#Iwitness: One Stone, Many Birds

by Paul Trinh

The visitor responded, “Usually I go to church on Saturdays.” Without asking which church he used to attend, I asked, “Which story in the Bible do you like best?” He turned to ask his wife. “Many,” she responded.

SPOTTING A VISITOR AFTER CHURCH one Sunday morning, I greeted him and his wife. I spoke to him, “I like the story the pastor talked about: Jesus turned water into wine.”  

The visitor responded, “Usually I go to church on Saturdays.” Without asking which church he used to attend, I asked, “Which story in the Bible do you like best?” He turned to ask his wife. “Many,” she responded.

“I like this story,” I said. Then, I proceeded to tell him my favorite story, Lord, Save Me: 

One evening, a teacher told his students, “Sail to the other side of the lake.” That night, the wind was blowing powerfully against the boat. Those students had to fight the heavy waves.

After midnight, the teacher walked on the water toward his students. When they saw someone coming on the water, they were afraid and cried out, “Ghost! Ghost!” Immediately the teacher comforted them, “Don’t be afraid! Take courage. I am here.” Recognizing the teacher’s voice, the students calmed down. 

Then, one student called out, “Lord, if it is you, let me walk on the water to you.” The teacher told him, “Come!” So that student got out of the boat. He walked on the water toward his teacher. Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and the student was terrified. He began to sink into the water and cried out to the teacher, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, the teacher Lord Jesus grasped his hand and said, “O man of little faith! Why did you doubt?”  

The teacher Lord Jesus took the student back into the boat. As soon as they got inside the boat, the strong wind stopped. When the other students saw what had happened, they knelt down and worshiped the Lord Jesus, “Truly you are God!” (Matt.14:22-33)

* * * *

On another occasion, at a church lunch I sat down with a visitor and asked her, “Have you ever attended church or read the Bible?” She said no, so I replied, “I could tell you my favorite Bible passage.” She looked at me attentively and I began telling her the story Lord, Save Me! 

In the middle of the story, someone stopped by to greet this visitor. Not knowing how to resume my story, I kept silent. Nevertheless, the visitor inquired, “What’s next in the story?” Since she longed to hear the end of the story, I continued.

* * * *

One evening after dinner, my wife and I were chatting with our waitress. I told the waitress, “I recall a good story.” As she gazed at me, I realized that was a divine appointment. So I told her the story Lord, Save Me! She listened attentively.

* * * *

During conversation at a store, a salesman said to me, “I will go to the army in a few days.”

“How long will you be gone?” I asked. “About three months,” he replied. “Let me introduce my teacher to you. He can help you whenever you need him,” I boldly responded. Then, I told him the story Lord, Save Me! He listened.

* * * *

A young lady invited my wife and I to visit her grandmother in the hospital. We found out the patient was in a coma. When the oldest son came to the bedside to talk to his mother, I grasped the opportunity to ask him, “Could you do me a favor?” “Yes,” he answered.

“I would like to tell your mother a story, but she is still sleeping. Could I tell you the story? When your mother is awake, please kindly retell the story to her,” I begged.

He nodded. Then, I proceeded to tell him Lord, Save Me! He listened. I didn’t know if the oldest son told his mother the story. He, however, heard the story himself. I committed the result to the Lord.

* * * *

My wife and I visited a young couple with the intention of witnessing about Jesus. After sitting down in their living room, his wife and my wife began talking. They kept talking with one another as I prayed silently for an occasion to share the gospel. Awhile later, the young man said, “Only the ladies talk!” 

My wife responded, “Yes, we ladies have talked too much. Let my husband talk. He has a story to tell.” So I told them the story Lord, Save Me! They listened.

I concluded, “Whenever you need help, you may call this teacher Jesus for help. Even with the short prayer Lord, save me! he will help you.” 

* * * *

During a short-term mission trip, a Dutch believer asked me, “Would you please help my father trust in the Lord? He is sick at home.” “I don’t speak Dutch,” I replied.

“My father speaks some Spanish. You may talk to him in Spanish,” he responded.

I told myself, My Spanish is not good enough to witness. But, being on a mission trip, am I not supposed to do missions? With trembling, I visited the sick, elderly Dutch by his bed. In broken Spanish, I told him the story Lord, Save Me! Whenever my Spanish stumbled, the elderly Dutch would supply the appropriate words for me. Eventually, the whole story was completed.

“Would you like to accept Jesus into your life?” I asked him. “Yes,” he nodded.

“You can pray the same prayer, Lord, save me!” I said.

He repeated after me, “Lord, save me! Amen.” My heart was overjoyed!

* * * *

I am grateful to the Lord that I could use the same story in different situations to witness. This repeated story has changed my worldview. When I am afraid, Jesus’ words remind me, “Don’t be afraid! Take courage. I am here.” When I face danger or temptation, I pray as Peter, “Lord, save me!” It works.

. . . .

Paul Trinh, a Bible storyteller and DMiss candidate, previously served as church planter, pastor, and missionary. He now lives with his wife in central Texas.

EMQ, Vol. 52, No. 1. Copyright  © 2016 Billy Graham Center for Evangelism.  All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMQ editors.

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