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A Gideons Bible — borrowed & primed for witness


SHREVEPORT, La. (BP) — I was challenged to step up my pace in spreading the Gospel of Christ during the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s evangelism conference, especially by the messages of Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton and president of the Louisiana convention, and evangelist Bill Britt, both calling us to be urgent in sharing the Good News.

I had borrowed a Gideons Bible from my room that night in Ruston, never realizing how this seeming “chance” occurrence would provide a divine opportunity.

After the session and arriving at the hotel, the owner and his assistant were in the lobby — as if waiting for someone. They noticed the hotel Bible in my hands, and I explained how I had borrowed it for a meeting, and that piqued their curiosity about where I was from and why I was staying at the hotel.

This opened the door to share about my being a pastor and attending an evangelism conference “at the church with the big steeple” (Temple Baptist Church in Ruston).

As we chatted, I sensed in my spirit, inspired by that night’s messages, the need to tell them about Jesus.

Seeking some common ground, I talked a little bit about what I knew of Ghandi and used this part of our conversation as a jumping off point to share about “a Friend who is greater than he.”

They were eager to let me know that in their country they have many gods. But they were so receptive when I told them that my Friend was the Son of the true God.

They listened intently as I opened the hotel Bible and shared the Roman Road passages about sin, repentance and trust in Christ

Their facial expressions changed as we progressed through the Scripture, reflecting a heart change in each — which was confirmed at the end of my presentation, when they repented and confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior — all sparked by a hotel Bible and a call to be urgent in sharing the Good News.

You may not think that Hindus, Muslims and others are receptive to the Gospel, but in these last days people are listening.

    About the Author

  • Carlos Meza

    Carlos Meza is pastor of Calvary Spanish Mission in Shreveport, La., and second vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. This article first appeared in the Baptist Message (www.baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

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