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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HOPE (joyful, confident expectation in salvation) (03/05/15)
“What can his kids look forward to?”

This thought crossed my mind whenever I glanced out the window to see the familiar black jacket make its daily trek past our house―two whole blocks―from home to the bar on the corner of our street. This was where Nick, the jacket’s wearer, had found enjoyable but unpaid work.

As its best customer.

Whatever the weather or whoever approached; Nick’s usual reply to any greeting was rarely more than a grunt. But anyone who tried to press him into conversation ran the risk of industrial-strength passive drinking.

Beryl, his wife, epitomised co-dependency: straggly hair, gaunt features and a tired cotton-print dress that hung off her spindly frame―augmented in cold weather by a well-worn coat that she pulled to herself.

She had clearly seen better days. Not many. Not recently. And none on the horizon.

An abattoir was the town’s biggest employer. Irregular work at best; with its small permanent work force at the mercy of strikes that unions manipulated; and seasonal boosts to the numbers.

Low morale and low expectations pervaded the whole district. But you can’t fall off the floor.

Against this setting, our church had begun to grow.

Bob and Betty, a couple from the meat-works responded to the gospel one Sunday. The first Sunday they had come.

The next Sunday they brought some family members along. Who came back and started bringing their friends. Nothing in the church had changed, in its style of worship or in any extra meetings, but suddenly―without any preparation―the place was packed.

Then one Sunday, thirteen people were baptized―which equalled the previous seven years’ aggregate. Word about the changes got around the meat-works and the whole town.

Enter sixteen year-old David; Nick and Beryl’s eldest son. All arms and legs, and sinews. Minimal education, but a spark in his eye seemed to defy the drudgery of his constricted world.

He came to church one week, and the next Sunday he brought his brothers and sisters along; copying the pattern he had picked up from Bob and Betty. Suddenly we had a youth ministry, and the kids were hungry to learn and grow, despite the negative peer-group pressure that suddenly hurtled their way.

As they embraced Jesus’ Lordship, we prepared these kids for baptism.

The whole church celebrated as five of them were immersed one Sunday, though we knew they would face extra challenges. I impressed on church members our need to pray for these kids―especially over the next six weeks. For if Jesus was tested through forty days of fasting before he found Satan inviting himself in on the scene; then we could expect no less opposition on them.

How could I as pastor prepare them for any imminent onslaught? With logical answers and appropriate texts to handle whatever question that might crop up―only to find something coming completely out of the blue?

I need not have worried, for the very next day I saw David surrounded by ridicule as I came out of a shop. He summed up all my theological training and a fair slab of bible input in his reply – which I quote…

“I’d rather be a Christian than a no-hoper!”



Author's note: True story.
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This article has been read 933 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Holly Westefeld
03/13/15
Thank you for sharing this uplifting story. Sometimes the most amazing things God does are when weare simply living out our faith every day.
Danielle King 
03/13/15
You set the scene of this sad little town well and brought the half dead characters to life, especially poor 'co-dependant, straggly haired Beryl, who had clearly seen better days. No many. Not recently and none on the horizon.'

This is a very credible, uplifting story, liberally sprinkled with humour and rounded off with that superb end one-liner.

Nothing in the church had changed? What about the preacher man!
Melinda Melton
03/14/15
This hit home for me. As a child of two alcoholics I know all too well that small little town and the thoughts of the town folk and the church trying to help the kids. It would have been interesting to see how you could weave into the story what goes on behind clcosed doors in that home.

You held my attention through the whole story and I could see it all. Well done.

God Bless.

Verna Cole Mitchell 
03/14/15
This is well written and very inspiring. You must have a book full of interesting stories from your experiences!
C D Swanson 
03/14/15
I echo the sentiments of everyone in here.

Well done.

God bless~
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
03/16/15
Sigh. Took me back to a little church in Burns, Oregon. We shepherded/founded a church that met in the town hall. We didn't have a Dave, but we did have a couple who sporadically came after we spent countless hours door-knocking. The husband was reluctant to the max - and then, one afternoon, he shocked us all by his realization of how he had sinned against God. His tears were baptizing us all . . .
Dave Walker 
03/16/15
A great, inspiring story well told. I like your style of not stating the obvious, but making the reader think (Industrial strength passive drinking -- I love it!0)
Ellen Carr 
03/16/15
What an inspiring true story of hope. What a transformation in that town. You have told it very well indeed and I'll be surprised if this is not amongst the winners.
Phyllis Inniss 
03/17/15
Wonderful inspiring tale of a Church that just grew because there were those who preferred to be a Christian than a 'no-hoper'. This story will give hope to many.
Diane M. Bowman
03/18/15
This made me think of the children's song that says "I don't want to be goat, 'cause there's no hope, nope. I just want to be a sheep, ba-baa, ba-baa." :)

As always, you have the best descriptions: 'She had clearly seen better days. Not many. Not recently. And none on the horizon.'

It must have been amazing to witness God adding to his church in a setting where there was little to hope for.
lynn gipson 
03/19/15
That this is true makes it all the more powerful. I lived to read each new line as more and more people found their way to real hope.

Fantastic take on the topic and I would say this one NEEDS to be winner. It is one I will not forget.

Hope is woven throughout its word count.

Thanks, Noel.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/20/15
Congratulations on ranking 12th overall! Happy Dance!