Look Who it Was Random video

Before Murdering Me in His Heart, He Asked a Question

2,688 views · Published 12 May 2018 · 13:23 · Indexed 31 October 2026

Channel: Tony Miano · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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** PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE WATCHING THE VIDEO **

Brother Ryan Peterson and I spent a couple hours outside the Freight House Farmers' Market, in Davenport, Iowa. We held signs and the "Stop and Talk" cross. We distributed gospel tracts and I open-air preached.

During my second open-air message, I was approached by a man. I could tell by his demeanor and his gait that he wasn't happy. 

"Can I help you?" I asked.

"What would Jesus do?" He replied.

And then the man murdered me in his heart.

Before you watch this video, I would like to point out a few mistakes I made during my interaction with this angry man.

1. I should have turned off my amplifier as I started to engage him (as well as a second heckler in a vehicle) in one-on-one conversation. Eventually, I would turn it off, but I didn't do so soon enough. I've learned that unless people are close enough to hear both sides of the conversation, what the people at a distance (and most people in this particular situation were well over 100 feet away) hear is just my side of the conversation. Without the context of the heckler's words, hearing just my side of the conversation can leave people confused, or maybe even offended, depending on what they hear.

2. I talked too much with my hands. Again, I should have been more mindful of the possible perception of those watching and listening from a distance. While I was passionate and firm with the man, I don't believe I was angry. However, with my hand gestures, it could have been perceived by others that I was angry.

3. I probably should have shook the man's hand when he offered his hand. There were two reasons I didn't: 1) safety -- shaking hands with an angry man gives him the advantage if he decides to attack; 2) I didn't want the man left with the impression that shaking my hand would in any way mitigate his sin, or somehow affirm in his own mind that he is a good person. While I did tell him that I forgave him, refusing to shake his hand liekly created an unnecessary offense.

I know there are a few open-air preachers who watch my videos for both encouragement and instruction. If I want them to follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), then it is important that I point out and own my mistakes when I make them, especially if the mistakes are documented on video.

With that, I hope the gospel preached outweighs the mistakes I made on this day.

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