Missionary work is like seed planting. You plant and wait. Some crops produce much fruit and some never even grow. Truck painting was never like that. I would paint a couple hundred truck each day in my GM heyday and by the end of the day there were, surprise, 200 trucks in the yard. I got used to that mentality. Paint two hundred and you get two hundred. Missionary seed planting is not at all like that, plant two hundred spiritual seeds and you might get two, or none. Sunday was a rare occasion for me. I was able to plant and see a harvest in the same day. Talk about a farmer's dream (or a missionary's dream too for that matter).
We were in Caseville, Michigan last Sunday, ever been there? A Michigander would look at his or her left hand and point to the left point at the top of the thumbnail and say, "That's where Caseville is." Caseville is a tiny town that often burgeons with summer tourists and is virtually abandoned in the winter. One restaurateur told me, "You have to reap while the harvest is here!"
Calvary Baptist Church of Caseville is a part of this tiny berg. Mike and Cherrise (I'm not sure of the spelling her name) Goforth have been in this town since 1995. They are pluggers. By that I mean they are faithful at what they do. They minister the Word and serve the community. Pastor Mike told me last Sunday, "I used to think that a successful church would be have at least 200 members. I don't think that anymore." He said this with a slight chuckle in his voice as he is realizing that success is being faithful to what God has called you to do no matter the number of members in your church. Mike also serves on the volunteer fire department, he is a soccer coach, a husband, dad and pastor. His plate is full.
During "handshake time" last Sunday morning Mike came to me and said, "Mike there are unsaved here this morning." He said this because he has a burden for the lost. I taught in Sunday School and brought the message of the morning. I try and include the Gospel in every message I preach. I had learned that there was a lady this particular morning who had just gone through a heart catheterization, two stints had been placed near her heart. Her son Mike was with her. He is a student at Pensacola Christian College; he is studying for the ministry. His mom is unsaved.
Nearing the end of my message is said something that I usually say that help people to think about their future. I said, "If you were to die today are you sure that you'd go to heaven?" Mom raised her hand indicating that she was not sure. After the service I said, "I noticed that you raised your hand...." I shared just a minute with her but she became faint and had to leave.
I felt so bad. I had wanted to share more of God's plan for her life but it just didn't work out that way. She promised me that she was going to be back in the evening service to talk to pastor Goforth. My skepticism didn't allow her a chance to be back.
However, Mrs. Franc did came back that night and DID talk to pastor Mike. I got a note from her son Mike (there are a lot of Mike's in this story aren't there?) just this morning he said:
"It was great meeting you ... i have some great news, that night after church my mom talked to Pastor Mike and accepted Christ. i would like to thank you for what you have done. i know the Lord ultimately is the one who does all the work, but you planted the seed so well so my mom could understand. please continue to pray for my mom that she will grow in the Lord and that my dad will come to Christ as well."
Thrilling being able to see a harvest so soon after the planting yet all the time realizing that God is the True Gardener with perfect timing!
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