Neighborhood witnessing results in man accepting Christ
Published 8:57 am Friday, January 25, 2019
By Greg Miller © 2018
Peter and Peyton walked down the sidewalk toward the next house in the neighborhood in which they were witnessing.
Every weekend, the best friends got together for what they called “Our Witness Walk.” They visited a different neighborhood each weekend, visiting local residents and telling them about the love of Jesus, God’s Son, for them.
The Christians received varying degrees of welcome, ranging from acceptance, skeptical questioning, and rejection. Through it all, however, Peyton and Peter kept the faith and continued their weekly evangelism efforts.
Since they lived in a college town, Peyton and Peter dedicated one weekend of each month in an effort to reach members of the institution’s student body. They also regularly visited one particular section of the community that was known to be home to numerous non-believers.
One weekend, the friends knocked on doors in the non-believing sector of town. After a few people rejected the good news that Jesus had died on the cross to save them from sin, Peter and Peyton knocked on the door of a man named Paul, who had never heard the good news of salvation. Peter and Peyton introduced themselves to Paul, who was fascinated with the entire story of Jesus: His virgin birth, sinless life, death on Calvary’s Cross, burial in a borrowed tomb, resurrection from the grave and ascension into heaven.
Paul was captivated by the story of Jesus and was enthralled by the idea that the very Son of God loved him enough to die on the cross for him so he could live in heaven for all eternity. He began weeping and told Peyton and Peter he didn’t understand the reason God’s Son would die for him.
“I still don’t understand why Jesus did it,” Peyton told Paul. “It bothered me for a long time because I didn’t understand it. Then I finally came to the knowledge that it didn’t matter whether I understood it or not as long as I believed it. Believing, having faith, is the key.”
Peter and Peyton explained the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts, chapter 8, where God gave Philip instructions to go to Gaza. Philip met a eunuch “of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians…” The man was sitting in his chariot, reading from the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit spoke to Philip to approach the chariot, and the resulting conversation resulted in the man believing in Jesus Christ.
In Acts, 8:36-38, we’re told, “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Then God’s Spirit carried Philip away to another destination.
Peter and Peyton’s new friend, Paul, asked if he could be baptized. “Most certainly!” Peter declared, as Peyton nodded in the affirmative.
Peter and Peyton invited Paul to the church, which they knew would be unlocked. Going inside, they baptized Paul, who was thrilled to be a Christian. Coming up out of the water, he exclaimed, “I never knew it could be so much fun being all wet!”
To contact the writer of this column about speaking engagements (in the U.S.), including Christian Comedy Fundraising Outreaches, Christian Creativity Seminars and/or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com, raysofson@gmail.com or ministry4jesus@yahoo.com, with “Rays of Son” or “Request Speaking Engagement” in the subject line.