Let the Children Come

“This is holy ground! The Spirit of Christ reigns here!” Susan now held the microphone and echoed Taylor’s words as he took a seat on the ground next to the woman and comforted her with the help of others who were standing nearby. Most of the crowd had backed away from those who had collapsed and the members of the outreach team all jumped off the stage and ran to their aid. Minutes passed as the youth spoke to and comforted them. The crowd was alive with talk and emotion and Taylor realized he had to get things back under control. Susan came to his side and he carefully placed the woman into her arms then quickly walked back to the stage. Manuel who had also left the stage saw Taylor returning to the microphone and quickly went to join him. Taylor once again lifted the microphone to speak.

No one in the plaza or on the stage that night could have ever guessed to pay particular attention to two men dressed completely in black clothes as they slowly approached the stage from behind. Therefore no one saw them when they took out black masks and pulled them over their faces. Nor could anyone have ever imagined that little Robert Stevens at that very moment sat in the arms of a killer – a killer who had orchestrated the perfect opportunity. His prayers to his master had been answered and the woman had served her purpose exceptionally well. Amidst the chaos, he had fallen to the ground only to be lifted back to his feet by an American teenage girl and small American boy. A blonde haired blue-eyed boy he gently and gratefully raised into his arms. No one expected it.

Taylor spoke, “Tonight we have come once again to share with you the good news of God’s love for you. That He loved you so much He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross for your sins and if you believe in Him you will be saved from hell and spend forever with Him in heaven. We have all disobeyed God in our lives and we all deserve to be punished for it, but instead of giving us what we deserved, He let His son take our punishment on Himself. For many weeks, and especially tonight, you have seen with your own eyes the power of God. He is stronger than any evil and any enemy. He is stronger than the devil and the devil knows it. That’s why the devil doesn’t want us to tell you about God’s love for you. He wants you to live in ignorance and doubt and disobedience to God so that when he is sent to hell you will be there with him. But tonight God has given you an eagerness to hear the truth…that Christ died on the cross, was buried for three days, then rose from the grave and lives today! And you can know Him!” Taylor and Manuel had both moved to the very edge of the stage. Standing on tiptoes, with hands raised in the air, they were shouting out boldly at the top of their lungs…

“You can know him personally tonight. You can be saved for eternity! All you have to do is trust and believe in Jesus!”

Pow! Pow! Pow!

Three shots rang out in the night air. Everyone recognized the sound of gunfire and bullets whizzing just above their heads and scrambled from the plaza area screaming in hysteria. People pushed, shoved, and ran as fast as they could. Taylor turned to find a gun pointed at his temple. Manuel was held in the same position. Two small black eyes peered at Taylor through slits in a black facemask, eyes that assured him death was close at hand. The man spoke harshly in Spanish and motioned with his gun for Taylor to move. Taylor’s heart and mind were flooded with fear; he suddenly couldn’t understand a word the man said. He looked at Manuel who sensed his trouble.

            “Move Taylor!” Manuel yelled in English, “or they kill us!”

            Taylor nodded his head then began to walk. The gunmen moved behind them and shoved them towards the back of the stage then yelled out more words and Manuel translated again.

            “He says to run or die!”

            “Then let’s run!” Taylor yelled, jumping off the stage and hitting the ground in a sprint. The gun barrel never left his back. He tried to look back in the direction of the crowd, but the gunman shoved him again making him trip and fall to his knees. He was almost kicked, but managed to get up in time to miss the gunman’s flying foot. He would run perfectly from then on.