First Times

Last week while Johnny was out door-knocking he came upon a young man, married and expecting their first baby. The young man was surprised when Johnny asked him "the" question and answered with, "No, I don't know if I would go to heaven when I die.". Johnny jumped in with both feet and showed him from the Bible how he could know he was going to heaven if he would simply turn to Christ and accept His gift of eternal life. The man agreed with every point. He agreed that he was a sinner and that sin has a penalty and that Jesus paid that penalty for all mankind but when Johnny got the last step, he lost the young man completely. He knew he had a decision to make, but this is what he told Johnny, "I am a 10th generation Catholic. Everyone in my family is catholic and have been for 10 generations. My wife and I have a baby coming and my family expects me to christen her. I'm a 10th generation Catholic, I just can't change now."
Johnny was heart broken and explained to this man that he would one day stand face to face with Jesus and would have to give account for himself minus his family. He would be responsible for himself and he would stand alone.
Anyhow, Johnny left this man at the door, both of them very sad, but what can you do? He made a choice and it wasn't in favor of Jesus. Johnny talked about him for days and he was really bothered by this 10th generation Catholic. Can you imagine if your family had been Catholic since the 1500s and suddenly you were the one to break that tradition. Wow.
We're still praying for this young man, God's Word is powerful and sharper than a two edged sword, we're praying it will work in his heart and God will gain the victory over 10 generations of the Devils stronghold.

Okay so onto yesterday's report.
About 7 years ago Johnny stopped a young man walking down the street and with a translator he led the man to the Lord. For the last 7 years Johnny has been training him to be a soul-winner. Well tonight Alan was the speaker for the first time and he took a silent partner. This was Alan's very first time at someone's door without Bro. Johnny or the national pastor. Our son went with Alan and I'm so happy to report that Bro. Alan was walking in the Spirit, it was clear and we could see it all over him. He shinned his shoes before soul-winning and aparently prayed most of the day because it sure showed.

We were so excited when they came down the stairs from the 6th floor of the old communist apartment building we were knocking with smiles that could come from nothing other than seeing a man trust Christ. Alan had knocked the door of an 18 year old man and walked him through God's simple plan of salvation and led him to Christ. Amen!!! We were almost hollering with joy in that stairwell, but we didn't care. Here we had a convert, a man who has been faithful and followed and listened and now he had a convert.
This is how missions works. On a perfect day this is how it would work.

Oh wait I forgot, Johnny and I also took a new lady with us to the doors. She isn't a new Christian but this was her first time door-to-door and we had a horrible time. People we so rude and hateful. We learned that the Jehovah's Witnesses were just there before us, it wasn't going well for Zeljka's first time. Then it happened, right after we prayed, Nikolina opened the door and invited us in. I'm so happy to say that she trusted Christ and received eternal life last night.
God is so good and it was amazing to see her saved. She was very open and it was obvious that she had been searching for truth, even the TRUTH and the LIFE.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share these stories with you. Praise the Lord, He's still in the saving business!

**Hey Bro. Sam, your name was mentioned more than once last night in our door-knocking efforts, you've left a lasting impression!
GOD SAVE CROATIA!