The crowd from hell beat the old man senseless. As they looked upon his broken body, they saw him breathe his last, knowing not only that they had just killed one of the managers, but killed an innocent man who followed his God closely. Standing up for one of the workers at his job, Joseph Fencell –the old man, who was set to retire in a few years– spoke too often about the love of God.
Earlier that day in the picket line, Mark Dolton did not want to picket the company any longer because he had a new wife and family and the pressure was mounting for him with no income for weeks on end. Those on the picket line wondered why Mark had all of a sudden changed his mind when as a union they had all agreed never to cross the line. They knew Mark had never been a man of his word and was one who stirred up dissention often, breaking company policies daring others to follow his lead. He also admitted cheating on his wife several times. As he crossed the line that day, tempers flared, threats of danger to him and his family were spewed out.
When the old man walked back outside the crowd had gotten even more visibly riled up. They started calling him the N-word and every foul curse word mixed with his precious LORD’s name, but he told them about the love of God one more time anyway.
Joe shouted out to the 80 or 90 angry union workers about God’s love, in how He so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him would never die, but have eternal life.
a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners and mortal enemies of the gospel, Jesus Christ died for us. So please, I beg of you, cut Mark some slack, just as the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you and I.”