I heard this story from one of the two Sunday School Teachers mentioned below during a half-time devotional at an Upward basketball game. It inspired me so much that I felt I had to share it with as many people as possible. I contacted the man who gave the devotional and asked him to email me the story. I have posted it here so you can read it just as I heard it. Enjoy...God Bless...
FAITH in Action
Two Sunday School Teachers from Northwest Arkansas went to Daytona Beach, Florida for an evangelism training conference. To save money, they took taxis to and from the airport and shared a ride during the week with a friend from Tennessee. On the last evening in Daytona Beach, they were grabbing a late night snack from a convenience store when they spotted a taxi driver waiting for her next call at the same store. One of the Sunday School Teachers saw that she was reading a book by a Christian author that he recognized. Knowing that they would need a very early ride to the airport the next morning, he asked the taxi driver what she thought of the book. Her description of the book and what it meant to her spiritually quickly let him know that she was a fellow believer in Jesus. He asked her if she would help them arrange their morning taxi ride. She seemed to take great joy in calling in the reservation. She even expressed her disappointment that she would not be on duty to handle it herself BUT was sure the Lord would take care of them.
The next morning, the taxi arrived early. A lady was already in the front seat with a man driving. After the men were in the taxi and headed for the airport, the male driver introduced the lady in the front seat as his wife. She told the passengers that it would be her first morning back driving a cab in six years. She had been raising their two daughters who seemed to be doing well enough in school for her to resume driving to supplement the family income. She was about to start driving so her husband could go home, get the girls off to school, and get some sleep. Their 19-year-old daughter was at home with the younger girls.
They asked the men why they were in town. One of the men, from Arkansas, explained that they were attending a FAITH Institute at the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. He asked if they had ever heard of FAITH or the First Baptist Church. They said they had not but that they had been talking about taking their children to church because they had been asking questions about God. The Sunday School Teacher explained that they were being trained by the First Baptist Church to take back ideas for strengthening their FAITH program back in Arkansas. He quickly told the couple, "it works like this." Then he asked them what they understood it took for a person to go to Heaven. When they both said they did not know for sure, he proceeded to explain to them how the Bible answered the question using the FAITH method and eight Bible verses he had committed to memory.
By the time they were pulling into the drop-off lane at the airport, the driver and his wife both said they wanted to have forgiveness of their sins and assurance of a home in Heaven when they die. The two Arkansans and the couple from Florida then joined hands as one of the Sunday School Teachers led them in a prayer in which they asked Jesus Christ to come into their hearts.
Now before you wonder whether the couple meant it, whether they changed, whether any follow up took place, or whatever questions you may have about this encounter, know that this is an extreme oversimplification of the whole process that unfolded over 12 hours. The First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach has been in touch with the family. So, there will be more to the story. But from what you have read here, there is already a lesson to consider in this story.
What is the probability that THESE two Arkansans, trained in how to explain the Gospel of salvation in a natural and conversational process, would have a Christian taxi driver pray for them as she arranged their ride the next morning? What is the probability that they would be picked up by a husband and wife team who had not worked together before because the woman had not driven a cab in six years? What is the probability that the length of the ride would be roughly the length of time it takes for the men to explain the Gospel? What is the probability that these parents had been thinking about doing SOMETHING spiritual – like going to church because their children had been asking them questions about God that they could not answer? Forget the math involved because in God's math it was a sure thing. He arranged this divine appointment for the sake of a family; for three daughters; for the encouragement of two sleepy, early-morning travelers; and perhaps for YOUR encouragement. Are you looking for divine appointments God has out there for you.
Yours/His,
Minister of Education and Family Life
First Baptist Church of Centerton, Arkansas
HE IS ABLE
Ephesians 3:20-21
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