Winning the world for Jesus isn't exclusively handled by seminary-educated men and women who speak to huge crowds in vast auditoriums. Sometimes one life can be changed because an ordinary person allows God to use them in an everyday circumstance. George Boldizar knows Jesus today because a girl working the cash register at a Dixie Cafe restaurant invited him and his wife, Carlene, to visit Central Church.
"It was June of 1985," George said, "and after dinner we found that we had no cash to pay for the meal, so Carlene went to get some money while I waited at the restaurant."
A small-talk conversation ensued with the restaurant's hostess. George told her that he and Carlene had just moved to Memphis from Little Rock and that they were looking around for a church to attend.
"The girl invited us to visit Central, which was really ironic because we had just bought a house right behind the old building on Winchester," he said.
The church proved to be a good fit for the Boldizars even though George wasn't yet a born again believer. But God knew that George needed more than just a comfortable place to perch on Sunday mornings. George needed Jesus, and thanks to a casual invitation from a total stranger, George's life was about to change forever.
"We had an Evangelism Explosion ministry team visit our home one evening," George recalled with a smile, "and they presented the Gospel to me in a way that I'd never heard before."
Because of the E.E. visit, George prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior, and since that time he and Carlene, who was already a believer, have served the Lord at Central in a variety of ways. Carlene manages the Crosswalk, Central's bookstore, and George teaches kindergartners and helps her when he can. He said he believes people do need to serve the Lord in some capacity, and his commitment to teach the kindergartners brings him great joy.
"There's a real need for teachers," he said, "and that's a gift I have, so I teach."
Carlene's decision to work for the church was guided not so much by what she did hear from God; rather, it was based largely on what she didn't hear.
"Years ago I was asked if I would be interested in coordinating the kindergarten through second grade Sunday school classes," she said, "so I prayed about it, sort of waiting for God to give me a 'no', but I never got that, so I figured I needed to do it. Now I've moved from that ministry to managing the bookstore and God continues to bless."
George, originally from Connecticut, is employed by Watson Wyatt Worldwide as an office/systems administrator. He and Carlene have been married since 1979 and have one son, Brad, who is a medical student at the University of Tennessee. Aside from their Sunday morning activities, George and Carlene have opened their home to the youth evangelism group and have enjoyed watching the kids come alive as they learn to share their faith. Actively participating in the program, they supported Brad's decision to go on the Youth Evangelism Explosion trips to both Siberia and the Ukraine.
George said he enjoys participating in the men's ministries at Central and that the church is special to him because Christianity is a way of life there. Carlene agrees, citing that when they came to Memphis they didn't know anyone, so everything they did revolved around the church. She said it filled every aspect of their lives.
"I feel that I'm accepted here regardless of what I've done," she said. "Central has been a blessing to us in every way."
George and Carlene both agree they'd like to be able to thank the young lady whose invitation to her church had such a profound impact on their lives.
"Looking back, we really owe this unknown girl a debt of gratitude for reaching out to us with a simple invitation," George said.
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