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How free hot dogs convinced Tom to return to God

“Four years of doubting and turning against God was all changed in two hours.”

Tom*, a student at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, grew up as a missionary kid, but when his grandmother died tragically in a car accident four years ago, he turned on God completely.

One recent Thursday night, Tom drove to a local convenience store to buy some cigarettes. He ran into a friend there who invited him to grab some hot dogs up the street. Tom didn’t know it, but he was running right into Operation Richard Street, a CCO-sponsored ministry that takes place every Thursday evening, one of the heaviest party nights in Shippensburg. Christian students minister to those who have been partying all night by handing out free hot dogs.

Shortly after Tom and his friend arrived, two guys came to the same corner, both with bloodied heads.

“Our whole team froze—we did not know what to do,” says Phil Schiavoni, one of the CCO campus workers at Shippensburg. “But Tom, whose dad was a missionary doctor, is fully trained in first aid, and he went to work on them.”

Tom barked out orders for towels and water. As he was fixing them up in the bed of his truck, one of the injured party-goers asked, ‘Why are you guys handing out free hot dogs on a Thursday night?’ One of the Christian students explained that this is what they believe Jesus would do to show His love.

Tom reported later that didn’t sleep well that night. He had lost sleep before over witnessing harrowing injuries, but this was different. This time, he mulled over the fact that these students were using their valuable time and gifts on a Thursday night to serve God. Meanwhile, Tom had gifts and talents that he knew he was hiding, let alone only using for his own good. He was so impressed by these students that he had a change of heart.

At the Operation Richard Street weekly recap meeting the next day, Tom was there, sharing his testimony, causing tears in the eyes of the campus ministers and fellow students.

“Four years of doubting and turning against God all changed in two hours,” Tom said. “I’ll make up a [medical] kit for next week, and you can be sure that I’ll be right there with you all.”

*His name has been changed to protect Tom’s privacy.