During our last outreach at East Palo Alto 7-Eleven Plaza, we had an encounter that reminded us of the urgency of the gospel. A young girl came out of the store with grocery bags and approached us. She said, “I’m in fear.” We gently asked, “What are you afraid of?” She responded with something that shook us: “I’m afraid of going to hell.”
Can you imagine hearing those words from a young girl? It wasn’t fear of the dark, or of being alone—it was fear of eternal separation from God. Right then, we shared the Good News of Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins and offers forgiveness and eternal life. We assured her that by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, she no longer needed to live in fear, because God promises us eternal life in heaven. By God’s grace, she accepted Jesus. She prayed the sinner’s prayer out loud and confessed, “Jesus is Lord!” In that moment, we witnessed her face transform from sorrow to joy!
This is why we go. Evangelism is spiritual warfare. People are walking through life burdened by sin, fear, and confusion. They need to hear about the one who can set them free. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). There is an urgency to share the gospel. The time is now. The harvest is plentiful. Will you go? Will you share? Will you shine the light of Christ to a world living in fear?
