London: Tough questions at tea time

Bowman in London

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In London, my Monday morning was spent inside a church, serving coffee and tea to people coming in off the streets.

Mary Bowman and friends.

I already had some awesome conversations with a couple of people when a few women walked in. Jackie, Shirley, and Leah—and Leah's 2-year-old daughter, Ellie Jane—wandered inside for a little break from the heat.

Jesus gave me an opportunity to speak his truth and share his gospel. Within a few minutes of talking, Leah turned to me and asked me point blank: "Do you have to be born again to go to heaven? My friend told me my Nana is in hell because she wasn't, and I didn't think that was very nice. Do you believe that?"

Wow, talk about needing the Holy Spirit to intercede and give the words to say. I explained to her what it means to be spiritually dead because of our sin, and how trusting in Christ is the only thing that can bring us to life and back into a relationship with God the Father again.

Leah proceeded to mention that her friend insisted that one had to go to her church if he/she was truly saved, so I took that and ran with it. I reassured Leah that being saved has nothing to do with what church a person goes to or how many good works a person does. I took a New Testament, highlighted Romans 10:9-10, gave it to Leah, and she was ecstatic. It was such good news to her that there was nothing more one had to do than just believe. She was incredibly eager to take the Bible. It was so encouraging!

Leah, Shirley, and Jackie came back to the church every day and became a part of our community. Jackie wasn't a part of the church, or a follower of Christ, but one day I looked over and she was passing out fliers for our barbecue on Friday. It was incredible. They belonged to the group, and I am confident it's just a matter of time before they start believing and walking with Jesus.

Mary Bowman, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, served at the London Olympics as part of the More Than Gold ministry through Go Now Missions.


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