Seeds to Read

“And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.” Hebrews 10:11-13, NASB.

Derek* had guided many volunteer teams into the area where his unreached people group live. His strategy is always the same. Pray to the LORD that they meet people of peace, and then share the Gospel. When they arrived at a park late one afternoon Derek and the volunteers briefly prayed, and then started to walk. As they walked a homeless man approached them, and asked if he could walk along with them. Derek welcomed the man to join them, and then he smiled at one of the volunteers. God had answered their prayers once again!

The man’s name was Norman. As they walked they discussed issues of life and things quickly turned to spiritual matters. Derek translated as one of the volunteers shared his personal testimony. He then shared the Gospel. After explaining the Gospel, Derek asked Norman if he was ready to receive Christ’s offer of salvation. Norman said he needed more time to think.

The team gave the man a Gospel tract that explained the Good News through several sacrifice stories from the Old Testament. Derek spent some time explaining the pictures, as he doubted that this homeless man knew how to read. After again explaining the Gospel, Derek repeated his invitation for Norman to follow Jesus. This time he agreed. They prayed together, and then Derek gave Norman the Gospel of Luke and another tract. He asked to meet up again the next morning. Norman gladly agreed.

Derek knew that this was God’s prepared person. This homeless man had spent over an hour with a group of foreigners and had not asked for money, not even once. In this Third World country, that is unheard of. Derek still had his doubts about the man being able to read. He knew that even if Norman couldn’t read he’d take the literature to keep from “loosing face” in front of his new foreign friends. Derek wondered if he’d really show up the next morning.

The next morning Derek didn’t have to wonder for long. Norman was there eagerly waiting for their arrival. He had many questions. “I’ve read all the booklets you gave me yesterday, and I need to know where to go from here?” said Norman. Derek was wrong about Norman’s ability to read. The questions that he asked showed that he had indeed read the entire Gospel of Luke and the two Gospel tracts! Norman and the volunteers had a wonderful time of sharing together. Derek told Norman that there were other believers from his background in the area that he could join to continue learning about being a follower.

As they parted, Derek thanked God for the privilege of sowing and harvesting. He thanked God for being faithful to reveal where He was working in response to simple prayers of faith and availability from His children.

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

Norman will continue to grow in grace and knowledge, and that God will use him to lead many others to saving faith.

Volunteer teams will continue to make the sacrifice of time and resources to come and join Derek in God’s harvest field.

Derek will remember Norman, and not lose heart with all the other people who reject the Gospel.

More groups of believers will be formed among Norman’s people group.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.