Jesus said, “The field is the world” (Matt. 13:38) and John Galpen Brown’s pastoral field is a big part of the world. He estimates 20,000 motorists drive past his “pulpit” every Saturday in Birmingham.
Brown has been preaching every weekend for the past 12 years just off I-65 in front of the Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart Plaza in Homewood, about two miles from Samford University. He brings his own van and amplifier and about 100 signs to encourage people to trust the Lord.
“I’m here in the sunshine, rain and wind even when I’m hungry and tired,” Brown said.
One of his signs exhorts passersby to honk if they love Jesus and many sound their horns and wave as they pass by.
‘Bless you’
“Sometimes people will shout ‘bless you’ or ‘keep up the good work’ as they drive by. But sometimes people will drive by and curse me,” Brown said. “Sometimes drivers get stopped by the traffic light and I get to preach to them another minute,” he said with a laugh.
The second part of the sign exhorts drivers to stop if they don’t know Jesus.
“Every Saturday people stop and ask me to pray with them,” Brown said. “Some want me to pray for them when they’re sick and others want me to pray they find the Lord. I’ve seen people come to the Lord every Saturday.”
Brown said seekers sometimes avoid the fast-moving traffic on Lakeshore Drive and approach him from the parking lot on the other side of the plaza fence, asking him to come over to the fence and pray for them. He said he’s always happy to do so.
“The Holy Spirit knows the needs of the people and the Spirit brings them to me,” he said. “Someone told me recently they’d returned to church to serve the Lord after I prayed with them. This is God’s work.”
Brown was born in Jamaica and grew up in New York City. He became a Christian at age 21 and did some street preaching in the city while earning his living doing construction work including carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing and roofing. He moved to Birmingham in 1974 where he served as pastor of a church in the Five Points West area for a number of years. When the church burned down eight years ago he felt God leading him to give more time to his present ministry in Homewood.
Now at age 75 he does supply preaching on Sundays whenever and wherever he’s invited, but sees his work on Saturday as his unique calling from God.
“This is a great place to share the gospel,” he said. “I’ve had people from many nations stop and talk to me about the Lord right here in Birmingham.”
When not dealing with individuals, Brown or one of his two young associates stand beside the highway and preach from Scripture. The two younger men joined Brown about two years ago and afford the older preacher time to rest when he needs to.
But Brown doesn’t break for long since he loves to preach.
“I don’t have sermons like most pastors do — I don’t write anything down,” Brown said. “The Spirit of God gives me a message to share. God put His boldness in me.”
The large signs Brown posts in the area adjacent to the highway range from the Ten Commandments to verses of Scripture to warnings about eternal judgment. But none have a particular denominational slant or doctrine.
“I stay away from doctrine,” he said. “I don’t want conflict. I want people to know that God loves them and they can be saved.”
Brown remembers his first Saturday at his current ministry station did bring some conflict — a visit from local law enforcement.
“The officer told me to leave — that I couldn’t preach there,” he said. “I came back the next Saturday and I’ve never seen the officer again.”
Brown said he went to the Birmingham City Hall to apply for a permit, only to discover that the spot he’d chosen belongs not to the city, but to the state of Alabama. He’s continued to preach every week without a permit and without further visits from law enforcement.
“Now I know why God directed me to choose the spot I did,” he said with a laugh.
Tommy Littleton, who works with the Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama and is an adjunct teacher for the Apologetics Resource Center in Birmingham, has had wide experience in street preaching. His experience includes some 10 years working with David Wilkerson, author of “The Cross and the Switchblade,” which tells the story of Wilkerson’s ministry in New York City.
“The effectiveness of street preaching depends on the individual and the situation,” Littleton said.
“For example I’ve found that street evangelism at a secular concert isn’t effective because people see it as an intrusion. As long as the setting isn’t intrusive or threatening, street evangelism can be a good way to reach some people the church could not.”
Facing ridicule
“You face ridicule in the public arena,” he said. “That’s just part of the price you pay when you choose a nontraditional place to share the gospel.”
Littleton said he admires Brown’s tenacity.
“I think he gets the respect of many due to his dedication. He’s always there despite the weather. They know something genuine is behind this. And he offers a friendly wave and a smile. This is disarming; he’s not a threat to anyone.”
Brown said he has no plans to stop preaching or to retire.
“I want to be called ‘a friend of God’ just like Abraham was,” he said.
“The Bible says there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents. I see people repenting every week. I want to be faithful with the message God has given me so that I can hear Him say ‘well done’ when I get to heaven.”
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