Thread by @harrydaniyan

THE DRUG ADDICT

He ran out as the pastor gave the altar call.
Everybody in the hall was stunned.
He was very popular in the neighborhood, everyone knew him as a bad guy.
He smoked, inhaled & injected everything.
He was drugs personified!

But he gave his life to Jesus that day.

When he walked into the church that Sunday morning, some people walked out.
He was trouble & they didn't want to be caught in any cross fire.
He was the center of attention.
Even the cameras were focused on him.
The pastor knew him & had been praying for him.
He was a big fish...

If he could get converted, the other small fish around would easily do so too, the pastor thought.
So, when he walked into the hall that morning, the pastor was elated!
He knew he had an opportunity to land a big one for Jesus.
He gave it his best shot- he preached with his all..

And he made the altar call.
The guy stood up, tears streaming down his face.
He ran out.
17 people gave their lives to Jesus that day.
But he was the one on everybody's lips.
It was like Satan Iscariot himself becoming a Christian!
Pastor was overjoyed!
Everybody was happy!

He started attending Church regularly.
He was slowly but surely changing within.
The word of God was touching him, chipping away the old man, revealing the new.

But there was a problem!
He was having a difficulty with drugs.
He found it hard to stop!
He'd stay off for a week...

But he'd see himself going back to it again.
He wept.
He fasted.
He prayed.
He told the pastor about his challenges.
The pastor prayed for him.
The pastor took him as a personal project.
He wanted to see him grow up as a sound Christian.
His testimony would be great, he imagined!

After about 6 months of oscillating between victory & failure, he came to see the pastor.
He had a request:
He wants to be a Church worker.
The pastor asked which department he would want to work in.
"The Choir, sir. I want to use my voice to glorify God", he responded...

Pastor knew he had a very good voice.
He wouldn't even need much training.
He'd be a good addition to the choir, pastor thought.

But this drug addiction he doesn't seem to have the power to break totally from...

How would it look?
What would people say?
It'd be bad optics!

But then, pastor knows this guy is genuinely saved.
His problem is known & seen: drugs.
Everybody knew he still took drugs once in a while.
But the other people in the choir may not necessarily be any better- nobody really knows what they do when nobody is watching...

Now, f you are the pastor, what will you do?
Will you allow him join the choir & not be concerned about the bad optics?

Or if the pastor asks you for advice, what will you say?
Or if you're a member of the church & you hear this guy wants to join the choir, what will you do?
🤔

What really is the criteria for being in a visible ministry in church?
Would you rather such a person joins the "Grounds & Parks Department", where they just direct traffic?
Or even the "Decorations Department" where he wouldn't be seen?
What are your thoughts?

Let's do this!
😇