Minister Who Says the Church must get out of the Church Has Success at Florida State Fair

Bill Keller the founder of LivePrayer an internet ministry that reaches 2.4 million subscribers has spent the last eight years on public TV and going to places where the public gathers has fulfilled his calling in part at the famous Florida State Fair.

Bill is known for saying that he will not try to build a ministry on the backs of Christians. Preaching only to Christians and raising funds for a ministry may have its place but Bill says it is not the fulfillment of the “Great Commission.” (Mark 16:15)

Bills ministry was one of only two ministries that showed up at the fair. Huge churches with multi million dollar budgets sent virtually no one with the gospel message. Bill says he talked with one such church and was told they were busy focusing on a new $20 million dollar building for their fellowship. Bill’s reply in his daily devotional was a simple…”how sad.”

Thousands came by the Liveprayer gospel tent and the results are still coming in. Already Bill has received 2000 prayer requests from fair goers who attended the State Fair. Topping that off Liveprayer has received 300 emails from people that say they have turned to Christ for the first time. This is what the gospel is all about.

Keller’s presence at the fair became a bit of a family reunion as well as many of his friends and supporters came from around the nation to attend the historical Florida State Fair. Bill says “One of the greatest joys for me these past 12 days was getting to meet so many in the Liveprayer family. WOW! I can't wait for the Liveprayer reunion in Heaven! People came from Texas, Ohio, Georgia, New York, and all over the sate of Florida. What a blessing and honor to meet so many dear friends who are part of the Liveprayer family. It was so humbling to hear one incredible testimony after another of how Liveprayer has impacted people's lives. I can't even put it into words other than to remind you once again, it is about being obedient and faithful and letting God work through our lives.”

Bill describes one of the most spectacular conversions in his daily devotional sent out to over 2 million people. “Probably the best email I have received so far was from a man who was at the beer garden across from the Liveprayer Gospel Tent. He was standing there, drinking his beer and listening to the music when I gave the invitation Wednesday night. God convicted him and he threw his beer away and prayed with me to accept the Lord as his Savior.”

Bill said “First of all, I just want to thank God for giving us the incredible opportunity to serve Him in such a bold and visible way. This is exactly what I talk to you about so much of the time when I say we must invade people's lives. The fact is Satan has no problem invading people's lives with all of the lies and traps of the world to destroy them, why can't those who know the Lord be even more bold and aggressive by invading people's lives to save them?”

This kind of result is what Bill is all about and he isn’t the least bit ashamed of it. Believers may hear a hundred great sermons or more this year but one such conversion is the best sermon anyone will ever hear. If angels can rejoice over one mans salvation (Luke 15:10) then mere mortals should consider it a joyful event as well.

Bill Keller’s ministry has taken a great deal of flak lately largely because of his pointed criticism of Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. While many people agree with Bill’s conclusions they are shaken by his methodology. He is candid and upfront to a fault but it would be hard to find any real fault with his general message.

If we laid out Bill’s message on one side and the Bible on the other we would discover no error and no discrepancies. In a day of witless adherence to political correctness some may be offended with Keller’s methods and his style but after careful examination what you will find is a man who is true to his calling and the Bible. Isn’t that what we hope for in a minister?

All of the nay saying notwithstanding Bill Keller and his LivePrayer ministry has brought the gospel to the Midway at the famed Florida State Fair.

Bill’s has a sense of practical theology that says Jesus told us to “go into the entire world” not just preach and minister in churches and Christian ministries. Check it out!

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Martin Bertello is a freelance writer covering religious news, Christianity, politics, current events, movie reviews and much more. He is a regular contributor to http://www.usareligiousnews.com