Like many newly-converted believers, her desire was to serve God in any way possible, but she had one troubling question for which she had no answer: how could she best be used in God’s service? She eventually approached her pastor with the dilemma and said, “I believe God has called me into some sort of ministry; what should I do?” Since he had no idea what might suit her, he replied, “Maybe you should go home and pray about it.” Now, this is Pastoring 101—if you don’t know the answer, suggest prayer!
After returning home, she followed her pastor’s advice, and sensed that God wanted her to do something to reach students who attended a nearby university. Thinking of how to connect with them, she hurried to the drugstore, bought a pack of 3×5 cards, and wrote on each one: “Are you homesick? Come to my home for tea at 4:00.” Then she added her address.
She took her stack of cards and went around the University of Melbourne campus, putting them in places where students were sure to see them: bulletin boards, dining hall, restroom mirrors, car windshields—you name it. She went back home and began preparing tea. When four o’clock came, no one knocked at the door. Day after day, no one showed up. Instead of becoming discouraged, she continued to pray and prepare tea . . . just in case.
At last, on the fifteenth day, an Indonesian student was at her door, homesick and as eager to talk as she was to listen. Excitedly she served tea and gave him a listening ear as he intently told his story.
When he returned to campus, he told all his friends, “Hey, you won’t believe it! I met a lady that’s just like my grandmother.” The young man’s visit was the beginning of other students going to her home at four o’clock for tea. Soon her house was filled with college kids eager to talk. What started as a simple God-given desire to minister to lost souls led to ten years of one-on-one ministry for a woman who sought God’s direction in her service for Him.
When she died there were no less than seventy pallbearers, all of whom were Indonesian, Malaysian, Indian, and other international students who had come to her home for tea and conversation—and had found Jesus Christ.
Imagine that!
Here’s the bottomline–Those who truly desire to serve God will find a way to do it. They focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t do. They think about their liberties rather than their limitations. Their compassion for others causes them to be creative. They see the value of “little things” and are willing to do what others won’t. They have a will and they find a way!
