Maryanne Johns walked past a...
Illustration
Maryanne Johns walked past a church every day on her way to work. She didn't pay much attention to it. It was just there, part of the scenery she noticed each day. One day she observed a woman and a child sitting on the front steps, which she thought was strange, so early in the morning. But she waved a friendly hello and proceeded on her mile-and-a-half morning walk.
The next morning the woman and child were there again, this time accompanied by an older gentleman. Maryanne was curious, so she stopped to talk. She asked them if something special happened at that church so early in the day.
"I hope so," the woman answered. "My friend told me she found Jesus at this church. So I came yesterday to talk to someone about it, but no one was here. I brought my father today and we're waiting to talk to the pastor about it."
Maryanne went on to work. Several times during the day she thought, "How can anyone 'find Jesus' in a church? I must be missing something."
Two weeks later, as Maryanne passed the church, the woman was there again. She ran out to meet Maryanne and said, "Oh, I'm so happy to see you again! I came today just hoping you'd walk by!"
Maryanne asked her, "Did you find who you were looking for in this church?"
"We talked to the pastor and we've been attending services here on Sunday. He told us the Holy Spirit would make Jesus known to us. We've been blessed by the special spirit of Jesus here! Won't you come and see for yourself?"
The next morning the woman and child were there again, this time accompanied by an older gentleman. Maryanne was curious, so she stopped to talk. She asked them if something special happened at that church so early in the day.
"I hope so," the woman answered. "My friend told me she found Jesus at this church. So I came yesterday to talk to someone about it, but no one was here. I brought my father today and we're waiting to talk to the pastor about it."
Maryanne went on to work. Several times during the day she thought, "How can anyone 'find Jesus' in a church? I must be missing something."
Two weeks later, as Maryanne passed the church, the woman was there again. She ran out to meet Maryanne and said, "Oh, I'm so happy to see you again! I came today just hoping you'd walk by!"
Maryanne asked her, "Did you find who you were looking for in this church?"
"We talked to the pastor and we've been attending services here on Sunday. He told us the Holy Spirit would make Jesus known to us. We've been blessed by the special spirit of Jesus here! Won't you come and see for yourself?"
