I was preaching one hot summer night in Minneapolis. The room was packed, mostly with men. The windows had been taken out of the cases to get a little additional fresh air. When I gave out the invitation a man arose by one of these windows near a door. As soon as I pronounced the benediction, he shot through the door, not waiting for the after meeting. I forgot all about the after meeting and saw only that man. I do not know to this day what became of the after meeting. I reached him just as he was about to go down the stairway. I laid my hand on his shoulder and said, “My friend, you stood up tonight to say you wished to become a Christian.” “Yes.” “Why did you not stay to the after meeting?” “It is no use.” “God loves you,” I said. “You don’t know who you are talking to,” he replied, “I am the meanest thief in Minneapolis.” “Well,” I said, “if you are the meanest thief in Minneapolis, I can prove God loves you,” and I opened my Bible to Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8), “God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “Now,” I said, “if you are the meanest thief in Minneapolis, you are certainly a sinner, and this verse says that God loves sinners.” It touched the man’s heart and he went quietly with me to my office. “I was released from prison,” he said, “today, and started out tonight with three companions to commit one of the most daring burglaries that was ever committed in Minneapolis. By tomorrow morning I would either have had a pile of money, or a bullet in my body. I passed by the corner and heard your open-air meeting. A Scotchman was speaking. I am a Scotchman and my mother was Scotch. When I heard that Scotch tongue, it made me think of my mother. The other night in prison I dreamed of my mother. I dreamed that she came to me and besought me to give up the evil life I was leading. When I heard that Scotchman speak it brought it all back. I stopped and listened and my companions tried to pull me along but I would not go. They cursed me but still I stayed. When you gave out your invitation for your meeting in the hall, I followed you and listened to your sermon.”
I explained to him the way of life and he accepted the Saviour. We knelt side by side in prayer. He offered the most wonderful prayer but one I ever heard in my life, and went out of my office rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven.
A short time before the meanest thief in Minneapolis but now a happy child of God.