The Story of Fenway Church’s Montreal Missions Trip

Unless the Father Draws Him
The Story of Fenway Church’s Montreal Missions Trip
By Jeremy Jackson, 2010

The following events take place between Thursday, May 28th and Monday, May 31st. Events occur in real time . . . . like in 24. Inspiration for this report was also taken from Bill Simmons’ ESPN.com game-time journals, which usually provide thorough analysis and a good laugh. … and from John 6:44 “No one comes to me [Jesus] unless the Father draws him.” 

[Below is an excerpt from the complete report.  Many stories were removed for brevity-sake.  A more complete and equally entertaining report can be viewed on a note on Jackson’s facebook page, or sent by request.]

Saturday – Evangelism Explosion!
9:00AM
Jackson arrives at Malek’s to wait for Brandon.  Harry is left with Impact Church members at an alternative prayer location.
9:25AM
No Brandon.
9:34AM
No Brandon.
9:36AM
Jackson drives Malek to grocery store to buy groceries for BBQ in the afternoon. Neighbor, Eva, in courtyard sounds like she’ll be there.
10:11AM
Jackson and Malek return, budget in tact, no mayonnaise. No Brandon.
10:13AM
No Brandon.
10:18AM
Heads being scratched. No Brandon. Group prays.
10:28AM
Knock … Knock … Knock. A frustrated Brandon comes through. He had been lost, on the other side of the major park across the street from Malek’s house. Stifled by language barrier, and a dog who just refused to help, it took him some time to find the place. But glad that he had arrived safely, we welcome him and continue in prayer.

10:52AM

Girls go out to witness, Brandon and Jackson stay back and pray.  God, start a church in this apartment building!
12:29PM
Jackson and Malek go out to get propane, while Brandon, Kelsey and Becca go out to witness more. They meet a man who likes Hare Krishna and another who volunteers that he wouldn’t believe even if Jesus appeared to him in a dream.

2:00PM
Party “starts”.
2:03PM
Benoit arrives, helps set up propane stove. Burgers, tables, chips, hot dogs, condiments, chairs arrive.
2:29PM
Harry Katz and numerous Impact church members arrive.
3:13PM
Harry and Jackson head out to use My Soularium cards in the park.
4:23PM
Party is rockin. Locals stream through, most for a short time. Some stay longer. Lots of seed is scattered as most members from our team and some from the local church are eagerly talking about the gospel. Jackson meets a local, named Matthieu, who “wants to have Jesus in his heart” but doesn’t understand how Jesus is different from a tree, or a rock, or a lake.  Seems for sure God has done something to begin a spiritual journey for this man.  A good person who wants to get married, Matthieu is even interested in coming to a church service some time.
6:54PM
Party is wrapping up. Jackson is planning with Becca and others what to do for the evening. Different ideas are thrown out. Brandon has been in conversation for some time with Mohammed, a Muslim from Mauritania who offers to take the group to a Mauritanian restaurant he recommends highly. Bixi bikes are found, and Jackson drives to pick up his friend Joni. On the way to the restaurant, he drives by the group on their bikes more than once. “Why is Harry all by himself?” he wonders aloud to Joni. Both groups arrive at the restaurant simultaneously. A comfortable atmosphere. Ali, owner of restaurant sits down with a chalkboard in hand to explain how things work. At the bottom of the chalkboard is written a price: $25. After his explanation we realize that he’s asking $25 per person. Too much. But fortunately the group is savvy enough to know that any Arab likes a good bargain. So we bargain, explain that not all of us are very hungry. And Ali very graciously and generously offers us a meal at half of his original price. Favor!
8:08PM
Jackson enjoys conversation and catching up with Joni.
8:37PM
Meal is great.
9:02PM
Even tea!
9:23PM
Mix up with how to pay is solved somehow … Harry was indispensable in this, and really in innumerable ways throughout the trip.
9:35PM
Jackson asks Mohammed if he’s ever met a Christian in his life. Mohammed reflects thoughtfully … hard to believe he really ever has.  Wondering how the Father could ever draw Him.  He seems interested. We compare notes. He reflects on Jesus and Islam. His thoughts and our conversation carry us outside. 
9:39PM
Group splits into two, Becca and Brandon conversing with Mohammed on corner. Joni and Kelsey. Harry with Becca, Brandon and Mohammed. Jackson feverishly reading scripture from his iphone paces away, trying to prepare for message he’ll give tomorrow about discipleship.
10:13PM
Conversations continue, all parties in same places.
10:14PM
Jackson realizes he’s standing in front of a storefront mosque. Praying to himself in front of it, he senses God may somehow use this.
10:18PM
Mosque prayerers begin to exit. Conversations about Jesus paces away continue.
10:22PM
A dignified, garbed man comes to the door of the storefront mosque. “I like the aroma, the fragrance”, Jackson says in broken French, trying to somehow explain his presence in front of the building. Invited in, seated, and granted tea and a Jewish bagel from down the street, he quickly becomes a student of Suffi Islam. “First time I’ve ever been inside a mosque!”
10:24PM
“Master” teaches that Suffi’s believe we have four enemies in our pursuit of purity: 1. the Satan 2. the world 3. the desires of flesh 4. the ego. I nod in agreement. My Master, Jesus taught these things as well. “Allahu Akbar” he says. Praise be to God. “For the law came through Moses” I say, “but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” He agrees and again gives glory to Allah. The pain in my heart makes me want to stay, but my responsibilities to the team and a missed call from Joni outside lead me to politely thank him for the hospitality and dismiss myself.
10:53PM
Conversations on the corner continue. I join the group and explain my brief absence. We try to reformulate our plan.
10:57PM
A man who appears distressed comes to us and asks for three dollars to go to a housing shelter nearby. Becca wants to give him money but stops before she does, and asks if we can pray for him first. “Yes, you can pray for my soul” he says. Becca - “What’s wrong with your soul?” Man – “I have schizophrenia, and it really bothers me.” Sure that God wants me to pray for his immediate deliverance, I step forward. Harry explains that we’re going to pray in the name of Jesus. He nods. I ask – “Do you believe in Jesus?” … “Do you believe all authority in the whole world belongs to Him?” Man – “Yes, I believe in Him.”  Seems for sure this man is being drawn!  Language barrier makes it difficult to have him repeat my prayer, but I lay hands on his shoulders and pray in Jesus’ name that he be set free from the illness. In my mind I can see something violently assailing this man. I hate this evil. The man is eager to get to his bed before the home closes the doors. Before I let him leave I ask him if he felt anything when we prayed – “Yes, I felt God’s power.” Devastated that this man was not completely set free, deeply saddened that not all are immediately healed, I walk away. Harry walks with me around the corner. Crying, I break down and fall to the ground. My soul longs to see God do the works He promised to do, the works He did through Jesus in the Bible.  How we long to see our heavenly Father!
11:14PM
Harry and I return to the group. We make our way down to St. Viateur bagels – world famous, 24hour bagels. Brandon is already in a conversation. Is the soil good? A guy and a girl – typical liberal stuff about Jesus not being the only way. “They sound like Americans,” I think to myself. Becca joins for a period. Harry too. Not sure where the Spirit is leading us here.  Don’t want to be doing work without Father’s leading.  We enjoy the summer air.
11:45PM
Brandon still in conversation. The two he’s talking to seem hostile, but I did pledge to the group that I trusted them and believed in them, and they HAVE stayed this long to talk … maybe the Father is drawing them? … Rest of group ready to make for home, it seems.
11:53PM
We try to make hints at Brandon that we’re ready to go. Conversation continues. Concerned about how Brandon would ever make it home or anywhere safely without us, I start to pray about what to do.
12:01AM
We make a decision to head home and leave Harry with Brandon.
12:02AM
We get to the car.
12:04AM
Harry is racing up the street towards the parking space we just left. “Let’s pretend like we don’t see him!” Harry looks perplexed as the car passes by him. He raises his hands in resignation.
12:05AM
Harry is in the car. “What are we going to do about Brandon?” "I thought you were going to stay with him?!" Car pulls past bagel place. Brandon has reluctantly bid adieu to his potential pen pals and hops in car.
12:07AM
Collected and civilized discussion over Spirit’s leading and commitment to group.
12:11AM
Jackson flips out and drops Brandon off in middle of nowhere … Just kidding.
12:29AM
Girls are dropped off at Malek’s.

1:45AM Guys arrive at Benoit’s place.  Discussion about following lead of Spirit and responsibility to team.  Much to praise God for.  Feeling of accomplishment in having faithfully preached the gospel.  Words of Jesus sit with me deeply, comforting my fears: “No one comes to me unless the Father draws him.”  Enjoying love of Jesus so much I pray, Father would you draw them?