Marilyn had an unsavory reputation...
Illustration
Marilyn had an unsavory reputation. Even the pastor of the downtown church was aware of her indiscretions.
However, she had been slipping into the Sunday morning worship services. She always came after the service began, sat in the back pew, and left just before the service ended, trying not to be noticed. This continued for several months. Eventually she came to talk to the pastor.
She began to weep and poured out her sordid life story. She ended by saying that the first time she came in, she was tired and needed to rest. But then she heard the pastor talk about Jesus and how he forgave sinners and gave them a new life. She felt she had to keep returning to the services. She watched the pastor baptize a person one Sunday after he talked about the Samaritan woman. "Is there any way I can be a part of this church and be baptized? I'm looking for a regular job and I live by myself now. I want that new life you preach about!"
However, she had been slipping into the Sunday morning worship services. She always came after the service began, sat in the back pew, and left just before the service ended, trying not to be noticed. This continued for several months. Eventually she came to talk to the pastor.
She began to weep and poured out her sordid life story. She ended by saying that the first time she came in, she was tired and needed to rest. But then she heard the pastor talk about Jesus and how he forgave sinners and gave them a new life. She felt she had to keep returning to the services. She watched the pastor baptize a person one Sunday after he talked about the Samaritan woman. "Is there any way I can be a part of this church and be baptized? I'm looking for a regular job and I live by myself now. I want that new life you preach about!"
