We are currently involved in three open air outreaches in Cardiff. We would be very happy to see you on any of these occasions. Even if you don’t feel able to give out tracts or speak at the front, it is always an encouragement to have people listening and supporting the work.
First Saturday of the month
12.30pm
We join with The Open-Air Mission to preach and distribute tracts. See below for more information on The Open-Air Mission, or click on the link.
At Easter and Christmas times
11.00am
We endeavour to reach local people through preaching, singing and tract distribution.
Roath Park
Occasional Sunday afternoons
3.00-3.30pm
When permission can be obtained, we hold open-air services.
Thousands and thousands of people in our land never set foot in a church building, never attend a service of worship and never hear the Gospel. They go through their lives completely unaware of their need of a Saviour and ignorant of the eternal hell that awaits them. What a solemn and serious responsibility we have for making sure they do hear the Gospel!
That’s one of the reasons why we hold regular open air meetings in the city centre. People need to be told the good news of salvation! But is open air preaching really a worthwhile activity? Why must we take the Gospel outside the walls of a church building? Firstly, because it’s biblical! It was Jesus who told us to go “into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). We aren’t just to wait for people to come to us; we’re commanded to go to them!
Paul asked the question, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). Most people in our land never attend church services – so how are they going to hear the Gospel? Obviously, we are all to be personal witnesses wherever God puts us. But God’s Word identifies preaching as God’s primary means of bringing people to faith: it pleases God “by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). The Bible is full of open air preaching: Jesus preached in the open air; Peter preached in the open air; and so did Paul. The fact that it’s biblical is sufficient reason alone to do it - but it’s also fruitful. It doesn’t always seem that way - sometimes it can be a very disheartening work. But most of the time, people do stop and listen; many profitable conversations do take place; Gospel literature is taken away and read. Many people write in to the Open Air Mission office each year, requesting further help, literature and study material.
Only a few weeks ago, someone wrote that they had read one of the Mission’s tracts and were now trusting Jesus to save them. It has been my joy in past years to see people actually brought to repentance and faith through open air witness. Others show very deep interest. Last week, one teenager listened intently to the preaching for a considerable time and told me at the end, “I think I’m going to hell. I don’t think God will forgive me.” What an opportunity to explain the Gospel to him further! Open air work is a wonderful means of spreading the Gospel - but it’s not just for preachers!
A very valuable part of the witness is having a group of people (i.e. Christians) listening to the preaching. Other people don’t feel so awkward and uncomfortable about stopping to listen, if they are part of a crowd. Perhaps you could come along and support the work in this way?
We have an open air meeting in Queen Street on the first Saturday of every month, starting at 12:30pm. Why not become involved in this important outreach opportunity and join us? “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).
Mark Fisher
For more information, visit The Open-Air Mission’s website.
