Church in the Wal-Mart Parking Lot

I’m mostly a Target shopper, however, I really needed an additional memory stick for my camera, and Wal-Mart’s price was noticeably cheaper. In my neighborhood, Target and Wal-Mart are across the street from each other. It doesn’t seem possible, but Hamline Ave is the divider between two very different and distinct worlds.

As I was leaving the store, a man, fairly weathered from life, approached me to make a donation to a youth organization. Generally a skeptic, I stopped to listen to his plea. He talked about how the inner-city youth need help. How they need support. It wasn’t long before we both came to the same conclusion! With that glow in his eyes, he said it would only come through Jesus Christ. We instantly connected! I told him I agreed and about my time teaching at an inner-city school. We talked about how much support the kids need and the importance of role models in their lives.

The man brought up the story of Jonah. Of course most of us remember this story. Jonah was a reluctant prophet. God told him to go warn the city of Nineveh to change their ways. Jonah didn’t want to do what God asked of him, even though he feared God and knew it would be good thing for Nineveh. Instead, he hopped a boat in the opposite direction, was thrown overboard and, mercifully, swallowed by a whale. After a few days and a changed heart, he was spit out. He went to Nineveh and preached God’s warning. The people of the city repented and changed their ways (though Jonah threw a fit).

Today there are many cities in our world with Nineveh characteristics.  Nevertheless, just as in the days of Jonah, God is openly inviting all to repent and receive His grace and salvation.

The man and I didn’t have a chance to finish our conversation. Somehow we were interrupted, but I think enough was said.