Several months ago, an evangelistic rally took place in the Gulf States. Will Graham, the featured speaker and grandson of Billy Graham, retold* how the ministry team prepared in the week leading up to the event. On location, they were pulling together the details and doing final set up. A couple of times, the team finished the day by eating dinner together at a Denny’s restaurant. A waitress named Stephanie served them, and the team invited her to attend the rally. She said she had weekend plans but might be able to come to one of the evenings.
The first night of the festival took place. Graham and his team met afterward. It turned out that ninety-nine attendees made spiritual decisions. This was wonderful news, but as Graham told it, he was immediately struck by the thought that one was missing! Where was the 100th person, as the parable of the lost sheep goes in Luke 15? It came to him that Stephanie, the waitress at Denny’s, was number one hundred. He began to pray for her.
The final night of the faith festival, the event staff were in place, setting up. They were taking promotional photos to post, and as one of the team screened the pictures to post, she recognized Stephanie in the arriving crowd: she had made it to the event! Later, while listening to the message, Stephanie was moved to respond to Jesus.
What joyous news and answered prayer for Will Graham and the team. Catching a bite to eat late that night with the event team, Will prayed a quick blessing over the food and rally. He also asked the Lord to show Stephanie His plan for her. Stephanie, meanwhile, texted someone else on the team. She said, ‘I finally know for sure that God has a purpose for me.’ God is at work. He finds His lost sheep and brings them into HIs fold. He is our Good Shepherd (John 10 v 11).
Photo contributed by Andrea Stockel
*My husband and I heard Will Graham tell this story at BGEA’s The Cove retreat center in Asheville, NC this past summer.
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