Chapter 6

(1980?)

One night I went to the Sonshine Inn - a Christian coffee house I discovered shortly after I got saved - and had a great time praising the Lord. Afterwards, I got a ride home with some of the brothers who had a van. I was dating a man who lived a few blocks from my home and I had told him I'd come by before I went home. It was about midnight when the brother's dropped me off at Preston's house.

When he saw me get out of a van, he asked me who brought me home. I told him it was some of the brothers who were at the Sonsine. He became furious and started accusing me of all kinds of indecencies. I became angry and left for home.

As I was walking down the street towards my house, I kept repeating, "He that is in me is stronger than he that is in the world; praise God!"

Each time I said it, I got stronger and it got louder: "He that is in me is stronger than he that is in the world; praise God!"

Eventually I was practically shouting, "He that is in me is stronger than he that is in the world; praise God!

A car pulled up beside me and I heard a male voice ask, "Hey, you want a ride?"

I turned and saw two men in the car and the passenger was talking to me.

Smiling, I answered, "No thanks; my house is just up the street."

"You don't have to worry. We're not going to hurt you or anything."

Still smiling I replied, "I know you're not because my Father will protect me."

They drove away and I continued on to my house. Just before I reached my place, a man came walking towards me. "Why did you lie to me?" he asked

"What are you talking about? When did I lie to you?"

"Back there when you said your Father would protect you."

"Oh! You were the guy in the car?"

"Yes. You don't really believe that about your Father protecting you, do you?"

"Of course I do. Why do you think I said it?"

"Wasn't it just a line to get rid of us?"

"No, it wasn't just a line. I trust and believe my Father to protect me and care for me."

"Can we talk for a few minutes?"

"Sure, come on up."

I let him come up and sit on the porch. He ordered pizza and my 13-year-old foster daughter and I sat and talked with him. He told us that he had just gotten out of prison and gone to a bar. At the bar, he met the guy driving the car and they were just going out bar hopping. When they saw me walking, the driver asked him if he's ever forced a girl. My new friend said no, but he'd like to have a go. When I said what I said to them, they couldn't do anything but leave. But my new friend wanted to come back and talk to me. God had called him before he went to prison and he had been running from Him.

He stayed on the porch the whole time and finally left, after we prayed together, about 3:00 in the morning.