Last week the Lord laid it on my heart to visit Bill, an elderly recluse a few blocks from the 930.  I had not visited or seen Bill for four months.  Over the past three weeks, I found myself praying for him often.  Last Monday seemed like a great time to take a few Sojourner’s over to Bill’s house to see how he was doing.  He didn’t know we were coming… we were just following a nudge in our spirit that God wanted us to visit.

Bill is a man’s man, a war veteran who is 78 years old.  He has seen some pretty difficult things as an officer in the Army.  Just ask him, and he will fill your ears with hours of incredible stories.  He also loves to work on cars and, at 78, still drives a Porsche. Like I said, a man’s man.

But, Bill is also very lonely with no family or friends.  He is an unbeliever who knows his Bible better than most Christians.  When asked about the Bible, he delights in making young Christians feel foolish.  Bill can be harsh and cold at moments, which can be uncomfortable,  but something tells me that he loves when we come around.

When we knocked on his door, his eyes lit up and he became very animated by our presence.  We talked for almost an hour on his front porch.  It turns out that his birthday is on the 25th of this month.  He said he hates birthday parties and that he hates all people.  He quickly conceded and told us that he actually liked us and enjoyed the time we spent together.  I think he might also concede his stance on birthday parties.  Really, who doesn’t like to be celebrated?

So, tonight we are throwing Bill a surprise birthday party.  There won’t be very many of us, but we are coming armed with treats and cupcakes.  We are doing this because we love Bill and want him to take joy and delight in the people of God.  Moreover, we ultimately desire for him to know and to praise the God that created him.

Apologetics and well crafted arguments for the existence of God have fallen flat with Bill. I admit, he is too clever for us.  However, what Bill needs right now is not more well crafted appeals to believe in God, but to see and experience God’s love showered on him through God’s people.  For somebody who is lonely and lives in isolation, a barrage of facts about Christ is not immediately attractive.  But, authentically demonstrate God’s presence, acceptance, intimacy and fellowship?  Now that is attractive to a lonely old man…and it’s a good starting point for explicitly sharing with Him Christ’s love for us.

We don’t know how Bill will respond tonight.  He may outright reject us.  And that is okay.  But, I do know this:  the gospel compels and empowers us to “live such good lives among unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong (in this case, throwing a small birthday party), they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” – 1 Peter 2:12

I’ll keep you posted on what happens.  In the mean time, join us every Monday evening at 6:30pm at the 930 to get equipped for face-to-face ministry in the city.  Perhaps you will meet Bill, or one of the other half-dozen families that we visit every week.  Learn to share and demonstrate the gospel with neighbors.  No one goes at it alone.  You know you want to.  Email jesse.moss@gmail.com for additional information.