Author and Illusionist, Penn Jillette, the speaking half of the world-famous Emmy Award­-winning magic duo Penn & Teller, is also an outspoken atheist. But believe it or not, a few years ago he posted a YouTube video exhorting Christians to share their faith. His video was in response to receiving a Bible.

Penn & Teller headline their own show in Las Vegas in a theater named after the duo. Although their shows are marked by foul language and shocking illusions, they are always entertaining. After one of their performances, Jillette was signing autographs when he noticed a large man standing to the side of the crowd. When the man walked up to Jillette, he shared a number of very kind and encouraging compliments and then handed him a New Testament saying, "I'm a businessman. I'm sane. I'm not crazy…"

Although Jillette was raised in the church, he has been a committed atheist for almost 50 years. He has even written a few books about it. But this man so touched him with kindness and generosity, that he turned to YouTube to share the following thoughts.

"If you believe that there's a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, and atheists who think that people shouldn't proselytize—'Just leave me alone, keep your religion to yourself.'—How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it and that truck was bearing down on you, there's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

We could not agree more. This is why we do our "GO Saturday" outreach right after the Men's Breakfast on the first Saturday of every month. Just like the interaction with the Gideons New Testament, we always have a stack of Christianity 101 invitations, GIFT tracts, and the Gospel of John, just to give away as our free gift to everyone we connect with.

Please pray for Penn Jillette and please pray for everyone we will encounter during our "GO Saturday" outreaches. But please consider joining us. We usually use our "Guardians of the Gospel" meetings on Sunday nights to prepare to share. And even though it is a Student Ministry, all are welcome. But above all else, please pray for us…

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:2-6)

Here is the whole video testimony from Penn Jillette in early 2009.