Story-Teller
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- Feb 22, 2009
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Fisher Of Humans
Nathan loved to eat out and he used this time to put into practice his unique ministry. While Nathan ate, he watched people. Sometimes, if a packed restaurant caused him to wait for a table, Nathan struck up a conversation with some of the others who waited.
Have you eaten here before? Nathan asked on many occasions, whether he had eaten at that particular restaurant or not. This led to more conversation, which Nathan used as he decided his project for the evening.
Almost every night Nathan found a project. Nathan scanned the restaurant and decided whom it would be. To determine the recipient of his act of kindness, Nathan asked himself who looked like they needed help in one way or another, or who made his wait a little more pleasant.
If the restaurant seated him immediately, Nathan found a reason to leave his table, such as a trip to the restroom. On his way he would stop and talk with a customer.
You sure have a pretty baby. Is it a boy or a girl? Nathan asked a young couple to initiate a conversation.
Excuse me, but I see you ordered the Veal Scaloppini. I’m thinking about ordering it, too. Is it any good? Nathan asked.
Nathan did not care whether they liked their entree or not, he just wanted an excuse to talk to someone. Many times Nathan watched people as they ate.
When Nathan felt he knew the identity of his recipient or recipients for the evening, he caught their server’s attention.
Excuse me, but aren’t you waiting on that table over there.
Yes sir. I am.
Well, I want to pick up their tab. Just bring it to me when they finish.
Nathan delighted in seeing his recipients faces when their server told them the good news.
Many times Nathan’s recipients stopped by and thanked him before they left. On these occasions Nathan asked them if they ordered dessert. If they said no, Nathan invited them to stay and enjoy dessert with him.
After taking a few minutes to get to know them better, Nathan asked his party a question.
Why do you think more people don’t attend church? Nathan asked them.
After they answered his question, Nathan inquired as to whether or not they attended church. If they said yes, he asked what they liked about their church.
If they said no, he began to tell them why he liked his church, which led to Nathan sharing Jesus Christ with many people he met.
Nathan did not lead everyone to Christ, and some already had a relationship with Him, but he did lead some of them and he stayed in regular contact with each one of them.
If Nathan left the restaurant before those who received a free meal because of him, he handed the waiter a note to give to the recipient. The note told why he chose to do so.
He told the person if they had questions, wanted to accept Christ, or were looking for a church, they could contact him. The note contained his address, phone number, and e-mail address, so each person could contact Nathan however they wished. Many did contact him, if only to thank him for his generosity, and sometimes this led to a new life for someone.
Not only did Nathan share his generosity with the restaurant’s customers, but with the servers, as well. Instead of a tip, Nathan left a note with his address. He told each server that he had a $25.00 tip for them and asked them to stop by and pick it up.
Some did stop by, but many did not. When a server came to Nathan’s home, he gave them a choice. They could either have $25 on the spot, or they could come back at a specific time the next day and he would double the tip to $50.
Some opted for the bird in the hand. Others came back the next day. When they returned, Nathan told them if they would return again the next day, he would double it again to $100. Nathan promises them, without fail, he would give them $100 the next day. There would be no more trips.
Some thought two trips were enough, but some decided to test him one more time and make a third trip. When they showed up for the third time, Nathan invited them in and told them to have a seat while he went and got the money.
As Nathan handed them the money he said, now you probably think that I am giving you a lot of money. It really isn’t, and it’ll probably be gone soon, but let me tell you about something that can last you a lot longer than this $100.
Nathan began to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. While a few made an excuse that they had somewhere else they had to be, most stayed and listened since Nathan was kind enough to give them $100.
Nathan had no idea how many this unique ministry had led to Christ, but he knew there were some, including a young woman who contacted him many years later. She came back to pick up the $100, but did not want to hear what this religious man had to say.
This young woman never thought of Nathan again until one day when everything seemed to go wrong and she did not have enough money to pay the bills. At that moment she prayed and asked God for another customer like Nathan. Realizing she had prayed, she cried and prayed again, and then looked in her purse to find the address of the man who might be able to help her find the right direction.
+++++++
Steve Demaree
1608 Summerhill Drive
Lexington, KY 40515
(606) 271-2416
[email protected]
Submitted by Richard
Nathan loved to eat out and he used this time to put into practice his unique ministry. While Nathan ate, he watched people. Sometimes, if a packed restaurant caused him to wait for a table, Nathan struck up a conversation with some of the others who waited.
Have you eaten here before? Nathan asked on many occasions, whether he had eaten at that particular restaurant or not. This led to more conversation, which Nathan used as he decided his project for the evening.
Almost every night Nathan found a project. Nathan scanned the restaurant and decided whom it would be. To determine the recipient of his act of kindness, Nathan asked himself who looked like they needed help in one way or another, or who made his wait a little more pleasant.
If the restaurant seated him immediately, Nathan found a reason to leave his table, such as a trip to the restroom. On his way he would stop and talk with a customer.
You sure have a pretty baby. Is it a boy or a girl? Nathan asked a young couple to initiate a conversation.
Excuse me, but I see you ordered the Veal Scaloppini. I’m thinking about ordering it, too. Is it any good? Nathan asked.
Nathan did not care whether they liked their entree or not, he just wanted an excuse to talk to someone. Many times Nathan watched people as they ate.
When Nathan felt he knew the identity of his recipient or recipients for the evening, he caught their server’s attention.
Excuse me, but aren’t you waiting on that table over there.
Yes sir. I am.
Well, I want to pick up their tab. Just bring it to me when they finish.
Nathan delighted in seeing his recipients faces when their server told them the good news.
Many times Nathan’s recipients stopped by and thanked him before they left. On these occasions Nathan asked them if they ordered dessert. If they said no, Nathan invited them to stay and enjoy dessert with him.
After taking a few minutes to get to know them better, Nathan asked his party a question.
Why do you think more people don’t attend church? Nathan asked them.
After they answered his question, Nathan inquired as to whether or not they attended church. If they said yes, he asked what they liked about their church.
If they said no, he began to tell them why he liked his church, which led to Nathan sharing Jesus Christ with many people he met.
Nathan did not lead everyone to Christ, and some already had a relationship with Him, but he did lead some of them and he stayed in regular contact with each one of them.
If Nathan left the restaurant before those who received a free meal because of him, he handed the waiter a note to give to the recipient. The note told why he chose to do so.
He told the person if they had questions, wanted to accept Christ, or were looking for a church, they could contact him. The note contained his address, phone number, and e-mail address, so each person could contact Nathan however they wished. Many did contact him, if only to thank him for his generosity, and sometimes this led to a new life for someone.
Not only did Nathan share his generosity with the restaurant’s customers, but with the servers, as well. Instead of a tip, Nathan left a note with his address. He told each server that he had a $25.00 tip for them and asked them to stop by and pick it up.
Some did stop by, but many did not. When a server came to Nathan’s home, he gave them a choice. They could either have $25 on the spot, or they could come back at a specific time the next day and he would double the tip to $50.
Some opted for the bird in the hand. Others came back the next day. When they returned, Nathan told them if they would return again the next day, he would double it again to $100. Nathan promises them, without fail, he would give them $100 the next day. There would be no more trips.
Some thought two trips were enough, but some decided to test him one more time and make a third trip. When they showed up for the third time, Nathan invited them in and told them to have a seat while he went and got the money.
As Nathan handed them the money he said, now you probably think that I am giving you a lot of money. It really isn’t, and it’ll probably be gone soon, but let me tell you about something that can last you a lot longer than this $100.
Nathan began to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. While a few made an excuse that they had somewhere else they had to be, most stayed and listened since Nathan was kind enough to give them $100.
Nathan had no idea how many this unique ministry had led to Christ, but he knew there were some, including a young woman who contacted him many years later. She came back to pick up the $100, but did not want to hear what this religious man had to say.
This young woman never thought of Nathan again until one day when everything seemed to go wrong and she did not have enough money to pay the bills. At that moment she prayed and asked God for another customer like Nathan. Realizing she had prayed, she cried and prayed again, and then looked in her purse to find the address of the man who might be able to help her find the right direction.
+++++++
Steve Demaree
1608 Summerhill Drive
Lexington, KY 40515
(606) 271-2416
[email protected]
Submitted by Richard
