Mr. Hawkins, the gypsy evangelist, while holding meetings at Leamington, had an experience that impressed on him the importance of taking children seriously.
He had given a rather lengthy Bible lecture and decided not to have an after meeting. However, he invited any anxious souls to wait behind after the meeting if they wished. The large congregation filed out, and no one appeared to be waiting. He put his Bible away and prepared to leave. Then he noticed two little girls and a boy who obviously desired to be spoken to.
“Hello!” he said. “What do you want?”
“We want to give our hearts to Jesus,” was their reply.
Mr. Hawkins pulled out his watch and said: “It is very late. You had better go home. We have a special children’s meeting on Fray. Come back then, and we’ll have a talk about the matter.”
At this the boy began to cry. “Oh,” he said, “I deliver papers on Friday and can’t come to the meeting. I would like to be saved tonight.”
Instantly Gypsy Hawkins saw his mistake and said to the little fellow, “You’re right, and I’m wrong.”
They had a little talk together in which Mr. Hawkins made the way of salvation clear and simple for these dear children to understand. Then they all knelt down in the aisle, and there on their knees each of the three accepted the Lord and confessed Him as their Saviour. That young boy became an earnest Christian, grew up to be a preacher of the gospel, and a well-known and respected servant of Christ.
“I’m not too young to come to Jesus,
For He loves a little child.”
ML-12/09/1979