Seven Up evangelism….
I’ve been trying to get my friend Bruce Henderson from Nevada to write an OA story for me for a few months now. True to his heart and love for people, here it is. Thanks CC Bruce!
For a few months my good friend Bruce Logue has been asking me to write something for the website Ordinary Attempts. I spent much time thinking and planning. I rejoice over his ministry and the way he can focus on such things but finally came to the realization that I just wasn’t there yet.
As a “professional” minister, I should have been there all along. But it seems as though I am often so preoccupied with the local church ministries and formal outreach programs as “The Minister”, that “ordinary attempts” to shine the light and make friends are often overlooked. But Bruce’s challenge was heavy on my mind.
So, when our temperatures this summer began to soar, I was intrigued by the loud sound of a table saw near my church office. We are in an area heavily populated by apartments and mobile home rentals, so I doubted that any heavy construction was going on, yet the noise continued several days in a row—in the intense heat! I then noticed a blue poly tarp creating some semi-shade over the saw. Curiosity got the best of me! Who? What Why?
With the combination of curiosity and an open mind toward making ordinary attempts, I grabbed a cold Seven Up from the church fridge and headed toward the mechanical cacophony. “Good afternoon,” I intoned.
The guy looked around warily before noticing my bald head peeking though the bushes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” “No, I thought it was the radio,” he replied. I told him I’d heard him working and felt bad about the heat and wondered if he could use a cold drink. He still had a puzzled look on his face but took the soda.
We introduced ourselves and he revealed that he was a custom cabinet maker. Now, without a shop, he was working on projects in the back yard of the trailer he was renting. We talked for a moment about the bygone days of custom made work and mom and pop operations.
It was clear that he had been a victim of the “box store” culture. I told him that we had some woodwork to do at church and wondered if he ever did small jobs. He said that he’d love to look at it and would contact me in the next few days. That was it—my Seven Up “ordinary attempt”.
Early the next morning, I was doing my daily quiet time and Bible reading on a folding chair in the outdoors near the entrance to my office when I saw him coming through the fence separating our properties. As he approached, I noticed that he had tears in his eyes. “I need to ask you a question. Why did you come over yesterday?”
Skirting the topic of “ordinary attempts”, I told him that it was a combination of curiosity and a real concern about the heat.
“Well,” he began, “Yesterday I was seriously considering suicide. I have a Christian friend I called who was just leaving for jury duty and couldn’t talk. He told me to hold off until we could talk in the evening.
I was really having a hard time, then you showed up. You’re only the second person that I’ve ever talked about these things with, but I’m convinced that God put us together.” We cried together and hugged and went inside to talk and pray.
I am overwhelmed! He’s blown away by the fact that God cares that much for him. I’m blown away by the fact that God would use me in such a way! He is doing much better and is amazed at the positive turn in his life. We are still communicating and we’re hiring him to do some work for us. I am amazed by the power of Seven Up evangelism!
August 30th, 2006 · 22 Comments
Categories: OA Stories
Mike O said
am August 30 2006 @ 3:24 am
Wow! I’m going to use this story to kick off my OA group in September.
Sherrie said
am August 30 2006 @ 6:35 am
Bruce,
That was a beautiful article. My mom had already told me your story, and I thought it was really neat. What a blessing for both you and this gentleman. Praise God!!!
Jeanine said
am August 30 2006 @ 7:24 am
Bruce,
What an amazing story. It is especially meaningful since we learned of a suicide last week in the family of some new friends. No one had a clue the man was hurting. His path to death may have been changed to life if someone had only brought him a 7-Up. ILY, Nene
Tom said
am August 30 2006 @ 8:05 am
These are the stories that move us through life. So many times we are preoccupied by such a nervousness to share the gospel with people that it rarely gets shared. It’s so gracious of God to give us times like these when all we think were doing is something “ordinary” and He uses it to change someone’s world. Praise God!
April Terry said
am August 30 2006 @ 8:59 am
This story really brought tears to my eyes. I am forever amazed by the wonderful graciousness of God.
Jana said
am August 30 2006 @ 9:29 am
This story continues to amaze me! I’m so proud of you and how God has chosen you to help so many people throughout your life. Good work, old man!
KSG said
am August 30 2006 @ 9:42 am
What a powerful story of God in the ordinary and an immediate reminder that God wants us to just be available.
This particular story hits home since a Xian member of our church committed suicide a few months ago.
Thank you for sharing this. It made my day.
toddhiestand said
am August 30 2006 @ 9:52 am
This is awesome. Its these stories that are beautiful exceptions to this life that is often filled with “where is God in this” kinds of questions.
Helen said
am August 30 2006 @ 9:58 am
Thanks for sharing that with us, Bruce. It’s a wonderful story about how an OA can change someone else’s life.
Hey Mike, I didn’t know you were about to start an OA group! I hope we’ll get to hear how that’s going.
Jim said
am August 30 2006 @ 11:17 am
Bruce
Thank you for caring enough to even consider doing an OA.
Your relationship with (the other) Bruce demonstrates the influence each one of us have to move at least one other person.
There is a whole lot of drama going on out there all around us. How do we intersect with it and how do we know when and when not to?
This is an example of Jesus taking the 5 loaves and 2 fish of your life and mulitiplying it in a way and to an extent you couldnt have imagined.
Keep us updated your cabinet maker friend (hey (the other) Bruce- doesn’t this qualify as our second official TARP OA )
I think we need to find a virtual blue tarp we can email to whoever does the next TARP OA
Lisa said
am August 30 2006 @ 11:17 am
Wow! A friend suggested I check out this site and I am already inspired and impressed! Someone(s) is/are actually promoting the practice of Jesus’ ministry! Awesome, inspiring story! I actually feel a tinge of excitement about sharing the Jesus in me.
Bruce said
am August 30 2006 @ 11:19 am
Jim, that’s a great idea. “Blue tarp OA’s”
CC Bruce, look at how your OA has inspired everyone who’s read about it!
Mike O said
am August 30 2006 @ 12:33 pm
Thanks, Helen. I will.
I also wanted to encourage our Bruce … Jim mentioned that each of us can move at least one other person. If you hadn’t moved the other Bruce to action, the 7-Up OA would never have occured. Be encouraged!!
We all want to be the last link in the evangelism chain and actually be the one to lead someone to Christ. This time, the other Bruce got that honor. But you have the honor of being your link in the chain .. of not being the missing link. Without you, the guy before you (whoever that may have been) would have been the last link, and the carpenter may not be with us today.
Helen said
am August 30 2006 @ 1:08 pm
Mike wrote:
Good point Mike!
Bruce said
am August 30 2006 @ 1:27 pm
Thanks all! CC Bruce’s 7-Up OA really demonstrates how powerful simple acts of love are as well as how inspired and motivated it makes the rest of of feel. And it required no application of guilt or “shoulds, oughts, and musts.”
Jim said
am August 30 2006 @ 1:43 pm
Right - as Mother Teresa (or her assigns) liked to say
“Don’t should on me”
Leeann Wilhelmi said
am August 30 2006 @ 2:39 pm
Makes me ashamed of the times when the Holy Spirit has prompted me to do something and I have ignored the urging to call, visit or in some way be a servant to someone. Thanks for the reminder of the impact obedience has.
Wanda Pence said
am August 30 2006 @ 2:53 pm
Bruce, I am so glad you chose to share this with others. When I was privileged to hear it from you first hand while we vacationed, my heart was so touched and I was moved to do more in my daily contact oppourtunities. Now in sharing it with others they, too, can be encouraged to make that special effort to reach out to someone. So many chances to make a difference in someone’s life slip by us. A kind word a 7-up, and a life given renewal, what a wonderful story!
Mother
Jim said
am August 30 2006 @ 8:09 pm
Bruce
I would be interested in hearing your responses to LeeAnn’s comment.
Bruce Henderson said
am August 30 2006 @ 9:40 pm
Since I’m soon to turn 60, I remember Flip Wilson’s classic line, “The devil made me do it!”
I must admit, though, that I’ve always been reluctant to say, “The Holy Spirit led me here or there.” I know He works. I’m just not always sure how or when.
I felt compelled to do what I did, but at the time it was curiosity, heat, and Bruce Logue’s example that drove me.
Could the Holy Spirit have instituted those? You bet! I just know that God was working, and that I am humbled that I was somehow utilized.
The feedback to my story has opened my eyes to the beautiful fact that many are open to be used by God in ways like this. May He receive the glory!
Jim said
am August 31 2006 @ 8:33 am
Thanks Bruce - sounds like how most of us ordinary types get our leadings - we accidentally bump into God and then later on give it a name
Helen said
am August 31 2006 @ 11:21 am
Bruce H wrote
Bruce, thanks for saying this.
It helps those of us who are equally unsure feel better