A bridge over the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana.By Chris Meehan and Sean Connolly
A goateed man named Mark motioned Evansville missionaries Peter Putzier and Mary Grams into his house with one hand, pressing a cell phone against his ear with the other. He hung up the phone and launched into the sad story of his last few months: a fall at work leading to an injured back and knees, losing his factory job, separation from his wife and two sons and heavy drinking.
“I’m afraid I’m going to do a really bad thing,” he kept repeating. “You know what I’m talking about.”
Peter had no doubt. He was talking about ending his life.
Peter assured him, “The Lord has sent us to help.”
The two missionaries prayed with Mark for healing of his knees and back, and they cast out evil spirits of fear and despair.
“You can praise the Lord in both good times and bad,” Peter explained. “You can praise God for your two boys, and for keeping you alive so far.”
Mark knelt down on the floor, littered with empty Diet Coke cans and food wrappers, while Peter led a prayer of rededication to the Lord.
Peter and Mary taught Mark a cheerful tune, “The Lord is my light, the Lord is my salvation, the stronghold of my life, whom shall I fear?”
Mark sang it over and over again. “It was the only time I saw him smile that day,” Peter recalls.
Peter returned to the house the next week, this time with missionary Liz Loughran. (Liz has since returned to college.)
Mark said he had been talking to his professional counselors more often than he had before, and he saw hope in the return of his two sons for a visit.
Peter taught him the rudiments of having a personal prayer time, and he and Liz introduced another song. But Mark only wanted to sing “The Lord Is My Light,” and he insisted that the missionaries write down the words.
“You and the other gal saved my life last week,” he said to Peter. “You came at my lowest point.”
Responses
Stapp says:
September 17th, 2010 at 4:28 PM
GLORY!
John Loughran says:
September 17th, 2010 at 5:07 PM
That is fantastc
Praise God
Laura Brummer says:
September 17th, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Thank you Lord! Good job missionaries, keep it up.
Nancy Grams says:
September 17th, 2010 at 9:48 PM
Isn't it amazing how open people are when they are "down and out"? Keep in the Lord's peace as you continue to build the kingdom in Evansville!
Nancy Grams
Colorado Springs Branch
Nancy Chambless says:
September 18th, 2010 at 12:11 AM
God is gracious. What a gift to see and share God's sweet and saving love.
Bruce Wansart says:
September 18th, 2010 at 10:50 AM
What a mighty God we serve!
Hope, springs eternal.
Thanks, missionaries for surrounded him the many of God's gifts but especially, His Love.
Bruce Wansart
Cyndi Smith says:
September 19th, 2010 at 6:23 AM
There are absolutely no chance encounters in our lives.
Come LORD, and open our eyes to see what you are about in the people we talk to today, and use us to speak your words to them.
Dennis Burke says:
September 20th, 2010 at 7:39 AM
Bill and Gloria Gaither put this reocurring happening to song many years ago. Another song for Mark and all the lonely people being touched by your efforts.
"He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole."
Keep up the great work!
Ann Thomas says:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:31 PM
Isn't God Amazing keep listening to His promptings
thank you for being open to saying Yes
Maile Murphy says:
September 24th, 2010 at 2:19 AM
Praise the Lord! That is so sweet.
Kim & Bruce Doffing says:
October 22nd, 2010 at 2:47 PM
No words can describe these precious moments for this man.
The spirit moved, you were available! God was there touching this man's heart through you. Thank you Lord for our missionaries!
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