Sam Bethea is no stranger to what can happen on the streets in Charlotte. Before turning his life around, Bethea was in and out of jail 29 times. Now, though, he spends his time differently: He uses it to share the gospel.
“Most people think of me as a street preacher, but I’m really not preaching on the streets, so to say,” Bethea said during an interview last year with podcaster Tiffani Lewis. “I’m moreso declaring and proclaiming a simple message: ‘Jesus loves you, Jesus saves. The King is coming. John 3:16.’ Something simple, because of the rat race that we live in.”
“I like to say what I do is street evangelism, street ministry,” he added.
But not everyone is receptive to what Bethea has to say. That became overwhelmingly clear earlier this week, when he was attacked by angry protesters gathered to oppose the Republican National Convention, parts of which were held in Charlotte.
As he was proclaiming his simple message—”Jesus loves you”—protesters began dousing Bethea in flour, glitter, oil and Silly String, ridiculing him for sharing the gospel amid the racially charged unrest over the RNC.
This is our friend Sam.. literally on the front lines… Please pray for him .. last night the protesters threw flour,…
Posted by Regina Moriarty Serrapica on Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Despite the attacks, Bethea continued.
“I do it because God called me to the streets,” he explained to WSOC-TV.
Bethea said he has shown up for every single demonstration in uptown Charlotte over the past six years, since he began spreading His faith-filled message on the streets.
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