If you'd
like to share an encouraging "fishing" story, just email
it to our editor (or provide a link to it, if it's already published
online somewhere). The following story is just the first of many to
come. So enjoy and then help us build an 'archive of encouragement'.
"Let's
Give It A Try"
by
Charlie Rozzelle
Lois
had the flu. Because of stomach queasiness and intestinal uneasiness she told me
not to pick her up on my way back from my Saturday morning Gideon’s prayer
breakfast. It had been our weekly routine to visit the North Broward Detention
Center in Pompano.
At
the prayer breakfast, I opted for toast and a little juice, for apparently the
flu bug was getting to me as well. As the morning went on, my symptoms got
worse. Fellow Gideon Ed Finley and I had just about decided to forego visiting
the jail that day. But then Ed said, Ah . . . let’s give it a try.
We
traded our driver’s licenses for visitor’s badges at the detention
center’s visitors’ desk. I headed for the men’s room to find comfort from
my now-urgent intestinal distress. I had no sooner gotten into the rest room
when Ed pounded on the door. Come on, they’re ready to take us in.
In my mind I tried to foresee what options I would have should my symptoms
become worse as we visited the female inmates in a far off (it seemed) cell
block. But, praise God, as the first door locked behind us, my intestinal
problems completely disappeared!
We
were led by a deputy to a cluster of cells each containing 12 to 28 female
inmates. A deputy opened the door to the first cell for us; we went in,
delighted to find a group of women with whom we had shared the gospel before.
Many had prayed the sinner’s prayer and received the gift of eternal life.
They gathered around us and told us of answered prayers in their new lives. We
had a circle of prayer, with Ed and I praying for their needs; then these dear
women prayed for us.
The
deputy led us to another cell occupied by 28 women. Ed and I gave out Gideon New
Testaments, Daily Bread devotionals, Ten Commandment book marks, and calendars
which had the sinner’s prayer on the back. After proclaiming the gospel of our
Lord Jesus to these 28 women, 26 prayed for salvation and became newly adopted
daughters of God. Imagine our delight! Why, we almost didn’t go to jail that
morning look what we would have missed! But the best was yet to come. . . .
We
went into the next cell, this one containing only 12 women. As we passed through
the door to the cell we could feel an oppressive, thick atmosphere. We announced
that we were there to give them a Testament and to pray with them. No response.
Ed and I looked and muttered quietly that maybe we should leave we sure
weren’t wanted there. But as I looked at the women sitting on their bunks, I
asked in a loud voice, Does anyone here want to go to hell?!
A
large woman got up and came toward us, showing us a big tattoo of Satan on her
right forearm. I do, she said, I want to go to hell. She glared at
us and returned to her bunk. I then started to share the gospel with the whole
cell, loudly telling them how they could receive eternal life. Ed was sitting at
a table, intently and intensely praying. Every time I mentioned the name of
Jesus, the woman with the tattoo put a pillow on her head and pressed it over
her ears. She seemed to be writhing in pain or discomfort. But, glory to God,
six of those twelve women prayed with us and turned their lives over to God
through Christ. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and there was joy on the faces
of those six women.
Still
not the end of the story. . . We were led into another cell of 28 women and 26
of them gave their lives over to Jesus. That morning in the North Broward
Detention Center, 58 women were saved because one Gideon said to another...
....."Let’s
give it a try."
