Mission Moments - Snapshots from the Soul
Every person who passes through the doors of City Union Mission has a unique story to tell - every man, every woman, and every child. Some stories are gripping, some are interesting, and some are heartwarming, while others are heartbreaking.
We have captured several stories that may change the way you view homelessness forever. Here is your chance to take a glimpse into the lives of a few of our precious clients, volunteers, and donors. We hope you will take a minute to engross yourself in these powerful testimonies. Please place yourself in their shoes, and join them in their past sorrows as well as their newfound joy.
Paul
A Redeemed Paul
When Paul came to the Christian Life Program he was a dogmatic atheist. One of the teachers loaned him the book, The Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel. He began reading the book, but was making no progress, saying only that the book offered the “same old arguments” for faith. He, at least in his own mind, was able to refute all the arguments.
Another staff member loaned him the book, The Case for Christ, also by Strobel. It took Paul several weeks to read this book, but in the process something happened. Strobel uses secular references in supporting the historicity of Jesus and His resurrection. Paul had never encountered anyone using secular evidence for the reality of Jesus’ existence. This really captured his attention.
When he returned Strobel’s book on Christ, the staff person asked, “have you come to that point in your spiritual journey that you know for certain that if you died tonight you would go to heaven.
“No,” he said. “I wish I did.” After the staff member showed him Scriptures about salvation, Paul was asked if he wanted to pray to receive Jesus as his Savior. His reply was, “Well, I did that in my room a few days ago.” He then was asked to read John 5:24 and talk about what that verse says about him. As he was talking through the verse, he paused for a moment, and then exclaimed, “According to this verse, I have eternal life right now.”
The counselor prayed with Paul, who thanked Jesus for saving him and giving him the confidence that when he dies he will be in heaven.
Since that day Paul has been telling other CLP excitedly, “I received Christ as my Savior.” His whole countenance has changed from dower to cheerful. In Bible classes, he is responsive, whereas before he seemed to be calculating the negative arguments against what the teacher was teaching. He has gone back to Strobel’s book on faith, and says that it really makes sense now. His life has completely changed.
Paul is a living example of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”
Do you have the same confidence in eternal life that Paul now has?If you're not sure, click here to find out how you can have that same confidence.