He became known as “Shoeman” George Hutchings. George developed an unusual but significant ministry. Unusual? Yes! He motivated hundreds of people to donate and collect used shoes which were sold by the pound to provide funds to finance the drilling wells in poor countries to provide fresh water in third world countries … in Jesus Name!
The need? We are told that more people die from drinking bad water than die from starvation!
(Others having the same mission vision on a large scale are described at www.water.cc).
But a moving, years-old life-and-death story as background: at age 17, George Hutchings found himself in a pitched battle in the jungles of Vietnam. Many of his fellow marines had just been killed. His gripping account of the crisis is difficult to imagine. Surrounded by enemy soldiers, George was trapped all night in a “fox hole” half-full of cold water. The surviving marines of his platoon were cut off from radio communications from a group of nearby fellow marines in the same battle.
A devise of the enemy was to use English, sounding like a fellow American, to call – especially in the dark — to deceive and lull the Americans to lower their guard. But, amid the life-threatening conditions, what became a bit of comic relief happened. Trying to get confirmation that the nearby English-speaking voice was a fellow marine, someone called out and asked: “Who won the World Series?” A voice responded: “Jack Buck said the St. Louis Cardinals won the Series!” With assurance that they were indeed talking to friends, an excited “cheer” burst forth! Apparently that cheer shocked and dispersed the opposing soldiers, for, when dawn broke, the enemy soldiers were gone!
Reminds me of the Biblical story of Gideon in Judges 7:19-23!
A bit later George recounted this moving story: once when in the makeshift camp — he had one boot off as he was washing one sock (they were not to have both boots off at the same time) — orders came that his platoon was to immediately go on patrol. His buddy quickly volunteered to go in George’s place … against George’s wishes. Almost immediately, a short distance away, some type of rocket hit his friend, “Brice” All that was later found of Brice was his head … and one boot.
The fact was not lost to George that his buddy had given his life for him. George later learned that someone else … whose name rhymed with “Brice” … had also died in George’s place! That is the name that is above every name … the name of Christ!
“But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“Greater love has no greater love than this, that one lay down is live for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Through all of this, George was not a Christian, but, in time, received Christ as his Savior!
Upon returning to the USA, George looked up the loving family of the sacrificial “Brice,” … and told them the moving story. The family responded in ongoing friendship and encouragement to George, convinced that all the good that George Hutchings would do … and has done … was because their son and loved one had given his life so that George Hutchings would live!
If Jesus Christ has not yet entered your life, he says … “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20)