He was probably around 18. His earrings made me think he would not be interested in books about God. I pulled out a copy of Great Controversy anyway, and found out he enjoyed reading about history.
He told me he was going to church with his girlfriend and that they were trying to read their Bibles as well. I showed him a copy of God's Answers to Your Questions (also known as Bible Readings For The Home) and Left Behind Or Sincerely Taken by Louis Torres. They really wanted [the books].
We kept talking and they told me that life seemed to get harder as they tried to do the "right thing" but that they felt that it was worth it. I agreed with them. He told me that recently he felt that God was calling him to the "right path" so I was able to encourage him to continue trusting in God through all the temptations because only through Christ was he going to find salvation.
They ended up taking the Left Behind Or Sincerely Taken because it had a simple format and thanked me for having taken the time to talk with them and reinforce their desire to continue their new walk with God. I felt blessed to have found some seemingly random teenagers who were really searching for God and be able to encourage them with truth to guide them along the way.
-Beverlyn Velasco
I approached the small apartment, praying that God would give me wisdom. The sign tacked on the door told me that they were Christian. The door swung open and I took a step forward. "Hi, my name is Melissie . . ." I said.
My canvass came out of my mouth automatically like it was on cruise control while I prayed that I would have the right words to say. "We're students working on a scholarship. Instead of junk food, we've got something more lasting. I'll let you take a look." I handed her a copy of The Story Book.
"Do you like reading for yourself?" I asked. "I mostly read just my Bible," she replied. "Really? That's awesome, I like it when people tell me that. I like to read my Bible too. What have you been reading lately in it?" "Revelation," she answered. "Awesome book, huh?" She nodded. "We actually have one that has helped thousands to better understand the book of Revelation and it shows how history proves the Bible to be true."
I closed her on The Great Controversy but she told me that she couldn't afford it. She was on disability and she only made $96 a month. She just helped out with some pocket change and I left her with The Passion of Love (the last few chapters of Desire of Ages). I finished off the conversation and headed to the next door.
"She needs The Great Controversy" kept flashing in my head. "God, if you want her to have that book, help one of her neighbors to give an extra donation." I knocked on the next door. "I already have." God reminded me. My hand froze midway in its path to the door, and suddenly I remembered that the lady at the house just before the apartments had given me a donation, even though she hadn't wanted a book.
Immediately I returned to the door and knocked again. "Hi, one of your neighbors gave me an extra donation so I want you to have this." I handed her The Great Controversy. "I've been blessed!" was her exuberant response. "Thank you." "You're welcome. And hey-I know you like to study your Bible. We actually offer free Bible studies.." When she signed up for the personal studies my heart rejoiced inside. I'm so glad that God is there when we need Him for even the small things. Romans 8:28 says, "All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose."
-Melissie Hutchins
When the screen door creaked open, an African-American lady came out onto the porch in her pajamas and called out in a sour voice, "What do you want?!" I thought, "Well, what can I lose?" and walked up the stairs to meet her and tell her about the books. She said that it was basically a miracle that she had heard me knocking on the downstairs doors, because she's a day sleeper!
We talked for a while and she said that even though she had lost her mom, husband, and son to death, she believes that God is the One who heals pain. She also revealed that her best friends are Adventist and that she is convinced that Saturday is the Sabbath and so she observes it. What blew me away was when she said, "What I don't get is why ministers don't tell the truth [about the Sabbath]!" That experience made it all the more obvious to me that we are out there "telling the truth."
-Kendra Cronk
Nearing the close of our work day, as we were just getting past the heat of the day, a spiritual heat took place. I knocked on a door where a young girl answered. I asked for her parents, and she went to go get them.
She came back with a man who had bandages all up his right arm and his body full of tattoos. I felt, well, kind of, well, . . . really intimidated. I shyly showed him The Great Controversy. He immediately started to make conversation on the book and mentioned that he hadn't been to church in a long while. He mentioned that he only had $20 and that he needed it for work.
I asked him if he believed in prayer. "Yes," he answered. Right then and there I offered a word of prayer with his consent, that there would be a way for him to get the book.
Even before I said "amen," his family drove up and went through the front door. He turned to me and said, "This is a test! We will see what happens; this is a test!" He went inside and I waited on his front porch for what seemed like forever.
I prayed harder than I had ever prayed for someone to really see the mighty power of God work. He came back, shook my hand and with a huge smile and grabbed the book. "There is a reason why you were at my door. And there is a reason why this book is in my hands," he said. With what he gave me I was able to leave another book for his daughter too, and he signed up for Bible studies!
-Nelson Ernst
I came to a house where a teenage girl was watering the lawn in a beautiful part of town. Not very comfortable canvassing people my own age, I tried to make friends with her while showing her our books. Her name was Jessica but she didn't seem interested and finally directed me to go talk to Mrs. Melinda who, I later found out, was the lady in charge of the group home there.
As I was about to give up and go talk to Mrs. Melinda I felt impressed to keep talking to Jessica. I showed her a book called God's Answers to Your Questions, and she got quiet and looked away. When she looked back at me, she said "This is really weird. I have been having a lot of questions lately, and I asked God to send someone to talk to me about them." She went on to say that she's in the group home because she's gone to juvenile hall several times, and has been wondering if God really exists. It was obvious to both of us that God had directly sent me to talk to Jessica and leave her the book. I'm hoping to see Jessica in heaven because God answered her prayer through me that day.
-Kendra Cronk