The Time is Now

I felt like I was shaking in my boots because it wasn’t planned. During youth evangelism one Saturday, my friend and I went into the mall, and one suggested we open-air preach. My stomach got in knots. I hadn’t prepared a message and wasn’t planning to.

We kept sharing flyers and the gospel. Later, in the food court, she brought it up again, and this time I felt convicted. The phrase “The Time Is Now” came to my mind, like the Holy Spirit was saying there was no reason to wait. I told her I’d do it after she finished, so she could hold me accountable.

While she still was preaching, a teenager nearby started heckling, saying, “I’m gay!” I asked him, “Okay, so? Did Jesus not die for gay people?” We started talking, and I could see his guard come down. He wasn’t being judged. He was meeting a Jesus who loves him.

Then it was my turn, and I panicked: what would I say? The Holy Spirit told me it was simple. Jesus loves you, Jesus saves, Jesus heals. So I shared that, briefly.

Afterwards I was shaken but proud. Jesus overcame his own reluctance to go to the cross because he loved us, and this felt like my way of showing love back.

You can’t do better until you’ve started. Just start, then refine.