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Evangelism
MID-AMERICA MESSENGER
IN TODAY’S DRIVE-THROUGH CULTURE, PAYING IT FORWARD CAN MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE
THE ANECDOTE IMPRESSED ME, and I began considering how
you kindly give this to him?” handing
purchasing someone’s meal might not
problem,” she said.
only demonstrate human generosity communicate the generosity of God.
I DROVE AWAY, SAYING ANOTHER PRAYER FOR THE DRIVER. I knew he would be reading
That Monday, I determined to translate
the following, including my name and
my idea into reality.
contact information:
but also provide an opportunity to
Equipped with a copy of “Would
her the tract with my note attached. “No
You must be wondering,
BY BRYAN A. MURRAY
You Like to Know God Personally?” a
“Why would someone purchase this
It was a normal, abnormal Sunday
Gospel tract by Cru, and a personal note
for me?”
morning. My family was in the living
I created to accompany it, I pulled into
room, my tea was in my hand, my Bible
Smoothie King’s drive-through. When
cashier and hear “It’s already been
was next to me, and the television was
someone pulled up behind me in a
paid.” You can put your credit card
live-streaming a local church service.
Nissan Maxima, I briefly said a prayer
or cash back into your wallet or
The pastor started his sermon with a
for the driver to be receptive.
purse and enjoy the meal!
personal story. He was standing in line at
“That will be $9.45,” the cashier
It feels good to pull up to the
Two thousand years ago, Jesus
said. I gave her my credit card. When
died on the cross to pay for my sins
McDonald’s. The woman immediately
she attempted to return it to me, I asked,
and yours. One day you and I will
ahead of him secretly purchased his
“Can I pay for the meal of the person in
“pull up” to God and have to settle
meal. When he arrived at the cashier
the car behind me?” “Sure,” she said,
the account for our sin. If you’ve not
and learned of the woman’s generosity,
surprised. When she returned
he did the same for the person behind
my credit card to me, I
him. That person did the same for the
followed up. “Would
next person. Soon these strangers were smiling at each other, recognizing their shared generosity. It was a throwback to the 2000 movie Pay It Forward.
READ
Read the first in the “Evangelism in the 21st Century” series. Go to: tiny.cc/evangelism21-1
accepted Christ, you
