Evangelism Training with Jack Miller—Mary Ann McGuire in Coffin in Franlin Square
Email from Mary Ann Mcquire dated June 24, 2020
"Jack Miller was a man of action. His focus was how to put his faith in action and how to bring others along with him. This hot sunny day reminds me of a similar day Jack led us to share the Gospel in center city Philadelphia during the summer of 1977.
A group of Westminster seminary students and New Life Church folks went to center city to do some street drama and street preaching. I was a new believer, a little bit over one year. We had met and worked on our testimonies and practiced our skits,but not too much, Jack wanted to get to it. His excitement was palpable and contagious.
Four guys in Tuxes and white gloves were silently walking around carrying lumber. The rest of us were slowly marching in a large circle weighed down by our sins chanting, ''Life! Life! We need Life!'' We chanted and the men silently built a coffin. It was noon and a crowd gathered. Jack started preaching. The crowd kept growing. There was movement in the crowd and one part started moving away. Then we could see a man with a large snake wrapping around him going through the crowd. Jack said, ''Quickly, Mary Ann, get in the coffin.'' It was hot, sunny and not a bit of breeze. I didn't mind lying in the coffin, but when Jack told them to put the lid on, I was very scared. They made a big show of nailing the lid on. (In reality they hadn't.) That drew the crowd back. Jack kept preaching and I kept praying. What seemed like a long time to me, but I am sure was just a few minutes, I heard Jack say, "Now, Mary Ann will tell you how she was dead in her sins and Jesus raised her to new life." I jumped up quickly and almost went back down, but I was able to tell my story of how Jesus came to me and taught me of sin, righteousness, and judgement and did indeed breathe new life in me.
That is just one of the many stories of how Dr. Miller was a servant leader.
Mary Ann McGuire
Please feel free to fix up, cut up, or throw out as you feel fit.
Thanks for keeping the work God has done in and through Jack alive."