Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Evangelism (11/01/07)
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TITLE: Unnamed Thirty Minutes: A True Story of a Man in a Dumpster | Previous Challenge Entry
By R.K. Minor
11/07/07 -
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“I don’t want any trouble,” were the first words.
The voice came from the schools dumpster as I took out my last load of trash on that cold January night. Much to my surprise a young man stood inside the dumpster looking through trash bags.
“Don’t call the cops,” he said.
“I am not looking for any trouble either,” I surprisingly replied, “What are you looking for.”
“Food,” he replied, “I know schools throw away good food.”
“Why are you out on a cold night like this,” I asked.
I stood there watching as he threw a bundle to the ground and climbed over the edge of the dumpster and jumped to the ground.
“I am headed for Georgia,” he said.
“You are walking to Georgia,” I questioned.
As he stood there and slowly made eye contact with me I could tell, he was frightened and very hungry.
Slowly he told me, “I lived north of here, and I have relatives in Georgia. I have nothing left here, no home, no job, or family, so I am walking to Georgia to be with my family.”
As we talked I threw my trash into the dumpster. I noticed his hands, covered in only a pair of jersey work gloves worn with holes that could not possibly keep out the bitter January night air. Thinking quickly, I ask him if he liked pizza.
“Pizza, I like pizza but I have nothing to buy it with,” he told me.
“Do not worry about buying it, I know the person running the basketball concession stand, follow me.”
We walked across the parking lot with him answering my questions with a simple yes or no. As we got closer to the school entrance, he reminded me that he did not want any trouble and would just sit outside and wait. As I entered the door, I turned and told him it would take several minutes to get the pizza. He nodded and I walked into the warm school thinking about how I could help this child of God. As a Christian, I thought this would be a good time to talk to him about Jesus. I found him sitting on the curb just as I left him in the cold night air.
“I did not know if you would bring back pizza or the cops,” he said with a surprised look on his face.
“No,” I replied as I handed him the plate. Searching for the right words, I ask him if he ever seeked help from any churches.
“Church, I grew up in church,” as he downed his first slice. I have helped every year with the Christmas program and vacation Bible school.”
He told me how he lost his car, and then his apartment when he lost his job. His preacher invited him to stay in the church basement until he could find another job.
“People won’t hire you if you do not have a place to live,” he said as he started on his second slice of pizza.
He continued to tell me how people in the church started treating him differently when they found out about him living in the church basement and questioning the preacher why this was allowed. The preacher said this was God’s house and as long as it was ok with God, it was ok with him.
“Can you imagine, a woman who was once my Sunday school teacher stood up in front of everyone and wanted me out,” he said, “the next day several of the Board members drove me to a homeless shelter.”
“I know the Lord brother, He is with me on this journey.” He said as he stood and pulled his bundle over his shoulder.
“Thanks brother and God Bless,” he said as he walked off into the darkness.
I prayed that God would be with him and thanked Him for my many blessings. Feeling the cold night air on my skin I wondered if my ‘brother in Christ’ would make it to Georgia? I may never know. I do know that on that cold January night a stranger called me brother. Many Sunday mornings I have been called brother, but for the first time in my Christian life, a nameless stranger made me feel like I belonged to the family of God. On that cold January night, I question, who was the evangelist spreading God’s word?
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