We have in recent months shared some of the more humorous things that have happened to me in the last 45 years in the ministry. Sometimes however instead of happening to me they were instigated by me.
Many years ago I became acquainted with an evangelist who held major belts in martial arts.As I also held belts in martial arts we soon became friends. On one occasion I enlisted his help in a youth meeting. We scheduled the service for a Wednesday night. Too reach as many as possible I was able to schedule special assemblies regarding health and martial arts in several public schools. At the close of each assembly we would invite all the students to the special meeting on Wednesday.
After one such assembly when we finished and returned to the car to travel to the next meeting the evangelist said to me he was so thirsty. I asked if he would like something to drink. He said to me just go through McDonalds and get me an ice cream cone. I pulled in. bought an ice cream for him.
Now I always drive with my arm on the back of the seat. I looked at him eating his ice cream and asked, "How can you eat that? It smells funny." He then raised the ice cream to his nose to smell it. When he did I slapped him in the back of the head and his nose dived into his ice cream. He was so shocked he turned to me , with the cone still on his nose, and said I was the only man he ever met that was brave enough to do that! It was hysterical!
By the way, that Wednesday we had over 900 hundred teenagers at the meeting with over 80 professions of faith. Yes the ministry is exciting and can be full of funny events. However we must never forget the great commission Jesus gave to the church. Many may ask did those 80 plus really get saved? Only the Lord knows that and we will not know until we get to Heaven. That does not though relieve us of the duty to preach the gospel. We must keep in mind that the Bible says "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
I appreciate our pastor's recent article on ditches. There are certainly two ditches. After being in hundreds of churches I have seen churches in both ditches. Though it is sad when churches compromise just to get a crowd it is also a tragedy of the hundreds of churches who have not a soul saved in years and years and some have even turned there baptistries into flower pots!!
Thank God for a church and pastor that preaches the whole counsel of God and has a heart for the unsaved. Next time you eat an ice cream cone, share this story and take the opportunity to share the gospel with someone.
