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A "Spiritual Runner" Finds Christ
Ron was a “spiritual runner.” Time after time, he would get up with the sunrise and begin running through the desert, holding a feather in his hand. He would run all day long, until the sun set. While he ran, Ron offered prayers to the gods of the Mojave (mo-HAH-vee) River Indians.
Ron was a member of the Fort Mojave Indian tribe. His father was a Mojave Indian and his mother was an Apache. Ron’s mother was a Christian, and everyday she would pray for Ron to accept Jesus as his Savior. But Ron rejected the church when he was twelve years old.
Ron’s grandfather convinced him to become a spiritual runner. So Ron began to run and pray to the Indian gods. Ron was running away from God. Still seeking fulfillment in his life, Ron became active in tribe politics. He became a representative of his tribe and helped write resolutions to create or change laws. Through his work, Ron met senators, governors, and celebrities. But Ron could not find fulfillment. Nothing he did made him feel satisfied or filled the emptiness in his heart. Then one day, the prayers of Ron’s mother were answered. Ron gave his life to Jesus.
Ron began telling others about his faith in Christ. He even spoke to the important people he had met as a representative of his tribe. God had not only saved Ron but made him a bold witness.
One day, Ron attended a camp meeting on the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona. More than 500 packed the tent. Suddenly the preacher pointed right at Ron.
“You!” the preacher shouted. Ron was surprised. There were so many people in the tent; could the preacher really be talking just to him?
“Yes, you!” the preacher said again. “You have been called to be a minister of the gospel! Don’t run from that calling!”
Soon afterward, Ron attended another service and the same thing happened. A Pomo Indian evangelist singled Ron out from the crowd and told him that God was calling him to the ministry.
Ron could not run from God. He obeyed God’s call and went to the American Indian College in Phoenix, Arizona. Now Ron works full-time among the homeless in Phoenix, many of whom are American Indian.
Ron’s ministry began under a bridge in downtown Phoenix. Now he holds large meetings where hundreds of people can gather. Ron ministers to drug addicts, alcoholics, and others who are down and out. All of them receive a healthy dose of preaching and teaching, as well as food and clothing if they need it.
One Indian woman came up to Ron at one of his street meetings, grabbed him and hugged him. “Oh, Pastor Ron!” she said. “Thank you for preaching Jesus under the bridge.” That woman had accepted the Lord.
Ron is no longer politically active; now he is spiritually active. This one-time spiritual runner is now a warrior for Jesus Christ.
This story came from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, Nov. 11, 2001, and is used with permission from the author and from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel.
©2005 The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the local church. Any other use requires written permission. |
