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I Like the Back Part Better
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Give’em Heaven In 2011 – I Like the Back Part Better
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35 NIV
“India,” they answered when we asked where they from. A Hindu tour group swarmed us, all wanting free Liberty Bracelets. Our evangelism team scrambled to give out bracelets and break into groups small enough to use the bracelets to tell the story of Jesus.
I took one of the families. “The Gold bead represents the amazing plans God has for you,” I shared with a father, mother, teenager, and grandfather. “Heaven is paved with streets of gold. The dark bead represents our mistakes. The Bible word for that is sin. Those mistakes separate us from God and the plans He has for us.”
“Wait,” the father said. “Would you start over?” He pointed a video camera at me. “We want to show it to our family back home.” I began again and told them about red representing the blood of Jesus and how He died for us. I explained that Jesus came back to life and if they confessed belief in Jesus, asked for forgiveness of sin, and invited Jesus into their lives, the white bead represented the blood washing them clean. When I got to green and growing, I talked about growth in faith and truth.”
“Wow,” I thought. “They’re actually interested.” I considered inviting them to receive Jesus and a voice inside my head whispered, “They’ve just heard the gospel. How could they possibly know enough to pray to receive Jesus?”
“We have some additional information written in Hindi,” I offered, handing them tracts. “It has the Bible verses I’ve mentioned and a prayer for you to pray when you’re ready.” As I heard my words, it sounded like a copout.
“We have a Bible,” the father said. “We’ve been reading it. I like the back part better because it tells stories about Jesus.”
“You’ve been reading the Bible?” I asked, startled. They nodded.
“He has read more than I have,” the wife said.
“We call the back part the New Testament,” I explained. “The reason you like it is because it is about the grace God offered to the world. Jesus died so that you could have life here on earth and in heaven – like the gold bead.”
They all nodded and I continued, “I know you have many gods but Jesus said he was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one could come to the father except through Him. God says He is the one true God and that we are to have no other gods before Him. Would you like to meet the Jesus you’ve been reading about? You only need faith the size of a mustard seed to invite Jesus into your life. Do you believe in Jesus that much?”
All four of them nodded eagerly and right there on the hot mall across from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, four Hindu family members visiting from India prayed to receive Jesus.
“Can I have four more bracelets,” the grandfather asked. “I want to play the video for my other grandchildren and help them to pray.”
The rest of that tour group left without the gospel making any sense to them. Seeds were planted but they did not believe. I wondered who gave the family of new believers the Bible and thanked God for them.
The voice that hadwhispered, “They’re not ready,” was not from God. The “back part” of the Bible had done its work. God’s voice said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Everyone needs Jesus. Satan is certainly reaping his harvest and we have no business closing our eyes to the ready harvest. My job as an evangelist is to offer the gospel and invite people to the party. The listener’s job is to accept or reject the good news.
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at
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