Gone Fishin' FourSample
Gone Fishin'
I met June, a 50 year old Filipino divorced man, while handing out Good News club flyers. Since he had no children, I asked him if there was anyway I could pray for him. He said just a new job for the new year. I asked him to tell me all about it, which he did.
He asked if I went to that church around the corner, Calvary Chapel. I said no. He said, "I haven't been to church in a long time. We used to go when we lived in the Philippines, but my brother and I don't go anymore here. I'm a Catholic. I found it to be very boring."
I said, "So where are you on your spiritual journey then, June?"
"Well, I believe in Jesus Christ so I'm probably okay," he said. I asked him if he thought he'd actually make it into heaven, and he thought maybe he might but he wasn't sure.
He said, "I just have trouble believing there is a hell." I said, "I totally understand. It's an awful thought, isn't it? You might be surprised that there's more about hell than there is about heaven in the New Testament"
I added, "The Bible says it's appointed for man once to die and after this the judgment. That Jesus said men's thoughts are quite evil. And that Jesus said, "He who believes in me will have eternal life but he does not believe in me, the wrath of God will come upon him." What do you think about that?" I asked.
He grimaced, smiled, said “Well I don't like it,” and smiled again.
I said, "If you're going to believe in Jesus like you say you do, then you need to believe in what He says, wouldn't you think?"
He said, "Yeah, I guess so."
I said "You know, you asked me to pray for you. Let me pray for you right now." I prayed that God would provide him a permanent job that he would love. He thanked me a lot.
I told him that if he wanted to visit that Calvary Chapel, that I live at the house with the artificial turf so that he could come and talk with me more if he wanted to. That I would skip my church and go with him to Calvary Chapel because I've been there before, and I really like it.
He said, "Well, that would be great because I'm pretty shy."
Not having a pen and not believing I would be able to locate which apartment was his at a later time, I offered him one of two tracts that I had with me.
The first one is a business card where you can scan the back of it and get the Jesus movie. The other one is Steps to Peace with God.
He said, "Could I have both?" I said, "Of course." We shook hands, and I moved on to the next house.
"Dear Lord, help me to find his house again so that I can pursue this conversation a little further, and thank you for reminding me to take those two tracts with me when my main purpose was just to invite children to a free Christmas party in the Park :-) Move in his heart please, Lord, to watch the movie and to read "Steps to Peace with God" and to realize he is a sinner in need of salvation. In Jesus' name. Thank you for the opportunity, Lord God!"
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.” — Winston S. Churchill
I am learning to love the people with whom God’s Spirit is prompting me to share His story. I never know what God might already be doing in their lives. The love of Jesus has stirred within me and completely overcome my fears and obstacles to sharing. Praise the Lord!
What an adventure! To God be the glory!
Please say a prayer for June to read the tract and watch the movie.
Be Encouraged. Be Inspired.
Have GOALS.
Go. Open Your Mouth. Ask Questions. Love. Share your story.
About this Plan
Many people are smiling, but hurting inside. I have discovered that God is doing something in everyone's life, and He's doing something in mine too! I'm loving/praying for strangers like never before. And they are grateful. These personal stories in my life are to help you help others move one step closer to God.
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