A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Church...

... the Catholic church I intended to preach at, that is. Its been a longer journey than I thought it should be, but thank God His path always arrives at His destination. Starting out, I was scared to take the first step. Scared may be the wrong word; apprehensive is probably more appropriate. Knocking on my first door with the intent of giving someone the Gospel was a big step for me. As I traveled the path, God has taken me from the first scary step, and trying to force people to accept the salvation so freely offered them through the shed blood of Jesus Christ to training people how to share the Gospel and trusting God to bring the increase rather than do it on my own strength. Now there's another step: open air preaching in front of a catholic church.

Yesterday, before going to the church I planned on preaching at, I had a great desire to follow up on a previous visit I had while working a bus route a few weeks ago. The man I spoke with had been drinking, and was in fact, in the process of drinking when I knocked on the door. Turns out he was visiting a friend who had just stepped out. Inspite of the alcohol, we had a grwat conversation and it was obvious his life so far had left him painfully empty. I didn't get through the entire Gospel with him that day, but he did promise to come out the following day saying, "If your pastor preaches like you just did, I'm going to like your church." I assured him my pastor preached way better than I.

He didn't come, but I prayed about him frequently. So having the time to do so, I went to visit him. I knocked on his door, waited a while, and he answered. He invited me in and after some small talk, we got down to life and death conversations. He was asking great questions while God was unfolding the Gospel to him through me. I looked at my watch to find that I had been there for an hour and was now in a tight spot. I could leave immediately and make it to the church, or continue with Max. I prayed and asking God to forgive me, stayed with Max. He was a right now only opportunity, the church I could go to at any time.

Max prayed and received Jesus Christ as his Saviour. After praying he looked up at me and asked, "What now?" I love it when a new convert asks that question. Its a strong sign that they have been born again, looked around them, realized all things have become new, and are looking for instructions for this new life. I told him the next thing God wants him to do is tell others about what Jesus has done for him. I was leading into baptism with that statement. "Ok," he said, "I can do that. Do I have to try and force them to believe?" I have my next soul winning partner all picked out.

I left Max's after answering some more questions and arranging to pick him up for church, and drove to the catholic church. I couldn't get them going in, but I could get them coming out. Or so I thought. There was no one there. Feeling a little dissapointed, a little like I had disobeyed my God, and a lot joyous over Max's salvation, I went home.

As I thought about the Catholic church this morning, I decided to go before the 8:00am service. As the church is just blocks from my I house, I dressed warm and walked. Once again there was no one there. Just this summer when I drove by there were masses of people arriving for an 8am service, now nothing. I went back at 9:00 and found the same number of people there as the first two times. I'm glad I stayed to finish with Max. It looks like I'll have to find another location for my street preaching. Maybe God has already shut this one down.

The greater the task, the greater my dependency, the greater my faith, the greater my God. I must go do what I can not do.