Yesterday I wrote about “Holy Hubert.” Now meet a sold-out member of our evangelism team, “Righteous Richard” Chavarria. Here’s his story:

It’s been nine weeks since I started open-air preaching at the Torrance DMV on Wednesday mornings.
I usually get there about 8:30 AM and sit in my car to pray, asking God to strengthen me, give courage and boldness, and use my preaching and His Word for His glory.
I then check with Caesar the security guard before handing out the Million-Dollar bill Gospel Tracts. Caesar is a friendly young man; I try to give him a different kind of tract each time I see him.

The Torrance DMV opens at 9AM on Wednesdays which is later than the usual time. Because folks don’t know this, I’m able to hand many tracts to people who have been standing there awhile—a captive audience!

An ID card strapped around my neck makes me look official. Actually, it’s a business card Gospel tract that says “Director of Department of Annoyance…”
…it comes in handy when the first person in line doesn’t want a tract. I ask them, “Will you be conducting business at the DMV today?” I then glance down at my ID card and say, “You’ll need one of these,” as I hand them a million dollars.

It hasn’t failed me yet.

I walk down the line of about fifty people, say good morning, and hand out the millions; some people even rush forward to get one.

Next, I find a place where folks are standing, and start preaching the Ten Commandments, Judgment Day and Hell.
I explain the Good News of Jesus dying on a cross, pleading with them to repent and trust in Jesus, to read their Bible daily, and obey what it says.

Sometimes people will even thank me.

Just last week, a woman named Arsenia approached me and said that she was having doubts about her faith. “I was praying this morning,” she explained, “and God told me to get up and to go to the DMV with my husband. As you preached, God seemed to reach out to me, encouraging me to persevere and to have courage.”

“I’m encouraged by that,” I replied. “Thank you.” We prayed together and took a photo.
Wow, talk about having church! We just needed some praise songs. No take that back… angels were singing… I just couldn’t hear them.

(Steve’s note:Richard told me that a year ago, he was working in the church parking ministry. He never, ever thought he would be doing something as crazy as this… then he heard “Hell’s Best Kept Secret,” and everything changed.)