And oh, how I loved my Savior Christ then! I would have given all I had for Him! How I felt towards sinners that day! Lad that I was, I wanted to preach, and- Tell to sinners round, What a dear Savior I had found.
                                            --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Following a border crossing from Poland to East Germany, I well learned this principle of spiritual awakening. After the Communist Youth World Festival, I ministered in several East-bloc countries. Each has different laws and different degrees of freedom.

Although the Solidarity movement has been prominent in Western news reports, evangelical Christians have more freedom in Poland than in other Eastern European countries. Crossing the border into Poland was no problem, even though one of our vans was loaded with musical equipment. In Poland we ministered unhindered.

I lectured our team early the morning of our departure from Poland. I explained the differences in the laws and border regulations in East Germany. We would have to be much more careful in our personal witnessing, if we even got in. The East Germans do not allow into their country anything that produces sound. At the border, they confiscate cassettes, video cassettes, speakers or anything else that produces sound. And they are thorough in their border searches.

Needless to say, everyone was solemn and prayed as we drove two hours to the border. When we arrived, there were two long lines of automobiles. The East German customs agents checked thoroughly every suitcase and every corner of every vehicle while we continued to pray silently and wait our turn. The guards searched everything in the car ahead of the van I was driving.

Finally it was our turn. The grim-looking soldier walked up to my window. "I have only one question for you." I prayed as I waited. To my amazement he asked, "How much does this van cost?"

I couldn't understand why he was asking, but I tried not to appear puzzled. "I don't know. We're renting it!"

"OK, you can go."

I couldn't believe it. He didn't look in one suitcase. He didn't even look inside the van! We drove through and stopped in a park a few blocks away, where we prayed for the second van that was right behind us at the border. Within two minutes it rolled up. The other part of the team had had the same experience.

We had a prayer and praise meeting. We had seen God's miraculous, loving protection.

We drove to the local train station for lunch. The place was full and there were no tables available for twelve. However, the East Germans have a custom that affords great opportunities for witnessing. A newly arrived person may sit in any free chair. So we split up and sat at about six different tables.

After we ordered, the team members were faced with a problem. Should they pray before their meals while seated with these East Germans after what I had told them that morning?

It didn't matter what I had told them. They had just seen the goodness of the loving Father. The supernaturally natural thing to do was to thank Him for the food.

All of us did that separately, and it opened doors for each of us to witness. A lady at one table asked if I would pray for her. Her husband had been in an accident and was in critical condition. She was on her way to see him. I had a beautiful opportunity to share the love of Jesus with her. My wife, Tex, talked about Jesus to some young people at the table next to us. Other young people saw what was happening and wanted to hear and know about a personal faith in Jesus.

Someone was witnessing at almost every table. One of our musicians couldn't speak German, so he sang one of the songs he had learned in German. As we left the restaurant, people continued to ask about Jesus. I prayed with and counseled several people.

When a person has been with the King, it takes more effort not to witness than it does to witness. The courage of the early church was a direct outgrowth of her prayer life. Acts 4:31 says, "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness."

There are three ways in which we must get to know God, if we are to be effective witnesses of Christ. We must know Who it is that sends us. We must know Who it is that is with us. And, we must know Who is in us to give us strength, power, and courage for every situation.