I’m always honored, and a little mystified, when someone invites me to speak to a group.
I’m honored because someone believes our story is inspiring or interesting enough to be worthy of the group’s time. I’m mystified because, well, it’s just me.
As part of the FREEDOM Tour, I received perhaps my most curious speaking invitation. A pastor with whom I’d never spoken invited me to share a piece of my story during his Sunday sermon.
Pastors are understandably cautious and selective about what’s included in a sermon. They spend a good deal of time and effort preparing to proclaim God’s word each week. So when Pastor Brad from First Presbyterian Church in Pueblo invited me to illustrate a key point, I was a little surprised.
I finally spoke to Brad by phone on Saturday evening, and I loved his response when I asked if he was at all uneasy about including someone he’d never met.
“Not really,” he chuckled. “I’ve demonstrated trust and faith. I guess tomorrow morning we’ll find out if wisdom was involved.”
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We had a great time at First Pres. The team returned to Pueblo after completing the Raton Pass climb on Saturday morning. We were graciously welcomed by Pastor Scott and Karen, the administrator who clearly runs the place. They set us up with great accommodations in the church and treated us to a fabulous, unexpected meal.
Sunday morning we met the friendliest, most gracious group of folks you could imagine. It was the celebration of Vacation Bible School, so the chaos level was a bit higher than normal—perfect for us.
After worship we were able to spend perhaps an hour chatting with folks during their breakfast. They were curious about our ride, U COUNT, and the larger issue of human trafficking. The conversations were amazing, and people were incredibly generous in purchasing U COUNT Marketplace products.
As we prepared for the drive to Fort Collins, one of our riders said something profound.
“That was an amazing morning. I’m going to become a Presbyterian.”
Every church invests a lot of energy and thought into making visitors feel welcomed and comfortable. When a stranger walks away with that kind of first impression, I think they’ve succeeded.
When someone hangs out with you for a couple of hours and says, “Whatever you’ve got, I want some,” I think Jesus smiles.
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