The day came when we were to leave and as we always do, the Samaritan Revival street team loaded up the bus with all the equipment and we headed off to Coyolito. When we arrived, their was a since of peace as young kids was swimming in the ocean and colorful boats were parked next to a cement ramp which they use a water taxis to take people over to the Island. You could smell fish in the air as small wood houses were cooking for tourist.
When were told that we were going to have the concert in the middle of the town so we started setting everything up. A man that we did not know came up to us and said that were not going to be allowed to preach or sing in this town because the people did not accept our religion. The local pastor that was with us, told the man that we were not there to preach religion, we were there to preach about Jesus and how He died on the cross for us. We had no idea that the man we were talking too was some kind of leader of some type of religion. He was not catholic or protestant and the truth is, we did not really know what kind of religion he represented.
As the some came down over the ocean, I watched one of the most beautiful sunsets that I had ever seen. I was just amazed at God's creation. There was still a young boy swimming in the ocean and we he saw me, he started doing flips and I could tell that he was trying to impress me. By this time, our guys was warming up and we were going to go eat supper and then the concert would start.
When night fall came, this nice little town beside the ocean totally changed. There was almost no lighting and people started closing their windows and doors. The shops and restaurants that were opened closed and people were no where to be found. As one restaurant closed, I asked the lady in charge why she was closing so early. She said that at night, their was a bad spirit in this town. I thought it was a little strange but I just laughed it off and went to the town square to get ready for our meeting.
We had set out about 100 chairs but their was only about 20 that was filled. We decided to start the evangelistic meeting anyway because we had huge large speakers and we knew that all the houses around the square would be filled with our sound. The Samaritan Revival group started singing and the music was so uplifting. I knew that the whole town was listening and little by little some people started coming around. The problem was that the people that came around was not your average normal looking person. Prostitutes, Drunks, and young men that looked like gang members started surrounding us. I was working the mixing board and my wife was sitting next to me and you could feel fear in the air.
One man came out of no where and started dancing right in front of the Samaritan Group. He was making vulgar moves and jesters and the people behind us was laughing. We did not know if we should remove him or what because we did not know who he was or if he was dangerous. We found out later that he had stabbed several people and one just for looking at him the wrong way. After about 15 minutes of trying to make a joke out of our meeting, one of our Samaritan Revival Street members went to the front and actually picked him up and took him behind the stage. I could not believe my eyes. This Christian young man was showing incredible braveness.
I turned around and looked behind me and now their was around 200 people that had come out of their homes. Their was almost no lighting except for the lights we had shinning on the group. One man came out with a large pepsi bottle filled with some kind of home made moon shine. He started giving out cups of this potent drink to anyone who wanted it. The only that came to my mind was, "If these people get drunk, we are in big trouble".
After the Samaritan Revival Group finished singing, Benigno Rodriguez, which is the National Pastors that we were with, stood before the microphone and he started preaching on the wrath of God. He preached a powerful message on how God will punish the ungodly unless they repent of their sins. I do not know how to explain this but you could almost hear demos crying out around us. I know that I am saved and I know that God will always protect me but I cannot lie, I was afraid. It was dark, their was drunks all around, and their were people who hated the Gospel all around us. Half way through his message, a swarm of bugs flew into the preachers mouth and he got so choked that we had to rush him water. I thought for a minute that he was not going to be able to continue but HE DID. And boy did he preach.
No one received Christ when the invitation was given but the Gospel was preached. These people cannot say that they never heard the plan of salvation. We did our duty as Christians and the Bible says that our job is to plant a seed and that night we did that. Once the meeting was over, we had a two drive back to our home in San Marcos de Colon and the first 45 minutes was a nervous time for us. Dark winding, narrow roads with water on both sides was all we could see but God protected us.
When we arrived back at our house, I called my mom, Joan Tyson, to tell her about our experience. She reminded me of a time that my dad preached in a village called El Naranjal in Honduras. She said that the people hated the Gospel and they had gone so far as to physically beat up the local Pastor. If knew my dad, you know that he never ran away from a challenge. He went to El Naranjal and preached a strong Gospel message to the people their and to make a long story short, we now have a wonderful church and feeding center in this town and the majority of the people have been saved.
I do not know if this will be the case of Coyolito but what I do know is that these people now know that if they do not receive Christ as their savior, they will go to hell. They now know that Jesus died on the cross for them and that he loves them and he will forgive them of their sins.
To end, let me say this, our job is not to save anyone. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts people of their sins but our job is to preach no matter what circumstances we are in. Keep our ministry in your prayers and please pray that the power of God will be manifested in everyone that works in our ministry.
May God Bless You,
Philip Tyson
www.samaritanrevival.com
www.goodsamaritan.ms
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