Reading the Gospel lead her to God when I failed

 

Pocket Testament League[1] has had a profound impact on my life.  I work as an assistant director in motion picture production.  In the summer I worked on a job in Mexico with a woman who was very inquisitive about my faith.  As I shared my experience in Mexico with the leaders of a fellowship of believers who work in the same industry as me (CBS Media Fellowship) they told me about a new ministry partnership they were forming with The Pocket Testament League.  The purpose is to encourage believers to 1) read a portion of Gods word daily and 2) pray for opportunities to share His word with others.

 

 I am a geek and I carry the bible on my Palm Pilot so I can read it through out the day as the opportunity rises but I could not give that to anyone.  Well, if God told me to I would.
In the early fall I was given a couple of pocket new testaments as I left for another job, this time in Austin, Texas.  Amazingly God put the same woman and I together on that job too.  This times every conversation we had centered on the person of Jesus Christ.  The woman was arguing all sorts of points with herself and she was always the one instigating the conversation.  After a couple of weeks of trying to convince her of who Jesus is and her need for him I remembered how God had made himself real to me through His Word and I remembered the pocket testament in my suitcase.  I prayed that God would open her heart and mind to see Him in his timing and in a way that she could understand.  A few days later I boldly gave her the book and told her to keep it with her.  I told her I believed one day God was going to give her a desire to open it and her life would change like mine did.  I told her I had nothing to convince her of and that I could not sell her what I believe nor could any other human being.


Three months went by and the job was over.  She kept telling me she still had the book.  We parted ways.  Two weeks after I arrived home she called me to tell me, ‘I have done the first lesson in my Jesus Book.’  She proceeded to tell me that she read the testament on a plane from Austin to New York and invited Jesus into her heart and it was working.
I am still in awe that God would let me be a messenger like that!  I just handed her a book and was willing to listen to her.  The Holy Spirit did the rest.  I am so grateful for the reminder that God does not rely on me to convince others of His presence.  He does require me to be steeped in His word and be willing and obedient to offer an answer for the hope with in me.


I challenge anyone reading this to carry at least one of these in your brief case or car and ask God to make it clear to you who to give it to.  Look to God not those around you whom you think you would like to give it to.  Let Him show you, He will.
K. Pollard
Los Angeles
March 20, 2002


[1] The Pocket Testament League is an organization that encourages people to read the word of God, carry it, and share it with others.  It offers free copies of ‘The Gospel of John.’  To order free Gospels, visit its web page: www.readcarryshare.org