It was during a gospel mission in Mexico. There seemed to be very little interest and few came out to hear the good news. The preacher was getting after the faithful for not bringing more out to hear the gospel.
“How many here will pledge themselves to bring a new person to the meeting tomorrow night?” he asked. Then to give force to his words, he added, “I do not say to ask them, but to bring them.” Several raised their hands.
The next night one brother brought two visitors, but when they got to the door, they took fright and turned back. The poor brother sat down feeling very sad. He had promised to bring someone, but had failed.
However, rising up, he went out and down the dark narrow street until he met another man. “Amigo,” he said, “I want you to come in and listen to a gospel sermon.”
But the man refused. He had been told the people at that gospel hall did terrible things to visitors, and that sometimes they even ate them. Not to be refused this time, the brother picked up the man bodily, and carried him struggling and kicking into the hall. Setting him down on a bench at the back, he sat beside him to prevent his escape.
Terror-stricken, the man sat and looked around. The gospel service began. The man calmed down and gradually became interested. At the close of the service he was told he could go home.
“What?” he exclaimed. “Aren’t you going to eat me?”
“No,” said his captor, “I just wanted you to hear the gospel.”
The next night the man came back to hear more, and shortly after he accepted Christ as his Saviour and Lord. He is now a close friend of the one who had carried him captive into the gospel hall—a willing captive now of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.
ML-09/11/1977