FROM THE PROFS: Dangerous encounter teaches importance of relying on Holy Spirit

Editor’s note: “From the Profs” is an occasional feature highlighting past experiences of Southwestern Seminary and Scarborough College faculty in sharing the Gospel.

Carl Bradford didn’t realize the man had a gun under his shirt. In New Orleans several years ago, Bradford was evangelizing with his church, and he noticed several men sitting in the back of a truck. He spoke to one of them in particular, introducing himself and stating his purpose. 

“We’re going throughout the neighborhood, wanting to let people know what Jesus Christ has done for them,” Bradford said. “Do you mind me asking you if you are aware that Jesus Christ has died for your sins; and if you were to die today, do you know for sure where you would go?”

The man looked at Bradford, rose to his feet, and lifted up his shirt, revealing a gun tucked into his pants. He said, “You just come up to me talking about religion and God. What would happen if I just pull out this gun and shoot you?” 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Bradford answered, “If you kill me, I’m going to heaven. But if you get convicted and get lethal injection, where are you going?” 

The man sat back down. “Speak your peace,” he said. 

Bradford shared the Gospel, but the man did not accept Christ. Hours later, after Bradford had returned home, he thought, “What was I thinking? I could have been killed!” 

But Bradford found solace in the Scripture that says, when followers of Jesus are handed over to rulers and authorities, “the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said” (Luke 12:12). 

“So I believe that the Holy Spirit just prompted me to say those words and not to be in fear,” Bradford says.

As assistant professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bradford brings experiences like this to his teaching ministry to students. “You will have those types of experiences,” he says. 

Though he acknowledges that dangerous encounters like this will be “few and far between,” with most people agreeing to listen to what they have to say, Bradford nevertheless encourages students to rely on the Holy Spirit every time they evangelize. 

“Even in those situations, God is with us,” Bradford says, “and we need to have the comfort of the Holy Spirit, that He is there with us and will give us the words to say.”