03/22/2025
Plant The Seed!
This is a picture of a club in downtown Mobile where I hung out many years ago. I pass by this building often while ministering to the homeless. Before surrendering my life to Christ, this was one of many places that would fill the void of my flesh, but only for a short time.
It opened as Crown Theatre in 1911, was later renamed Midtown Theatre playing adult only films, then became a nightclub, The Crown. It was later renamed Club Atlantis and is now 509 Live.
My friend and I looked forward to this place on Friday nights and would drive an hour from our hometown. First, we would stop at Chantilly’s bar on Airport Blvd. because older men with money hung out here. We talked to them and they bought us drinks until we were drunk or at least buzzing. When they went to the restroom, we would leave and head to The Crown, because who wants to listen to oldies music when you’re drunk or listen to these older men talking nonsense about taking care of us. They would come back to any empty table and we didn’t care.
The Crown was where we wanted to be. It was a techno club with drugs and good looking, younger men. The only downside here was, we would have to buy our own drinks. The men here spent their money on fast cars, tattoos, and piercings, not women. They weren’t the rich business owners at Chantilly’s who treated us like royalty.
After having my oldest daughter, I didn’t party anymore, but I was invited to celebrate my birthday at The Crown one night, so I went. As I was walking down the sidewalk, a young man approached me. He was in his late teens or early 20’s. He was evangelizing on the streets. Evangelists were always annoying to me when I was in the world. I would do everything to avoid them, but I had made up my mind when he approached me…I’m going to tell him off and to mind his own business when he talks to me. And I did just that. I used profanity and told him it was my birthday, I can do what I want, and to leave me alone.
When I got inside, I went to the bar, ordered my favorite beer, and took two sips of it. It was different this time. I didn’t want to drink and I wanted to go home. I felt so bad for being so mean to that young guy who just wanted me to have Jesus in my life. Nobody had ever told me Jesus had a better plan for me than going into that club. I thought I’d apologize when I went back outside, but he was gone.
I think about this young man every time I’m out ministering. When I question if what I said or prayed had any effect on the other person. When I ponder on the thoughts of…just go back home. You’re not changing anyone’s life out here. When I have doubted myself and have questioned the voice of God. When I don’t see the fruit or harvest from the seed.
Holy Spirit always reminds me of this young guy, who had such an impact on my life when I was lost and now saved.
I hope and pray he didn’t give up on ministering because of me and the others screaming at him on that night about minding his own business and asking why he cares if we have fun. I’m not sure if it was his first time evangelizing or what he does now. I would love to know.
We don’t always know the impact we have on others, but Holy Spirit knows the outcome when He gives us an assignment.
Don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming.❤️ Galatians 6:9
