As Christians, we often never find out what happens to the people with whom we share our faith. If they are not an ongoing part of our life, we may never see them again. This is especially true when we distribute material but don’t get a chance to have a conversation.
This summer, I went on a Jesus Film Mission Trip and had the opportunity to help distribute free Bibles and DVDs to busy shoppers in London. I was discouraged in not being able to have spiritual conversations with many of those who took the gifts I was handing out. Until I heard this story …
Every day Sada*, a Middle Easterner residing in London, would walk by the Jesus Film workers and take one of the films and a New Testament. Then, as soon as she was out of sight, she would toss it in the garbage. It was her small way of helping her people avoid the distraction of Christianity.
All summer the Jesus Film workers were there in London. Every day Sada took a copy. Near the end of summer, she forgot to discard it and found it in her bags when she got home. She tossed it up in her closet and forgot about it.
For nine years!
Soon after Sada graduated from medical school, she discovered the Bible and the DVD in her closet and became curious. She opened the package and watched the film. Then she began reading the Scriptures. She eventually received Christ into her heart.
Sada is now a doctor and an influential leader in her community in the U.K. She shares her faith regularly.
God’s timing is perfect. Had Sada received Christ nine years earlier, before college, she says her parents would have cut her off financially, disowned her and a degree would have been impossible. Her chance of being a doctor influencing other community leaders would never have materialized.
We may share the gospel dozens of times with a friend. We may give away hundreds of Bibles or other materials. We may pray for years for the salvation of a loved one and never see evidence of a change.
But be encouraged; God is at work and He knows the perfect time to draw people to Himself.
*Sada’s name has been changed
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The goal of Jesus Film Project is to help share Jesus with everyone in his or her own heart language using media tools and movement building strategies. Jesus Film Project is committed to the vision of the Great Commission as laid out by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (English Standard Version).
Written for Jesus Film Project by Tez Brooks. Award-winning author and screenwriter Tez Brooks, has a passion for seeing God use film to help transform lives. He and his wife Christine, have been full-time missionaries with Jesus Film Project for over 15 years, and he currently serves in the Communications Dept. Some of his work can be found in publications of Focus on the Family, CBN.com, The Upper Room, Worldwide Challenge and more. A huge movie buff, Tez also loves his four children, hiking, pizza and the color orange. When he can find a way to combine all of those, all the better.