As I preached the gospel at the Jan Heidt Newhall Metrolink Station, I noticed a man and a woman sitting on a bench a short distance from me. As I started to preach, the man turned and looked in my direction. A smile crossed his face. I don’t remember it every leaving. About halfway through my sermon, the man got up from the bench and moved to a closer one.
When I finished preaching, I began to distribute bibles. The man got up from the bench, approached me, asked for a Bible, shook my hand, and asked if he could speak to me in private.
I asked the man if he wouldn’t mind waiting for a few minutes while I distributed bibles. He gladly agreed.
When it seemed there was no one else in the immediate area who wanted a Bible, I walked over to the man and introduced myself.
His name was Harvey.
During our conversation, Harvey told me he was 54 years old. He looked 74. As a retired deputy sheriff and now having been on the streets for a decade preaching the gospel, it was obvious to me that Harvey had lived a difficult life–a life that might have included some form of substance abuse (maybe alcohol).
Harvey and his wife, Lynn, are presently homeless.
Harvey began our conversation by asking me if I was familiar with Grace Baptist Church (one of the largest churches in town–a church known for solid teaching and a significant footprint in the community). I told him I was. He asked me if I knew a certain couple that attended the church. I did not.
Harvey shared with me a story I’ve heard from a number of homeless people in my community–a story of bouncing from church to church, never being able to give a clear reason as to why they left one for another, and then another. Sadly, while it is certainly not always the case, many homeless people move from church to church, availing themselves to each church’s kindness, , hospitality, and generosity until each church begins to expect things from them–things like: sobriety, an effort to seek even temporary employment, and/or a willingness to receive and apply godly counsel.
I don’t know if this was Harvey and Lynn’s modus operandi, but Harvey’s story sounded very familiar.
Harvey told me which church he and Lynn were heading to that evening. The church provides meals and showers to those in need. Such benevolence is laudable, and every church should do what it can to love its neighbors in tangible ways. But when I heard the name of the church to which church Harvey and Lynn planned to go, I quickly suggested Faith Community Church, just a moderate walk away from the train station. Placerita Canyon Baptist Church is equidistant, but Harvey said he had been there many years ago. Both are good churches.
I would have suggested my church (Grace Community), of course, but with no transportation and the church being a good 15-20 miles away, it just didn’t seem practical.
The reason I tried to steer Harvey clear of the church he was going to visit is that, although the church can meet his physical needs, it is a gospel-less church. While well-intentioned, I am sure, the church would merely make Harvey and Lynn (if they are not already saved) more comfortable on their way to hell.
Then Harvey mentioned the recent death of his mother. I offered my condolences.
Harvey began to cry.
Harvey had already heard almost 40 minutes of gospel preaching. I was using the half-mile hailer and Harvey sat only 30-40 feet away. Even if Harvey had been mostly deaf and disinterested, he would have heard the preaching. But Harvey had good hearing and what seemed to be a keen interest. With this in mind, I opted to handle Harvey as gently as possible. He was obviously in great emotional pain, even though he tried to mask it with his bright smile.
When the time seemed right, I began to ask Harvey some diagnostic questions to try to ascertain where he was, spiritually.
Harvey said that he grew up in the church and that he had made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ when he was 13. Although he somewhat beat around the bush, I could tell Harvey hadn’t consistently been to church or read the Bible in many years. Yet he persisted–not angrily, but confidently–in holding on to the profession of faith he made as an early teen.
I took Harvey through a “Three Minutes to Live” scenario. As I expected, Harvey could not articulate the gospel to me. Yet when I took him through the gospel, Harvey affirmed it. When asked, Harvey told me that he wasn’t a good person and that being “good” wasn’t a requirement for entrance into heaven. He understood salvation by grace through faith, in Christ alone. He said that’s what he believed.
Am I confident Harvey is my brother in Christ? No. But getting Harvey to answer all my questions in the right way wouldn’t be a slam-dunk indicator of his salvation either. Many people who have grown up in church can sound very Christian, without being born-again.
So, I chose to leave the question of Harvey’s salvation right where it belonged–in the hands of the Sovereign One who determined in eternity past whether or not Harvey would enter the kingdom of heaven. I preached the gospel to Harvey. I talked to Harvey about his spiritual condition. I gave Harvey and his wife bibles. My work was done.
That is, my gospel work was done.
The Lord allowed me to meet a couple of their physical needs. What those were is unimportant.
Harvey and I talked for a little while longer–mostly about his brother who was healing from a broken leg in a recovery house, in Los Angeles.
After my conversation with Harvey, I realized that when Harvey asked to talk to me he really just wanted someone to talk to. I was glad the Lord allowed me to be there to do that.
The train station was pretty slow by that point. There were only a couple people at the bus stop and a few waiting for the train, on the platform. So, I decided to read from Psalms. I thought, if nothing else, it might serve as an encouragement to Harvey and Lynn. While they had to go in order to get to the church by 6:00 PM, I think they heard most of Psalms 1-8.
Please join me in thanking the Lord for this ministry opportunity–an opportunity facilitated by open-air preaching. And pray for Harvey and Lynn.
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