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Hello,
and thank you for taking the time today to read
about Aaron and Tonya Wentz and the ministry of Open
Air Campaigners
(OAC) in Boston. Aaron is a graduate
of Moody Bible Institute with a B.A. degree in
Evangelism/Discipleship and is currently the Boston
Branch Director of OAC.
They have a son, Ky'el, and a daughter, Kasiah.
Tonya was saved at an
early age and grew up in an evangelical church. Aaron
was saved at the age of l8 while studying music
at a private school in Michigan. Since his conversion
Aaron has felt a solid call by God on his life to
be in the ministry, specifically in evangelism. Tonya
knew as well that God's plan for her was to be in
the ministry in some way. They met at Moody in 1994
and were married on June 1, 1996.
During the annual
Missions Conference at Moody, Aaron and Tonya learned
of a mission organization called Open Air Campaigners
that has been in existence since 1892. Because
of their concern for the lost, Aaron and Tonya were
already witnessing weekly and preaching the Gospel
on the streets and in the subways in Chicago. Through
the missions conference they learned that OAC
did street ministry full time in major cities around
the world. Knowing the effectiveness of street ministry,
Aaron and Tonya felt specifically drawn to this evangelistic
organization and became intern staff in 1997. They
moved to Boston in 1998 to serve full time with OAC.
The goal of OAC Boston
is to reach Americans and internationals with the
Gospel and bring them into fellowship with local evangelical
churches. This is accomplished by going out into
the streets, universities and subways, publicly proclaiming
the Gospel as Jesus and the Apostle Paul did in the
New Testament. After the message people sometimes
stay to ask questions and engage in conversation.
Gospel material is given out, including an address
for follow-up.
Half of the time
their witnessing is to children. Most inner-city
children have little or no Biblical foundation and
need to be evangelized just as Jesus said (Matthew
19:13-15, 28:18-20). Aaron and the other OAC
staff go into neighborhoods, parks and housing developments
to gather children to listen to the Gospel. OAC
members talk with them after the meetings and offer
free Bible lessons through the mail.
Reaching
out with the Gospel of Christ, Aaron and Tonya Wentz
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