“The Lord is good a stronghold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him.” —Nahum 1:7 King James bible

A very special thanks to my wife for her encouragement and assistance in the editing of this booklet.

Preview audio:

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Harold Gamble made his way down the steep concrete ramp. He spent the night there wrapped in the comfort of a thrift store blanket and a discarded cardboard box. Harold fell on hard times when the auto plant where he worked closed last year. His wife Linda, whom he married thirteen years ago, left him because of his continued drinking bouts...

Last night was a strange event for Harold. He decided to try to bum some money for a bottle to drown his woes, when down the street about midway of the block, it unexpectedly all began… A down-and-out city rescue mission is about to start their Saturday night service, and a mission bell ringer is inviting all to come. As Harold walks up to the mission, the bell ringer calls to him, “Hey Mister, you can find answers in here!” “

“Oh boy! That is just what I need,” huffs Harold sarcastically under his breath as the man gives him a copy of John and Romans from the New Testament. Harold thumps his half smoked cigarette away and follows the bell ringer inside. Once inside, music can be heard coming from down the hallway. The bell ringer says, “Follow me, sir. I’ll show you the way.”

The small hallway leads directly to a large room where two men hurriedly set up metal chairs for the soon coming crowd. They quickly fill with men coming out of the dining hall. Up front a single wooden lectern stands with a black Bible resting on top. At the piano, an elderly woman plays “The wonderful Grace of Jesus.” The mission director, Brother Henry, comes to the lectern and sings along to the last stanza of the song. He then asks everyone to find their place and get prepared for church.

The bell ringer sits down and motions to Harold to sit beside him. The preacher is not much to look at and has a quirky lisp in his speech. He is small and balding with a slight dash of salt-and-pepper hair. The preacher opens the Bible, pulls it to his chest, and kneels down on one knee and begins to pray. Real tears break forth from that old preacher as he cries out to God, “Lord, these men have fallen on difficult times. They have thirsty and empty hearts. Some men here, Dear Lord, have not yet yielded to thy gracious offer of the new birth. Father, prick their hearts and show them their desperate plight and pressing need this night for Jesus sake, Amen.”

Something about that preacher’s praying quickly pierces Harold’s heart. Where did that come from? Tears gently fall on his copy of John and Roman’s. What is wrong with me? he sighs, as the preacher, now back on his feet, calls the title of his message.

“And he came to himself, Luke Chapter 15, the story of the prodigal son.” That preacher is neither eloquent nor proper in his delivery. After the preacher reaches the 18th verse, which says: “I will arise and go to my Father, and will say, unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee,” the fountain of Harold’s heart breaks wide open by the power of the Holy Ghost. He weeps profusely, as the conviction grips his wicked black heart.

At the close of the message, at the altar call, he can wait no longer; relief must come, and it does. He literally runs forward and falls prostrate at the altar,

weeping and moaning, as the preacher leads him into a saving knowledge of the new birth. Answers were to be found in this place, just as the bell ringer said. The gospel message of the cross is the key to eternity, and it opens the latch of forgiveness and joy.

Harold is instantly smitten with conviction and he repents and receives pardon and love to overflowing. After that wonderful experience, Harold goes back to the bridge to spend the night, and tell a friend his good news. The next day is Sunday, and Harold knows he ought to go to church, and one is only two blocks away from the bridge. It is a large church, and the parking lot fills to capacity. Outside on the sign, it reads, HOMECOMING SUNDAY, COME ONE, COME ALL.