A Coke (Pepsi) and a Smile

Each year I have the privilege of attending two conferences for the students who are involved with Student Venture. This year's Getaway Conference was memorable for me in a lot of ways. Our daughter M was there; a former student I discipled was the director of the conference; college students gave feedback on the Starter Handbook we have been writing; dozens of people came to Christ as we went out on the beach; and a young man I shared Christ with nine years ago stepped back into my life.

Buddy was filling a Pepsi machine on the day of outreach nine years ago. I had been finishing up a responsibility I had and was not out on the beach for the outreach. So half out of guilt and half out of desire to talk about Jesus, I started a conversation with the Pepsi guy. With tears in his eyes he trusted Christ with me right there in the hall.

He contacted me the next year through staff who were there at the conference (he called me at home) and wanted to thank me. Over the years I lost contact with him. Even though I tried a couple of times to reach him.

I contacted the Pepsi Bottlers the first day I got there last week and he returned my call a few days later. We were able to get together for lunch and I introduced him to M. The conversation was so encouraging, not only was his life demonstrably changed, but so was the life of his family. Buddy led his wife to Christ and his two oldest children. He said that he serves as a Deacon in his church; he was leading a Sunday School class and teaching a small group of high school students.

The most encouraging thing about the time together was that he has never gotten over his salvation. He is grateful. He said there isn’t a day that he doesn’t (in his mind) go back to the Landmark Hotel and recount that our random appointment was a Divine one!

This week I learned a few new things about God’s love and my responsibility: God will stop at nothing to redeem people He has called to Himself; He will use even my grudging obedience for His purposes; the Salvation He offers is complete and powerful; I have an extreme privilege as a believer to point people to Christ; and as the gospel goes out the impact is not only on this generation but for generations to come.

Will you pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted this week; and for the lives of those who found Christ. Also, as you walk through your day who are the “Buddys” in your life that are waiting for you to show up to the Divine Appointment?