THE THIRD SERVICE STATION

I had just finished working and was driving home.

 I was coming up to a service station and wanted to pull in and fill up, but God impressed me to continue  on.  I came to another service station and this time I actually put my indicator and brake on to turn in. Once again the Lord moved me on. Then I came to the third service station and this was the one that God wanted me to stop at.

 I filled up the tank and then the Lord impressed me to check the tyres. Right there near the air hose was a man trying to start his van. I said to him, “Do you need a hand there mate?” As he stepped out I could see that it was my friend Malcolm. (At that time he was attending the Ferntree Gully SDA church.) I hadn’t seen him for about three or four years. I couldn’t believe it because at that time they lived over in Dixon’s Creek which is miles away.

 Anyway I got out my jumper leads and I tried to help. We weren’t getting anywhere and so I said to him, “How about we pray and ask God to help us?” He didn’t respond and I thought he didn’t hear me and so I repeated, “Hey Malcolm, let’s pray and ask God to help us.” Once again he didn’t respond and this time I knew that there was something very very wrong.

 We weren’t having much success with the van and so he said that he’ll get in contact with his brother-in-law and he’ll come down and get it started.

 I wanted to get him to open up and so I said to him, “O.K. Hope you get it going. See you at camp.” He replied, “ I don’t think so. You’ll probably see Cathy there though.”

 I said, “What do you mean? You’re not coming to camp?”  “Well I’ve lost my dad and I’ve had a few problems.” Then I said, “But that’s the time we need to draw closer to God, not turn away.” I continued, “It doesn’t matter how far you go, God still loves you very very much and He proved it by giving Jesus to die for you.”

 I told him how it wasn’t by chance that we met that evening and asked him the question, “Malcolm, if you were to die today, would you be certain that when Jesus

comes you’ll be raised to eternal life?” He responded that he wasn’t sure. Then I said, “Malcolm, you can be sure and I quoted 1 John 5: 13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life……”

I continued, “Do you know that you could drive home tonight and not make it back to your wife and children, and if you don’t know Jesus as your Saviour you may not make it? There is no life eternal outside of Jesus Christ.”
 By this time he was really thinking hard. I then told him the story of an elderly man that finally surrended his life to Jesus, and how it brought peace to his life and the life of his wife.

 He was moved by the story. I said to him, “Do you know how much pain you’ve caused your wife, and how many times your wife has probably cried on her own, praying that you would give your life back to God and come back to church?” I said, “Malcolm, how about you accept Jesus back into your life tonight?” and praise our heavenly God that he agreed to do so.

 We went into his van and had a prayer and right there in his van he gave his life back to God.  A month later I rang Cathy and asked about Malcolm. She was so happy at what had happened and said that he has been back at church ever since.

 That’s not the end of the story. Malcolm has been witnessing to his two sisters and two nieces and as a result all four have stepped into the water of baptism.

 I had the opportunity to attend the baptism. While seated just before the service, Cathy turned to me and said, “This is the result of that evening at that third service station.”

-by Joe Paola, Southern area.

ALF HATES RELIGION

Vivienne Fowler, our new Literature Evangelist in the Eastern area and myself visited Alf and Lori, a young couple with a two-year-old child from North Kempsey.

As we showed them the children’s books, Alf left the room, and Lori told us that he hates religion. Alf came back a few minutes later and Lori said again, “Alf hates religion!” Alf then said, “Yes, I do hate religion. I was raised by my grandmother who took me to a Seventh-day Adventist church when I was young and as soon as I was old enough, I took off!”

Lori said, “I have a Bible though and I read it, but Alf won’t even pick it up!” Alf replied, “I do sometimes.” A shocked Lori said, “Well, I don’t see you!” Apparently, Alf who says he hates religion reads Lori’s Bible when she’s not around. At this instance Alf spotted the Stampley Bible and grabbed it, he looked through it and said, “I like this!” Lori couldn’t believe what she just heard, she was shocked!

Vivienne called for the order with the words, “Can you see how this beautiful set would be a blessing in your home?” Lori says, “I like them, but it’s up to Alf.” She looked at Alf who nodded his approval. Lori was so suprised at Alf’s response and of course very happy!

As Vivienne wrote up the $885 order, a friend, Rachel arrived with her two pre-school children. Vivienne briefly showed her the Bible which Rachel loved, and she too ordered the entire set. Praise the Lord!

“There are many places in which the voice of the minister cannot be heard, places which can be reached only by our publications.” Colporteur Ministry, page 4.

-by John Brereton, Eastern Area Manager.

NICKY

February last year I visited Nicole, she was not happy to see the Bible or any Christian material which she certainly let me know in no uncertain terms. She even mentioned how she didn’t believe in “God”, but she believed in goddesses.

At the end of my visit she decided to invest in the Family Medical Care set and some of the children’s volumes. She paid faithfully and this week I was happy to deliver her last lot of books.

Nicky was very happy to see me and requested to see the Bible which I showed her on my previous visit, and other Christian books. I was so surprised I asked her, “how come you are so interested in the Bible now?” She said that her life has changed with lots of challenging situations and she has started praying to God, and wanted to have a Bible big enough so she could read easily and if it had some studies in it, it would be even better.

I praised God! also I reminded Nicky of my first visit when she almost kicked me out of her home and it was only my prayer to God that allowed me to remain because He gave me the right words to tell her.

She responded by saying, “The truth is, that even then I believed that there is a God, but I didn’t like Bible bashers and I hated it when people preach to me, so I was just nasty so you wouldn’t try.”

I told her that last year I sent that story to our regular publication (ANZLE) and how I will send this story again to be published, to give God the glory for giving her the desire to study His word and for being open about it with me. I asked if I could even mention her name and she said, “Yes, please do that and I look forward to reading it.”

Nicky then ordered the full balance of the Family Heritage Library and can hardly wait to receive her Bible first!

Praise the Lord! Never be discouraged by the appearance of evil, it may not be as bad as it seems, it may be just to test your true character.

-by Noemi Cummings, Southern area.

LIVES CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Andrew (Johnson) called on Florence and Deanna in Tamworth in July 2000. He found out that they had an old set of The Bible Stories minus a number ten, which they dearly loved. Florence is the great Aunt of Deanna who had been given custody of her as a baby. However, one of her daughters had wanted the Bible Story set that Deanna had her eyes on. So the solution was to order the missing volume plus another set including the Bible Reference Library. At one stage Deanne wanted one of our range so badly that she raided her money box and ended up with $180.00 in coins which paid for her books with Andrew.

They had been studying and were baptised by the Mormons, however, they still wanted to know more than what they had learnt so far. So we offered them some of our videos and we had prayer with them. We introduced them to a church member who followed them up with videos.

After watching a few videos they moved to Gunnedah where we got Mrs Beth McMurtry to get in touch with them. She followed through with studies and just before the baptism she found out that Florence was Graham Maffat’s sister whom he hadn’t been in contact with for over 17 years. It was his delight to travel up from the coast to be present at their reunion and Florence and Deanna’s baptism. So we can praise the Lord that we could be used to reunite and restore lost family members to each other, creating a greater family in God.

Deanna is still only 19 years old and up until her baptism was very shy, but one of the gifts she has been given is a new confidence in life and has a vibrant enthusiastic outlook on life now. Only our loving Father can change lives.

-by Andrew & Sue Johnson, Eastern area.

TWO WRONGS CAN SOMETIMES MAKE A RIGHT!

It had been a weary afternoon and buyers were hard to find. Deciding to have an early day I turned the car around and drove towards home at a leisurely pace, while keeping an eye out for young children.

Suddenly, I realised I had taken a wrong turn. No worries, I thought, I’ll take the next road. A couple of minutes later I realised I had taken another wrong turn.

Then just as I was looking for a turning place, I spotted it!! It was a run-down house with overgrown lawns and hedges, gate fallen off the hinges and a couple of broken toys.

So I met Mele. She has three small children and said she was just wondering where she could find some good character buidling books to read to them.

She bought most of the children’s books. Praise the Lord for His guidance.

-by Harold Dassler, New Zealand area.