Kingdom Talk
01-24-18
A memorable Christmas
On December 13,a young man named Derek who walked into my office and told me, "I don't know where else to turn." His life was full of challenges: growing up in foster homes, dealing with a disability, and learning that he would not going to regain custody of his 4-year old daughter. I told him, "Derek, God has put you and I together this morning." We talked and we prayed, and he agreed to meet with me again. This is where the story gets interesting.
Derek told me that he had never been to First Lutheran Church before, and that he never really believed in anything spiritual. He said that he only stopped by because he saw a car (my car) in the church parking lot when he was driving by. I met with him every couple of days, took him out to lunch, talked with him on the phone, and shared Jesus. I met his daughter and invited them to worship with us that next Sunday.
Sunday came and so did Derek and his daughter! After worship and fellowship, the kitchen ladies sent Derek home with the extra food, and other members gave me cash to "anonymously" give to him. During the next week (the week before Christmas), members dropped off presents for Derek to be able to give Christmas presents to his daughter. I asked Derek if he and his daughter would like to be baptized, and with tears in his eyes said, "Yes!" Christmas Eve came and Derek and his daughter were baptized!
Derek told me that he had never been to First Lutheran Church before, and that he never really believed in anything spiritual. He said that he only stopped by because he saw a car (my car) in the church parking lot when he was driving by. I met with him every couple of days, took him out to lunch, talked with him on the phone, and shared Jesus. I met his daughter and invited them to worship with us that next Sunday.
Sunday came and so did Derek and his daughter! After worship and fellowship, the kitchen ladies sent Derek home with the extra food, and other members gave me cash to "anonymously" give to him. During the next week (the week before Christmas), members dropped off presents for Derek to be able to give Christmas presents to his daughter. I asked Derek if he and his daughter would like to be baptized, and with tears in his eyes said, "Yes!" Christmas Eve came and Derek and his daughter were baptized!
After Christmas, I gave him a call just to check in with him. He said, "Pastor Gary, I tried to share Jesus with my family and friends and... they all laughed at me." (I know, it breaks my heart too). I shared 1 Peter 4:14 with him where Peter says, "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."
The next Sunday, Derek and his daughter came to church, and he had brought some of his family members with him. Derek had only heard the salvation story of Jesus two weeks before this. Only two days before this, he was baptized. And now he is telling other people about Jesus AND inviting them to church?! Oh man, I want more "Dereks!"
It was a Christmas Eve that Derek will never forget, and one that I won't either. God is good!
It was a Christmas Eve that Derek will never forget, and one that I won't either. God is good!
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