Too busy to go to church

This was my first experience of telling the Creation story in 2004.

I chose a busy photo developing shop for my first attempt – a decision that, looking back, may not have been wise. I didn’t do a particularly good job with the story. And a constant flow of customers meant numerous interruptions. What astounded me was the response of the hearer. She loved the story and wanted to hear more. Suddenly I was no longer having to start gospel conversations from scratch. Instead people were asking me to tell them about the Bible. The adventure of a lifetime had started.

When I met the woman in the photo developing shop, it was easy to ask if she would listen to a story. The subsequent visits were also easier because she naturally asked me for the next one in the series. And if someone doesn’t ask, we can simply say, “May I tell you the next story in the set?” This is far easier than spending ages praying for a natural opening to start a gospel conversation.

(CD, adapted from “Telling the gospel through story”)

In November 2012, I met this lady on the side of the street. I was amazed to discover that nine years later she still remembered the stories and that she’d often thought about them. As we talked it seemed obvious that this lady has begun to follow Jesus whom she met through the stories.