I was the “Pastor on Duty” when I received a call from the receptionist, “Steve you have two visitors in the lobby.” I wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen as I introduced myself to Gonzalo and Marianna…

“How may I help you?” I asked.

“We have a question,” Gonzalo said in a thick Peruvian accent. “We want to find out about God.”

I subtly looked around to see if there were any pastors in on the joke. None. No hidden cameras either. I waited for the office staff to break out in raucous laughter and applause. They didn’t. Hmmm, April 1st had already passed. “C’mon,” I thought, “There is no one who seeks God, not even one!” I refrained from pinching myself.

“Excuse me. What did you say?”

“We want to find out about God,” Gonzalo stated matter of factly.

“Uh, why? What motivated you to come here today to ask this question?” I really thought my leg was being pulled. You have to understand that this simply doesn’t happen very often. When people ask to see the “Pastor on Duty” they usually need food, shelter, prayer, maybe a bit of biblical counsel…they never just come in and want to find out about God. The nerve!

Gonzalo pointed to his wife, “We were down in Santa Ana a few weeks ago and a lady came up to us and said we needed to know about Jesus, so she talked a little with us. Today, we were driving on PCH and wondered what church could answer our questions. We decided to stop at Hope Chapel after seeing your sign.” Marianna nodded in agreement.

I invited them into the counseling room and retold the old, old story from Creation to Redemption. “Do you believe that you are sinners who need to turn away from your sins? Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to be forgiven?” Both nodded and prayed to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Right then, I hooked them up with a Spanish-speaking bible study leader who invited them to come to his weekly meeting. Both nodded.

“Would you like to come to our Saturday Spanish-translation service?” I asked. Both nodded.

Gonzalo and Marianna were no-shows.

But, I have their number.

*****

What do you think happened to them? Be creative.