A Dry Cleaner Moved to Tears...

On my way to a business appointment this morning I dropped some dry cleaning off at the cleaners. I chatted with an older lady (Kelly) while she filled out the ticket. We talked about how busy they have been here at the end of the year, and she said they even had to work the day after Christmas. When I was done I handed her a million dollar bill tract and shared that it was a gospel tract.

She was very interested in the tract and turned it over and immediately began to read. I said that it contained something similar to the “Good Person Test” and asked if she had ever taken that test. She said she hadn’t – so I started into it.

In response to my questions: she said she felt she was a good person, she knew the ten commandments, she hadn’t always kept them, she had lied (although at first she shared thought it made her a sinner, but when I asked what she would call me if I told lies – she came up with the word “liar), she had stolen (at first she said she hadn’t, but when I encouraged her to listen to the voice of her conscience and think back – even to her childhood – she shared that she had stolen lipstick), she had blasphemed, and she had murdered. As is often the case, she laughed when I went through the horrible list describing her soul – but became serious when I asked if she would be innocent or guilty before God (she then said “guilty”).

As we discussed the commandments I noticed she had tears in her eyes – and was thrilled to see the Lord at work in her heart.

When I asked whether she would then go to heaven or hell, she said ‘hell’- and after I asked if she was concerned, she said she was.

We talked about the value of her eyes, and how her soul is far more valuable, and that she needs to deal with her sin. I shared that doing good works isn’t what earns salvation (‘polishing the judges car is bribery and will bring more consequences’) and that simply confessing isn’t enough (‘pleading guilty doesn’t remove punishment’). She had a Bible and I encouraged her to read it. Another customer came in about that time, so I left her a “Are You Good Enough to Go to Heaven” tract and encouraged her to read that.

A Cell Phone Customer Service Rep Hears the Gospel

I had a question about our cell phone plans, and called the carrier we have cell coverage through. After working through their phone system (at one point it put me back to start) a lady, named Laura, came on the line. She was quite helpful, and answered my questions. At one point she put me on hold to look up information, and while on hold I heard about international phone service. Since we were going to be traveling out of country in February of 2006 I also asked – once she was back on the line – about roaming charges. We probably spent about 5~10 minutes total talking about cell phones. When we were done, I thanked her for answering all my cell phone questions…

Then, I asked if she was only allowed to discuss business on the phone or if she could answer another question of mine. She said she was allowed to talk about whatever. I asked her if anyone had ever given her the “Good Person” test – and she said no. I said “It’s very important – do you have just a minute?” She said “yes” – and I asked if she felt she was a good person. She laughed and said, “Honestly?” I interrupted and said, “You wouldn’t lie to me?!?” She laughed more and said, “yes” – she felt she was, but that she isn’t all the time but tries to be. I asked if it would be OK for me to ask her a few questions to see if it was true.

I asked if she knew the 10 commandments and she said yes. I asked if she had kept them and she said ‘not always’. I then asked if she had ever told a lie, and she readily admitted she does (perhaps as a part of her job?!?). I asked what that made her and she said ‘a bad person?’ ‘More specifically’, I asked. She soon came up with the word ‘liar’ – and we moved on to stealing. She readily admitted stealing.

I said the 10 commandments say we are not to murder, but that Jesus said if we are angry we commit murder in our hearts. I asked if she had ever been angry, and she said ‘yes’. I asked if she had ever taken God’s name in vain, and she readily admitted she had. I told her the Bible calls that blaspheme. I then said that by her own admission – this was nothing I was simply calling her – she was a lying, thieving, blaspheming, murderer at heart. The tone was still somewhat light-hearted at this point.

I asked if she were to die tonight and God were to judge her based on the 10 commandments, would she be innocent or guilty, and she said ‘guilty’. I asked if she would then to go heaven or hell and she said ‘hell’. I asked if that concerned her and she said it did. I asked what she was doing about it and she said ‘nothing’ – she hadn’t really thought about it that way.

The rest of the conversation was about the good news of the gospel, how valuable our eyes are (she said she wouldn’t sell hers for any amount of money, and readily agreed that our eyes are simply the window to our souls and our souls are much more valuable than our yes), the importance of our ‘fine being paid’ by Someone Who can pay out fine for us, the importance of repenting – turning from our sin – and not doing the things we shouldn’t be, reading the Bible, and seeking the Lord with our whole heart.

I encouraged her to deal with these things tonight, because she could die in a car crash anytime, and encouraged her to read the obituaries and see that people do die young. She said, ‘Yes, I know what you mean. I was in a wreck a month ago, rolled our SUV four times and wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and walked away.’ We reflected on God’s goodness in sparing her life – perhaps for this very moment – to give her a chance of repenting. I said it was amazing how God would spare her life, when she wasn’t living for or serving Him – and we went through the first two commandments (no other god’s before Me, and not making a god in our own image) and how those two had also been broken. I told her of my friend who had been in an accident a few years ago, rolled his truck, wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from his vehicle - and is now in a coma.

I encouraged her to get right with God, to repent, and ask Him to take control of her life. I encouraged her to read her Bible in John, and I gave her our web address if she had any additional questions so she could e-mail my mother or sister.

She thanked me for sharing with her, and said this is something she has needed in her life.

While her voice had been cheerful as we started talking about the Lord, by the end it was more sober and serious.

First Time Passing out Tracts At a Restaurant

Our family went out for a Christmas dinner. At the restaurant, we waited a few minutes to be seated. As we were being seated, we walked by a couple that was also waiting. I asked the fellow if he was interested in something to read while they waited, and he said “Yes.” I gave him a few ice-breaker tracts and told him they had the gospel message on the back side – and he thanked me.

As we were getting situated, I went across to a couple that was seated and gave them a tract as well, they thanked me and read the tract while they ate.

In the middle of the meal I noticed a young boy with his parents at a nearby table, and I went over and showed him the curving tract illusion. I showed him the back had a gospel message and gave it to him – both he and his parents were grateful.

Later, on the way out, I saw a couple waiting at their table to place their order and asked her if she had every given “him” (wasn’t sure if he was a boyfriend/husband/brother) a test before. I said the problem is this one is a tough one – and said it also had a gospel message.

As we were walking out I gave a few tracts to a person sitting on a bench waiting to be seated.

Looking for a lost ring - and sharing the gospel...

While on my walk this morning I noticed a young man on the other side of a four-lane road. He was looking at the ground, and occasionally wondering into traffic. He had a sweatshirt/jacket on with a hood, and was causing some traffic issues (although it’s not a tremendously busy road). There are no houses or businesses in this section of road, so it was very unusual and odd. Since it was close to my turn-around point, and he didn’t look up as I passed by (he was on the other side of the road), I determined to talk with him on my way back, if he was still there. Two minutes further another young man was also checking the street and sidewalk. He was on the same side of the road as me, so I asked him what he was looking for. He didn’t seem very open, but finally said “a booklet.” I asked what color, and he said “black.” I told him I would keep my eyes open, but wasn’t convinced that these young men were out searching the road for a booklet.

On my returned a few minutes later the young man that was looking for the ‘booklet’ had gotten into a pickup truck that was parked in the entrance to a nearby neighborhood. The truck was a newer model truck, but with significant body damage. The neighborhood is a wealthier neighbor, and the truck didn’t seem to be a good fit. Everything was looking very suspicious.

Two minutes later I was back to the “original” young man, who was still on the other side of the road. There wasn’t any traffic at the moment, so I called across the road and asked what he was looking for. His response? “A ring – an engagement ring – that was lost during the heat of the moment yesterday.” I said I was very sorry to hear and crossed the road to talk with him more and help look for the ring. It had snowed in the past few days and there was still quite a bit of snow on the side of the road. Unfortunately, the ring was silver – and would be almost impossible to find.

I talked with him as we walked, slowly watching the ground. I was praying for an opportunity to share, and yet the conversation wasn’t naturally turning to spiritual subjects. After a minute or two, I finally said, “I can’t offer you any good news about the ring, as the only good news I have to give regards heaven and hell.” I asked if he would consider himself a good person, and he was the first one I have ever asked that admitted he wasn’t a good person. I asked if he was familiar with the 10 commandments, and he said he had been raised a Catholic. I asked if God was to judge him based on those commandments on judgment day would he be innocent or guilty, and he said guilty. I asked if he would go to heaven or hell, and he said ‘hell’. I asked if this concerned him and he said ‘yes’. I shared with him the good news of what Jesus had done. As he was openly listening I continued sharing, and gave the illustration of a righteous judge. Turns out he had spent time in Iraq and then time in prison. He was trying to turn his life around. We talked about the importance of reading the Word.

I asked if anyone else had ever shared with him about his soul, and he said a few had. I told him God has been trying to get his attention, and it could be that I would be the last person to ever share with him about his soul. We talked about the value of our eyesight, and then compared it to the incredible value of the ring (which was worth searching for), and saw how the ring paled in comparison to the value of our eyes, and how our eyes paled in comparison to the value of our soul. I shared that if I hadn’t talked with him he could have approached me on judgment day and said “Christopher, why didn’t you share with me? You asked about the ring, and we chatted about the weather – but you didn’t say anything about my eternal destiny!” I knew his name by then, and after talking about ten minutes, shook his hand, he thanked him for talking with me – and he thanked me for sharing with him.

First Sharing via the Telephone...

While doing some research for a Christmas gift I called a company to ask a question about a product. Keith answered the phone and was able to quickly answer my question. Once we were done discussing the product I asked him if they were only allowed to discuss “business” on the line, or if I could ask him something else. He said it was fine to talk about other things as well. I asked him if he was a good person and he said “absolutely”. I asked him if it was OK if I asked him a few questions to see if that was true and he said “sure”. I asked about lying (and admitted to doing the same) and he said “yes”, and he also then answered the title of “liar”. I asked about stealing (and admitted to doing the same), and he said “yes”, and he also gave the proper title of thief. I mentioned Jesus’ instruction about looking and lusting being adultery of the heart, and asked him if he had ever looked with lust – and he said “yes”. I asked if he had ever taken God’s name in vain – he wasn’t sure what that was and I said it was using God’s name as a curse word. He said he “had”. I gently shared that, by his own admission, he was a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer at heart and asked if, after he dies, God were to judge him based on those 10 commandments, would he be innocent or guilty. He said innocent, and I said, “But, Keith, you just admitted you were a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer at heart – would you be innocent or guilty”. He then acknowledged that, based upon that standard, he would be guilty. I asked if he would go to heaven or hell, and he said he guessed hell. I asked if that concerned him and he said it did. I then said, “But that is where the good news comes in.” And shared how Jesus had taken all of his punishment, if he would confess and turn from all his sin. I encouraged him to get right with God. We talked about – and he readily agreed – that our eyes are one of the most valuable possessions we have, and yet our soul is far more valuable. He was very open, but at the same time I felt he was ready to move on, so I asked if he had a Bible – he didn’t. I encouraged him to buy one and read the book of John – as it will tell him more about what Jesus did to pay for his sins so he doesn’t have to spend eternity in hell. I thanked him for talking with me, and he said it was good “food for thought”. Please pray for Keith’s salvation.

I ran some errands this afternoon and while checking out at the store I tried to start a conversation with the checker, but she seemed a bit closed. Finally, after swiping my credit card, and while waiting for the verification, I pulled some tracts out of my pocket and asked if anyone had ever given her a gospel tract before. She said “no”, and accepted them. I asked if she ever thinks about heaven and hell and she said “not really”. I encouraged her to consider the seriousness of eternity.

Saturday Lunch service at a Homeless Shelter

Went to the homeless shelter for a service today. About two hours before leaving the brother who was planning on sharing called to say he couldn’t make it. I had already been working on preparing a message for church on Sunday, and the message was looking like a primarily salvation message, so, I said I would share…

The message was focused on salvation, and was very similar to the Biblically-based witnessing method that Ray Comfort teaches. I turned the situation around and focused on my sinfulness and breaking of each commandment, and addressed the various popular methods people try to overcome such guilt (just feel sorry, try to do better, and hope your good works will overcome your sin).

Afterwards, while the men eat lunch, we walk around the room and try to share with the men. It always seems difficult to start conversations. The food, the weather – we try to use almost any topic to start a conversation. Since we played and sang “Joy to the World” with our instruments, sometimes a person will bring the song up. Anytime a conversation starts our goal is to bring it around to spiritual things. I attempted to have conversations (small talk) with three or four men and it was obvious they didn’t want to talk – so I kept trying.

I then talked with Jerry. I noticed he was wearing a Royals baseball jacket and I asked if he wore the coat even in the off season. He said it was his only coat (which makes sense – it IS a homeless shelter) – and I commented on how I’m always amazed at the difference between baseball games (180+) and football (16), and how I couldn’t understand how the football players get such an “easy” season. I asked him if he was from the area, and then asked what brought him to the Mission (trying to transition the conversation to spiritual issues). He’s recently been released from prison, but will be going back soon for another few months. He is separated from his wife (she is living with another man), and he rarely gets to see his little daughter.

I asked him if he believed in heaven or hell and he said ‘yes’. I asked him if he felt he was a good person, and he said ‘yes’. I asked if he felt he has kept the commandments, and he said ‘yes’. We discussed a few specific commandments and he readily agreed that he had lied, stolen, and lusted (as have I). When I asked him if God judged him based on these commandments if he would be guilty or innocent, he said “guilty”. I then asked him, based upon his guilt, who he spend eternity in heaven or hell – and he said “hell.” I asked him if that concerns him and if he ever thinks about eternity and he said “yes.” I shared with him the good news, and asked if he has a Bible. He said he did, but doesn’t read it much. Turns out the Bible is with his wife, so he doesn’t even have access to it. I asked him if he would read a Bible if I gave him one, and he said he would. I gave him a Soul Winner’s New Testament and showed him the underlined verses and where John was located – encouraging him to read there. We talked about how valuable our eyes are and how we would never sell them, and how much more valuable our souls are – he agreed. He was incredibly open and listened intently while we were talking. I’m praying for his salvation.

I then went back to the platform to check on the others and found they were still waiting for Dad (who was sharing with a gentleman who was rededicating his life to Christ). The room was almost empty, and there were several men working on cleaning the room up. I noticed one man in the back corner, sitting by himself. He seemed to be dressed nicer than the others, and had a cleaner-cut appearance than most. I went back to him (he was just in the process of getting up) and commented on his appearance, his tie, his leather jacket, his suit coat, and said he didn’t seem like most – and asked what had brought him to the shelter. He had lost his job and then his apartment. I asked if he had any family in the area that cared for him and he said ‘no, he had been raised in an orphanage.’ I asked if he had any friends, and he said ‘no’. I commented on how difficult and sad such a life would be – and how spoiled I feel my life has been to be surrounded by love. My goal was to then discuss salvation and introduce him to my Best Friend.

As we talked I asked him if he believed in a heaven and hell, and he said ‘yes’. I asked him if he felt he was a good person, and he said ‘yes’. I asked him if he had kept the commandments, and he said ‘yes’. We then discussed several, lying, stealing, and lusting. I then asked that if God were to judge him based upon those commandments would he be innocent or guilty, and he said ‘innocent’. I said (in love), “John, but you just admitted that you – like myself – are a liar and a thief – how could God say you are innocent when even you know you are guilty?” He said he felt God would forgive him for what he has done. We talked more about our law breaking, guilt, and how asking forgiveness isn’t enough – it is a good thing to do, but doesn’t deal with our past sin. I asked if he had a Bible, and he said he didn’t. When we revisited the subject of being guilty or innocent he did say he would be guilty, and that he was headed for hell. I asked if that concerned him and he said it did. I then asked if I were to give him a Bible would he read it. We had more New Testaments in the car, so I went out, got one, and brought it in for him. I wrote his name in the cover, along with my name and a web site that he could use to contact us. I then asked if I could pray with him and did so. Following that, I said that no one has probably hugged him before but that I would like to give him a hug before leaving – and he said OK. I gave him a hug, shook his hand, and left. I’m praying for John’s salvation.