A guy phoned my church today to ask for help. He said he’d about given up on getting help from anyone, but the Lord put it on his heart to try the Presbyterian Church, so he was calling.

He said he’d visited us last December and had spoken with Pastor Beau. Then he and his wife and child packed up and moved to Oklahoma for a job – he’s a welder by trade. The job was supposed to last a few weeks, then they would cut him a check and they would have money to travel back home.

The poor man apologized for his horrible cold and coughing. He called my attention to it a couple of times. He mentioned that his wife has a heart condition and they were very worried when she came down with Covid right after Christmas. They also have a daughter, but she was apparently in good health, because he didn’t talk about her very much.

Now, the job in this small town in Oklahoma lasted longer than expected, which meant he was making more money than expected. But at the end, the company had a financial limit on their checking account that meant they couldn’t pay him the $5700 they owed him for another couple of weeks. And the check was coming to their Indiana address, so they needed to get back home. Could the church help them out? He would find a way to repay us. He was sure God would help him find a way to repay us. They had both PayPal and Venmo.

I asked if he had asked the Presbyterian church in that Oklahoma town for help.

“Oh, they only help the people who come to their church.”

Wow, that’s not very Presbyterian of them. Have you asked any of the other churches?

“Oh, this town is so close-knit, they only help their own. I’ve been begging people to help for two weeks. Everyone just tells me to go to someone else.”

He had figured out my game plan: “Red Cross” was next on my list. I decided not to go there – he was getting angry. I told him that helping them was not my decision to make alone. Give me a few minutes to contact some other people, and I would see what we could do. We said good-bye and hung up.

Now, I consider myself a born-again Christian, but I wasn’t born yesterday. This was almost definitely a scam, but sometimes strange things happen. There was an outside chance that it could be true. I needed to be sure.

I texted him back. “Our church is not set up for PayPal or Venmo, but we might be able to transfer funds church to church. Please give me the name of the church in the town where you are, and I’ll contact them to see what we can set up. Thanks.” For the record, the part up to the first comma is true. We are NOT set up for PayPal or Venmo. The part after that? Inspired invention.

He replied, “All these people have done is what you are doing and passing us off on someone else. I’ll reimburse any of you personally is one of you have paypal. But for two weeks ive been talked down to and humiliated by people who clearly do.not want to help or care and you want me to call them back? I never thought I’d do this to my wife and child but I give up. We won’t bother you any more”

I tried again. “You misunderstood my question. We would send the funds to that church with instructions for them to make sure the funds get to you. That church would act as our agent. What is the name of the church? What is the name of the town?”

He answered, “I didn’t misunderstand it said I would not call the churches ive begged got help the past two weeks and hope they will work with you instead of working with us! You guys dont want to help us either. As I said i am officially defeated. 3 days I fought off calling you guys before the lord had it in my heart you guys may help without massive humiliation. We won’t bother you any more and I mean that.”

No church name, no town name, no credibility. We were done. I wanted to say “God bless you,” but I was already violating one commandment (Thou shalt not lie); I didn’t want to go for a second one and use the Lord’s name in vain. I chose my words carefully. “I’m sorry that you feel that way. Peace be with you.” 

He tried to guilt me one more time. “No you do not! you guys dont care any more that the people here. [His wife] said you probably just want someone here to tell you this is real. You do not care I have no peace but you got out of helping so your happy”

His wife was right, but I was done.

I sent an email to my pastor with the gist of the story and a simple question: am I going to H*ll for this?