RANDY – IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

W e could have wondered why it was taking so long to change our oil and rotate our tires, but it soon became apparent that God had His own plan at work.

A young man was seated in the waiting room as we entered and he kindly offered us the newspaper he was reading. It just so happened that as I got out of our car minutes earlier that my eyes fell on the “This Is Your Life” Chick Tract stuck in a side pocket of the car. I grabbed it hurriedly, but knew a few minutes later that this too was God’s planning, as I offered it to this young man, Randy.

We read the newspaper while observing Randy's thorough

reading of the tract. His face reflected serious thought as he slowly turned each page, and then reread some at the end.


After several minutes of silence,  I said, “That’s quite an interesting booklet.” “It sure is…,” he replied, “makes you do some thinking.”   

He soon admitted that he hadn’t been in church for many years, although his father is a pastor.  “It’s a Church of Christ and they stress water baptism, but my wife goes to a Baptist church. It’s all so confusing. The Church of Christ has no instruments, but their singing is so beautiful. I don’t like the loud music at my wife’s church… and all the words up on a screen. There’s so much that just doesn’t make me feel comfortable.”  We acknowledged the changes in churches today, but explained that there are still some old time conservative churches that preach the Gospel, and asked him if he had ever gone to a Pentecostal church. He had not but said his wife was willing to go to another church if it preached the Gospel, and if he would go.

We learned that Randy worked as an engineer and conductor on the railroad and was often away from home.   “And I suppose that keeps you away from church,” I said. “Well,” he replied, “that’s an excuse that I use. I know I should go to church.”

Brother Goodwin began to present the Gospel to him, salvation by faith in Christ, not by baptism, but as something that he really needs to consider. Randy was so responsive…speaking of fear of going to hell, and knowing he needed to make a choice. Even his face expressed inner turmoil and concern.

“What are you waiting for, Randy?,” we asked.  “What keeps someone like you from coming to the Lord and getting saved? Are you afraid to surrender to the Lord? If we are not surrendered, then we are saying, God I know I should, but I won’t. I want to go on my own way.”

“Well, “ he replied, “all of us sin a little every day.  I just don’t know what would happen if I surrendered.”

Brother Goodwin explained that we don’t have to sin every day, and that when Christ comes in, He changes us, makes us new persons, and the things we once loved and wanted to do, we suddenly feel bad about doing… The Holy Spirit convicts us, and causes us to repent and ask forgiveness..and as you grow in the Lord you will sin less and less… You won’t want to sin. You will have something so much better that fills you with the peace and joy of the Lord. We can’t do it on our own, but through Christ.

It seemed he was afraid he couldn’t live the life if he became a Christian, but realized his great need of being ready to meet the Lord.

“Randy,” God loves you very much…no doubt your parents are praying for you, and God caused you to be in this waiting room at the same time as two traveling evangelists who would tell you what we have told you. He is on your trail. He wants you to come to Him. Only God could have arranged our meeting.””I know I need it,” he replied.

Just then a very immodestly dressed woman came in and sat down. It was a clear distraction and as we prayed she left. Then the serviceman came and called Randy to his car. The enemy was seeking to keep Randy his own prisoner.

When Randy returned we again felt God pulling at this young man’s heart, but he was not yet willing.

“Randy,” we continued, “if you go from this place and make a decision for the Lord, will you please contact us and tell us?”  “I sure will,” he responded…”and thank you so much. I really appreciate what you have said to me.”

Brother Goodwin gave him a hug as he went on his way to his car. Our prayers have been for Randy who was clearly under conviction. May God save his soul!

A HINDU'S SURPRISE RESPONSE

Often Brother Goodwin and I go into malls in search of people to witness to. We see a mass of humanity, hurrying on their way to eternity with no hope of salvation. We arm ourselves with tracts, new testaments, Jesus DVD's, and start walking. Recently during one such mall trip we were able to witness to people from Costa Rica, the Philippines, India, and Mexico. The harvest field is at our doors. The world has come to America. We can almost hear Jesus tell us today, "Go ye into all the malls and preach the gospel." All the gods of this world are there, and we have the saving, delivering message that they need..

As I walked I came upon an Indian man selling at a kiosk. He was busily working on his cell phone when i approached him and said, "It looks like you are an expert at texting. Your fingers are moving as fast as lightning." That brought some laughter and broke the ice. I asked if he was from India and after his positive response I told him about some friends that we had in India.

"Do you speak another language besides English?" I asked him and learned that he spoke several, including Hindi. I knew that this was one of the languages on the Jesus DVD, and showed it to him, telling him I wanted him to have it as a gift. He was happy to see his language included, and then told me.

"I am happy to see this about Jesus, for I have been researching about Him. I am a Hindu, but I believe in Jesus, and His name keeps coming to me. I know He is real."

What a great joy it was to continue this conversation with this young man. He was so sincere and interested in learning more. Our invitation to come to church was received positively, and I believe he will come. I was able to leave him with the booklet, "The Second Greatest Lie Ever Told" by Evangelist Mark Cahill. It is an excellent booklet describing the beliefs of the major world religions, and the lie that there are many roads leading to heaven. The author shows that there is only One way.... Jesus and provides an invitation to receive Salvation. My heart rejoiced over this tremendous opportunity to urge a hungry soul to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ.

 As we were concluding out conversation I saw an amazing sight out of the corner of my eye, and just had to turn to see if what I thought I saw was really what was standing there. The moment I fully saw these two young men my heart was stirred to reach them for the Lord. 

One stood tall,  with long black hair, dark black makeup around his eyes, one eye superimposed with a strange gothic type eye contact lens. His face was filled with many piercings, also on his tongue. He wore gothic type pants with chains and straps. The other young man seemed to be a follower.

I turned away from my Indian friend and reached out and touched the gothic young man on the arm.. He looked at me and I walked up to him with a smile and said, “Wow!  How did you get this way?” “How long did all of this take you”?   He replied, “About 2 years. I am a piercer and a tattoo artist.” 

“Well,” I said, “ I couldn’t help but notice you, and I’d like to give you a gift of a two hour DVD of the greatest story ever told.” He took the DVD, looked down and saw the title, “JESUS” printed in large letters all across the cover.

“Oh," he said, I Know all about Jesus. Give it to him. He’s an atheist.”     He handed it to his friend, the little guy.

And I said, “Oh, no! You need one too… and I have another one, so here you take this one. You see, Jesus is the one we will all have to bow and submit to someday…The Bible says, Every knee shall bow….  He loves you and will save you if you will come to Him.
 

It's not enough to "know all about Jesus". That won't save you! The devil even knows all about Jesus, and what he knows makes him tremble, but he's not saved, and isn't going to heaven. But you can know Jesus in a greater way than just in your head...you can know Him in your heart when you surrender your life to Him.

Both of these young men received the DVD's and gave me permission to take their picture. You can see each of them holding the JESUS DVD in their hands. Pray that they will truly come to know this Jesus and be born again by the Spirit of God.

It was Bob Pierce who long ago wrote a book entitled, "Let My Heart Be Broken With The Things That Break The Heart Of God."  God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and salvation. The same blood of Jesus that was shed for you, was shed for these two young men, and can save them too.

GOD CAN USE WHOEVER HE CHOOSES

Do you think you can't do anything for the Lord? You're not trained, not capable? Just let the Lord have all of you that there is and you will be amazed at how He will use your life. Listen to this amazing example of that very thing:


I read today about  a preacher leaving a big outdoor crusade and seeing a young boy standing on the road in the dark. The preacher stopped and the boy asked him to please pray for him to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Laying hands on him he asked the Lord to do that for him and they parted ways. That boy felt like he was walking on air as he made his way through the bush all night long.

 Arriving in his village he saw a momma carrying her dying child. She had already lost one to disease. Something happened in this boy's heart. He felt he had to pray for this child, and when he did the child suddenly became alert and wanted to play. He asked for food to eat. The mother shrieked and danced, and ran to the chief's house to tell him.

When that young man arrived at his home a message came for him to go the the chief's house. He was frightened, had never been in such a powerful man's house before. The chief said he heard how God had healed this lady's child, and that his daughter was very sick across the village. Would he please go pray for her also?

At that daughter's hut it was very dark. It took a while to see the form of this girl on the floor...all crippled up and ready to die. She had never walked in her life. Just then the power of God hit that girl and she leaped up, running, completely healed.....    It began a great revival in that village, with that newly saved young man anointed by the Holy Ghost, preaching the Gospel. 


CAN GOD DO THAT TODAY? CAN HE USE YOUR LIFE?  WOULD YOU LIKE HIM TO?

ARE YOU WITNESSING AND WINNING SOULS?

Why do you think Jesus saved you?

First, to know and love Him with all your heart.

Second... to be instrumental in telling others about Him.

Here I am in the middle of this picture with the girls in the last senior class I taught at Free Gospel Bible Institute.  What a great bunch! Now I want to know what you are doing for the Lord!!  You probably never thought you'd wind up on my blog, but here you are... just a handful of precious young ladies... ladies who can be handmaidens of the Lord. I pray that you are all obeying the great commission and purpose of your salvation: Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.  I already know that some of you have been out there in the harvest, sowing and reaping. I'd love to hear about it right here on this blog.

HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THIS GOTH?

I

I saw him walking past me in the mall and instantly wanted to talk to him. The picture doesn't clearly show all the piercings on his face, between his eyes, on his cheeks, lips, and nose. His eyes were boldly made up with black, matching his long hair. Chains and other metal adorned his pants. I supposed he was a Goth.


Jesus made no distinction between the rich, the poor, the moral, the immoral, the proud, the despised... His compassion took him to all of them with hope and salvation..  Sometimes he was received, sometimes he was rejected. Does the thought of rejection stop you from witnessing?


How would you approach this young man if your goal was to witness to him about Jesus?  You tell me your thoughts, and then I will tell you what happened that day.


To read what happened that day, look at the blog from August 8, 2011, where I tell about the surprise response from a Hindu.