Skate Board for One

Skate Board for One Million Dollars.

Sunday November the 6th I met some kids skateboarding at a park in Jasper. Why was I in Jasper? I had went there to visit the a local church that a good friend of mine attends. Part of the reason was to make up for not being able to attend a function he had invited me to earlier. Part of the reason was to visit him and his family because I love them and like to be around them. However the major reason is because my parents live in Jasper. I was hoping that by taking their grandchildren to a church out there they might join us.

I look for any excuse I can to get my mom and dad to visit a church. Not because you have to go to a church to become a Christian or stay a Christian, but because I have shared the gospel with both and at this time I believe they are not saved. I was hoping that by getting them to church, that they would hear God’s word more and from someone else. Hoping they would be more accepting if it was from some other than their son.

Well to get to the story, I was walking around the park with that friend I had mentioned. My children was with us as well. His wife and Ginger were not present at the park with us. We walked around talking about family, church, evangelism, etc..  We came upon some kids with skateboards outside the recreational center. They had came over to use the bathroom, since skateboarding is not allowed at the center.

I only had one tract, a million dollar bill, so I decided to go back and continue our conversation. I told my friend that I wish had the “pink and blue” illusion tract to open a conversation with the boys. As we were walking away I decided I could not walk away from them without at least trying. So I said to my boys and Richard, “come one lets go to were those kids are.”

We walked up and I started talking to them about skateboarding. I asked them if they though the could grind the rail going down the stairs. I quickly added that I was not asking them to break the rules by showing me, was just interested if they could. We talked for a minute about what they could do. I then pulled out the million dollar bill and asked them if they had ever seen one of these. One of the kids said, “I will sell you my skateboard for a million dollars!”

I told them I only had one but wanted to give it to one of them. I told them I prefer giving it to a good person. I asked if any of them were good. They said to give it to him, pointing at Seth, out of us he would be your choice for one that is most good. I Seth if that was true. He said compared to his friends it was true.

I said, do you mind if I ask you a few questions to see if it’s true. He said sure. I went on to ask Seth, and then the others, if they had ever lied, stolen, used God’s name in vain, and honored their parents. It turns out that all of them had broken at least two three of the Ten Commandments. I asked Seth if he would be innoncent or guilty if he was judged by those standards. He said guilty. I then asked the rest and they agreed they would be guilty as well. I asked, “would you go to heaven or hell?”

They said hell. I asked if it concerned them. They agreed that going to hell concerned them. I asked if they knew what God did so they would not have to go to hell? I went on to give them the parachute illustration for trusting in Christ, they courtroom illustration for their fine being paid even though they were guilty.

I asked them if they had Bibles and they did. I told them to read the first couple chapters of John, and to think about what we had talked about. I reminded them that I was concerned about them and they need to be as well.






You may be thinking you could have not done that, because you know nothing about skateboarding. I know nothing about skateboarding, but the kids I was talking to did. All I had to do was ask them a couple questions about their favorite subjects, themselves and skateboarding.

If you will take genuine interest in people and what they like, opportunities to witness as a friend will open up to you.

Oh, my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected. -Oswald J. Smith