Back in the mid-1970s (days of intense racial unrest in Alabama) some friends of mine decided they wanted to 'witness for Jesus' out in front of the bars and strip clubs of downtown Pensacola, Florida. Someone from the group suggested that a good way to share with the people along this strip would be to carry a cross as we walked back and forth downtown and prayed. When it was my turn to carry the cross, something happened that's been burned into my memory ever since.
I was walking along Palafox Street carrying that 6-foot cross and leading a few brave prayer warriors behind me. When I came to a crosswalk, a dignified black man stepped in front of me and pulled back his coat to reveal a pearl-handled .38 special. In a quiet but ominous voice he drawled, 'KKK boy?'
'No sir,' I stammered, utter terror filling my words, 'We're just Christians walking around with a cross and...uh...praying for the city -- we never thought...uh...I'm sorry if we've offended you in any way, sir!'
Casting me a look of intense disgust, he rolled his eyes, closed his coat to cover the gun, and quietly walked away.
This encounter wasn't just terrifying; it was a defining moment for my life and my ministry. That night I realized communicating the gospel isn't just a matter of how positive my intentions are. What others perceive and believe matters as much or more!
It's important to be able to see things from another person's perspective, especially when sharing the love of God with him or her.
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