infecting the body of Christ, and how the great impediment to the growth of the body is obsession with "church" building preservation and upkeep.  

David had a couple of friendly discussions with the man and woman on the stall next to our van.  The lady seemed very open to the Gospel and she took leaflets.

Over all a good two days of outreach - with hundreds of leaflets given to people and many conversations and "seeds" planted.  Please pray that people will continue to reflect and turn to the Saviour of the world.

John’s Notes:

The Westmorland show always attracts people interested in horses, one lady called to share about the good day she was having at the show, she also showed a real interest in the gospel asking many questions about the way of salvation, David gave her a Bible, other literature she took included Eternity Stakes with a picture of horses jumping on the front cover. Pray her day at the show will be remembered for her finding the Lord.

A lovely Christian family from Canada spent time chatting and encouraging us, a middle aged gentleman called by asking many questions, what a privilege to explain that being a Christian was a relationship not religion, a revelation to him.

Always encouraging to meet farming friends from around the County and see them leaving with the word of God, the leaflet Faith in Farming or The Agricultural Show.

A family had moved from Manchester to Bentham for a better life for their children, we suggested one of the best things they could do for their family was to introduce them to Jesus. Family Matters was a very appropriate leaflet for them to accept, along with the Secret of Life’s Meaning.

Lily’s Notes:

Three youngsters from Kendal’s Catering course stopped at the GB and E drew out the snake.  This was the beginning of quite a lengthy conversation; all had questions. They were all very happy to discuss the Gospel truths and went away with either the NT or The Gospel according to John.  They also took a Postcard from the Appleby Horse-fair, lovely horses on one side with clear Scriptural Guidance in the Way of Salvation on the reverse (APC). Pray they may have further discussions together and that the Lord will draw each to Himself.

Two younger boys approached the GB (aged about 11/12) – often the initial guessing is a bit of fun but as Bible stories are introduced and questions asked, conversations become more serious.  With these two the emphasis was on the fact that we are all sinners and consequently have a problem – one of the boys asked “what can I do?” and so the Gospel was shared.  This boy ‘G’ was particularly concerned about the problem of sin and took the APC, for guidance to be used with his own Bible; both noted they had their own Bibles. May the Holy Spirit continue to work in their hearts.

Often groups of school children approached the GB with their teacher. This gave opportunity for one member of the CGO team to help the children whilst another had conversation with the Teacher.  

Again lots of fun and chatter with the children but a more serious conversation was had with the Teacher ‘D’ which led to testimony being shared and a challenge extended.  This lady was keen to accept The Gospel according to John and said she would have a further look at Chapter 3 regarding “you MUST be born again”.  She also took the tract Reasons to Believe.

A period of giving tracts led to a conversation with two men.  One said he was Jewish.  This led to thanks being expressed for the Jewish people, “his people” who had preserved the Scriptures and made them available for Gentiles. Sadly, but politely, he said he was an atheist and evolutionist!  I asked him if he would take the booklet “Messianic Prophecies” but he declined.

His friend said “we need to know about them” but said they would google them.  Pray the Lord will move them to do this and that His Spirit will work in their hearts.

David’s Notes: 

As reported such as the Keswick Show, one of our neighbouring stalls was the same as last year, and conversation began early with them. A couple, S & K, very friendly, but S did not want to discuss religion, he had had enough having been raised ‘in church, grandparents playing the organ, etc. etc. and friends and family members having ‘passed away too young’ had caused him to become disillusioned.

K however (John found out on Thursday, had a Seventh Day Adventist background) did believe in God, but did not understand……… We acknowledged they were here to trade, and we would talk only when they were not preoccupied. The conversations were then, at the close of play, and likewise on Thursday! It was busy.

The GB was visited by several school parties – most of whom were visible by their colourful and well turned out students under the watchful eye of their teachers. We relied on the teachers to keep order to ensure, as far as possible, each child had opportunity for at least one ‘Guess.” It also gave opportunity to discuss RE and Assemblies in especially the Primary Schools, Most did, but where there was lack, yes, they would welcome input from those we could recommend. Do pray there will be fruit from these contacts. Mike H e.g. ,from Milnthorpe, turned up to encourage us (working with Farmers Christian Link on another stall at the Show) and he affirmed he would gladly help to meet such need. How the Lord assures us of His Provision.

Several of the teenagers who ‘tried their hand’ heard of the objects in the GB for the first time – what a joy to see them take a Gospel for their own reading. Pray the Lord will reveal Himself. One young teenager, M, assured us he would read the first three Chapters that very night! “You’ve made a promise.” “Yes”. I believe he will and pray the Lord will reveal Himself as The Promise.

A self-confessed ‘Christian’ couple came right up to the Van whilst Barry was engaged with several youngsters. They were seeking to encourage, and the lady informed us she was a Sunday School teacher, and how good it was to see young people having fun. I remarked that she must be blessed being in a position to tell young people why Jesus died. She stammered, “You’ve put me on the spot!” Sadly, we were witnessing more of “the blind leading the blind”. Another area for prayer.

However, the story does not end here! As they listened to the Gospel of why the Lord had to come in order to provide forgiveness and reconciliation, the ‘penny seemed to drop’ as the simple diagram of man’s being was presented – Body, Soul and Spirit, with carnal body ‘in charge; and the spirit ‘dead in trespass and sins’, and how, via the Cross, the Spirit gives Life and the man’s spirit is now made alive, ‘alive to God’, and now ‘above Soul and Body’ and that spirit is now in ‘communion with God’ and is eternal – the Believer never dies although the body is still in decay, her final words were of thanks – this concept simply had never been explained.

Another party of Schoolchildren – all the way from Hawkshead – receive mention because whilst the young ones were delighted with Josh and Jade Activity Tracts, the two teachers, we believe were hearing the Gospel for the first time!

These are but a few of the recollections / notes made – the Wednesday was busy from start to finish. A Vice President, J, a VP that is of the show was drawn into conversation. He would have us take a look at “Eucharistic miracles” – we sought to stick with the truth, and although he knew what we were saying, he simply would not, or could not move from his position, but not unsurprisingly, became quite agitated with our assertion that he was actually preaching the doctrine of transubstantiation. Thoughts come into mind in such conversations – our forebears in the faith have gone to the stake for denying such papal error! However, he returned late on Thursday to inform us he had been considering our claims, and expressed his feelings that “we were not very far apart”. How subtle the enemy is. Our final words were simply that Christ was Crucified, Once and for All. Beyond this stance we would not negotiate! Friends, there is nothing new under the sun, old heresies, new disguises – let us pray He will keep us and enable us to hold fast.

Earlier on the Thursday, three teenage girls ‘bounced up’ to the Van Table with the GB in the forefront. Normally we give only initials, but on this occasion one,  L-M was quietly listening as Lily and I were engaged in conversation / debate with the other two. One of these, J, gave us her name after I had introduced Lily and myself. The third however, was ‘not being serious’ and on her hoody had the label “Rascal” so I asked if we should address her as such – she agreed! And so we spoke to “Rascal”. Whilst we sensed the preaching of the Word being ‘hindered’ by Rascal’s tactics, J was seriously listening and asking sensible questions, whilst all the time the quiet one L-M, one sensed was being moved by the Blessed Holy Spirit. Moses tells us in Deuteronomy 30:11-30 that the choice of Life or Death is being set before the people.

We reiterated these words to these young ladies, and they all took both tracts and a Gospel each, and gave us assurance they would talk about the conversation, and share Matthew, Mark and John with each other so they could think about the claims of Christ they had heard. They acknowledged they had all sinned – some simple questions drew this out. Would they believe?  They were given the evidence. The alternatives are stark – the options have been clearly laid before them. Pray they will all, including “Rascal” choose Life!

J from Myerscough College – please pray for this young Believer – he has come to study, and in his first two weeks has been asked to take on the administration of the Christian Union. His testimony is that he feels out of his depth. To see his face when told we would pray, and request others to pray, he rejoiced and expressed his gratitude. Pray that he will have the Peace of the Lord as he simply allows Him to work through him. Simple servant, service, listening and obedience. It was good to see him walking away ‘with a spring in his step’!

He wanted to hand out tracts in the College as a first step. He did not ask us to give him any – he simply wanted to know where he could procure (albeit on a student budget!) We believe the Lord will bless him richly.

One final conversation. Young M. His parents had got into conversation with John, and I had noticed “The Genetics of Life” logo on his baseball cap. This led to his being quizzed on what this meant!. Perhaps he got more than he bargained for, but, again, a keen young mind, listened to the tale of X&Y chromosomes, the first thing that happens when the sperm meets the ovum, the Biblical Testimony that “The Life is in the Blood”, Christ’s Blood never decays – sinless, spotless – the necessity for the Cross. Had he a Bible? No. Would he like to read of the Claims of Christ for himself? A simple Yes please. And so he went away with a Good News for Everyone Testament – this year’s cover being emblazoned with a picture of a stalk of wheat, “The Seed of Life”. How appropriate for him, and his baseball cap! We leave him with the Word of God. The Precious Seed!

And finally, thank you for your Prayers for the Work of Cumbria Gospel Outreach. Don’t give up