He had everyone's attention just by walking into the room. For many years he was the pastor of Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He brought smiles to our faces and laughter to our inner being. Once he told us that he used every occasion to share faith with others. He was an incarnation theologian in that he saw Christ somehow in every situation.
One of his favorite places of sharing faith was when he left the church at noon to cross six lanes of traffic to go to his favorite cafeteria. When he arrived at what he called "busiest street corner in the state of Tennessee," most of the time there would be several persons waiting for the right moment to cross. Usually there was someone there who needed assistance. Paul Worley was in his "hay day" helping someone in need. He not only helped them across but he also made sure he got their names and a story of something they liked about themselves or about someone else. When they reached the other side, Paul would then, thank them for the blessing that the person gave him by sharing his or her story with him. He would share, "God has used you to be a blessing for me today. I believe the rest of this day will be better because you and I got to spend some time with each other." Sometimes the new friend would say, "Dr. Worley you are the one who is a blessing. Most people ignore me when I am in need. Then some would say, "Dr. Worley, if there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to ask me." "There is something very important you can do for me today!" They would always say, "I can't imagine anything I could do." He would then say, "I am great need of someone who will pray a simple prayer for me three or four times during the rest of this day." "What simple prayer?" "Dear Jesus, have mercy on Paul today!"
"Would you pray that prayer for me today?" When they answered in the affirmative, Dr. Worley sometimes would say, "Why don't we just stop here for a moment, look each other in the eyes, and pray that prayer for each other."
Sometimes there was great humor in one of Dr. Worley's encounters at the corner of Church Street and Smoky Mountain Drive. He loved to tell about the day he helped a drunk man cross the street. When they made it to the other side, Dr. Worley decided to get better acquainted. When they exchanged names, the fellow got excited and said, "Paul, I knew there was something special about you. I could feel it. Is that your church across this road?" Paul said, "I am the pastor of that Church." Then his new friend got really excited. "Paul, I have been wanting to meet you for a long time. I have been wanting to ask you a question." Paul, asked, "My friend, what do you want to ask me." The man looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Did those Corinthians ever answer that second letter you sent them?" What a joy it is to be in ministry on the street.
Scriptural Guide: "Then Jesus will say to some, 'Welcome to my house, for one time I was a stranger and you took me in.'"
(Matthew 25:35)
One of his favorite places of sharing faith was when he left the church at noon to cross six lanes of traffic to go to his favorite cafeteria. When he arrived at what he called "busiest street corner in the state of Tennessee," most of the time there would be several persons waiting for the right moment to cross. Usually there was someone there who needed assistance. Paul Worley was in his "hay day" helping someone in need. He not only helped them across but he also made sure he got their names and a story of something they liked about themselves or about someone else. When they reached the other side, Paul would then, thank them for the blessing that the person gave him by sharing his or her story with him. He would share, "God has used you to be a blessing for me today. I believe the rest of this day will be better because you and I got to spend some time with each other." Sometimes the new friend would say, "Dr. Worley you are the one who is a blessing. Most people ignore me when I am in need. Then some would say, "Dr. Worley, if there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to ask me." "There is something very important you can do for me today!" They would always say, "I can't imagine anything I could do." He would then say, "I am great need of someone who will pray a simple prayer for me three or four times during the rest of this day." "What simple prayer?" "Dear Jesus, have mercy on Paul today!"
"Would you pray that prayer for me today?" When they answered in the affirmative, Dr. Worley sometimes would say, "Why don't we just stop here for a moment, look each other in the eyes, and pray that prayer for each other."
Sometimes there was great humor in one of Dr. Worley's encounters at the corner of Church Street and Smoky Mountain Drive. He loved to tell about the day he helped a drunk man cross the street. When they made it to the other side, Dr. Worley decided to get better acquainted. When they exchanged names, the fellow got excited and said, "Paul, I knew there was something special about you. I could feel it. Is that your church across this road?" Paul said, "I am the pastor of that Church." Then his new friend got really excited. "Paul, I have been wanting to meet you for a long time. I have been wanting to ask you a question." Paul, asked, "My friend, what do you want to ask me." The man looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Did those Corinthians ever answer that second letter you sent them?" What a joy it is to be in ministry on the street.
Scriptural Guide: "Then Jesus will say to some, 'Welcome to my house, for one time I was a stranger and you took me in.'"
(Matthew 25:35)
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