This is Backyard Conversations, the blog environment of One Hundred-Fold Ministries – but I just had a front-yard conversation, and the good news of the Kingdom of God showed up in power!

For a long time, I saw door-to-door salespeople as an interruption to my day. Still, I have never put up one of the “No Soliciting” signs near my front door.

It just seemed impolite to me, I guess. And I figure going door to door selling anything has to be the worst job in the world, even for an extrovert! So my heart goes out to these people.

Recently, when a stranger selling something rings the doorbell, my practice is to say something like:

“Hello. Just for your information, right from the start, I want to say that I NEVER sign up or buy anything through the door. So we can skip all that. If you want to leave a piece of paper about whatever you’re selling, I may look at it later.”

If they don’t leave immediately (and a good percentage do), I start a new conversation almost immediately.

“Still, I know that this is a tough job. I want to get you a cold bottle of water to take with you and maybe just ask a couple of questions.”

More often than not, people say “OK,” thinking the worst that can happen is that they get a cold drink. Then, I step onto the porch with them and start with a couple of short questions, hoping to hear a bit of their story. This happened ten days ago on a Saturday evening when I was working on a sermon (it is important not to peak too soon on some things!).

The man promoting his new real estate business at the door had a slight accent. I gently asked, “I hear a bit of an accent. Are you perhaps from Eastern Europe?”

“I am from Ukraine,” he responded. Well, that was easy, I thought! Off we went!

I learned his name was Roman, and he moved here early with most of his family. I learned that his entire family is Christian. His uncle died early in the war. He lives in the Denver area. He is married and has four children. (His oldest son has started a Christian film company, Purewater Pictures.)

Roman recently left RTD, where he supervised several hundred bus operators. He showed me a picture of his family – all beautiful!

We spent 45 minutes on the front porch talking about life, Christ, and everything in between. We became fast, eternal friends. At the end of the conversation, he had a favor he wanted to ask of me.

“Pastor Dave, would you pray for me? You have been with God for 50 years in ministry. I can tell you love Jesus very much. Please pray for me now. I want to become successful in developing businesses, building Christian schools, seminaries, and hospitals, and investing in other Christians doing God’s work. I want to see my children marry beautiful Christian partners. I want you to pray for my marriage and family.”

He got on his knees on my front porch, and I laid hands on him. Through my tears, I prayed earnestly and joyfully! We hugged as he left to go back to work. He thanked me as if I had arranged the moment. We both recognized that it was God and His Kingdom breaking through into the moment. I am sure we will chat again soon!

This thing happens to me quite a bit. Maybe because I am a flaming extrovert, but I don’t think that is the main reason. I get up each morning expecting God and His Kingdom to be manifest in my life. I hope every conversation has the potential for a Christ-centered experience. It may be as simple as saying “God bless you” when we part or much more. And a good percentage of them don’t have much of an apparent spiritual exchange but a Jesus-inspired smile on my part. But I figure that if I smile in Jesus’ name, a profit is set aside that I cannot see yet.

I don’t feel that I contrive these events, but I do expect them. I believe that since my heart is pure in its intentions and I am prepared to defend my faith, God uses these moments for His purposes. I know that I am not merely saved for Heaven. I am saved to participate in the Gospel of the Kingdom – here and now!

Want to talk about it? Please email me at dave@100foldministries.org. On the Backyard Conversations page on our website, you will also find a place to connect and leave a comment.

So tell me a bit of your story. Let’s be better friends! There is a reward of one hundred-fold blessings set aside for us!

This is Dave Scherrer. Peace.