I was driving around town taking care of a few errands when I came to a red light at a busy intersection. As I pulled to a stop I heard the intense voice of a man saying, “Have you been saved?”
I glanced to my left, and there, on the sidewalk, was a gray-haired, bearded man. He was wearing what we used to call a sandwich board — one of those double tablets that slips over your head so it can be read in front and back.
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On the tablets were written things such as, “Jesus is the only way to heaven” and “Repent and be saved.” The man was pacing back and forth along both streets and when cars stopped he would shout at the occupants, asking if they know Jesus Christ as Savior, and other spiritual messages.
Some drivers and passengers would smile and wave at him. A few honked their horns (I’m assuming that was a sign of approval!). Many just ignored him and waited for the light to turn green.
I found myself with a curious mix of emotions. Part of me felt as though I should park the car and get out there with him. But another part of me acknowledged that I don’t have the courage to display such a bold profession of faith. And yet another part of me — the skeptical part — wondered if his street preaching was really doing any good. Was he really making any kind of difference? Or were passers-by just laughing at him?
In less than a minute the light turned and I was on my way. As I drove off I could still hear him shouting at cars.
I found myself thinking a lot about him. Clearly, he didn’t care what others might think. He was focused on fulfilling the Great Commission: “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”
Laugh at him? Ignore him? Do so at your own risk. He couldn’t care less. He was called to a certain form of ministry, and he was living it.
We might not be comfortable in such a ministry, but all of us can model a lifestyle that resembles a sandwich board around our bodies.
We all have our own streets to walk.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Ken Lass is a retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor and an award-winning columnist for numerous publications and websites.
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