Mission in Dark Places

 Before his conversion, the Apostle Paul was not a good person.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Tim 1:15 NIV

It hurt Paul to think about his crimes before his conversion, when he had Christians murdered. 

There was a chaplain in the American army after the war who spoke German well. He received an undesirable order. He was to serve as a pastor for the worst Nazis in Nuremberg. 

Some simply wanted to remain evil. Hermann Göring did not want to stand trial. He killed himself with a vial of poison. 

But some criminals were different. Hitler's foreign minister, Von Ribbentrop, was executed, but before his death he begged his wife to raise their children as Christians. 

Jesus taught us to love our enemies. We never know who will be converted.
But be careful. Wolves are dangerous.
 
A sex offender visited a church. A good Christian woman gave him shelter and the pastor wanted to help him.

One evening, a young woman from the church was missing.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Mt 10:16 NIV

It is not always easy to love predators while protecting our wives and children.
 
Paul warns us against men who take advantage of our trust to abuse women. (2 Timothy 3:6)
 
But God's saving love requires us to take risks.

A small group of Christian women visited brothels. They were not aggressive evangelists. They were simply friendly.

A prostitute decided to go to church. In the middle of the service, she stood up and shouted loudly.

‘Now I believe in Jesus! Now I want to be baptised!’