DARIEN, Ga. (BNc) — In his newsletter to supporters mailed July 30, evangelist Marty Broome wrote the following story from the South Georgia coast. Thanks to Richard Mansel for sharing it online.
“I am weak, but Thou are strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long,
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.”
Just the words to a favorite hymn, but sometimes a song can say more than we can ever verbalize. Everyone who knows me, knows that I’m a positive person, or at least I try to be.
But if I’m honest, working in the mission field can be a little discouraging from time to time. I was going through one of those times just a couple of weeks ago when Sunday morning rolled around.
My lessons were prepared for Sunday and Bible class began. Our numbers were down — way down, and as I walked into the pulpit to begin the sermon, a total of five people (including myself) were in the auditorium. We usually have around 25-30. I kept thinking more folks would come in. Maybe they were running late. But at least we did have a visitor from the community.
But I must confess: at that moment I was weak. Have you ever felt that way? You start to question yourself and your message. I think that if we are honest, we have all been there.
As I got into my lesson, I began to feel better. You have to remember that the preacher in the pulpit isn’t just talking to the congregation, he’s talking to himself, too. That morning I was definitely talking to myself.
As the sermon was ending, my mind was on our visitor, praying that I could get a chance to talk to her and set up a Bible study. About that time she stepped out into the aisle and came down front. I felt my strength return with every step she took!
She was searching for the truth and had been told by her mother that, if she wanted to hear the Bible and only the Bible taught, she should find the church of Christ!
We studied that afternoon, and she returned that night for worship, and I’m proud to say that we have a new sister in Christ.
How quickly God can take an ordinary, maybe even less than ordinary day, and turn it into a blessing! And the blessing didn’t stop there. Our new sister has not missed a service since then.
She returned that Sunday night and that next week she came to Bible study and worship with four of her five boys. This past Sunday they all returned again. However, this time she brought her sister and her two children.
“I am weak, but thou art strong.”
Reaction?