The precinct in Ramsgate was busy.  Shoppers bustling about, some folk  sitting on the seats provided, waiting for their partners or friends to return after finishing their errands and, perhaps to take them for a welcome cup of tea or to wend their way home.  I had been giving out Gospel tracts to all who would take them including a young man sitting on a seat nearby.  He had accepted a tract and told me his name was Stephen.  I thanked God as I noticed people reading the Gospel message.

Gradually I became aware of a group of youths, sprawled around on some of the chairs.  They were acting noisily and belligerently.  The youths looked as though they had just come from the public house, full of alcohol!

I was waiting for the Lord to prompt me to start preaching the Word of God but I knew before I started, these youths could be a problem.  I prayed silently for wisdom, guidance and protection.

As I stood waiting, I glanced across at Stephen.  He was unshaven,  and disheveled but his head was down reading the Gospel tract he had taken earlier.  I thanked God because he was reading about Jesus.

I started to preach the message God had given me.  It was not long before the youths responded.

‘The hound of hell, the devil, the hound of hell,’ one of them called out.  The alcohol had given them courage to heckle. Behaviour like this always attracts onlookers and that day was no exception, soon there was a small crowd of people watching, listening, probably wondering what would happen next.

Suddenly a woman ran over dragging her husband along.  She clutched my arm, ‘You are fantastic, it’s wonderful what you’re doing.’

I tried to thank her without losing the theme of God’s message I was preaching. She went as quickly as she came.

One of the youths lurched towards me, he was friendly but a distraction.

‘I’ll be happy to talk to you in a minute,’ I told him and carried on preaching.

‘I believe you, I believe every word you say.  I know Jesus died on the cross for  sinners.’,  the alcohol on his breath was pungent and penetrating, his slurring words difficult to understand.  Eventually he veered off and returned to his friends.

Another couple who had been listening contentedly made a sudden elaborate show of angry disgust and moved off.

I noticed Stephen get up and walk away,  but he was soon back coming to sit right in front of me.  He was wearing shabby camouflage army gear and looked like a man with no hope,   He buried his head in his hands but I knew he was listening.

The message came to an end. I offered a free Gospel to anybody who would receive one.  I was thrilled when several folk, including Stephen, came forward holding out their hands  for a copy.

Tom, another man wanted to speak to me,  I asked Stephen to wait for me until I had spoken to him and others who were waiting.  It  only took a few minutes then I was able to get back to Stephen.  He was reading the Gospel I’d given to him

Sitting down beside him I listened to his story, it was heart rending.

‘My life is in ruins,’ he confessed.  ‘My marriage broken up, I’ve lost my children, my home, everything,’  he sobbed.  His voice lowered, I waited  patiently.

‘I’ve killed a man,’ he sounded distraught.

‘I was in the Falklands war, I killed a man.’  Stephen was tormented by what he’d done.  He had tried to find comfort in drink, gradually becoming an alcoholic.

He had alienated his wife and family and in his drunken stupor, gone down in an ever increasing spiral of depression.

Stephen could find no peace or pardon and didn’t believe he could ever be forgiven.

I explained the Gospel message, that God would forgive freely if we truly repented.  ‘Jesus came down to this world to save sinners,’ I continued.  I showed him the Word, “To as many as receive Him , to them He gave power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:12)

I don’t know how much Stephen took in or understood.  I put my arms around him and felt him sobbing, I prayed with him there, in the shopping precinct. and I believe he was praying with me.   Seek ye the Lord while be may found, call ye upon Him while He is near:  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV)