Reflecting on the Year: Ministry Highlights of 2025

As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the numerous opportunities God has provided us to share His love and truth. Our ministry has been on the move, from engaging students at Cleveland State University to connecting with the community at the Farmer's Markets in Medina Square, and all the way to Cleveland Pride, where we proclaimed the gospel faithfully and boldly. We joined forces with Sports Fan Outreach International at the Kentucky Derby, reached families and music lovers at festivals and summer concert series in Elyria, Oberlin, and Vermillion, and distributed countless gospel tracts while sharing the hope of Christ in meaningful conversations.

One of the most impactful parts of our year has been our weekly outreach at Cleveland State University, where we've faithfully been present once a week, Lord willing, during the spring and fall semesters. Each week, we set up on campus with gospel tracts in hand and signs that spark conversation. We strategically place our evangelism signs in the courtyard to be visible to students passing through from the community center to the library or other buildings. Our sign, "Atheism is a temporary condition," has opened the door to countless discussions about our faith in God, our rejection of evolution, and given us the opportunities to share the gospel with many students. 

Even more attention, and often the deepest conversations, come from our signs addressing abortion. These signs are bold and straightforward, confronting the evil of our day, but many students stop in disagreement, and crowds are drawn as others stop to listen to the conversations and participate in them. Through these interactions, we have not only shared the gospel but have also built lasting relationships with students who are curious to hear why we believe what we do. 

Week after week, campus evangelism has reminded us that ministry is relational. It's not just about the signs or tracts we hand out; it's about walking alongside those students, letting them know we truly care for them, answering questions, and showing Christ's love in word and action. Many of the students we met this year have returned to continue the conversations, and some just to say hello and talk to us about their week. We have also seen the influence of the encouragement we have given to other Christian students on campus to be bolder in their witness for Christ. Some of them stood with us, holding signs and passing out gospel tracts with us. I want to also acknowledge and thank Larry and Harry for their consistent witness for Christ in our local area, and the many times we have partnered together on the campus of Cleveland State and Oberlin College this past year.

Another great fruit that came out of our campus ministry this year. Our faithful brother and sister in Christ and friends, Husband and wife team of Steven and Amy came out to join us at Cleveland State more than once to partner with us and we were able to go out to Akron with them where they have started a weekly ministry of being on the University of Akron campus, we are so thankful fo them and that another campus has a gospel presence on it.
 
Our outreach at the Medina Farmers Market and other events hosted in the public square has been encouraging opportunities for evangelism this year. We connect with the team in Medina and join them when we can, as we walk the market, handing out gospel tracts, talking to people about the gospel of Christ, or posted up on a corner with our signs, we can meet people from all walks of life in a relaxed, community-centered setting.

We've also had many meaningful and respectful interactions with Jehovah's Witnesses who regularly set up there. These conversations have allowed us to lovingly address the differences between biblical Christianity and the false Christ they follow, while clearly pointing to the true Jesus revealed in Scripture.

Each time we're at the market, the atmosphere has been peaceful and welcoming, with no incidents. A great place for Christians to get out and practice sharing their faith if they haven't already done so. 

At a couple of pride events this year, we engaged in open-air preaching, distributing tracts, and had numerous personal conversations with attendees. Our goal at these events was simple and consistent: to proclaim Christ clearly, lovingly, and without compromise, while being present to answer questions and engage respectfully with those willing to talk.

At times, our witness was met with organized opposition from abortion clinic escorts, who attempted to disrupt the message by standing directly in front of us to block visibility and using noise-makers to drown out the preaching. While these groups often claim to value tolerance and inclusion, their actions revealed a clear unwillingness to extend that same tolerance to Christians or to the public proclamation of the gospel.

Even so, we remained peaceful, continued to speak the truth with grace, and trusted God to use His word despite the opposition. These moments served as a sobering reminder that faithfulness to Christ will often be resisted, but the gospel still goes forth. 

Throughout the summer, we took advantage of regular outreach opportunities at festivals and concert series in Oberlin, Elyria, and Vermillion. Lord willing, we were present almost every Friday night in Oberlin, a couple of Thursday nights in Elyria, and a couple of times in Vermillion.

In Oberlin, our outreach included both tract distribution and holding abortion related signs, which naturally led to many meaningful discussions. As cars passed by, reactions varied; some drivers offered encouraging thumbs-up, while others responded with visible hostility, letting us know we were number one with their middle finger.  Both responses served as reminders of the divided reactions the gospel often provokes. Elyria mirrored much of the experience, with similar conversations, encouragement, and opposition. 

In Vermillion, we walked around more and passed out tracts, and talked to people in one-on-one style conversations at the various booths set up in the park.

Across each city, these summer outreaches reinforced the importance of consistency, presence, and faithfulness. Our prayer is that more Christians will be present at these events, and we will be able to cover all the surrounding summer events with the gospel of Christ.

This year, we also had the privilege of partnering with Sports Fan Outreach International for open-air evangelism at the Kentucky Derby. Alongside approximately 20 other Christian street preachers, we preached the gospel publicly for two full days, from about 8 in the morning until around 8 at night, faithfully proclaiming Christ to the massive crowds in attendance. I was able to drive down with two of my dearest friends and brothers in Christ, Adam Wright and Blake Fogle of Made For This Ministries. It was such a sweet time of travel and fellowship with them. 

As we reflect on all that God has done this year, our prayer moving forward is simple: that the Lord would send more laborers into the harvest. The opportunities before us are many, college campuses filled with students searching for truth, and public events throughout the year where thousands are willing to stop and listen.

In 2026, we desire to reach more students on campus and more people at community events, with greater consistency, faithfulness, and gospel clarity. We believe the work is far from finished, and we are eager to see God raise men and women who are willing to step out, stand firm, and proclaim Christ boldly and lovingly.

May the Lord continue to use us, ordinary people, to bring about His sovereign will on earth as it is in heaven, and may all the glory belong to Christ alone.

For the glory of Christ, 
Ricky Gantz
G220 Ministries