My wife and children and I were preaching a revival in East Saint Louis, Missouri for Pastor Herman Clenney, and staying in the Sunday School rooms of the church. Even though the church was adjacent to a police station we had been warned about the neighborhood. The pastor, to inform us of how dangerous the community was, told us about their church being broken into multiple times, about people throwing bottles through the windows during service, and other lawbreaking incidents that had happened.
Of course, with the large family we had, taking towels and clothing to the laundry mat was imminent. After a few days we drove around and found one, parked, carried the laundry in and loaded the washers.
I leaned against a washer and my wife had set her purse on one while she was putting coins in and starting them all.
Something caught my eye in the doorway and I watched a large man stop, look at my wife's purse then start walking toward me while staring me straight in the eye. I stepped in front of her purse, folded my arms and looked him in the eye as he advanced toward me. ( His eyes looked so cruel as to give you the feeling he was heartless.)
As the man approached and was within hearing distance I asked, "Do you know Jesus?" while still looking him in the eye. His next step was hesitant as he inquired, " What?" I repeated my question, "Do you know Jesus?" I saw the man's eyes soften and I continued to tell him about how God loved him so much, about the death, burial, the resurrection, and how God's Spirit came to dwell in us and give us life and hope.
Before I finished talking the man had stopped in front of me and stood there with tears flowing down his cheeks. When I finished telling him about Jesus' love, hope, and grace he said, "Mr, I came in here to annihilate you, and would have if you hadn't told me about Jesus loving me."
Story as told by Rev. C.E. George
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