Pinky Promise By Esther Louw
Are you praying for a lost sheep? Don’t lose heart! This story proves there is always hope. Thomas Vu* grew up in an Adventist home but as a young man, worldly influences drew him away from God. Although his family never stopped praying for him, he showed little interest in religion. After graduating, Thomas returned home, but he continued to slide further away from God, eventually joining a gang. His father was heartbroken and feared what would become of his son, but there was little he could do except pray. Then one day an ASAP youth evangelist named Bao* visited the highlands where Thomas’ family lived. “Sister Bao! Could you visit my son?” Mr. Vu pleaded. Along with her friends, Bao went and visited Thomas. She shared her testimony and gave Thomas some sermon DVDs. “If you continue to live a wild lifestyle, you will eventually ruin your life!” she warned him. Thomas enjoyed his lifestyle and didn’t plan on changing, but somehow Bao’s words reached his heart. Even though he didn’t know why, Thomas agreed to visit church that Sabbath. “Pinky promise?” Bao asked. Thomas laughed and made a pinky promise with Bao. That Sabbath Bao and her friends watched for Thomas, but he never showed up. The next day Bao visited him again. “I had some business to take care of but next Sabbath I will come,” Thomas told her with a sheepish smile. Before Bao left, they made another pinky promise.
In spite of his promise, Thomas did not come to church the following Sabbath either. Still, Bao and her friends continued to visit and they connected well with Thomas. Every time they invited him to church he made a pinky promise that he would come, but then he would never show up. He always found a different excuse. On the Sabbath after their fourth visit, Thomas went out with his friends as he usually did and got drunk. On their way home from partying, he and his friends got into a fight with a rival gang. One of the men pulled out a machete and swung it at Thomas. He cut off the finger that Thomas had used to make a promise those four times to Sister Bao.
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“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20
