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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: SOUL / SOLE (03/02/23)
As a boy in the small village of Ick Worthing, Josiah’s father was the pastor of the small Baptist church. His mother Ann and his two older sisters were all involved in the running of things like teaching Sunday school, the once a week ‘feeding the poor’ outreach and helping at the small local farm.
Salaries were not paid to pastors, so his dad had to do a week day job.
He was a good mechanic so he fixed cars, tractors and bikes.

Josiah was a quiet boy and loved reading but he did get involved in the family activities too. He learned how to fix cars and he helped on the farm. He loved the sound of nature around him. Birds singing raised his spirits and lifted his soul. Black birds, thrush and nightingles..a plenty.

In his late teenage years, he made the decision to accept Christ and knew that his life would never be the same. He avidly listened to sermons, read and memorized
Bible verses. The Bible was his sole passion then. Often he read of nations in the Far East and in Africa where people worshipped false gods and then there are the nations tht do not believe in God.
It encouraged him when he read and heard about missionairies who went to those nations; men like Hudson Taylor who went to China, David Livinstone to Africa and William Carey to India. They inspired him. Soul winning became his life purpose.

Sadly, he realised that even in England, the national church was having difficulties with their faith and belief in the absolute truths of God’s Word. However the non-denominationals were thriving and growing.

Soon, Josiah’s sole purpose in life was the winning of souls for Jesus.
After praying and fasting, he believed that The Lord had an answer for him.
He asked for his parents ’prayers as he went. Using a microphone and carrying a cross, he would find locations like market squares and he would preach about God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, The Bible and primarily; salvation.The adverse reactions of many local folks surprised him, but many did stop and listen. Some gave their lives to Jesus. He bacame known as the Ick Worthing Street preacher. Soul saving was indeed his sole passion. Often supporters would come and stand with him as he preached.

The street ministry grew. He began to hear of other brave believers preaching in their own towns all over England. He was frequently asked to address Christian conferences about his work. In his non-preaching days he continued to help on the farm and fixing cars with his dad.

Now, in his thirties, he is single and singleminded about his ministry.
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This article has been read 338 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jennifer Woodley 
03/09/23
This is a great story. There is however, a few grammatical errors in this article and it would have been worth rereading it again before submission. You have highlighted the homonyms well and woven them together in a tight fashion.
Bonnie Clarkson
03/10/23
It's a well written. Not too many sentences in a row starting with nouns. Good use of a variety of sentences starting with phrases.
You need to double check the name of the missionary that went to Africa; I believe it is misspelled.
Stories need conflict and I kept waiting for it. As it is, it is mainly historical facts. The last sentence fell flat for me.
Keep writing.
Jennifer Percell
03/10/23
Interesting report of the young man's spiritual development. It would be nice to have some specific experiences to add life to the story. Always good to read and write about faith! Keep it up.
Rachel Rudd
03/13/23
He sounds like someone worth writing about. Maybe a first person viewpoint could show more of his thoughts and feelings? Thanks for sharing and please keep writing!
Barbara Culler 
03/14/23
Interesting story.

You could have better brought it to life by doing more showing how the main character was feeling, doing, etc.

Is this a true story?
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/14/23
This is a fascinating history. I really liked the name of the town. Even in nonfiction, you can still spice things up more with dialog, body language, and thoughts. When you go over it, look at each line and ask if it moves the story forward. It's especially hard to do with true stories because the information is all in your head. I'm not sure if this is true, but if it is, you can still write in creative nonfiction genre to make it pop more. You did a nice job of using both topic words. You have a clear message too. Nice job.