Big Lou is a brother that I never met personally, but God has blessed me to encounter many individuals that have served as “Big Lou” in my life.
You say what is so special about this mystical Big Lou?
Big Lou is not mystical nor magical, but he can be a profound motivator, an in the moment messenger. I first learned of Big Lou through the testimony of a fellow clergymen. Pastor Fernando Kittrell, the Mental Health Pastor, shared how God answered his prayers and relaxed his stammering tongue while he was openly evangelizing on a public city bus.
After God answered his prayers and loosed his tongue, he no longer evangelized publicly on the bus. At that time Pastor Kittrell was a typical Christian, likened the nine lepers in Luke 17. (Yes, there were 10!)
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He gladly accepted his blessing, canned his blessing and then proudly sat on his can. For weeks, Kittrell rode this same city bus displaying this pious behavior. The pastor says one day this huge rough looking, loud talking kind of guy got on the bus, pushing past other passengers. However, when he got to Pastor Kittrell he leaned over and whispered to him, “Man do what God called you to do.”
Wow! This courageous word of challenge, condemnation, and correction stunned then Brother Kittrell.
Without any additional conversation or explanation Kittrell knew exactly what this huge rough looking guy meant when he whispered, “Man do what God called you to do.”
This instrument of the Lord, was known as Big Lou in the neighborhood.
From that moment up until now, Pastor Kittrell has never failed to do the work of Him that stopped his stammering tongue, changed him, saved him, and called him.
My brothers and sisters, if the truth would be told, many of us today can relate to Paul’s Damascus Road Experience, Jonah’s Wild Whale Ride and Pastor Kittrell’s encounter with Big Lou!
Without the Big Lous of the world that God uses, many of us would not have answered, but ignored, forgotten, or abandoned our call.
Kingdom Work as one of my pastor friends call it, is a 24-hour undertaking. Every place you go, everything you see, do, hear; you find your spirit man speaking the scriptures from your heart to your head, hands, feet, eyes and wallet, all the while evil is present attempting to stop, halt, negate the good you would, and want to do.
Thank God for the Big Lous of the world. Thank God for those that lurk in our shadows to watch over, protect, encourage, and admonish the man, woman, child of God. Hallelujah somebody! Praise the Lord!
The minute I heard Pastor Kittrell’s testimony, my Spirit man spoke to me, and I knew that this move of God must be put to print for others like me to rejoice and those who doubt to be encouraged, to get to know God. Develop a relationship with Him. Learn of His ways. Experience His goodness. And most of all, accept the gift of salvation.
Friends, Big Lou is not one of a kind. He is not the only “in the moment messenger.” God has many such messengers. He regularly uses them. We must be careful not to ignore the Big Lous in our space.
All the Old Testament prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel; All the minor prophets including Anna a prophetess; Sara, Deborah, Moses, and others, all were in the moment messengers. John the Baptist and Paul were “in the moment messengers.” Martin, Malcolm, Billy Graham, Mandela, Rosa and Big Lou too, were “in the moment messengers.”
It is through the “for-real testimonies,” of Christians like Pastor Kittrell and others that help the body of Christ to grow and evangelize the unsaved.
Friends, Jesus, is an “in the moment messenger” who speaks continuously throughout eternity.
Rev. Alfred Carroll Sr. is lead minister of Alfred Carroll Ministries of Pine Bluff.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your name, phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.