Third Watch Ministries, NFP Bob & Ellen Bollow
P.O. Box 1283 May 31, 2025
Wheaton, IL 60187
Hey Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I hope your summer has begun with grace as you look forward to getting some plants in the ground or other projects done. I turned a saddle into a swing in the neighbor’s yard (my buddy David got me one from the farm) and it’s a big hit with the shorter humans on the street so far. Just looking around the little cape cod we’ve lived in since I began doing college ministry (while painting part-time in 2002) was kind of a load this morning. I saw a Facebook reel on stretching your sciatica on the floor. Looking up I was forced to see some cracks in the ceiling I know I need to repair. I fixed some over 20 years ago, they sadly came back. Things wear out. But hey I’ve got a summer to chip away at them. At school each year I go out each day to do evangelism and chip away at whatever God’s goal will be for the year. It’s kind of an overwhelming thought as the year begins, knowing how many people I will talk to mostly one at a time. I went through the Gospel with about 350 students this year. Though this was less than usual, 160 students prayed to receive Christ after I told them the Gospel, more than any previous year. I pray a verse for each every day and a for few others. I’m a little worn out to be frank, though I know God did all of it. Some students questions I could resolve for them. But most from my angle of observation simply heard the Gospel, wanted to be forgiven and believed they could be trusting in the person and work of Christ.
Pascal writes, “Do not wonder to see simple people believe without reasoning. God imparts to them love of Him and hatred of self. He inclines their heart to believe. Men will never believe with a saving and real faith, unless God inclines their heart; and they will believe as soon as He inclines it. And this is what David knew well, when he said: ‘Incline my heart, O Lord, unto thy testimonies.’” (Psalm 119:36)
So I quoted the Gospel verses to my captive audience and God brought these students to Himself. Sometimes I get a nudge to go to a certain place on campus. Or even to turn down a hall or go to a building. Sometimes when I get there, I meet a student who I have talked to before or has prayed with me and in talking to them I’m encouraged they are still walking with the Lord and that’s what God had for me there. Sometimes they pray to receive Christ. One of my favorite guys to talk to this past school year was Roy from Ghana and I was led right to him. He was upbeat and we hit it off right away. Here’s his story again if ya missed it during the year:
At the end of the afternoon I got a picture in my mind of the patio area at the top of the waterfall and started making my way there. No one wanted to talk on the way. Once on the patio I did bump into Sabine, (long braids, black girl, wide nose, cute, small girl) who I’d gone through the Gospel with but was not sure she believed, though she semi-regularly went to church. I chat her up when I see her. I thought that might have been the plan as she headed off, but then I saw the only other soul out there, Roy, sitting at a table. I got to talking with him and asked him if he’d want to do a survey. He had an easy laugh. He had one front tooth that was broken off by a 3rd on one corner, which with large white teeth was kind of striking. He wore a baseball cap and an American Eagle Brand zip-up grey hoodie and jeans. He had a big cheerful smile and traditional black features, oval face. He was from Ghana and had a bit of an accent and also spoke French, saying they made them learn it as children. I said I’d wished I managed to do the same {long story there}. He laughed at some things I said which I don’t remember and it made him open to do the survey. He said he wanted to be a medical missionary. I asked what he would say to God if he died and were asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “Why would you?” he said musing the question. “Hum..” He looked at me and said more pointedly, “How would I justify myself?” I let him keep thinking. “I don’t know. Nothing we have done. There’s nothing we can do to deserve it. Usually by mercy. It says in the Holy Book no one deserves it.” I agreed, quoting, “There is none righteous, no not one.” With a smile “We try to do good things,” he continued. “Do good deeds, read the Holy Word. I would just say, ‘Lord have mercy there’s nothing I have done to deserve it.’” I asked him what the likelihood he would go to Heaven was. “At this point in my life I think I’d just go to Hell,” he said and he laughed. “I need to reconcile with a lot of people and I have drifted away. So at this point I’d go to Hell.” So I said “Well the rest of this is what you think about Christianity. 4 quick points and you say what you think.” I started in and began to go through the Gospel and the love of God who wanted to know him, to live inside him, but the problem was sin. So God took away his sin. “What’s the big thing Jesus did to take away the sins of the world?” I asked. “He died on the Cross,” Roy replied. “Right” and I began to explain what that meant: That the blood cleansed him and paid what he owed for his sins. The righteousness of God was to his credit and God wanted to adopt him and give it all to him. He could receive Christ and be saved by faith. He was engaged all the way through and I got a laugh for some of the illustrations. All are amusing or somber depending on the tone I say them in. I keep in the spirit they seem to be received. “So would you want to be forgiven for your sins or do you think something else?” I asked. “I want to be forgiven,” he replied. “Well if you want to be forgiven there’s a prayer you can pray,” and I talked him through it. I asked if it was the desire of his heart. He nodded and I asked if he’d want to pray it silently and know he was forgiven. “Yes,” he said. He prayed then to receive Christ. When he finished he was happy and I told him the likelihood he would now go to Heaven, trusting in the blood and righteousness of Jesus, was 100%. He shook my hand firmly. I said I was old and had sinned more them him as a result, but the blood of Christ was of infinite value because He’s God and so too was His righteousness infinite because He (God) earned it. He had a Bible so I gave him Bible Promises for You and wrote his name and the date and “forgiven!” on the inside. I gave him a Bible study and he liked it. I also gave him The Case for Christianity Answer Book. (I had run out of the much shorter booklets so I thought it was God’s providence to give him that one.) He was grateful. Roy reached out and shook my hand again firmly and thanked me earnestly, “Thank you for telling me this. You could be somewhere resting, but you came out to talk to me. Thank you.” I said, “You are the best conversation I’ve had all day. Thanks.” We had hit it off and laughed a lot. I got up to head out and I gave him my contact information if he wanted to do a Bible study to let me know. I went to the truck then feeling blessed.
I bumped into Roy towards the end of Spring. He was happy to see me and grateful.
So thanks for your prayers and gifts to bless our college ministry this last school year. These are the names of the 160 who believed; to mention in prayer if you have a moment. The * means they said they would pray later. David, Jonah, Skylar, Rosslyn, Phil, John, Erick, Lilly, Erick, Matt, Sergio, Jaydi, Brandon, Adrian, Lauren, Camille, Ella, Madi, AJ, Charles, Jomally, Ellie, Madison, Odalys, Jess*, Rebecca, India, Jorie, Markail, Monse, Ethan, Kevin, Kai, Alijana, Michael, Adam, Rita, Arielle, Samantha, Michael, Josh, Reanne, Danielle, Marisa, Tamara, Annette, Ellis, Savannah, Lena, Joseph, Kaycee, Alexa, Malcolm, Daniel, Abbie, Ozzy, Michael, John, Roger, Connor, Q, Brandon, John, J, Diego, Damo, Roy, Victor, Daniel, KD, Charlie, John, Areli, Tamryn, Pablo, Mari, Julianna, Alijah, Cam, Keith, Matthew, Julia, Jessica, Panos, Dailen, Max, Jon, Moe, Salvador, Keri, Yace [ya say], Gianna, Jude, Donte, Jack, Dajah, Aly, Yvonne*, Kiyla, Ian (recommitted), Gabe, Cory, Nyla, Anthony, Ryan, James, Melody, Quami, Shaun, Zach, Stepan, Alenka, Thomas, Mercy, Emily, Sam, Brendan, Kevin, Jayda, Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Ashley, Joe, Drew, Jess, Natalie, Josh, Julyssa, Joseph, James, Daniel, Kyran, Matthew, Steve*, Shay, Jabari, Jorge, Kejsi [KC], Jose, Brandon, Kaitlyn, Ivy, Vanna, Princess, Afonso, Anzhelo [Angelo], Jack*, Jackson*, Yaireli, Jay, Sam, Mohammed, Tim*, Rachel, Natalie, Stephanie, Nikola, Tari, Hunter, Yanni, Katie, Gisela, Nataly, Sandra, Olga, Noah, Tony
Your financial gifts and prayers are an essential part of this ministry. We need them and know times are tight and we are truly grateful.
In Him,