August 2009,
I was sitting on the library steps evangelizing to a young Hispanic lady when I heard a frenzied demand from behind, “Stop it! This is illegal.” There stood a librarian threatening me through a satanic snarl. I replied, “There is nothing illegal in talking to people about Jesus in public.” She hissed, “There most certainly is.” “Well call the police then,” I replied.
She stormed back into the library. A few moments later, a security guard came out making the same demand to cease and depart. “If I can’t exercise my constitutional right of free speech on a public sidewalk, where can I?” I questioned. “In the middle of the street,” he sarcastically answered. I said, “If you are so sure of my criminality then just go call the police.”
The guard then asked the lady if she had been harmed by me. I informed him that she spoke no English. He stormed back into the library, and I spent the next forty-five minutes sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with her.Â
I later located a police car and leaned in to ask the officer about my rights. He said, “There is no violation of the law, they are simply ignorant of your constitutional right.” I thanked and blessed the officer and went on my way knowing that this was not an act of ignorance but of Satan.
Rod
Street Ministry
