Calvary Church has been busy on God’s errands. We have embarked on a new venture entitled “Evangelism in the Mall” under the leadership of Pastor Richard W. Palmer, Jr.
The adventure began with a dream. Pastor Palmer was asleep one night when he awoke to a feeling that he should write something down. He felt the Lord telling him something, but didn’t understand what it meant. He went back to sleep, only to have the same thing happen later that night. Again, he didn’t understand. For a third time, he was awakened and told to write.
A friend was visiting the Palmers at this time, so Pastor Palmer shared the feeling with his friend. They agreed to pray for clarification. After prayer, Pastor Palmer had another dream. This time was different. When he wrote what he was impressed to write, he wrote “Go to the mall.” Pastor Palmer was perplexed, so he questioned the Lord. He asked, What do you want me to do at 3 in the morning? He went back to sleep.
The next day he went to NorthPark Mall in Davenport, Iowa. As he walked through the mall, he felt the Lord revealing to him a plan. He felt he should have prayer, Bible studies, and seminars. They would be Monday-Friday, 12:30-1 p.m. for prayer requests from mall walkers and shoppers, and 1-3 p.m. for Bible studies. There would be a short break and then prayer and Bible study would resume 5:30-7 p.m. The Lord opened the door for Pastor Palmer to get a space in the mall, and thus “Evangelism in the Mall” was born.
This ministry has been in operation since Jan. 6, and the Lord has blessed through prayer and testimonies from mall walkers and shoppers. He has shown just how hungry Davenport is for Biblical truth.
People have learned that there will not be a secret rapture and that their loved ones are not in heaven seeing them suffer. The relief on their faces has let us know they are understanding what they are being taught. To God be the glory! Through obedience to God’s direction, we are fulfilling the Great Commission of Matt. 28:19-20.
Richard W. Palmer, Jr., pastor of Calvary Church, with Chrystal Trout, communication director for Calvary Church in Davenport, Iowa.
