The rest of the week went by uneventfully for the Feltons. They received no more visits or calls relating to "the Challenge." Josh felt a little guilty about not contacting Paul, but he also felt very uncomfortable when he thought about doing so. Paul didn't contact him.
Of course, there were things going on outside the Felton home, as a number of people wrestled in their own ways with what they had heard Sunday night. One of those people was William Deacon, youth pastor of Gallatin Bible Church.
Bill had been thrilled by the "In His Steps" approach to Sunday night services. As he'd said in his letter to Josh, he had suggested to his own pastor that they suspend their own services to participate with the other church. That had been met with a rather pointed rebuff from Pastor Deans, who clearly thought that they needed to "tend their own sheep." Nevertheless, Bill had been so intrigued by Josh's approach that he had returned the second Sunday, alone. He, of course, got something far different than he had expected, and what he did get he found very disquieting. By Thursday, he had to talk to Pastor Deans about it.
"From what you've said, Bill, I'm having trouble figuring out what actually happened - what Pastor Felton actually did."
"Well, that's just it. He really didn't do much. He said that he thought there was a lot more to Christianity than he had been preaching, Then he challenged... no, that's not right. He suggested that people consider doing what the people in the book did - trying to live for a whole year as Jesus would."
Pastor Deans shook his head. "Well, I don't know what ‘more to Christianity' he could have in mind. They're affiliated with the same denomination we are, and I think he's covering everything that I am."
“He made it sound like it wasn't really different - it was more. Like people could deal more directly with God through the Holy Spirit."
"Hmm. That has a rather pentecostal sound to it.”
"Pentecostal?"
“Referring to certain churches that believe that God still works like He did on the Day of Pentecost, when people spoke in tongues and there were real miracles performed."
"He didn't say anything about that."
"Well, at least that's good. Maybe he was just talking about keeping a little better control of your life, of thinking seriously about what you're doing before you do it."
"Maybe. It's hard to say."
"About this challenge he gave: I've read 'In His Steps,' years ago. As I recall, the minister in the book was trying to get Christians to think about applying their faith to their surroundings. You know ‘James 2:17' - faith without works is dead. The people in the book get involved with rescue missions on Skid Row - things like that. There's certainly nothing wrong with Christians helping others."
"I don't know. Maybe that's what he had in mind. It sounded like something more, though."
"Well, anyway, the Sunday story idea is out, so we don't need to consider that, anymore."
"No, sir.”
But Bill wasn't sure that was the end of it. Something Pastor Felton had said had hit a little harder than that.
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