Stories from all over our city & beyond

The Septic Tank Cleaning Man backed up his huge tanker truck to suck out the stuff from the underground tanks at our lake house. I was so grateful for his coming. It was overdue.

During a lull, I took him some iced peach tea and began chatting with him. At the mention of being thankful to God, he confessed  that he had not been to church in years because of hypocrites there. I got to talk to him about his relationship “on hold” with Christ, the Holy Spirit within us, how to start reading his Bible, how to use a devotional book daily. We read together from “Jesus Calling” on the current date. His face lit up and he recalled having that joyful peaceful feeling when a boy in church.

He really wanted to try going back to church so I called a friend who lives in his area for a suggestion. I texted him the church’s name and info. It was an honor and a privilege to get to encourage and do basic discipling with my very own Septic Tank Man, my brother in Christ.

I went hiking in MT with [another Northwest member]. On our last day/hike we ran into a woman who clearly wanted to chat. As we were talking with her, she mentioned her pastor so we started talking about church. She shared about several difficult things she was dealing with in her family and it was apparent that she needed some encouragement. We asked if we could pray for her and did so before we left. It was such a sweet divine appointment! We exchanged contact information and I am hoping to get her connected to some family friends in her area who can continue to encourage her. [My friend] and I met many people on our trip – Neil had conversations Coast to Coast – I’m contemplating starting Conversations Peak to Peak! 😉

God kicked the door wide open for a conversation about Him on Tuesday morning! 

I work 2 days a week as a home health OT, I started back in January. So I have been seeing this family about two days a week since January. The first family on my caseload, sweet family, parents grew up in Vietnam. Dad speaks English and mom only speaks Vietnamese. So I always talk to the dad to coordinate all therapy with his son. Never talked about much of anything else except his son’s medical and education care.

I work with their 5 yo son, we’ll call T, who is smart and has made tons of progress this year. He is obsessed with the solar system. Our ritual is to go over each of the planets throughout each treatment session. 

On Tuesday I mentioned a book that I have that has tons of pictures from the Hubble telescope, and it reminded me of T. The dad, we’ll call Mr. N, told me about NASA’s newest telescope just this week, the James Webb telescope taking pictures of galaxies supposed to be from “4.6 billion years ago” according to NASA. 

I honestly didn’t have much of a reaction to this, but before I knew it, Mr. N was telling me how he wasn’t sure what he believed. About his childhood and his parents being Catholic and going to mass twice a day, but were they Catholic just because the French colonists told them to be? And how the whole village was judgemental but at least they felt strongly about something, and he was looking into Buddhism but maybe he would have a “coming to Jesus” moment in his life someday. 

I didn’t say much throughout this conversation, I threw in some of my own similar experiences growing up as I worked with T and listened. 

When he paused, I said a quick prayer , “O Lord, help me, give me what you want me to say.” In my head.  

Then I asked him if he ever tried reading the Bible. 

He responded with, well, yeah, they taught it in school but it was written so long ago and probably made up. 

Then I asked if he wanted to know what I believed. 

When I got his go ahead. I told Mr. N that I believe there is a Creator God and that we are His creation. And that he, Mr. N, is a man created in God’s image and God loves him. And that we can trust the Bible and God uses it to speak to us. 

I asked Mr N if he would be willing to try something. When he said yes, I told him that when he had a quiet time alone. That he take a Bible and turn to the Gospel of John. That he say a prayer to God, asking God to show him the truth and then start reading. And Mr N said he would. I believe he will. 

Pray with me, that he will do it and God will open the eyes of his heart. 

2 things surprised me about this interaction. 

1. I did not initiate it. I had no intention of having a Jesus conversation that morning with Mr N, I was just there to provide OT for his son.  

2. It was “surprisingly easy”! The reason it was easy, I believe, is because the Holy Spirit moved Mr. N’s heart. Not because I am so smart or anything. I have been skeptical about this whole church statement, because I was like, “I gotta figure out a way to work Jesus into the conversations some how?” But that’s not it! Literally, just “be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in your heart.” 

I called my husband, Zach, when I left their house and we prayed for the N family. For Mr N and his wife and their two sons (5 yo and a 3 yo). I have a feeling this will not only change Mr. N’s life but his wife and children too and generations to come. Jesus move in his heart! 

This is working, keep praying, church!

I had a great conversation with an Uber driver. Was able to pray with her at the end of the ride.

My wife and I are in our 9th year of being chaperones to 35-40 Fifth graders from HP area to DC/Philly/Boston to see the memorials, museums, and battlefields. 

I was asked by one of our students during a walk through Jamestown “A lot of our leaders back then seem to mention God a lot in speeches and writings. Are you a Christian Mr. Thompson?” this sweet 11 yr old young lady asked. 

“Absolutely! Let me tell you why and let me share with you why back then and to your life today why that is important.”

We had a great conversation Q&A about this. I learned of some brokenness in her family. Sharing the gospel and helping to apply it to her life right then seem to really connect with her. 

Not just her but I get as much out of it by reminding that applies in my life as well.

Engaged coworker in town from New York. She grew up in Romania, part of Baptist church. Hard to tell what she believes beyond generic “faith”, which she preferred to religion. Was able to articulate the Gospel clearly. But she didn’t take the bait. Then coworker grabbed her for dinner. Maybe it’s a start of future convos.

Our condo building’s security guard advised that her last day is this coming Friday. New job is at Dallas 911 as dispatcher. She was apprehensive and not confident in her skills. I reminded her that she had a calm demeanor and is level headed. Asked if I could pray for her. Welcoming my offer, she told me she had not even prayed regarding her new job.

I prayed with [her] and believe God was able to use those few moments to remind [her] that she can always count on Him to be with her in her new role. My hope is that she finds confidence in Him as she serves our city.

We asked a youth girl about her beliefs and she said her father is Muslim and her mother is Christian. We asked which she follows and she said both, so we talked a little about how different they are. Would love pray for more conversations about it and for conviction on her side.

The Northwest Young Adults have been going to McAlister’s Deli every other week after church for the past few months this year.  We’re a pretty decently sized group, and we take over a small section. Over time, we have become regulars, and the employees there have come to recognize us. (We’re not Cheers yet…, but they know my order.)  

After a few weeks, one of the employees … asked us where we were coming from. I said that we go to church and come to McAlister’s for lunch after church. Since then, he has told us “God bless” when he gives us food and when we leave.

On March 20th, three Young Adult guys went to McAlister’s (technically the off-week). It was a nice day, so we sat outside, and [the same server] came to serve us our food. He asked me, “What church do y’all go to?” I admit there was part of me that felt a bit awkward, but I said we go to Northwest Bible Church. There was a pause, and I asked him if he goes to church at all. He said that he didn’t, but he believes and is “Christ-conscious”. I asked him what does Christ-conscious mean, and [he] gave us a short explanation about he doesn’t believe in religion or rules, but how we need to have the spirit of Jesus inside us and make our decisions like He would make them.  I probably missed an opportunity to go further, but I genuinely thanked him so much for sharing with us what he believed and being vulnerable. I also thanked him for really serving us and other people well.

It made me realize that we can have intentional conversations in the places where we are regulars – not just with our friends or at our divine platforms – but wherever we happen to interact with people. Also, it was really fun to have an intentional conversation that was not necessarily initiated by us, but just answering questions and just showing interest in people to engage. It was spontaneous. Who would have thought that lunch after church would generate curiosity or build a relationship that could start a surprisingly easy to start conversation about Jesus, and hopefully lead to more?!