2 minute read
PINKY PROMISE
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.
Thomas’ friends rushed him to the hospital where the doctors were able to reattach his finger. Bao and her friends visited and prayed with Thomas in the hospital. They could tell this traumatic event had prompted him to think about the way he was living. He realized how empty his life had become. For the first time, Thomas wanted to change.
The next Sabbath Thomas went to church. He began attending Bible studies and listening to the sermons that Bao had shared with him. One year later he was baptized. Today Thomas works as an ASAP youth evangelist, sharing his testimony and supporting two house churches with more than 125 members. Before all this happened, his life lacked purpose. Now he lives to serve the Lord!
