Impact Stories

Here's a story Equipping Evangelist tells about a trip home from Honduras:

On a plane returning home from a trip, my seatmate welcomed me with a big smile and talked non-stop. I prayed for an opening to share the gospel. He made it clear he was a devout Muslim. He owned an international textile business with branches in Honduras, Pakistan, Hong Kong and other places. At one point I asked, “Have you ever heard any of the parables of Jesus?” He asked what I meant. “Jesus crafted these amazing stories called parables where he used ordinary situations in life to explain spiritual truths. Would you like to hear one?” He did.

Without taking out my Bible, I told him the parable of the laborers in the vineyard from Matthew 20. I selected this one both because I knew it well but also because I hoped the man would relate to the owner of the vineyard who has to hire and pay his laborers. After telling the parable, I explained how in the kingdom of Jesus this whole idea we have on earth of merit doesn’t exist. Instead, Jesus’ kingdom is based upon grace. I could have read the story to him and he would not have objected. But telling him the story was more personal and powerful. It communicated to him that the story was important enough to me that I knew it by heart.