One of the fun things about witnessing is that you meet all kinds of people. Whether lost or saved, all have something special about them.
I actually can’t remember the first time I met John. It was probably when I was out with some other soul-winners on the streets. But John and I became fast friends. He came from a different walk of life than me, but we walked the same narrow path. We could have some really fun and easy conversations.
I learned very quickly that John knew his Bible very well. He could quote the Scriptures so easily.
But he also loved to witness! He loved to share his faith. He loved having a good conversation with someone and giving them the truth about Jesus. He was very persuasive in how he presented his points about the Bible and Jesus.
He also loved to hand tracts out!
Luke 10:2
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
John was homeless. John lived on the streets. He built himself a nice shed under a bridge.
Homelessness was just his way of life. A few of us tried to help him get off the streets, but he never really wanted to. It was just how he lived, and he was fine with it. Sometimes, he would arrive back at his “home,” and all of his belongings would be stolen. Other times, the police would come through and take all of the encampments down. But it never deterred John. He would just rebuild and live his life.
From left to right: John, John, Chris, and David
From left to right: John, Chris, David, John, ____, Kevin
If I were heading downtown to witness, I would text John to see if he would be in the area. He was very faithful to come out witnessing. In one area by a large concert venue, I would take the upper area and hand tracts out to people as they were going into the concert. John would stand by the subway and hand tracts to the people exiting the subway and coming up the escalators. When these two spots were covered, we could hand out a ton of gospel tracts.
Every now and then, as I was handing out tracts at the top, John would walk up to me. Yes, the police had told him to leave! The problem was that he was standing in a spot that is legal to hand out tracts. So sometimes, I would walk back with him to that area and talk with the police. I would show them a paper I have from the train system’s lawyer, which says we could stand there and witness. Police don’t like to be “shown up,” but we can’t let them take our rights away. Also, when we stand our ground, it is easier for the people who come after us to not get hassled either.
At times, I wondered if they were giving John a hard time just because he was homeless and looked homeless, whatever that means.
Sometimes after a night of witnessing, we would stop at a nice restaurant near the venue and have a good meal. I loved the looks on some people’s faces as we walked in! I didn’t care. He was a friend, and we were celebrating a good night of witnessing.
Luke 12:28
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Matthew 25:23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
John went to glory last week! He went to sleep and woke up in heaven. He finally got to see the One who died for His sins and the One he shared with others so many times down here. Jesus is real, and John really, really, really knows that now!
John was a faithful man of God. We all need faith like he had. Yes, his dreams came true last night, but he will be sorely missed by many down here.
Job well done, John. See you soon!
Until the nets are full,
P.S.
