Tough Sinners Transformed into Dedicated Saints

Dear One,

God has given me special favor with very tough sinners. Many of them have been changed from tough sinners to tough but tender saints.

It's been like that for half a century. Like Alaska where, as a young missionary, I met the number one bully in a village called Unalakleet. We just hit it off-a former marine and one angry native Alaskan. Buddy ended up on his knees before the Lord, with tears and "nose stuff" forming a pond on the ground as he wept his way to Jesus.

...that invisible bond with 8^th degree karate black belt, Cesar,

and the "much loved-no nonsense" pastor ...

Those kind of encounters have happened down through the years-all around the globe. I saw it again a few weeks ago in Argentina. That invisible bond with 8^th degree karate black belt, Cesar. And the "much loved-no nonsense" pastor in one of the most violent neighborhoods in Buenos Aires.

How violent? One "pistolero" was a hold-up expert. To resist was to risk a beating or death. One night, he waited for his next victim. As he readied to strike, he saw the face of a woman. This violent gunman still had a code of ethics. He never robbed women. But this woman's face-it was black and blue from a beating!

...please don't make me go home. He will beat me worse than this...

"Who did this to you?!" "My husband. It's not the first time." "Go home to your husband!"

"Oh please don't make me go home. He will beat me worse than this!" "No he won't! He will never beat you again. I'm going with you. Let's go!"

The wife-beater answered the loud and angry knock. "Did you do this to your wife?" The coward whimpered "yes." "If you ever hurt her again, I will shoot you!" Then he added, "There is a church in this barrio with a good pastor. You will go with your wife to this church. Understand?!"

He went to church, got saved and became one of the leaders.

They went-and my tough, tender pastor friend led them both to Christ and into the Lord's service. And our "pistolero"? His friends applauded his act but called him a "hypocrite" because he didn't attend the church. This man could stand in the dark waiting for his next victim. But what he couldn't stand was to be called a "hypocrite." You probably already guessed what happened. He went to church, got saved and became one of the leaders.

Why am I drawn to-why do I love-these tough sinners so much? Because they make some of the most dedicated saints. They admit they are rotten sinners. They are action-oriented and when Jesus shows them His love they are not ashamed or afraid to stand up for Him.

That's another angle to this ministry. I thought you'd enjoy this bit of humor and pray that God will lead us to many more of these "tough guys" just waiting to be loved by Jesus.

Thank you for your support!

Frank Eiklor