A few years ago I took a group of students out onto the local university campus to introduce people to Jesus. We prayed and then split up into pairs. I went with a friend of mine.

First we met an Arts student, started up a conversation, and told him something about himself from God that we couldn’t possibly have known. He acknowledged it as a strange coincidence. No encounter.

Next we met a Christian girl who had lost her earrings and was looking for them. We prayed for her with words from the Spirit that touched her heart in ways she didn’t expect. As we finished she exclaimed, “Who are you!?” like she’d seen an angel or something. A bit of an encounter, but she thought it was about us.

Finally we met a third year science student from China who said he didn’t believe in God. We asked him, if you did believe in God, what’s one question you would ask Him? He said he would ask him what the purpose of life is.

“Would you like to have Him tell you now” He looked confused. “Close your eyes”. He looked skeptical. I smiled. “Just close your eyes”. Reluctantly, he did.

“Picture God walking over that nearby knoll, coming closer to you.”

“What does He look like? Can you see His face?”

“What’s he doing? Is He saying anything to you?”

Then we waited for about 30 seconds. He just stood there with his eyes closed. It was getting a little awkward. I said his name a few times. No response. Another 30 seconds. Finally I touched his elbow and without opening his eyes he spoke, slowly and softly: “We’re good… Me and God are good….” This formerly articulate student was lost in the presence of Jesus.

Three people had a chance. One explained it away. One made it about us. And one, probably the most unlikely one, encountered God.