Doug Grow considers evangelism seedy

Seedy = "somewhat disreputable"

Doug Grow: Don't be a stranger who approaches kids in parks

Here's the shocking summary of this story:

1. Adults from a Minneapolis church, working in a group of four ...
   
2. Go to a public park in one of the most crime / gang ridden areas of Minneapolis ...
   
3. And engage in conversation with several children about the gospel ...
   
4. And a parent of one of the children from, get this, Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, is upset about this.
   
5. And Doug Grow, Star Tribune columnist, thinks there is something nefarious going on here!
   

There's the shocking story! And Mr Grow, exactly what were these people doing illegal or unethical?

1. There is a first amendment right to free speech in this land!
   
2. The church members were following the mandate of their Savior to tell others about Christ! (Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen")
   
3. The church members were careful to be in a group (not one on one with a child)
   

Minneapolis City Council President Jackie Cherryhomes, the parent of one of the children, was deeply offended. Why?

1. Oh my, the folk were from a church on the other side of town! Shocking!
   
2. Ms Cherryhomes' church is the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Where's the "fellowship", the "missionary", the "Baptist", or the "church" attitude Ms Cherryhomes?
   

Mr Grow's commentary in the Star Tribune, made it out that these four from the Straitgate Church were somehow doing something unseemly! Perhaps instead they should be commended for caring enough for others to take the life saving, life-transforming Gospel to a neighborhood that certainly needs some of that!

A visit to the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church website provides this information about the mission of that church: "Our Mission is to bring persons into a saving redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ. We are a Spiritual body whose only foundation is the Word of God. We fulfill our ministry as we preach and teach, pray and empower, forgive and reconcile". Ms Cherryhomes's church believes in preaching the very same redemptive work of Christ as the Straitgate evangelists!

The racism angle is interesting as well. Some "geeky white guys and a lady" were in a predominately black part of town! My town, Plymouth, is 93% white. If I were to complain about three corn-rowed black kids selling magazines in my neighborhood, that would be considered (as it should be!) a racist comment. As a matter of fact, black people can actually visit and enjoy parks in Plymouth! And they can actually knock on my door and converse with me!

Excerpt:

She pointed out that it is not just out of line for adults to be trying to stuff their religious beliefs into the minds of children they don't know, it's presumptuous for a bunch of white folks to do their "mission" work in predominantly black neighborhoods.

For the record, Plymouth needs the Gospel too! And anyone from Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church is welcome in Plymouth parks or my neighborhood to herald that Gospel!

My email to Doug Grow:

Wow shocking story ... white people visit a park in a predominately black neighborhood .. black Council president offended that people care enough to tell children about Christ.

Change the color and see how stupid your article is ...

White mayor offended that black church-goers visit his town to tell white kids about Christ!

I'll publish his response!