Gone Fishin' TwoSample

Gone Fishin'
by Drake Mariani

I Used To Share Jesus Everywhere

When I became a Christian at the age of 21, I was telling everybody I knew about Jesus. But as the years went on my circle of friends became nearly all Christians. Talking to people about becoming a Christian became a rarity. Have you experienced that? Are all your friends Christians? Do you wonder if you've become too self-centered? I realized I was missing out on all that joy.

Then God Opened My Eyes

Gone Fishin' began in my heart Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

A friend of mine shared in a message to our adult fellowship "If you ever wish you had more ministry, just go sit in the waiting room of a hospital." I instantly knew this is what the Lord wanted me to do. I've been watching another friend for years faithfully share Christ wherever she went. I always wanted to be like that.

This could be titled “Gone Lovin’” because I simply want to be Jesus to people. If that includes sharing the complete gospel too, great!

As it turns out, this excitement is now happening wherever I go. I have returned to my “New Christian” lifestyle. What a blessing.

Bob, an alcoholic, 73, lost his sister to cancer at 37 and struggles with God because of it.

This morning I asked God to give me an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with somebody going through deep waters; would He please open that door for me as I went to the hospital.

I had enjoyed 6 to 10 conversations prior to this time but never shared the gospel, just the love of God and prayer for people.

I began the two-mile walk to St Jude hospital and took a little detour and came face-to-face with Bob. After some small talk, we agreed to walk down Harbor toward St Jude hospital together.

During that time I got to know about his wife and kids, that he was an alcoholic and had been through the 12 Steps and struggles with God because his sister suffered and died of cancer at 37.

He felt some guilt that maybe he hadn't done all he could, and kind of didn't know what to think about God because of her suffering and death.

When he talked about Carol I asked him "Where are you in your spiritual journey Bob? Because of how you felt difficulty believing in a higher power (alcoholics anonymous) because of Carol's death."

Well, I listened to Bob tell his story and was asking God for wisdom. I saw a bus stop where we could have sat down but somebody sat on it before we got there. I wondered if Satan was involved, trying to stop me from sharing Jesus. I kept praying.

When we got down to the Hungry Bear restaurant there was a light pole with cement around we could sit on, so when I asked him if I could share something with him that might help him with his feelings about his sister and he said sure.

I told him that this morning before I took my trip to bring hope to folks in the waiting room at the hospital I had downloaded an article called Steps to Peace with God. I could have used verses I have memorized, but this just seemed best at this time.

He read it out loud step by step. I asked him some questions along the way.

He read through the prayer of salvation before I could ask him if he would be willing to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. I wanted to go over the part that talks about being a sinner and needing to repent etc.

I asked the Lord what to do at that point and He said to me in my heart to see if he'd be willing for you to send it to him for him to think about at home. I did. He said yes and I emailed it to him along with a picture of Gina and me.

We shook hands and went our separate ways.

“Lord, you amaze me! I ask to share the Gospel. You guide me to a back trail for bikers and as I’m walking, you place Bob, coming my way. About 5 minutes after my prayer.”

I decided to not continue to the hospital because God already answered my prayer! I got to share the Gospel!

I was wrong. See my next story about Adrian the roaming college student from Ohio.

Please say a prayer for Bob.