Here is a story, about a nine year old boy who
lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the
community. A church there had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one
Saturday afternoon. The child came to answer the door and greeted the bus
pastor. The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the small boy told
him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care
of his little brother. The bus pastor couldn't believe what the child said and asked
him to repeat it. The youngster gave the same answer and the bus pastor asked
to come in and talk with him.
They went into the living room and sat down on
an old couch with the foam and springs exposed. The
bus pastor asked the child, "Where do you go to church?" The young
boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never been to church in my
whole life.” The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church
was less than three miles from the child's house. “Are you sure you have never
been to church?" he asked again. "I'm sure I haven't," came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son,
more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love
story ever told?" and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little
nine year old boy. The young lad's heart began to be tenderized and at the end
of the bus pastor's story, the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive
this free gift from God. The youngster exclaimed, "OF COURSE!" The child
and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his little
heart and received the free gift of salvation. They both stood up and the bus
pastor asked if he could pick the child up for church the next morning." Sure,"
the nine year old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next
morning and found the lights off. He let himself in and snaked his way through
the house and found the little boy asleep in his bed. He woke up the little boy
and his brother and helped get them dressed. They got on the bus and ate a
doughnut for breakfast on their way to church. Keep in mind that this boy had
never been to church before.
The church was a real big one. The little
child just sat there, clueless of what was going on. A few minutes into the
service, these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some
wooden plates. One of the men prayed and the child, with utter fascination,
watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn't know what was going
on. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, it hit the child what was taking place.
These people must be giving money to Jesus. He then reflected on the free gift
of life he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. He immediately searched
his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus. By this
time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and, with a broken
heart, he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. He finally let go and
watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned around to see it passed down the
aisle behind him. And then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was
passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and everybody,
got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by
the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time. Then he did the most
astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the plate, sat it on the
carpeted church floor and stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he
lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give
you today, but just me. I give you me!"
Richard
D’Andrea Dover
In His
Steps Ministries
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Bill Wilson, Metro Ministries