Faithway Seminar in Ypsilanti, MI
In May 2017, the Musgraves presented the Exchange Seminar at our church. One of the steps included, “Find 5,” and asked those of us in the seminar to list five individuals who need the Gospel. Sharyn, a woman I met 3 years ago at a large Midwest university, was at the number one position on my list. She had visited church several times, I had given her my personal testimony but she kept putting off the decision, and now she had moved an hour away from me. Even before the seminar ended I phoned her to ask if she would like to have a Bible study, and she immediately said yes. Upon completion of the final lesson, I again asked her to consider what would happen to her when she died. She said, “I know I need to accept Christ, and I want to do so, but I’m just not sure at this point.” My heart was very burdened, but I continued to visit and befriend her and often brought the conversation back to salvation in Christ.
A few weeks after finishing the Exchange study I asked, “So Sharyn, you know you need to get saved, and I’m confused as to why you still do not want to do so.” She said she would answer me after using the restroom. While she was away I needed to get something from my car parked in her driveway. On the way to my car, I fell and broke my ankle. She felt horrible that I had gotten injured in her home, but I assured her everything would be fine. I wasn’t angry but within myself I really wanted to know, “OK God. What am I supposed to learn through this?” The following week Sharyn made the hour-long trek to my home and brought a small wheelchair that was extremely helpful. When we discussed the Lord, she made a startling statement, “I just don’t feel worthy of being saved.” We went through more Bible verses, yet still Sharyn did not want to accept Christ as her personal Savior, but her statement really bothered me. Two weeks later Sharyn again made the trek to my home to pick up the wheelchair since I was allowed to wear a walking boot and did not need the wheelchair any longer. When I brought up her statement of not being worthy I asked, “Please tell me who you think is worthy for the Son of God to die for them?” She was stunned and said, “I never looked at it that way before.” She finally prayed on her own, we both rejoiced over God’s gracious gift, and I got my answer from God of what I was to learn through a broken ankle. As she was leaving that day she said, “You were right – there is a great peace once you accept God.”