11/01/25 WIDE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY

11/01/25 WIDE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY

Martha and I went to "The Island" to get propane for The Net House. While there I asked a man where he was from originally, and he told me, "here" (Harkers Island). When he told me he is a Guthrie, I told him we are probably related, since I had a grandmother with the same name. I pointed out that her family moved from Diamond City to "The Path" (Salter Path) and "Promiseland" (in Morehead). Diamond City was a village on The Banks (Shackleford Banks), located near "The Lighthouse" on The Cape (Cape Lookout). The devastating hurricanes in the 1890s eventually wiped out that fishing village of "Bankers" (many of whom were of Scottish decent), and some were whalers. When I asked this man where his "crowd" (family) came from, he told me Diamond City also.

We talked some more and then I asked him where he goes to church. He pointed and said he goes to the church on Ferry Dock (Road), indicating Free Grace Wesleyan. I love that church and Pastor Clint. (I know Pastor Clint preaches a solid message and they have really good music). I told him that I have had the privilege to preach there a few times. I asked him if he was following Jesus and encouraged him to follow as closely as he could.

Yesterday I also talked with another man (younger) from The Island. He actually lives there, but he comes from "off" (outside of the area). However, when he told me his last name I reacted with surprise, since his last name was a prominent name in the community. He laughed and told me that someone had done a genealogy search and found out that he had Scottish ancestors who moved to Portsmouth Island (not far from Okracoke), while some of that family moved to Diamond City and The Island, his ancestors moved further inland, so it was like coming home.

I told him about my family ties to The Banks and also told him that I had been a pastor on Cape Hatteras. While at Kinnakeet (Avon) I took a youth group camping on Portsmouth Island, which had been longtime abandoned by early villagers. I asked my new acquaintance where he attends church services. He told me he goes to H. I. Methodist Ch. (This is a Global Methodist Church, no longer affiliated with the U.M.C., which is a good thing). I asked him about his relationship with the Lord, encouraged him in his walk and gave him a card, inviting him to contact me if he ever wanted to talk or had Bible questions. He was very responsive.

Just before we left the bridge we talked to a CHIP (California Highway Patrolman) who was visiting the area. He moved to California years ago, but plans on moving back to the area in the near future. I asked him where he goes to church. He told me it was an Independent Church, where he lives in California. His answers and behavior seemed to indicate that he might be a believer, and as usual I asked if he is a believer. He said yes, very emphatically. I asked him if he was following Jesus, and again he gave a very definite yes. We talked a little more and I encouraged him to follow