This summarizes God's faithfulness on my last day of outreach for this year at the Lighting the Way to the Smokies table. I had asked God to let me share the Gospel with just one person who really needed it today in this TN culture where most people are already believers in Jesus. He answered that prayer. It was one of the best days of my life and such a great end to this ministry this season. I won't get to set up any other weekends due to my schedule. This day was one I will never forget, as I had the joy of sharing Jesus today with someone who really needed Him....I want to begin a summary of God’s work today at the Sugarlands’ Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mts. National Park, by sharing the words of “The Wonder Of It All,” written by George Beverly Shea.
There’s the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul,
Is the wonder that God loves me.
As today’s experiences with tourists were coming to an end, I sat at the table praying that God would send someone to the table who needed to know Him. I recalled encouraging conversations with Christians who were very grateful for the free materials on the table.
One lady’s husband was unable to attend church because of stage four cancer.
Grandparents had unsaved grandchildren.
Pastors and adult Christians appreciated the sermons on CDs and DVDs, books, and magazines.
Children loved Dwayna’s ten-year old album songs on CD, as well as the “Hey Kids” tracts and the Knowing Aslan books. One beautiful, blonde, ten-year old girl was with her parents and friends and is in one of the pictures I took. She told me how she was telling her friends at school about Jesus and was seeing them later get baptized. Her parents verified her information and asked if she could have some of the witnessing materials to use with other friends who do not know Jesus. I shared with them how my daughter (Dwayna) took her Bible to school at that age, witnessed to her friends as she grew up, and is now a missionary. How wonderful it is to meet total strangers and soon feel you are life long friends because of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our hearts!
Boy Scouts, who were on a hiking trip, came over and asked if they could have Dwayna’s booklet, which contains quotes from America’s past presidents and founding fathers.
God even brought a lady from Thailand to the table to tell me about how she has been in Pigeon Forge all summer telling international students and visitors about Jesus. Tomorrow she is seeing many of them baptized at the First Baptist Church of Pigeon Forge. We may work together next summer when she returns to this area from her home in S.C. She wanted a picture with me and took my email address and phone number.
Several people took Dwayna’s business cards and wanted to write her and even send a donation to LTW. What a great day! Yet, there appeared to be no one stopping by who had questions about how to know Jesus.
Just before it was time to pack for leaving, a man named Jack was at the table listening as I was talking with other people. When they had gone, he came and stood beside me and spoke the sweetest words! I will never forget them. He had taken a Compass International bookmark from the table earlier, which shows a timeline of Biblical events (past and future). He brought it to me and asked, “Could you explain this to me?” This was an answer to my prayer.
Just before it was time to pack for leaving, a man named Jack was at the table listening as I was talking with other people. When they had gone, he came and stood beside me and spoke the sweetest words! I will never forget them. He had taken a Compass International bookmark from the table earlier, which shows a timeline of Biblical events (past and future). He brought it to me and asked, “Could you explain this to me?” This was an answer to my prayer.
As I briefly touched on the Old Testament events from creation to Abraham, and took more time explaining about why Jesus came, I told him how Jesus died on the cross for his sins. He said he needed Jesus. With tears coming down my face, I told him how wonderful Jesus is, how I needed Him every hour of the day, and how much I love Him and appreciate all He has done for me. His girlfriend, Beverly, was listening and agreeing with me. I told them about how Jesus is coming back for the church soon and about the period of tribulation, which will be for those left on the earth after the Christians are gone to heaven at the rapture. Then, Christ will come to earth for the second time, and we will be with Him. After the Battle of Armageddon, Christ will reign on the earth for 1,000 years of peace. The earth then burns up, and there will be a new heaven and earth.
I have never seen a person more open and willing to listen than Jack. I am thankful God used this bookmark of Biblical dispensations as the tool for sharing His gospel message. It was easy to follow the timeline, because this is what he had asked me to explain. He and Beverly took two sermon CDs, a New Testament, two bookmarks, After Death What Then? and “Steps to Peace With God.” Jack told me about how he almost lost his leg serving in the military and how he has steel in his leg and knee and limps as he walks. I let him know how much I appreciated all he had done for our country and how I respected all veterans. They left after spending at least fifteen minutes with me, and in a few minutes they came back and wanted to give me a donation for their materials. After they persisted, I let them give it to me. They told me that they understood what I had said to them and let me know they felt much better. I prayed with them, and we said goodbye drying the tears from our eyes.
The wonder of it all!
The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
“Sharing Jesus, serving Him, and strengthening Christians with excellence for the glory of God.” (Mission Statement of the First Baptist Church of Sevierville, TN)
Claudette Litz
