Street Stories - A Ringside Seat To Over 4 Decades Of Taking Jesus To The Streets Of The World
I shouted to the girls, “Go get it.” They had never moved so fast. The three of them returned with that beautiful white eyelet lace comforter. Dot and I watched our girls give the best gift they knew how to give to one of the dirtiest, most hopeless men we had ever seen. As we wrapped Ray up tight in that beautiful white comforter, he began to weep uncontrollably. His touching words changed my life. “I know tonight that God is real. He sent you to me. He cared enough about me to give me this beautiful blanket to keep me from freezing.” He broke with emotion. I prayed with Ray as he gave his heart to Jesus. He sobbed and sobbed on my shoulder as the Lord flooded his life with His love and forgiveness. On that bitter cold night under the downtown freeway bridge, Ray was gloriously saved. As our little family climbed back into our van and pulled out from under that freeway bridge back onto the city street, I paused to see the most poignant sight I had ever seen. I glanced back over my shoulder and there, huddled near the 55-gallon drum with warming flames dancing out the top, sat Ray… smiling. He was filthy on the outside. His clothes were torn and tattered. The stench of alcohol and grime permeated his clothing. He was alone and forgotten by the world… considered a reject with no value. He was cruelly marked by many as one of the dregs of society. But, this glorious night, Ray had a radical, life changing encounter with Jesus. He was wrapped up tight in the most beautiful white eyelet lace comforter money
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