Every now and then something unforeseen happens on an evangelism outing that is so inexplicable and, well, downright tragic, it’s almost impossible to write about….

I was not able to attend the yearly Long Beach Gay Pride Parade with our evangelism team due to other commitments, so a faithful team leader, Tom Nance-Ulrich, took over the demanding job.

Every year, it’s a battle. Every year intrepid Seed Sowers must venture into a community that hates fundamentalist Christians, especially the preaching kind. (Read last year’s report from the West Hollywood Gay Pride report for proof by clicking here.)

It was Sunday morning, and I was at our church’s Men’s Retreat in the mountains, far from Long Beach, Sodom-by-the-Sea. I stopped to pray for the upcoming event under the shade of a magnificent pine and afterward looked up into the brilliant sunlight filtering through the needles. How would Tom and the team fare on this day? I trusted that God would see them through.

Several hours later I could stand it no longer. I pulled out my cell and sent Tom a quick text message: “How did it go 2day?”

His response was wrenching. I had only gotten this type of answer on one previous occasion.  I was crushed. I worried for Tom. I felt his pain. Would Tom ever be the same again? Will he continue to trust God with the outcome of future adventures, no matter how disillusioning?

I took a deep breath and glanced one more time at his message. This is what it said:

” No one showed up and i did not want to go to this alone so i did not go.”

Read Tom’s other disappointment by clicking here.