alive @ 2010

The cheering crowds had flooded the streets to celebrate Canada’s hockey victory over USA giving Canada 14 Gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 games. The church was quieter than it had been since February 12th. Don Hindle closed his door and sat in his office. After spending 12-16 hour days at the church for the last two and a half weeks supervising Trinity’s outreach efforts, he simply wanted some “quiet” time … some time to pray … to reflect on Trinity’s efforts to witness of Christ.

As Don sat in his office, he sensed someone was outside his door. He opened his door to find a man wandering the hallway. This man was looking for the pastor. Don explained the pastor wasn’t in, but that he (Don) was a full-time worker at Trinity.

The man asked, “What is Lutheranism’s relationship to the rest of Christianity?” After taking a few moments to answer the man’s question Don went on to present how Lutherans recognize that all people have sinned and cannot, in any way, rescue themselves from their sin. Don also shared how God loved every person in the world so much that He sent His only begotten into the world to suffer and die on Calvary’s cross thereby rescuing all people from the curse of sin and death.  Don said, “Everyone who trusts in Christ as their Saviour receives God’s forgiveness and the certain hope of life everlasting in heaven.”

This man listened with interest and admitted that he did not have a church home but would like to find one. Don told him more about Trinity and Trinity’s worship times and encouraged the man to bring his family. The man expressed interest in having his children baptized. Before he left, the man had given Don his name and phone number.

Just when you think the work is all over, you discover that it’s not over! Reflecting on his opportunity to share the Gospel, Don said, “If this was all that our Olympic outreach achieved…I call it a smashing success!”

Please pray that this man and his family will return to Trinity (or some other Christian church) to learn more about God as their Creator and Christ as their Saviour!