DIVINE APPOINTMENT: A Walk in the Park

Mon, Mar 16, 2026

Christian Living, Evangelism, Faith, Grace, Holy Spirit, Written Articles

One Sunday morning after the church service, something very unusual happened. Lue and I normally go home or eat out after church. But this time, we did something different. We decided to go for a walk in the park. We even went to a different park than usual.

As we walked down the trail, we saw a young man about 17 or 18 years old standing on the walking bridge holding a sign. The sign read FREE HUGS! The people ahead of us, going both directions, ignored him and just continued walking. That’s quite understandable in today’s world.

However, we stopped to talk to him. The Spirit of God impressed me that God was preparing him for a Divine encounter. I realized that he was hurting, and this was his way of reaching out for help.

So, I commented on his sign. I looked at him and said, “You are the one who really wants a hug, don’t you?” Then I gave him a great big hug. As I held him in that warm embrace, I sensed the Lord was enveloping him in His tender mercies and loving care. Tears began flowing from this young Hispanic male named Bruno. So, he opened up and shared his hurts, emotional trauma, and mental anguish with us.

I responded sympathetically to his condition. Then I told him about God’s love. I explained how God’s love for him was demonstrated through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, upon the cross. Bruno gladly accepted Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for his sins. He eagerly received Jesus Christ into his life as his Lord and Savior. And then he asked God to take control of his life and fill him with the Holy Spirit.

Praise God, Bruno found peace and comfort that day upon receiving new life in Christ. Bruno asked me to write some of what I had shared so he could review it later. Since he had tasted of the heavenly gift of Christ’s Spirit, he was eager to know more. When someone truly meets the Lord, that person will have a desire to know the Lord and grow in Him. The Holy Spirit will cause hunger and thirst for Him.

Since that was the case with Bruno, I was delighted to write down some things for him. I also told Bruno about my books translated into Spanish on Amazon. I explained that these books describe what the Christian life is and how to live it. I did that so he would have something to read as a follow-up since he had accepted Christ. Thank God for the privilege of making disciples!

It’s never just a walk in the park. Divine appointments are everywhere! Therefore, real ministry should take place in the everyday world around you! Christ instructs us, “As you go, preach . . . ” (Matthew 10:7). Jesus said, “I came to seek and to save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus made this clear from the beginning when He declared, “I must be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). Likewise, we all should be about our Father’s business! (11/19/23)