06/16/2023
His mom made him come hear me preach. And this is what happened…
This is one the greatest men I have ever known…
This is my longtime friend Steve Rogers. Steve and I grew up together in El Dorado, Arkansas. The amount of good that he has brought into the lives of people is simply astounding…
He became a believer in the Spring of 1976 - the same year we graduated high school.
I preached at his church one night during a youth-led revival. Steve didn’t wanna go, but his mom kind of forced him to. “Come hear Jimmy preach,” she insisted.
I preached my heart out that night. When I gave the invitation, Steve was the only one who responded.
But I was suspicious. At the time he and I were on opposite sides of the fence, spiritually speaking. I thought his response might not be the real deal. I even wondered if he was mocking me…
Nevertheless, he came forward, “professing Jesus.”
During lunch at school every day, all of us believers sat together. It was a cool time of fellowship.
Well, the very next day after I had preached, and Steve had responded, I was at my usual spot at the lunch table - waiting for the other believers to join me.
Steve and I had the same lunch period. I wondered if he would have the nerve to join us.
I remember sitting at the table and praying, “Lord, if Steve comes and sits by me, he’s the ‘real deal.’”
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Steve walked up and sat directly across from me. His face was beaming! He was a new man in Christ Jesus.
Over the years, he has poured his life, time, and money, into the lives of many.
He’s is a very successful businessman. But you would never know it. He often - very often - fellowships with those who have endured much rejection.
He has spent tons of time taking addicts to AA and other such meetings. He once joked that people probably think he’s a struggling alcoholic, due to his constant presence at such meetings.
I suspect he will need a U-Haul on judgment day. His rewards will be many.
He probably won’t even see this post. He’s not a Facebook-kind-of-a-guy.
After all, spending time on Facebook would distract him from his mission: face to face time with his friends…
