ONE OR ONE THOUSAND

Cecil, a ten-year-old boy, was sent to church by his dad one early morning. To bring spiritual revival in their members, the church decided to have 8:00 A.M. services for one whole week. Upon arriving, the ten-year-old only saw two people: the red-bearded minister and himself.

Embarrassed, he took a seat, wondering anxiously what the pastor would do. Surely, he would politely tell the boy to run along home. To his shock, the pastor, with calm and solemn dignity, walked up to the pulpit and preached away. He spoke as if there were thousands in the meeting.

When it was time for the offering, the minister placed collection plate on the altar railing. Cecil walked up and dropped a nickel into the plate.

Then the minister did something that changed Cecil’s life. He came down to the altar to receive the offering, placed his hand on the boy’s head, and blessed him. Cecil testified, “He did a beautiful thing. It won my belief and strengthened my faith. The spirit of truth was in the church with us that morning.”

The ten-year-old boy was Cecil B. DeMille. Hollywood remembers him as the director and producer of hundreds of films, including the Ten Commandments and Sunset Blvd.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season.” There may be seasons that there are lots of kids and there may be seasons that there are only a few, or maybe even just one. We are told to preach the Word anyway.