What are people up to around you?

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AutumnBreeze

AutumnBreeze

Member
Jun 19, 2025
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I've met SO many young men and women recently who are excited about reading the Bible and talking about Jesus.

This is such a major shift I've noticed from even just 3 years ago. It's exciting and so different from the Christian community I grew up in.

Have any of you noticed this in your communities? Do you know what changed? Or have I just not noticed this before and it's been the norm this whole time, and I'm the weirdo?
 
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I live in the centre of a medium sized town in the north east of England . For the last few years we have had a few street preachers , obviously from the same church . I'm pleased to c them but , they r very dour , dry , concentrating on telling everyone how horrible they all r , how sinful and wicked they r and that they r all going to burn in hell etc , all in a very flat monotone 😞 . That's not how I would do it but , what can I say ? I did try to talk to them a few years ago but , they seemed terrified of me once they realised that I knew my Bible . It seems they just want to convict people . I wish they would b more joyful and teach the Love of God .
For the last two or three years we have had another group . Mostly young gospel types , they r joyful and cheerful and mostly just pass out leaflets with some nice words of encouragement , a bit more my cup of tea . However , when they do do some preaching they don't preach God or Jesus , they preach about their amazing pastor who is ' doing great things ' . That puts me off immediately and it puts most other people off too .
We British r a weird lot . We don't glorify people and we don't fall for charismatics , if u r miserable that turns us off , if u r too ebullient , that turns us of . We hate to feel as if we r being condescended to or manipulated in any way . To get our interest u have to b very much in the middle , don't b too friendly or we will b suspicious of u , don't b too cold or we will just walk away . I also think that more women might b interested in talking to a street preacher if there were some women out there . Men just don't get that to a woman , men can come across as domeneering , arrogant and slightly aggressive , even when they r not actually being like that , it's just how a lot of women perceive men until they get to know them personally . Women would b more inclined to talk to and listen to another woman a lot of the time . I doubt if we will c any women street preachers around here though . I've occasionally wanted to shout about Jesus and his love and what he did for us , but so far I've restrained myself , I have a very weak crocky voice , can't shout or sing or even talk for a long time without getting gravely voiced 🙄 .
 
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We also have a lot of Iranian refugees converting to Christianity . I'm optimistic that they r genuine and not just trying to prove that they want to integrate into British society , it's not for me to judge .
 
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I have not seen this in my town, but I have heard that more and more young men are interested in finding God in this country. Which really brings some hope, when you look around here and see that ungodly behaviour is rising.
To God everything is possible!
 
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We have JWs sit on the corner of every library (mostly 2 ladies) trying to convince passersby to join their religion. I just walk on by, am already a Christian, why would I join their sect? When they door knock/trespass on my property I politely decline. Or pretend not home by not answering the door. If I am outside gardening I just say I'm busy. I'm minding my own business, can they not respect that?
Mormons are worse they follow you around.

Actual manic street preachers are few and far between where I am , but a group from a charismatic church/cult tried to storm the public library and prevent a drag queen storytime, and the so-called Christians were the ones who were violent. They were physically abusive. Children were terrified. They are really awful.

I'm relieved I am not working in the public library these days. What is it about libraries that attracts such weird people. Not too long ago, Christianity wasn't cool and it was banned from secular places like schools and libraries, you couldn't even have a Bible or talk about it on the premises. Even nativity scenes were discouraged, for fear of Muslims being offended. But cults are ok? How does that make any sense.
 
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our area needs a very talented teacher-preacher. spiritual deadness lives around here. since i've been alive, that's the case. central N.Y. i'm talking about.
 
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mmm well Madonna doesn't live in NY so I think you are safe and could have a revival.

She was like Papa Don't Preach.
 
Auckland has run ins with a sect called Destiny Church. They keep wanting to be controversial and making news.
Other churches do not like them and prefer to keep the peace.

I think Christianity is still active in urban areas, like for example the City Mission do reach out to the poor and homeless, and stage a giant Christmas lunch every year. Salvation Army are very visible.

Also we have a strong Bible Belt area.

Children's ministry, I have been involved in schools, but because of political correctness, we are not allowed to be overtly Christian and need to respect other points of view about God. And I'm sort of ok with that because it's hard for new converts and their families. They are often needing to leave a lifestyle that's all they have ever known, and there are many traps and dangers to that.

Also, in the South Island, there's Gloriavale. People have escaped from cults like those. And of course, Christchurch has a kind of neo-nazi reputation, since well...forever. It attracts extremists fundamentalists, and mosque mass shooters.
 
Karlon said:
she's a friend of mine, please stop that.
Click to expand...
I don't know Ms Ciccone personally, but I do respect her, actually she's great. Papa don't Preach is one of my favourites. Also Hung up on You.
She's catholic raised right? Until she got into Kabbalah, she had a unique take on religion. But people don't still call her Esther. She named her daughter Lourde
 
David Wilkerson is no longer with us. Nicky Cruz left NY? Teen Mania grew up?
 
Fundamentalists are opposed to women preaching, citing Letter to Timothy and letter to Corinthians from Paul as their reference - Women shall keep silent etc.

But I think that was only inside church. Maybe outside, anything goes.
 
Suze said:
I live in the centre of a medium sized town in the north east of England . For the last few years we have had a few street preachers , obviously from the same church . I'm pleased to c them but , they r very dour , dry , concentrating on telling everyone how horrible they all r , how sinful and wicked they r and that they r all going to burn in hell etc , all in a very flat monotone 😞 . That's not how I would do it but , what can I say ? I did try to talk to them a few years ago but , they seemed terrified of me once they realised that I knew my Bible . It seems they just want to convict people . I wish they would b more joyful and teach the Love of God .
For the last two or three years we have had another group . Mostly young gospel types , they r joyful and cheerful and mostly just pass out leaflets with some nice words of encouragement , a bit more my cup of tea . However , when they do do some preaching they don't preach God or Jesus , they preach about their amazing pastor who is ' doing great things ' . That puts me off immediately and it puts most other people off too .
We British r a weird lot . We don't glorify people and we don't fall for charismatics , if u r miserable that turns us off , if u r too ebullient , that turns us of . We hate to feel as if we r being condescended to or manipulated in any way . To get our interest u have to b very much in the middle , don't b too friendly or we will b suspicious of u , don't b too cold or we will just walk away . I also think that more women might b interested in talking to a street preacher if there were some women out there . Men just don't get that to a woman , men can come across as domeneering , arrogant and slightly aggressive , even when they r not actually being like that , it's just how a lot of women perceive men until they get to know them personally . Women would b more inclined to talk to and listen to another woman a lot of the time . I doubt if we will c any women street preachers around here though . I've occasionally wanted to shout about Jesus and his love and what he did for us , but so far I've restrained myself , I have a very weak crocky voice , can't shout or sing or even talk for a long time without getting gravely voiced 🙄 .
Click to expand...

Do you still have Alpha course? That was pretty good intro to Christianity, but it got hijacked by charismatics who wanted to spread the whole speaking in tongues thing. Also they funneled people into the mega churches.
 
Koreans are very active in missions. But again, prone to sects and cults. Moonies anyone?
You just have to be careful about them.
 
My workmate/good friend got married recently. She and her husband joined the Orthodox church. She keeps asking me to come along.
I haven't been (yet). She says there are lots of young people in it.
 
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