THE REST OF THE STORY

 

     I often as a young person listened to Paul Harvey who had a radio feature called, “The rest of the story.”  It was a human-interest feature talking about famous and not so famous people that gave hope and inspiration.  Well, I have one of those stories for you today.

     This is a story about a missionary that went to Africa with the best intentions.  From the earliest moments of his life this man had visions and intentions of being a missionary.  After schooling and marriage this man was excited about the prospect of fulfilling a lifelong ambition of going to Africa to reach the gospel or good news of Jesus Christ.  He had been inspired by the exploits of David Livingston and other famous explorers and missionaries who penetrated the so-called dark continent. 

     He boarded a ship with his wife and young daughter.  They arrived at their destination and began to work with the people of the area.  Things however did not go as planned.  His vision of opening a hospital and mission station with hundreds of African converts did not happen.  He worked for a period of a couple of years and his only convert was a twelve-year-old boy. 

     Tragedy than struck.  His beloved wife and partner contracted malaria.  Slowly he saw his wife perishing before his eyes.  Being away from hospitals and doctors he tried the best he could to administer medical help but to no avail.  His wife passed into eternity.  With her gone and a young daughter to care for and no visible results from his evangelistic efforts he became despondent.  It was then he made a critical decision.  He decided to return to his native country.  His heart was broken and instead of turning to God he turned away from God.

     Now this is where the story gets interesting.  Before his wife had passed away, she made him promise to take his daughter to church.  He told the sister of his wife about this promise and his intention not to keep it because he had become an agnostic.  The sister than took on the responsibility of making sure the little girl went to church.  The little girl grew up into a vibrant Christian.  Her father never discouraged or encouraged her in her faith.  He remained in his melancholic state during her growing up years. 

     One day her church was having a mission’s convention.  Delegates from several countries of Africa were in attendance.  She struck up a conversation with a man from the country in which her father had served.  At the time of the conversation, she was wearing a nametag with her last name.  The man recognized the name and asked if she was related to a man who had that last name.  She said yes, it was her father.  He began to cry and laugh at the same time.  He told her the story of how her father had won him to the Lord at the age of twelve.  He had started some 700 churches and won thousands to Christ.  They laughed and cried together. 

     The young lady invited the man to meet her father.  When her dad met the man, heard the story, he was overwhelmed.  His mission had not been a failure but a success.  The result was the agnostic father came back to the Lord and at the invitation of the man from that country in which he served he travelled to see the results.  He had the privilege of preaching to thousands of African Christians and seeing the fruit of his so-called fail mission.  Simple lesson never call something you do for God a failure if you don’t see immediate results.  God is always working even if you don’t see it.