“And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” — Acts 8:29-31
Last year, I took my family to a popular ice cream shop in Logan. The store was particularly busy, and the line snaked out of the shop. I grabbed a bench outside, and Krista and the kids got in line. As I sat, I noticed another dad claim a nearby seat as his family also got in line.
With plenty of time to wait, I struck up a conversation with him. He had been an international student at USU; now he was an environmental engineer in Washington. We discussed engineering, and I asked what he thought of Utah, Logan, and USU. It was a good conversation. Eventually, I transitioned to spiritual things. He told me he didn’t believe in God. I told him I was a Christian as well as briefly shared my testimony, emphasizing the evidence for faith.
Then he said that his wife (who had also been an international student at USU) had recently become a Christian. Her co-workers had told her about Jesus, and she now regularly attended church. But he said it wasn’t for him; he was agnostic. All things considered, he wasn’t opposed to believing in God but said he didn’t have time to research the “best option.”
Look Around
I told him about some great resources, along with recommending a Christian apologetic book. Our families returned, and I met his wife and kids. Before long, we ended our conversation. Undoubtedly, I will probably never see him again in this life.
Now the Spirit didn’t audibly tell me to strike up this conversation (like in Acts 8:29). However, I appreciate the story in Acts. God’s Spirit moved then, and God’s Spirit is moving today. In fact, God is weaving an incredible story, and we can be a part of it. He draws people to Himself: our co-workers, neighbors, classmates, family, and friends. Certainly, we can be like Philip the Evangelist. Let’s explain the Gospel to people (put down our phones) and look for divine appointments.
Praying for opportunities,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor