“Why are you here?” The young lady who had been singing all night at the local night spot asked the older man. It had been obvious that he was a bit out of place the past few nights she had seen him. He always ordered a soda and sometimes brought in a dozen donuts for the management and staff.
ClampThe older gentleman looked at her and said, “I’m looking for someone who can sing in my church.” She laughed and said, “I can’t come sing at your church. I’ve been married several times and the man I’m with is not my husband.” The pastor raised the soda to his mouth and took a sip and then looked at her and said, “You’ll be my guest.”
Over the next few months, others realized he was a pastor. The owner of the business asked him if he would lead a service on Sunday since this was the one day the business couldn’t be open. Many of those who were regulars of the club and staff attended. It was a different kind of service that connected them, and the gospel was preached. Several of them were saved.
I sat in utter amazement listening to this story at a Waffle House over breakfast. Not only was I excited that he was one of our pastors, but also that he had been faithfully serving the same church for 49 years. It birthed a desire to honor such men who have faithfully served in vocational ministry for 50 years and are still active in ministry. At the Evangelism Conference at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley on Thursday morning, Feb. 21, we will honor many of these men with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
So where are you not willing to take the gospel?
Jesus took the message from the synagogue to the streets. The Pharisees complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:30-32).
I asked the pastor about what happened to the young lady. He took a bite of toast and then, with a twinkle in his eye, he said, “She’s been working in my music ministry for the past four years.” Is she helping with your service at the night club, too? He smiled and said, “No. They had to close their doors because of a lack of business.”
– Clamp is evangelism group director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Follow Lee on twitter @leeclamp or on his blog at www.leeclamp.com.