Proverbs 11:30
“…. he that winneth souls is wise.”
I am pretty sure he did not have any plan when he invited me, but when I said “yes, I would like to go’, the entire trajectory of my life changed for the better!
I had been working in a sewing factory, a long time ago! I became friends with virtually the only other younger person there, Ted. One day he asked if I would like to meet him at the church he went to. I had been raised in a Greek Catholic church, but I had not gone to that church in years! I liked Ted as a friend and thought it might be a nice change. It was on Sunday night! I never heard of church on Sunday night! Something prompted me to say yes! Now I know it was the wooing power of the Holy Spirit! I asked a mutual friend to come along-she agreed to go.
My life at this time was on a bad track to nowhere. I was a ship with no rudder, a tour with no guide, a compass with no needle. I needed direction and did not have a clue where I could find it. But Ted invited me to go to church with him. He could not have known that what I found there was the ‘needle’ for my compass!
Oh, I cannot say that the first time I just happily embraced the message and life became rosy. No, it was more a curiosity to find out what this was all about, I was intrigued! Now my friend was not intrigued at all! She did not want to return to the church again, but I had to go back! I was being drawn and I could not resist if I wanted to.
I had never seen anything like it! I was from a liturgical tradition. In that church there were icons on the walls, candles in front of paintings of saints, priests wearing elaborate robes and young boys in simple robes carrying what the priest required. People stopped before the pew, genuflected and made the sign of the cross on themselves. The mass was mostly in Russian, the prayers were in Russian, and we responded with written words…in Russian!
While I believe there was nothing wrong with any of these traditions, I really felt I needed more of an understanding of what all this had to do with me in my life. Oh, I learned the Ten Commandments and always tried to live up to them, but I needed something more relevant to my life and my needs. I hoped I would find it at this new church.
I entered a clean well-lit room with vaulted ceilings and filled with pews. I was familiar with the pews, but not much else. A piano was on one side of the front altar area, a drum set was on the other. Hmmm-I never saw this in my church. There were bare walls, no burning candles and no kneelers or prayer books. Before I became comfortable in a pew, the Pastor came up to us and introduced himself. a pleasant man in a suit with a wife and two children around my age. Soon we were greeted by Ted, and he introduced us to a plethora of people that all seemed very anxious to meet us. It was almost time for the service to begin and we found seats. Then the music started! I picked up a song book from the book rack in front of me and found the number. I knew how to follow along with the music, though I had not heard these songs before. They were touching my heart. The Pastor’s message, hit me hard. Finally, prayer, more introductions, and we were on our way home.
Patty never returned with me, sadly. I was hooked! I felt more joyful and carefree than I had been in years! I returned again and again. I was invited to hang out with the young adults, and I found a group of people I enjoyed being around.
Finally, one Sunday evening when the invitation was given to receive Jesus as my Savior and forgiver for all your sins, I went forward! I knelt at the altar and gave my confused life to Jesus! He made something beautiful out of my broken world!
Think about this. Each and every person that comes to Christ has been wooed by Holy Spirit, and often invited by someone! Billy Graham was invited by a prominent evangelist, Mordecai Ham. Spurgeon was invited by Robert Eaglen, DL Moody was invited by Edward Kimball. It is rare when an individual comes to Christ on their own.
I went to high school with two Jesus followers. I knew they had some different lifestyles than I did, but they never invited me to church or shared their beliefs. I don’t fault them; I probably was not ready to receive it. However, if you ever feel that nudge of the Holy Spirit to share Jesus with someone, or you just believe you should invite someone to go with you to church-don’t hesitate! You will never know if that person is the one who will have a life-changing encounter with Jesus and usher in the next revival! I am sure glad Ted asked me! I met my first love Jesus at that church, and my second love, Ron my husband there also. I would be lost without them both!
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