Friday, during lunchtime, CNN (playing in the bank) and Fox News (playing in Firehouse Subs) reporting on the shootings in an Atlanta courthouse. However, this tragic story wrapped up Saturday morning with an ending that showed courage and boldness.

Ashley Smith was the last hostage of the shooter, accused rapist Brian Nichols. CNN and USA Today (USA Today story via K-LOVE news) are reporting on how Smith shared her faith in Jesus Christ with her captor, reading from the Bible and Rick Warren's The Purpose-Drive Life. Smith discussed her faith and the importance of family with Nichols during the seven and a half hour captivity and also showed love towards Nichols by preparing him pancakes for breakfast.

This is a perfect example of what we are to do as Christians. Smith shared her faith with her captor in spite of any fear she had for her life. She lived according to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 10:28: "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." She also exemplified what Jesus prophesied in Luke 10:11-12 Luke 12:11-12 (EDIT by Wolfgang-20 March 2005 A.D.: Corrected Reference and Hyperlink); although Brian Nichols wasn't a ruler or one with legal authority, the Holy Spirit empowered Ashley Smith to tell him about her faith in Jesus Christ, who gives the gift of eternal life.

We don't know if the seeds Ashley Smith planted in Brian Nichols' heart will take root (and produce a faith in Brian Nichols), but she has given us an example to be followed in sharing our faith. Isaiah 55:10-11 (EDIT by Wolfgang-20 March 2005 A.D.: Added Hyperlink), however, promises us that God's word will not return to Him void and that it will succeed in the matter which He sent it. Here's looking forward to Brian Nichols accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior and doing some witnessing of his own as he suffers the consequences of his actions. It won't be the first time God used the Georgia prisons as a place to harvest souls: William Neal Moore (this site appears to be Moore's) came to Christ shortly after his conviction and witnessed to a number of the prisoners serving time with him at the Georgia State Penitentiary.