I spent 2 hours with Andrew Higgins sitting in a cafe on the Falls Road this afternoon. (FEED was closed!). After a great chat about Street Pastors and Evangelism, and a good feed!, I went up to pay the bill. One man spoke to me and asked how I was doing. I knew without doubt he had recognised who I was.
As I stood at the till, another man in his sixties stood next to me and said, "Are you Pastor Jack McKee?". I said, "Yes I am." He put his hand out and shook my hand saying, "You're very welcome here". We then chatted for while. He asked me about the Shankill and asked about New Life and how the church is doing! He asked what the difference is between what we would believe and what others believe? I explained the difference between religion and relationship (I used the born in McDonald's line!). He then said he had read that we have Catholics coming to the church and asked have they stopped practicing Catholicism? I explained that people might well stop practicing their form of Protestantism or Catholicism, but they do not stop being Protestant or Catholic culturally, because that's what they are!
He then shook my hand again and said, "Feel free to come in here anytime you are want. You are greatly respected in this community since the time you walked along here with the cross."!!!...... That was 8 years ago!!!
All things to all men: Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.
Jack
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