What Is My Story, My Testimony?
By Dennis R. Thomas
As I continue to grow in faith, I am aware that there is so much more God provides than I am able to receive. This body of flesh that constrains me interferes with my being available to receive it, and it sometimes discourages me. When I think of people like the Apostle Paul, I am reminded that he was just a man used of God—a man of great faith, but still just a man used of God.
Recently, I have been praying that God would grant me greater faith. I desire to be a man of faith, like Paul.
I am beginning to understand more about faith. First, Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. I do not want to leave this world until He determines that the level of faith He desires me to have is obtained.
I must confess that I am ashamed at times because I tend to satisfy man more than I aim to please God. I tend to walk by sight instead of trusting God by faith.
Several years ago, I was on a mission trip to Ecuador, South America. I visited a community on one of the picturesque mountainsides, where I found myself with a group of about 15 community members. I was there as a representative of New Life International and their mission to provide purifiers to clean the waters of Ecuador. My role was minimal—just demonstrating the purifier. But I knew God had me there to share Jesus Christ, the “Living Water.”
As I stood there in that beautiful place, I held in my hand a King James New Testament in Spanish. I was asking God, “What is it You want me to do here?” I felt I was being of little help. I began to read the New Testament, praying God would use me to share His wonderful truth.
At that moment, I caught the eye of a teenage girl a couple of yards away. She was with some friends and a few older women. She was watching me as I read the New Testament. It was then that I stretched out my hand and asked the girl if she wanted the New Testament. She eased over to me, reached out, and took hold of it.
At that moment, a great light surrounded us and time seemed to stop. I heard a voice from heaven say, “This is what I would have you do, My son.” I knew from that moment I would be sharing the Word of God for the rest of my life. There is no doubt that is what He has called me to do.
The girl went back to her group, and they began to look at her gift—God’s Word. A few minutes later, they all began to move toward me, asking for a New Testament. I had planned to take Bibles with me when I left the USA. Unfortunately, I was only able to bring about 50 New Testaments in Spanish. However, I had 150 or more Gospel tracts and small devotionals. So I handed out the New Testaments to those present at that time—about 12 or so.
A few minutes passed, and I was so caught up in the excitement of sharing God’s Word that I hadn’t noticed more people arriving. I couldn’t begin to tell you where they were coming from. From that vantage point, you could literally see for miles all around, and I had seen very few, if any, people just minutes earlier. I was convinced that God sent them all.
A couple of hours or so passed, and people were all around me. I passed out all the New Testaments I had—and every tract and devotional. It was somewhere around 200 pieces of material. Needless to say, I was excited and a bit overwhelmed by what was happening. It was one of the most amazing things that had ever happened to me.
There were people everywhere. I still do not know where they came from. As our time there drew to a close, the people were still coming. They were sharing the Word of God with each other and talking about what they were reading.
As we were walking toward the truck to leave, two teenage boys approached me and pleaded for a New Testament. I told them I had passed everything out already and had nothing left to give. But at that moment, I remembered that I had my Bible in the truck. So I told them to wait, ran to the truck, and retrieved my Bible. I took it back to them, and they thanked me and left.
I left there with a sense that God had used me for His glory. I was joyful in a way, but also a bit disappointed in myself. You see, I ran out of God’s Word. When I left the USA with two suitcases, one had God’s material, and the other had things I thought I needed. People were still coming up that mountainside as we drove away.
It was then that I looked back and saw those teenage boys sitting atop the water cistern. They were crouched down, looking at the Bible. One of them looked toward us as we drove away and gave me a thumbs-up sign. I couldn’t help myself—I began to weep. I realized then and there that I had been selfish and shortsighted. A man of little faith. I had not brought enough of God to share with those looking for Him.
God’s Word tells us that the fields are white for harvest, but the workers are few. Leaving that mountain that day, I began to understand more of the truth of that passage.
God granted me the opportunity to visit 12 different sites in Ecuador. Even though I was given more of God’s Word to give, it was never enough. I was asked by a dentist from that first community to stay, and together we would share God’s Word with the people in that area. At the time, I had two young children in the States and felt I could not stay. He said to me, “Bring your children. Our family will teach them Spanish, and you can teach us English.”
I so wanted to stay. I had been transformed by God during that visit to Ecuador. I have never been the same since—and I long to return.
So, what is my story—my testimony?
I cannot say for sure. It is still being written.
