Delbert started on his daily walk to school like he always had. He was now a Junior at Harriet Tubman High School and had made this 1 mile trek every day for the last 2 years and always looked forward to stopping at the gas station on the corner of 5th Avenue & Franklin Street to get his daily order of suckers and BBQ potato chips. Every day for the last 2 years as he left the house he would put on his headphones so he could listen to his favorite gospel album. Delbert accepted Jesus at a very early age of only 10 years old and every morning for the last 6 years he would get up and pray and read a scripture or two from the Bible. It may sound strange but even at an early age he just loved the Lord and every morning he looked forward to opportunities to share Jesus with someone.
Well today was an exceptionally beautiful day. The sun was shining and their was a slight breeze blowing out of the south, which caused it to feel just absolutely amazing. It was such a great day that Delbert decided to leave 15 minutes early so he had more time to enjoy this amazing day. As he approached the gas station he noticed something different today. Usually he would see Susie outside cleaning up the garbage from the night before but this morning the station was eerily quiet, with no outside activity what so ever. As he got closer he noticed there was a car parked in front of the station that he had never seen before. It was sitting there idling and he could see there was someone nervously fidgeting in the driver’s seat. His whole body grew cold with fear as he got closer and could see Susie in a desperate struggle with two men inside.
Everything in him said “run away” but a single voice said “go in”. He ignored the voices of fear and obeyed the bold voice that told him to go in. When he entered the station he startled the guy who was beating Susie and he immediately turned the gun on Delbert. He then put his hands up and asked the guy why he was beating Susie. He said, “Mind your own business bro and get out now”.
“I can’t leave now”, said Delbert.
Perplexed, the gunman asked him, “What? Why not?”
“My God doesn’t want me to leave. He wants to talk to you”, Delbert replied.
“What are you talking about?”, the gunman angrily responded.
Delbert calmly repeated what he said a few seconds ago, “He wants to talk to you”.
“Well... what does He want to say?”, the gunman shouted, his patience wearing thin.
Delbert continued, “He wants to say that even as you are doing this horrible thing, He loves you. He wants to hold you in His arms and let you know your mom will be just fine”.
The gunman was extremely confused now. “What do you know about my mom little boy? And you better not be messing with me.”
Delbert boldly replied, “He knows your mom has been sick with throat cancer and that you are robbing this store to help pay for her operation. He said your mom is already healed and is ready to go home now. She no longer needs the operation because He already healed her. If you go home right now there is a message on the phone for you to come and get her.”
The gunman started sobbing, immediately dropped the gun, approached Delbert and fell on his knees before him as he grabbing his arms as he went to his knees. Delbert reached out and embraced him and whispered in the gunman’s ear, “Jesus loves you Tony. And He has been calling you back to him for a long time now. It’s time to go back to Jesus.”
The gunman collapsed the rest of the way to the floor and cried out, “How did you know my na...? Never mind. “Jesus I’m so sorry for getting angry with you when my mom got sick. I didn’t know what else to do but I should’ve come to You instead of pushing you away. I’m so sorry Jesus! Please take me back!”
When he saw this amazing display the other guy in the store with the gunman fell to his knees and asked Jesus to come to Him as well. Delbert was so excited that these lost souls were now back where they belong that he didn’t notice Susie weeping uncontrollably by the counter. But it was now for a different reason. She had visible bruising from the beating she took but she began asking Jesus to forgive the men who came in the store to rob them. So moved by what she saw, while she was on her knees she asked Jesus to come into her heart as well. The other guy in the car was so angry and freaked out that he just pulled off and left everyone there in the station. That day, 3 people were brought to Christ. And Delbert continued on to school, praising God!
What happened to those people:
The guy that took off in the car never repented and was eventually shot and killed in a hail of bullets in a gang fight a month after the event at the gas station.
Tony and the other guy who came in the store with him started a ministry to reach out to gang members and was solely responsible for leading 1500 souls to Christ who were once gang members. He now has a prison ministry that leads thousands of young men to Christ every year.
Susie started a homeless shelter that ministers to women who have been victims of domestic violence. She no longer works at the gas station but now speaks all around the country to groups of women who were once victims, showing them the importance of forgiving their abusers, leading tens of thousands of women to Christ all around the United States.
Delbert is the senior pastor of “In Faith Ministries”, a local church that now has over 3500 members with 7 satellite locations around the state. He travels around the world talking to young people to let them know that it’s okay to accept their call to Christ at a young age. His ministry is now responsible directly and indirectly for over 500,000 young people giving their lives to Christ!
~Robert T. Sells~
The moral of the story: Don’t be afraid to move when God tells you to move. He has already given you the victory! I pray this story blesses you. All glory to God!!
