The Sunday School Teacher Who Walked Into a Shoe Store

On a spring afternoon in 1855, Edward Kimball paced the sidewalk outside Holton's Shoe Store in Boston, nearly talking himself out of going inside. He was just a Sunday school teacher — nobody important. But one of his students, a rough-mannered seventeen-year-old named Dwight, had been showing up to class week after week, and Kimball felt compelled to speak with him directly about Jesus Christ.

Kimball later admitted he almost walked past the door twice. He felt foolish. What could he possibly say that would matter? But he pushed through his hesitation, found young Dwight Moody in the back wrapping shoes, and with simple, stumbling words told him about the love of the Savior.

That awkward conversation changed the trajectory of modern evangelism. Moody went on to preach to over one hundred million people across two continents, founded schools and churches, and sparked revivals that shaped an entire generation of believers.

Kimball did exactly what Andrew did in John's Gospel. After encountering Jesus, Andrew's first instinct was to find his brother Simon Peter and say, "We have found the Messiah." He didn't deliver a polished sermon. He didn't wait until he had all the answers. He simply brought someone to Jesus.

Most of us will never preach to millions. But every one of us can be an Edward Kimball — ordinary, uncertain, and willing to walk through the door anyway, carrying nothing but an invitation: "Come and see."