The first-person article below I wrote for Baptist Press in 2004. It is essentially an apologetic for relationship evangelism and for ‘being in the world but not of it.’ The account is rendered not for personal attention, but to encourage you to make yourself available, to develop relationships, and to be ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope what follows accomplishes these objectives.
Deus Caritas Est,
Norm Miller
‘So you’re the preacher?’
by Norm Miller
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–My interest in the game of pool goes back to my boyhood days in Nashville, when Dad — a Baptist pastor — sometimes took my three older brothers and me to Strike and Spare bowling lanes to play pool. Mostly, I watched. And mostly, I got hooked.
I remain a big fan of the game, so much so that I watch the competitive matches on TV whenever possible. While watching one such match, an ad told how to join a pool team in my own neighborhood: “Just go to the website … yada, yada, yada.”
How often does a pastor contemplate going into a pool hall not only to play the game but to build relationships with hurting people in order to be Christ to them? I know, not very often. And what pastor in his right mind would risk his “religious reputation” or his “associational ascendancy” to be seen in a sports bar? It shouldn’t matter, I thought; right or wrong, plenty of Baptist pastors and their flocks eat meals in restaurants that also serve liquor from a bar.
But it wasn’t that easy. I struggled and prayed. I reasoned that my bivocational pastorate was two hours by car from my home, so negative reflection on the church was quite unlikely. Still, it was a struggle. After weeks of prayer, God gave me overt permission. So, researching the Internet, I found a team to join and started playing.
I didn’t beat people over the head with my Bible. But I did beat them on the pool table, most times handily. In a few months I rose to a ranking of six, with seven being the highest. It’s amazing how winning respect on the pool table wins the right to share Jesus. In the last couple of years, three people have prayed in committing their lives to Christ. And one alcoholic is on the road to recovery.
“So you’re the preacher?” asked Barry, swaying from the effects of way too many beers.
“Yes,” I said calmly, not knowing how he knew my vocation as I had never met the man.
“Do you have time to talk to a backslidden Baptist?” he queried with tears in his eyes.
I agreed to give Barry a ride home. After all, he needed one, as he recounted the woes of losing his marriage, a lucrative job and his driver’s license to alcohol addiction.
After talking to each other, we talked to God. Barry held my hand. When he got out of the truck, he said, “I’ve never held a man’s hand. And no man has ever seen me cry. Don’t you dare tell anyone.” (So, here, Barry is not his real name. And the other names to be mentioned in this story have been changed to protect the guilty-turned-innocent.) Last time I checked, Barry had been sober for months, gotten back his driver’s license and was gainfully employed.
Then there was Lyle, a young, good-looking, personable kid. Great pool player — a six. While awaiting trial on his first offense of driving under the influence, he was arrested for a second such offense. I visited Lyle in jail. On the other side of the glass, he looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Intense interest replaced stark fear when I opened the Bible. He edged up on his chair and read it upside down as I read to him. Lyle prayed a prayer of repentance from sin and commitment to Christ. Freed in jail.
When Cindy walked into practice one Sunday afternoon, I saw a sea of loneliness in her eyes. She hugged several men as she made her way to a table. Weeks later, we were eventually introduced, but she didn’t know what I did for a living. I never mentioned it outright to anyone — at least not at first.
A phone call from a teammate sent me to the hospital to visit Cindy. She was vague about what her problem was, but thanked me for coming to see her. I related that I came to visit not because I had any affinity for her, but that Christ, through me, did. She began to cry when she understood that Jesus loved her, and that I was willing to share His love with her by relating the Gospel message. A few weeks later, Cindy admitted herself to a drug rehab program. She sent word for me to visit her, which I did. She, too, prayed to commit her life to Christ.
Then there’s Ken. I had met Ken in the ensuing weeks and had even played him a few games — casual stuff. Never mentioned my occupation. Just won his respect by beating him in pool. He later joined our team. One night he was spouting off-color comments when another teammate pulled him aside and told him I was a pastor.
“You’re a pastor?” he asked.
“Yes, I am,” I acknowledged.
Rum and Coke in one hand, pool cue in the other, tears rimmed Ken’s eyes and dripped down his face.
“I’ve been praying for God to send me someone to help me,” he said, revealing innermost thoughts in front of all within earshot.
“I’m so lonely. I cry myself to sleep every night.”
Within two weeks, Ken prayed the prayer of repentance and faith.
The pool night that followed, Ken walked in with his cue case in one hand and the biggest, black Bible in the other. Did you notice? The Bible replaced his beverage.
Ken bumped aside beer bottles with his big, black Bible, plopped it on the table and called, “Norm, come here. I got some questions.”
Ask any worthy pastor, and he’ll tell you what a blessing it is to minister in the usual venues of church, home and hospital. Thankfully, I know that blessing. However, there’ve been many times when I’ve left the pool hall with the same, overwhelming sense of God’s blessing and approval — like leaving church on a Sunday.
Does the lifestyle of those inside tempt me? Not at all. I’ve seen firsthand how Satan eventually swats barflies with the very same elixirs and enticements that drew them in the first place.
My gratifications are spiritual — sharing the Gospel, counseling people on personal matters and talking generally about spiritual matters. You’d be surprised at how many people in bars will initiate such conversations. I’ve had many. And to whom do you think these lost people will turn when crisis hits them? It’ll be me, because they all have my phone number.
Even more surprising is the amount of respect I receive. To see my teammates hold their tongue from cursing. And to hear one of them holler, “Nice shot, Preach!” or “Way to go, Rev!” Priceless.
While it is fun to run the table and drop the 8-ball on a bank shot, there is a struggle of letting the game become more important than the Gospel and pool becoming more important than people. My competitive spirit wants to overshadow the spirit of Christ at times.
I’ve received virtually no discouragement on this ministry from other Christians. In fact, so many of my ministry mentors past and present tell me how fantastic it is that I’m “takin’ it to the streets.” There may be some believers who think a pastor doesn’t belong in a bar. Those are the ones I’d refer to the Apostle Paul, who became all things to all people in order to win a few.
See you on the street.
Powerful.
Norm,
Very inspiring:-)
Effective stories of how to witness for Jesus.
Truly Good News.
I was feeling discouraged in my witnessing, but in reading these accounts,
am reminded to look unto Jesus even with just a game.
Thanks,
Daniel
Norm,
What a testimony of relationship evangelism at its best. This is such a helpful reminder that God’s work can be done anywhere and not just within the limits of our usual facilities.
By the way, I’d pay to see you play Johnny Hunt in the Exhibit Hall of the Southern Baptist Convention. We could call it “Baptistry Pool” and give the money to missions!
Rick:
I’m aware of Johnny’s pool prowess, but have never seen it. Like so many ‘sticks,’ he talks a good game. I’d be up for the match at the SBC, but I’d rather we find a bar full of heathens. That way, instead of either of us winning a pool game, maybe some peeps could be won to Christ. — Norm
Norm,
You put the eight ball in the right pocket …in this article! Praise the Lord and may the Lord continue to bless you.
“So you’re the preacher?”
Norm, considering this testimony and our exchange yesterday on another topic, I have to conclude that the rhetorical question you ask today is its own answer! ;^)
Thx, Max. — Norm
Norm, thank you for the great testimony. I have taught and teach that as people who have been believers a long time all of our friends are Christians. We are to be confrontational witness as we go but we also must work to develop relationships with the lost so we do relational evangelism. Great job. In His Name, Dean
So true, Dean. Christians like Christians the best. Of course, birds of a feather, fellowship, etc., we need all that. But there is a hurting world out there, and while we congregate, those whom we ignore will one day conflagrate. — Norm
I really appreciate this post!
Thx, Matt. I’d challenge all of us to submit such testimonies. — Norm
Your article reminds me of why I’m proud to be a Southern Baptist.
Interesting how when a preacher becomes an expert in something that has nothing to do with the ministry, that something can enhance his ministry.
David R. Brumbelow
As a freelancer for Baptist Press, I interviewed Jonathan Falwell regarding a program he instituted at Thomas Road BC called ‘Inside Out.’ In a nutshell, members were queried for their talents and skills, then sponsored free to the public clinics and workshops offering training for those talents and skills. The result was hundreds of conversions to Christ and an increase in church ministry and membership. Here’s a link to that story. It is worth the time to read as it presents a great ministry idea with a view to relationship evangelism. — Norm
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=29442
Norm,
This post blessed me. It also challenged me. Thanks, Bro.
David
A similar thought is that we do things on a foreign mission trip we will not do in our own neighborhoods… like going door to door telling people about Jesus…
In Brazil… I went out to the beach and interrupted some guys playing soccer and shared John 3:16 with them and had 20 or so step forward to pray the sinners prayer… in front of their friends… and we went to the next group of teenagers and young adults playing and they came over and several from the first group followed… we repeated the same thing and had more step forward to pray the sinners prayer… all in all we did that about 5 times in an hour and a half…
Did God save all those who prayed… doubt it…. but I do know this… I would rather tell them about Jesus and ask them to trust in Him and Him alone to save them and see them step forward in front of their friends… and take my hand and pray for God to forgive them of their sin than to do nothing…. it is God who gloriously saves…
I try to plan the seed… till the ground… be faithful to doing what God leads me to do and leave the results up to Him….
Good article Norm.
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Great article, Norm. Thanks for sharing!
Norm, You were a regular guy to them and earned their respect as a serious pool player. Who woulda thought, in their world, one could be a pool shark (non betting, of course) and a pastor? Loved this!
Occasionally, Lydia, I would be asked to play for money. My reply was that I never gamble unless while driving on I-95. Thx. — Norm
Thx to all for your encouraging comments.
However, I am wondering why the comments about aspects of soteriology can garner scores of responses whereas the comments about evangelistic practice/success garners about a dozen.
I don’t want to sound cynical or disappointed. For such is not what is in my heart. Rather, I am concerned about what may be behind the trends regarding yesterday’s post, e.g., as compared to today’s. — Norm
Norm,
You ask, “I am wondering why the comments about aspects of soteriology can garner scores of responses whereas the comments about evangelistic practice/success garners about a dozen.”
Good question. I think there are many factors, but the main one in my opinion is that the sharing of a marvelous account of witnessing for Jesus is what many of us strongly agree on. When people strongly agree, they don’t speak up as often.
Nor do they get all riled up, and anxious, and defensive.
But when the issue of salvation is in question, and the character of God is in question, because so many brilliant educated Christians, including Baptists, are claiming God doesn’t will to and doesn’t love to save everyone, and these theologians are denying humans have a choice, etc.,
THEN,
many Christians go in crisis mode.
Notice, for instance, how many more humans came out to help at 9/11 or Katrina.
Those same humans probably hadn’t even thought of or assisted the same people when everything was normal.
Daniel
Norm – Perhaps too many of us are willing to contend for the faith on a computer screen, but not willing to take what we believe in practice to the street. Willing to give ourselves to an impersonal swapping of words in cyberspace, but not willing to enter the personal space of others with the Word of Life. Typing black words on white pages in an exchange with brothers is a whole lot easier than hitting the street with a verbal testimony to the lost … Bible in tow containing the only black words on white pages which count. We pay preachers for that, you know! Southern Baptists in the pew (and some pulpits) have simply become complacent about active evangelism.
Thx, Max. I think you’re on the right track with your comments. — Norm
Norm – I’ve been a Southern Baptist for 50+ years. I truly believe that the SBC in times past had a denominational gifting of evangelism, but we have forsaken that call by turning inward and losing our outward focus. Our evangelistic zeal as a people of God has been dulled by divisiveness of one flavor or another, and now distracted by the very thing that once united and motivated us … differences of opinion on God’s plan of salvation! If I were the devil, I would certainly prompt folks to debate theology to divert the largest Protestant denomination in America from reaching the lost for Christ.
Max: Your words resonate with me, Sir. A balance must be struck, however. For sure we should be all about proclaiming Christ and His love for sinners. However, today we find ourselves at a crossroads. Some among us opine that they couldn’t look at random strangers and say for sure whether God loves them. So, I think you can see how integral the discussion is to the practice. — Norm
Certainly Norm! If we don’t get our theology right, our practice will be wrong! Initially I was a reluctant participant in this current SBC debate, but now find it necessary to contend with word and action in the arena I touch. The very message that the next generation of Southern Baptists carry to the pool halls of this world is at stake. Praise God – I can look anyone in the eye and say God loves “you” – Jesus died for “you”. I know that I know that I know!
We are indeed at a crossroad. A critical meeting of the paths that must be addressed. I pray that SBC leadership doesn’t compromise during this critical time to agree-to-disagree, get-along-to-get-along, we’ve got room in a big tent mumbo jumbo. “Repent or else” is the cry of God in this hour “lest I remove your candlestick!”
Thank you brother for sharing and challenging. — Max
I think this is great testimony to the fact that the lost need to be found, just like our Master did.
He didn’t come to seek and save who was elected (He of all people would have known that, not needing to seek). But He came to seek and save that which was lost.
Hello Norm,
I enjoyed your story as I am big on relational/friendship evangelism as well. I believe the pastor (and all other church leaders and everybody else for that matter) should always be doing precisely that kind of thing. I have similar stories that I could share but I will share only one here that people may find amusing.
Once when I was a pastor of a small church. When I first got there I started developing relationships/friendships with people in the immediate neighborhood.
One of my “targets” became the local Hells Angel biker club down the street.
They were just a block away so it was not hard figuring out that they were around, especially when the loud choppers went by! :-) So as the days and weeks went by I started to get to know some of them. Just had conversations with them, no pressure, just developing relationships. It was interesting that in the neighborhood there was a problem with vandalism (someone breaking windows and vandalizing buildings). Adjacent to the church building there was this large flat open ground area that was owned by the church but unused.
So one day a couple of Angels approached me (and these guys looked really tough, they were like the epitomy of what you imagine bikers to look like, tattos seemingly over every inch of their bodies, extremely muscular, guys that you would not want to upset!). We had a very good conversation and they said that soon the Labor Day weekend would come and they wanted to have a large gathering for some sort of party they were planning, but did not have space to park at the club and were wondering if they could park their things on that adjacent property (and that would include of course their bikes, and cars and even RV’s!). They said they would keep it clean and clean up afterwards and that it would only be for a weekend. I said sure I saw no problem with that (that I just needed to check it with the board), that we wanted to be good neighbors with them (and the board had no hesitation as I told them this is part of evangelism, being a good neighbor to anyone you meet and that this would open up future witnessing opportunities).
I mentioned in the conversation with the bikers that there had been a problem with vandalism in the neighborhood and was telling them that we could not guarantee protection for their stuff. Imagine that: us talking to them about protection! :-) They responded don’t worry they would take care of the problem. So Labor Day weekend came and they parked their stuff there and we didn’t have any problems with them at all.
Strangely after that, we also never ever had any vandalism of our facilities (though houses and businesses all around us kept having their windows broken, it was as if everywhere else in the neighborhood got vandelized and we were excluded by some Angels! :-) ).
I also got to know some of the bikers and developed relationships with them and some of them became believers. And after that you always knew when our service was about to start as you would hear the loud sounds from the hogs coming into our parking lot just before the service started! And I loved looking out at the congregation and seeing these tough bikers next to little ole ladies and singing about Jesus!
Moral of the story: get to know the bikers on your street and people may get saved and they will provide you with free security! :-)
Robert
Thx so much, Robert, for relating the account with the bikers. They, like so many around us, all have certain defenses displayed. But they all also need Jesus. They are lonely, hurting, empty, and are yearning in ways they know not. — Norm
That’s my friend, Norm! Loving God, loving people.