Two Hearts Changed
By Pastor Isah Young
Two lay pastors on their way to share the gospel message in North Vietnam stopped at a convenience store to purchase some water. The shop keeper was pale and thin. He barely moved and when they greeted him he did not even reply. The shopkeeper’s wife sold them the water, and before the two pastors continued on their journey they decided to leave a set of five DVDS for the shopkeeper and his wife to watch. The DVDs were entitled “God and Sinners,” “Food and Illness,” “Kill Worrying,” “Happy Family,” and “The Power of the Bible.”
One month later the pastors again visited the shop. There was a total transformation in the appearance of the shopkeeper. His face was happy and radiant, and there was energy in all of his steps. Rejoicing, the shopkeeper and his wife immediately invited the two pastors in for a meal.
While they were eating, the shopkeeper told about his transformation. He said, “My wife and I already watched all of the DVDs you gave us. We are both believers in Jesus now. Last month when you met me I was so sick. The doctor discovered that I had hepatitis in the last stage because I drank so much and did not eat according to God’s laws. After watching the DVD I prayed to God to heal me. Then I went to the hospital and the doctors checked and declared that I was healed. I immediately came home and told my wife, ‘Praise the Lord! A supreme God exists!’”
He continued on, "My family prays to Jesus everyday now and eats according to God's Word. We do not worship at the family altar or offer sacrifices to spirits anymore. Also, my wife and I used to fight and argue everyday, but now we love each other so much. It is just like a statement I memorized from one of the DVDs: ‘A poor thatched cottage, all the beams are loosened; Jesus entered, will become heaven.’ When you saw me last time, I was so sick. I did not want to talk to anyone. I am different now: healthy, happy and friendly to everyone.”
The secret of the transformation, according to the shopkeeper, is God’s Word. “I love God’s Word. Every sentence of it which I hear from the pastor I write down and stick on the wall to read everyday. I also heard him say that many people have a Bible but never read it. I feel sorry for these people. I would like to have a Bible so that my wife and I can read it everyday.”
The two lay pastors rejoiced over the transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit and immediately gave the couple their own bibles and told them how to tune in to the Peace and Happiness radio broadcast. Now more people in this village are interested in learning about the gospel and the two lay pastors hold a regular Bible study there to share God’s message that brings new life.