In The Pit

Heading out to conduct our Sunday evening soul winning course, I began thinking about the possibility of being assigned an area that would put me close to a catholic church where I may preach. I had three young teens going with me. The assignments were being handed out. My turn came around and there was a little discussion of where I would go. The mall or a street. I drew a street - St. Annes: right under the shadow of the catholic base of operation in Scranton. PERFECT! I've been in this situation before with some of the worst results I've ever gotten.

I was excited. God has arranged by His own design the place where I would go and He would work. The very people He has been preparing me to preach to.

The first door we knocked on was closed almost as quickly as it opened. The second never opened, the occupant walked up to the door from outside. He listened to our introduction, but declined to entertain a conversation. The third door was answered by a young man who said he wasn't sure he would go to heaven, but thought that because he is a devout catholic, he would get in. I shared the Gospel with him and he prayed to receive Christ.

The last door was answered by a lady who had been seated by a nice fire place which I spoke to her about. The conversation easily progressed to spiritual questions to which she said she did not know if she would go to heaven, but thought what she had done on earth would get her in. I offered to share the Gospel with her, but she declined stating that she had her own religion and she was very involved. I asked if she went to St. Annes. She said yes and that she was some kind of teacher there. I shared a bit of my testimony with her about wanting to go to church but being unable to figure out why, began asking people why they went. No one was able to give me a satisfying answer. I said, "I don't want this to sound rude, but I'm not sure of a tactful way to ask it. If going to church can't give you assurance of going to heaven, why go?" She said that was a very good question, one she could not answer. I told her God wanted her to be certain that she was going and even says that's why He gave us the Bible. She then asked the teens if they knew how to be certain, to which Christian said, "I do," and told her accepting Jesus Christ was the way. She said, "I suppose that would be good."

I jumped in, gave her the Gospel in brief format, and she said that she would have to think about it. The thing is, she really was thinking about it. In a normally cold, hard, unreceptive community, God is saving souls. I can't wait to go back. Watch God turn that whole area to Him! I serve a big, soul saving God who's hand is not shortened that He can not save.

PRAISE GOD!