Teens Opposing Poverty

When it comes to evangelism, sometimes you plant the seed, sometimes you water it, and
sometimes you reap the harvest. To be honest, most of the evangelism we accomplish is planting
and watering. I’ve seen teens pray with scores of homeless people. I’ve seen them share their
faith, some eloquently, some awkwardly, but all with sincerity. That’s what God asks of us. He
does the converting, but I have to admit it’s fun and exciting to be there when that happens.

We were serving homeless people in Franklin Park on a cloudy, chilly Fall afternoon. The sun
was starting to set as I walked across the street from the subway station where I had just gotten a
fare card for a man who needed transportation to a new job. As I stepped out of the subway
station, I pulled my jacked up against the cold and surveyed the teens across the street. Some
were putting leftover clothes and coolers back in their vehicles but most of them were still
scattered throughout the park talking to homeless people. I love that sight.

I crossed 14th Street and headed to the middle of the park when I saw four teens standing around
a homeless man who was sitting on a bench. The man stood up then he and the teens closed
together in a giant hug, and all of them were weeping. He wasn’t very tall, so when they
surrounded him, he disappeared in a tangle of embracing arms. I trotted up to the group
concerned that something was seriously wrong with this poor man.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No, everything’s fine,” sobbed a slender girl with long, brown hair.

“So why are you crying?”

In unison they cried out, “He just accepted Jesus!”

As they wiped their tears, enormous smiles spread on their faces. The homeless man, dressed in
layers topped by a blue and red jacket with a huge stain on the back, thanked the teens and
hugged each one. I gave him the name of a church in the area where he would be welcomed. He
walked with the teens back to their van, watched them get in and waved to them as they left.