The Assignment (Chick Publications)
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The Assignment is a religious tract produced by Chick Publications.
The tract tells of the battle between Heaven and Hell for a lost soul.
Three unnamed angels have received news that Charles Bishop is to die at 3:10 AM on November 22 of a massive coronary (2 1/2 weeks hence). In planning strategy, the angels determine that two people have the potential to reach Bishop: Tim Dobbs (Bishop's assistant at work) and Cathy Hillman (a teenager who is friends with Bishop's daughter, Sandy). Dobbs is considered a weak Christian, while Hillman is considered a strong Christian.
Meanwhile, the news has also reached Hell, where two unnamed demons also realize that Dobbs most likely will pose no threat, while Hillman has the potential to cause trouble.
Dobbs mentions to his wife that he wants to witness to Bishop; she is afraid that Dobbs will lose his job if he tries to evangelize Bishop and quickly gives Dobbs a tongue-lashing. Dobbs falls to pressure and is quickly removed as a possibility.
Hillman, however, poses a more serious threat. The demons attempt to have Hillman distracted by Buz Adams, a stud teenage boy, only to be countered by the angels who expose him as a bully.
On November 21, the demons attempt to use Irving, an insurance salesman, as a distraction; however, a "convenient" flat tire and another person at a phone booth (this being written before the popularity of cell phones) keep the salesman away from Bishop.
Hillman goes over to speak to Bishop's daughter, Sandy, who is washing her hair. She mentions that what she has to share with Sandy is important, and Bishop asks that she share it with him. Hillman explains the need for salvation to Bishop, and urges Bishop not to put it off.
However, Bishop decides to delay a decision, believing he has plenty of time. He does not change his mind between Hillman's visit and his death, and at the end the demons announce "it was a close call – but we got him".
[edit] Hidden Catholic References
Chick is well-known for his opposition to Roman Catholicism. Though this tract does not express Chick's views on the subject, it contains two hidden references to Roman Catholicism:
- The main character is surnamed Bishop (a bishop is the head of a diocese in the Roman Catholic Church).
- The date of Bishop's impending death, November 22, is the date of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Kennedy was, of course, the only Roman Catholic to serve as President of the United States.
