Praise the Lord for all 27 labors for the Derby Outreach!

Clay Hall - I have ministered at the Kentucky Derby only twice:

The first time was in 2019. I was a bundle of nerves. It was my first time doing this time of street evangelism and starting at the Kentucky Derby is like being thrown into the deep end of the pool to learn how to swim. I was desperately dependent on strength from the Lord. My most memorable moment was at the end when I held a sign quoting Jesus’ words from John 14:6 for thousands to read as they exited Churchill Downs shoulder to shoulder. I said hardly a word for an hour and a half as people paraded out under the voice of powerful preaching from my fellow co-laborers.

The second time was in 2022 -just this past weekend. I now had three years of street evangelism under my belt and knew what to expect. By God’s grace, He reminded me that apart from Him, I am nothing and He gave me a sense of desperate dependence once again. And I needed it because this time, instead of letting a sign do the talking, I, along with a few other brothers, was called upon to preach to the thousands that exited the racetrack.

Along with me holding the sign in 2019, this preaching experience was tied for the most memorable highlight of my public Gospel ministry thus far. I cannot describe the sense of God’s pleasure that I felt ministering the Gospel to thousands at once. The closest I can come is to call it a “Holy Spirit-fueled adrenaline rush.” God is so good, y’all!

The Lord truly drove this Scripture home to me this weekend:

2 Corinthians 5:11-15, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. . . . For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”