A Plentiful Harvest

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Cor 2:15-16

If you have followed my blogs for very long, you know that I love Hart Haven Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. My membership letter has never resided there but it has been the most consistent church in my life. During family crises, their pastor, Rev. Don Cooley, assists us by praying, making calls, offering church food, giving advice, notarizing documents, singing, sitting beside us in hospital waiting rooms, and always always making us laugh. Technically, it is my Aunt Ka Ka and Uncle Bobby’s church but I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve worshiped, partied, eaten, spoken, or played the piano there. This week, I had the privilege of going evangelizing with their pastor, Don, and their pianist, Bill Milligan, (yes – my nephew). We visited the Jacksonville Farmer’s Market and the harvest was indeed plentiful.

The sweet aroma of Christ was stronger than even the sweet aroma of the ripe and ready fruit and vegetables piled high on the tables in the many booths we visited. We had four salvations in an hour. Think about the power of that – four people came for fruit and left with access to the “Fruits of the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22) Not everyone we talked to said yes to Jesus but four people listened, asked questions, thought about it, and agreed to invite Jesus to be their Savior.

Each had a story for how they arrived at that moment in their lives. One man was there with his Messianic Jewish friend. She had given him the gospel of Jesus and prayed for him throughout the years. That day in the Farmer’s Market, God answered her prayers with her standing there.

The most amazing story of the day came right after I had just finished praying with a man. When we said “Amen,” I heard Don ask a woman standing behind me, “Did you pray with us?”

She shyly nodded yes. I went weak kneed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. I had not even noticed she was standing there but she had listened to every word and had prayed with us. Thank God, Don was paying attention so we could affirm her salvation. The three of us turned our attention to her and indeed, she was meeting Jesus for the first time. Just hearing the word of God, without even being spoken to directly, had the power to convict this woman of her sins and her need for salvation.

I wanted to shout the words of Hebrews 4:12 from the mountain tops: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I wish there was a way to do justice with the written word to what I see when people become the sweet aroma of Christ for those needing salvation. I thank God for Hart Haven helping to spread the sweet aroma of Christ to me.

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