Lost Chapter Part II: Our Mar’s Hill Experience

           As a missionary for the North
American Mission Board, we were required twice a year to participate in a World
Missions Conference. In September 1998, we journey to Colorado
to share with the Continental Divide Association what God was doing in Helen, Georgia.
When we arrived, the director of missions gave us our assignments and he gave
me a Ford F-150 to drive for the week and Michael was given a Ford Escort.
While we were there, we visited a tiny town called Crestone. We learned that
Crestone was a hub of world religions. We were told that Shirley Maclaine had
been there, and had met with people from the United Nations. Their goal,
supposedly, was to bring leaders from all the organized world religions
together to try and form one religion for the world. 

         Michael and I decided to explore
Crestone today and we went to visit the Hindu temple. We drove up there and
there was nowhere to park.          We
stopped the truck and got out to take a picture and a guy named Frap, wearing a
long broom skirt, a t-shirt sandals and sporting a black line and red dot on
his forehead, asked us to move the truck. Apparently today was the last day of
a twenty-one day festival and they were celebrating with a feast.  People were everywhere.  All religions except Christianity seemed    to be represented.

Frap asked if we would park at
the bottom of the hill and walk back up. We got into the truck to move it and it
would not start. The ignition was locked and so was the steering wheel. All these
people were ready to leave and we
were blocking the only entrance/exit. We immediately began to call out to the
Lord. Several men came over to try and help start the truck but no one could.
They finally pushed the truck out of the way so others could get out.  The people were not very friendly to us.
After we were out of the way of the exit, all of our help went back to the
feast.

I tried to turn the ignition
while Michael tried to hotwire it with two screwdrivers under the hood.  A short little man came to the driver’s
window and said to me, “Say your mantras.” I began to pray even harder to
Jesus. No start. We finally decided to call a mechanic (Engine Eddie) after
about thirty minutes had passed. As we entered the kitchen, we were asked to
remove our shoes as was their religious custom. We refused, and entered enough
only to use the phone.

            We
called the owner of the truck, and asked her to send someone to come and get
us.  As we headed back to the truck I
noticed all of the children who were being brainwashed. All of these people
were singing to Mother and to the Indians. I felt very uncomfortable. As we
walked back, Michael reached into his pocket and found a set of keys. No, it
couldn’t be.  Dear Jesus, please let it
be.

            Michael
pulled the key out of the ignition and put in the newfound     key. 
Rrrrrr—it cranked! Praise be to our God and Father through our Lord
Jesus Christ! I ran back in to call the pastor’s wife again and after I hung
up, Michael told me that he had an announcement to make.  He then whistled and got everyone’s
attention. The music stopped and all eyes were on Michael. I slowly walked away
praying for the Lord to use Michael and to guard his tongue.

Michael then proclaimed, “We are
the people who almost ruined your party by breaking down in the drive.  Well, I learned it helps if you use the right
key.” Everyone laughed. Michael continued, “It’s a lot like heaven. There’s
only one key to get into heaven. You’re here to celebrate diversity but only
the right key gets you into heaven and that’s Jesus Christ. Scripture says in
John 14:6, ‘I am the way, the Truth and the life and no man comes unto the
Father but through me.’ Thank you. God bless you and may you know His
salvation.

      Trembling,
we turned and got into the truck and drove away.  All glory and honor to God!  I’m reminded of Mars Hill.  I felt like Elijah and the prophets of
Baal.  Thank you Jesus for your
deliverance! Hallelujah Abba!

Michael had such a way with people. He was very bold in proclaiming
the gospel and yet people listened to him when he spoke. God was continually
giving us unique opportunities to share His truth.