Who's George??

Last week I took a little walk at lunch time to Subway on Dexter Avenue in Downtown Montgomery (Alabama). On my way I saw this man who was standing on the corner with a folder. He was dressed modestly.

     He didn't look like a homeless person, but you could tell his clothing was old and slightly tattered. He approached me as I walked down the sidewalk and handed me a piece of old, wrinkled paper with a poem on it. He said he was a writer trying to collect money for supplies, card stock and such.

     Now many of you may disagree with me, but I have a personal rule that I don't give anyone asking for money cash. If they are hungry I'll buy them a meal. If they need gas I will fill up their tank. But, I don't give cash. Now, I don't think there is anything necessarily wrong with giving them cash (ultimately they will have to answer to God for what they do with it), but this is a personal preference.

     After Talking with him briefly I asked him if he was hungry. He said, "Not yet". I read his poem quietly, I politely told him "thank you" and then I went about my business (I was hungry). While eating at Subway I was trying to think of a way to meet back up with him and present the Gospel to him. After I finished eating I asked the lady at Subway if they have a gift certificate or gift card. She told me they do have gift cards, so I asked for one and put $8.00 on it (enough for him to buy a footlong sandwich, chips and drink).

     On my way back to work I walked by him again. I shook his hand, handed him the gift card and told him lunch was on me today. He thanked me and showed me a poem about God. I used that as a springboard to get into "The Law of God". We talked briefly about how we all have violated God's law and how we all deserve Hell. He actually agreed with me. So, I asked him, "Then how do we get to Heaven?" He gave me the right answer. He told me, "Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the Cross and paid the price for us." I then asked him, "Well, does everyone goto heaven?" Again he had the right answer. He said, "You have to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus." We talked a little more and he seemed to have a good understanding of the Gospel.

I left him with a Million Dollar Bill Tract and went on my way back to work. But, I still had that man on my mind. I was determined to come back some other day and see if he was still there. Well that was last Thursday, I went back today.

     He was in the same spot on Dexter Avenue. I shook his hand and at first he didn't recognize me. I told him I met him last week and he said, "Oh you were the guy who bought me the sandwich." I told him my name was Payton and asked him his name. He said, "George". I then asked him how things are going and if he needed anything. He said, "Well I could use another one of those sandwiches." He said it in such a way, I couldn't tell if he was serous or not. I said, "Sure!!" After I ate lunch I came back with another gift card and gave him a Ten Commandment's coin. I told him, "I like to have these around to remind of how I've broke God's Law and my need for a Saviour." We talked for a few minutes. He was very thankful and then he went about his business. I ask you all to be in prayer for George and that he may truly understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I plan on coming back again soon.