Taking the first step

Taking the first step.

Stan Belcher worked with me for a short time in evangelism. We were doing a gospel campaign on the Golden Mile in Blackpool, England.

Stan had a checkered past. In the 1950's he and others had robbed a bullion shipment at Heathrow Airport. Later he was arrested and did some hardtime in Wandsworth prison  in London.

Being bored, Stan asked the jail guard for a book to read and added that he would prefer a murder, a good mystery or a horror story. Ten minutes later the guard pushed a Bible through the bars and said:
"Read that. There's the murder of Jesus Christ written in there, the horror story of your life and the mystery of how God could love someone like you!"

Stan read the New Testament from cover to cover and in his prison cell made the unthinkable step of turning the reins of his life over to God.

 He became a model prisoner and,when I met him  after his release, was keeping young people enthralled with his story.
Amazing! That first step in prison took him from a gold bullion robber to a preacher on the Golden Mile. 

You never know where the journey of faith will take you.