Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope your day was blessed and you trusted in the Lord through it all. I had a good day on campus. Talked to some students I had met before and Oliver prayed with me to receive Jesus. His story is below if you have some time, please pray he grows in his faith. Thanks for your help in prayer.

Oliver was sitting in the Athletic Building in the PE lounge next to the gym at a table. He was up for doing a survey. He had reddish brown hair and the fair complexion of a red head. He had a mustache that nearly blended in with his face. His hair was thick and curly/wavy, parted in the middle not quite shoulder length. He had on a green COD hoodie and workout shorts. Turned out he was a pitcher and he was working on getting his speed up to 90MPH on his pitches. Oliver was a real amicable guy we hit it off. I asked him what he would say to God if he died and was asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “I’ve gone to Catholic school my whole life since High School. I’ve always believed so I don’t know,” He replied. He thought he’d had a 55% chance of going to Heaven. “It’s enough to get elected,” I said. (I now realize the double meaning.) “Yeah just over,” he replied. I explained Christianity was like a blood transfusion where God had to make you His type so He could live inside you. Then you would be one with what is eternal and the source of life. I asked what Jesus had done to take away his sins and he right away replied, “He died.” I went on to explain what that meant more broadly. His blood cleansed him and paid God back for all he owed. Jesus earned the righteousness of God and it was then given as one of the blessings of God’s family. He was saved by faith. He took it all in and I finally asked if he wanted to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus has done or thought something else. “Probably this one,” he said, pointing to the circle with Christ on the throne of your life. I said something like. “Well, you grow up in your family and just go along with what to believe. But if you have never asked God before to forgive you trusting in what Jesus has done there’s a prayer you can pray.”  I talked him through the prayer and asked if it expressed the desire of his heart. He thought it did so I said he could pray it silently I wouldn’t hear him but God would hear and he’d know he was forgiven. “Wanna do it?” I asked. “Yeah,” he said and he took the booklet and prayed to receive Jesus. I explained the symbolism behind the mass as what we had talked about and when he took it he should just say thank you as it commemorated that Jesus had died so he was forgiven. I started to go through the Christian life with him. He said he only had a kids Bible so I gave him one I carry. (I’m almost out of them sadly maybe a great deal on a study Bible will pop up over Christmas break.) I showed him the study helps, marked the Gospel of John and wrote his name and the date and “forgiven!” on the inside. He seemed glad to have it. I also gave him a Bible study on the deity of Christ, Bible Promises for You and The Case for Christianity Answer Booklet. I told him I would pray for him each day until spring and then a year after. I told him the likelihood he would now go to Heaven was 100%. “Because how righteous is Jesus—100% righteous—and what’s His righteousness worth—an infinite amount. And His blood is worth an infinite amount. With me, I’m old and I sin every year and ask for forgiveness but all told I’ve sinned way more than you. But if we were both to die right now there is enough of His righteousness and blood to cover for both of us.” He agreed saying, “We’d both get in.” I talked about how God could help him focus and even help him with his pitching if he asked. I stood up to go and shook his hand and said, God bless ya man,” “Yeah good to meet you,” he replied. And I headed off.

So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance. God truly blessed on this the first day of the last week of class in 2023.

In Him,

Bob