Hello Family and Friends,
    This is not just a forward but it is an amazing story that just happened to me today (2-19-02). The location is Clermont, Florida where I am presently an Intern Pastor. If you like it please continue to share it. Anyone can use this story anywhere.
 
The Least Likely

    "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14 (NKJV)

    Jesus spoke these words in the middle of a chapter telling of the signs of His second coming. In this chapter there are prophecies exactly like what is happening today in our world - they are inspired. Today this prophecy is coming true. Our church is working in every country where it is legally possible, right? Everyone is getting the opportunity to know Jesus right? Yes and no.

    This past Sabbath I met a guy named Jessie. Fred, a church member, and I were out doing surveys in a neighborhood that wasn't so "classy." There I saw a young man who looked about 17 with an eyebrow ring and earrings in both ears. He looked hardened, almost scary as he approached on his skateboard. Fred and I figured the time for doing surveys was over for
the day so we were walking back to the car. I justified not talking to him because he didn't "look" interested. (Sadly this is coming from me, a guy who wrote a sermon named, "Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover.")

    As I was putting our stuff in the car Fred, who is in his early 50's approached this guy. What he said made me cringe. "Do you have any questions about the Bible?" he asked Jessie. "Actually I do" was his honest reply. By this time I was done putting the stuff in the car so I went over to see if this guy might be interested. Fred turned to me and said in his usual straightforward manner, "Tom, survey this guy." I grabbed my clipboard from the car and returned. I went through the survey with him and I found out this young man had read the Bible through before but it didn't make much sense to him. I asked him if he would like for me to come by and study with him. He looked kind of stunned but answered "Yes." I warmed up to talking with Jessie right away, under the tattoos and body piercing there was a scared young man who was trying to seek God. He had been through the mill. Almost 20 he is still working on high school because he recently recovered from a drug addiction. He also has a young infant and he is not married to the mother of his child.

    I'm writing this right after my first study with him. Today at 4:00 p.m. I got to his house where he greeted me with casual warmth. The first study I planned was on the topic of the Second Coming but about two verses into it I found out I had to cover the basics before we could hit such an issue. He finally told me he was scared because he knows that if we sin we can't go to heaven and he felt he still has a lot of struggles in his life to overcome. This gave me the perfect opportunity tell him
the good news of forgiveness. But he wanted to know what was next, how do you keep from continuing in sin because you can't be perfect? I talked to him about the born again experience, about how a new life in Christ involves, growing. I asked him if he would hurt his baby daughter if she fell down when learning to walk? He looked at me kind of funny and replied "Of course not." I told him it was exactly the same with God, as you grow in His love He wants to pick you up when you fall. As I was sharing this I remembered how, even though I might not have the past Jesse did, I was just as much of a sinner and in need of just as much of grace. When finished giving him a brief overview of the Bible it was time to leave. He said, "This is really exciting if you keep studying the Bible with me I might get to know it like you do."

    Usually I give second studies a week later. Guess when Jesse wants me to return? Tomorrow! As I was leaving his house and telling him good-bye he said, "This is really cool someone actually wants to come by and show me more about the Bible no one has ever wanted to do this for me." I was excited to have a very promising new Bible study contact but at the
same time I am humbled. If it had been up to me I wouldn't have met Jesse. I vowed never to miss an opportunity like that ever again no matter how unpromising someone looks.

    How many Jessie's are in your life? People young and old searching, but no one has ever given them an opportunity to know Christ. Yes, they are few and far between, but if we don't look for them we will be held accountable someday.
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:14,15
(NKJV)

    You are a preacher I am a preacher. Won't it be wonderful to meet someone you brought to Christ when you get to heaven? But you had better be watching they just might be the least likely person you know.
Tommy Shewmake