1-800-HEAVEN HEY BUDDY, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?

When I was a young Christian, I had a question in my mind for some time about why people are also reluctant to hear the Truth of the gospel. In bible college, we had a class on evangelism, and we were instructed to go in couples to share the Lord's love for the lost. Easier said than done. Our outreach location was the community college, where, in the early 70s, the hippies were running wild. Starting a conversation with someone was never a problem for me, so making contact was fast. The first week was a breeze, but the second week was torture. At the end of the day, I examined the difference between the first and the second to find out what went wrong. Finally, I came up with one thing: the first week, I forgot my bible. The second week, I had it in clear sight. Everyone I approached saw it and did a U-turn or made a quick left or right, and instantly disappeared.

I presented my findings to the professor, and he had a typical answer for me: "Don’t give up; get out there and try harder." I wasn’t as young as my classmates, and not only that,  I had just served my time in the military and heard that line for 5 years. As the weeks went on and Tuesday and Thursday came around, a deep dread settled in my stomach, and I thought, “If only I could call in sick.” The stress built over the next five weeks, and only a couple of people were willing to let me share a few words. Each of those young people probably had a relationship at some point. All I could think about was that I finally got in a few punches. I hope the enemy had a black eye or two.

One day, I was driving down Second Street in El Cajon, California, on my way to church in the late afternoon, when I noticed a young man walking toward me. His head was down, and it seemed to me that something was cumbersome on his heart. I drove up the block a bit, turned around, and passed him up, then turned into the parking lot of a donut shop. Got out of the car and walked towards him on the sidewalk, and stopped a few yards in front of him. If I hadn’t said anything, he would have walked right into me. He stopped, looked up, and just stood there. “Hey, buddy, can you spare a dime?” That is what I should have said, but I didn’t; I just said, “How are you doing?” He started to say something, but couldn’t get anything out. So, I interjected, “How would you like to have a cup of coffee and a donut. He probably thought I was a cop.

As we sat down, I started to hear his story. It wasn’t something horrific that he was experiencing, but just the everyday stress of who I am and where I am going type of thing. But I did notice that his feelings were deep and really concerned him, to the point that he seemed to be in the middle of the desert, with no one to help and no way out. I instantly knew where he was in his turmoil because I had been there myself, a little while back. I was crossing the desert on foot, heading back to San Diego, after my car had blown its engine. Being stuck in the “desert on a horse with no name” (that was a line in a song), sorry. Yes, I literally needed help, and it eventually came. 

As we spoke, we seemed to open up a bit on both sides. He expressed his appreciation for my taking the time to respond to his situation. 

He didn't need anything, nor did he ask for a thing. He had become homeless and had no place to clean up, and he stated he had always been particular about his life. In the interaction, I had the opportunity to share the gospel and the importance of having God in one's life.  He accepted Christ right there in that donut shop. My health was full, and I was grateful that the Lord found me worthy to share His word. That night, I took him to Penny’s to get him some fresh clothes and invited him to attend Sunday service at 10 a.m. at the local church my wife and I attended. To my surprise, he was there and remained in that church long after we moved to a more active one.

I say that story to make a point. That night, I discovered a secret to effective evangelism. It is simple and yet profound. Since that night, I have continued to speak to everyone I meet as if they are all Christians. My speech is filled with what is always on my heart by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I do not differentiate between the saved and the unsaved. I include them in my verbal worship of my Savior. This way of living has opened many doors and given me the freedom to share the Word of God with anyone I meet. I believe everyone has the right to the truth of the gospel and that the life that is touched by the word is precious. I encourage you to do as the word tells you:

“Freely you have received, freely give.”

May the Lord of glory bless you, and may he fill your mouth with praise for our God in the presence of the lost and dying, so that when they hear, their spirit will be renewed unto glory and spend eternity with praise in worship to the Lord. Amen.