Stung (25 page)

“I've always believed that if I do the right things I will someday get to heaven. But I have been reading this rabbi's writings on the Internet, and I have been reading the words of Jesus in the Gospels. I don't know how to get to heaven.”

“There's only one way,” Lionel said.

Lionel explained that Jesus was not just a good teacher, but God in the flesh. “His mission was to live a perfect life and die as a sacrifice for your sins and mine. And he did that.”

“Dan and Nina always said I could never earn my way into heaven,” Samuel said.

“They were right,” Lionel said. “The way to heaven is open right now. And God will show you what to do about your dad.”

“Will I have to leave home if I pray this?”

“I don't know,” Lionel said. “Becoming a believer doesn't make everything smooth. As a matter of fact, if your dad finds out, things will probably get worse. That's why I wrote what I did after that verse I gave you. It's better to find the truth and follow it than to live a lie.”

Lionel paused. He could hear the street sounds in the background and pictured Samuel standing at the pay phone across from his house. “Are you ready to pray?”

Samuel hesitated. “Once I do this, I cannot go back, can I?”

“Once you ask God to come into your heart, you'll never want to live any other way. I wonder every day how we're going to get home. I've been through stuff that makes me doubt I'll live another hour. But in the middle of it all, God gives me peace. I know what'll happen after I die, and that I'll be with God and my family who disappeared.”

“I wish I could have that confidence,” Samuel said.

“You can,” Lionel said.

“Tell me again how I should pray.”

“Just tell God you've done bad stuff and you're sorry. You believe that Jesus came to die for your sins and right now you accept his gift of salvation. Ask God to come into your life and make you a new person. Say you want him to save you and guide you for the rest of your life.”

Lionel paused. All he could hear was the sound of the street behind Samuel. For a moment he thought the boy had left the phone off the hook and had walked away.

“Samuel?” Lionel said.

“I am here,” Samuel said. “I just prayed and asked God to forgive me.”

“That's great,” Lionel said. “How do you feel?”

“I'm not sure,” Samuel said. “Like I have finally found what I was looking for. Like Dan and Nina did not die in vain.”

“I want you to do me a favor,” Lionel said.

“Anything,” Samuel said.

“Are there people walking on your street?”

“A few. And there are some at an outdoor café nearby.”

“Get ready,” Lionel said. “God has done something special to help you. Look at the people and see if any of them have a special mark on their forehead. It should look like a cross.”

The phone clanked against the booth. A few seconds later, Samuel returned, out of breath. “I see someone! He just walked past.”

“Go back and ask if he sees anything on your forehead,” Lionel said.

Again, Samuel went away and came back overjoyed. “He called me
brother!
He said I have the mark as well, but I don't see anything.”

Lionel explained the mark and that you could not see your own. “We can use this to our advantage. We know who the other believers are, but no one can see the mark except us.”

Samuel was thrilled. “I want to talk to my father. I want him to have this same peace.”

“But you have to be careful,” Lionel said. “And you have to be prepared for your father not to accept what you've said.”

Lionel told Samuel to continue reading his Bible and Tsion's Web site. Lionel couldn't wait to tell Mr. Stein and Judd what had happened.

22

JUDD
was elated when he heard the news about Samuel. Mr. Stein smiled broadly, then shook his head. “I'm afraid that boy is in for a difficult time if he tries to talk with his father about Christ. We should pray for him.”

Judd could tell Mr. Stein was restless, but something else seemed to be bothering him. Judd brought it up one evening.

“I am concerned about Yitzhak,” Mr. Stein said, “but even if he is okay, I do not think I should leave you two alone. I brought you here, and I should provide you a way home.”

“Nonsense,” Judd said. “We came because we wanted to.”

“Still, I cannot abandon you simply because I have a wonderful opportunity.”

Lionel leaned forward. “You keep talking about God providing. Don't you think he can provide for us just as easily as he can provide for you?”

“Of course, but—”

“God will provide for us,” Lionel said.

The next evening Judd took a call from Samuel. He said he had been reading Tsion's Web site as much as possible, but his father had been home and he didn't dare risk reading it then.

“I overheard a conversation with headquarters,” Samuel said. “They have released all the local committee members. After the death of your friend, the GC was concerned how it would look if that information leaked to the public.”

Judd felt guilty keeping the information about Mr. Stein from Samuel. Judd felt it best that Samuel not know so he wouldn't have to lie to his father.

“Won't the local committee know Mr. Stein is gone?” Judd said. “Couldn't they leak the story?”

“They were told he was banished to his homeland to face criminal charges,” Samuel said.

Judd couldn't wait to see Yitzhak's face when Mr. Stein walked into the room. He asked Samuel how it felt to be a believer in Christ.

“It feels wonderful! I am learning so much in such a little time. I hope to speak with my father soon.”

“Choose your time wisely,” Judd said.

Vicki talked with Mark and Conrad about Janie. She was becoming increasingly difficult to work with. Vicki had threatened to withhold meals if Janie didn't pitch in, but Janie had complained about the food and said she didn't want it anyway.

“I feel responsible,” Mark said. “I was the one who brought her here.”

“I'm glad you did,” Vicki said. “We want this place to be open to skeptics and seekers.”

“We can't just kick her out,” Conrad said. “She might get caught. Knowing her, she'd tell the GC about us just to get a half hour of TV privileges.”

“I'd like to throw her in the tunnel and lock both doors,” Vicki said.

“That would be an effective evangelism tool,” Conrad said. “Convert or we'll starve you.”

Vicki smiled. “Maybe we should just keep praying that God will cause her to come around.”

“Any news from Judd and Lionel?” Mark said.

Vicki frowned. “They're stuck.”

Judd walked beside Lionel, just behind Jamal. Mr. Stein wore a cloak over his head and held onto Jamal's arm. Judd couldn't tell what part of the Old City they were in, but he could imagine an upper room and frightened disciples waiting to be arrested by Roman guards.

They passed through a garden, then up a narrow alley. Clothes were hung out to dry on a wire strung between the buildings. The light was fading. Something about the scene filled Judd with sadness, but he couldn't figure it out. Then it came to him.
There should be children playing here, kicking a ball and laughing.
But there were no children.

Jamal cautiously led them through a doorway and up two flights of rickety stairs. He knocked twice, waited, then knocked twice again. The door creaked open, and the group was waved in quickly.

Yitzhak sat in the corner with a blanket draped over his frail shoulders. His voice was weak and he had bruises about his head. He welcomed Jamal but didn't seem to recognize Judd and Lionel.

Daniel, the emcee of the Meeting of the Witnesses, sat beside Yitzhak. About a dozen others sat at tables and on the floor.

“Who is our mystery guest?” Yitzhak said weakly.

Mr. Stein slowly removed the cloak from his head. Yitzhak's eyes filled with tears. He stood, then fell back against the wall. Mr. Stein rushed to him and embraced him.

“When we were told you had been sent home,” Yitzhak said, “we feared they had killed you.”

Others in the group surrounded Mr. Stein and hugged him. Some praised God in Hebrew. Others smiled and clapped. After a few minutes of conversation, Yitzhak lifted a hand.

“We have been given the task to go into the world and reap a great soul harvest,” Yitzhak said. “My brother, Mitchell Stein, has asked for a time of intense study. We have prepared a place for that, as well as rest for those who have been through a difficult ordeal.

“God has delivered us from the hands of our enemies for a purpose. And we will fulfill our destiny as God's spokesmen to a lost and confused world. May he grant us the strength and the wisdom and the courage to do it.”

Mr. Stein turned to Judd and Lionel with tears in his eyes. He cupped his hands around their necks and pulled them close to him.

“I feel so torn. I don't want to let you down but—”

“We understand,” Lionel said. “We want you to go.”

“I cannot say when we will be together again,” Mr. Stein said.

Jamal stepped forward. “These are our young brothers in the faith. We will make sure they are safe.”

Mr. Stein called for quiet in the room and explained what he, Judd, and Lionel had been through. “I would like to ask someone to pray for my young friends.”

Yitzhak motioned the others forward. All the people in the room stretched out their hands toward Judd and Lionel, and those standing closest to them laid hands on them directly.

“Our Father,” Yitzhak began, “we thank you for those who trust in you, no matter what their age. We remember the words of the apostle Paul who said, ‘Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.' These friends have lived that verse, and we praise you for their lives.”

Those touching Lionel and Judd said “Amen,”“Yes, Lord,” and other words Judd couldn't understand.

Yitzhak continued. “We give them to you now and ask that you would give them spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they may grow in their knowledge of you. I pray their hearts will be flooded with light so that they can understand the wonderful future you have promised to those you have called. Help them to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance you have given your people.”

Judd realized Yitzhak was praying the same prayer for Lionel and him that Paul prayed in Ephesians.

Yitzhak continued. “O God, help our friends begin to understand the incredible greatness of your power. May they experience this power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at your right hand in heaven. We know that Jesus is now far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. May he be praised by all of our lives, and the lives of these two young men, until we see him coming in the clouds at the Glorious Appearing.

“We give you Judd and Lionel, O Father, and we give you our lives. Every breath we have is yours. In Jesus' name. Amen.”