“When will I fill out that last page?” This question plagued Anna for months!
This story began in January 2024 when Beth and Anna, nurses in a hospital, began talking about matters of faith. Beth shared that she is a Christian. Anna, an agnostic, asked if they could take their lunch break together so she could hear about Beth’s faith. Talk about an open door! As Beth shared the gospel story, Anna was soaking it up and eager to hear more.
Anna began to ask more questions and even visited Beth’s church. This opened the door for Beth to invite her to do The Exchange Bible Study. In Beth’s words, “She was all in!”
They began meeting at each other’s houses and finished the study about six weeks later. Anna believed every single truth, but at the end of the study Beth was shocked when Anna said she was not ready to accept Christ. Her main obstacle? She didn’t feel she deserved such lavish love and forgiveness.
Months passed and Anna found herself at a very low spot. Sitting in her car, crying, she called out for help. Just a few days later, Beth reached out to Anna in a text. What providential timing! Anna shared that she had her Exchange Bible Study in the car, folded open to the last page. From time to time she would ask herself the question, “When will I be ready to fill out that last page?” The “last page” refers to the end of The Exchange Bible Study where the question is asked, “Are you willing to follow Jesus and put your trust in Him right now?”
Anna was hungry to know more about God and the Bible, so Beth invited her to do a Bible study from Genesis to Revelation. This was all so new and foreign to her. As they studied the gospels, Beth told Anna that she could spend a lifetime gaining knowledge, but at some point, she had to decide if she was going to choose to follow Christ or spend life and eternity apart from God.
Anna was facing more obstacles. Her family was very concerned to know that she was studying the Bible. Her atheist sister became very upset, and the relationship that was once close became strained. Anna knew that choosing Christ would mean placing a barrier between herself and her family. Beth wisely shared Scriptures about counting the cost. Anna was taking this decision seriously.
On a Sunday morning this past January (2025), Anna texted Beth with news that she had finally filled out the last page and couldn’t wait to show it to Beth. She came to church with a different countenance. Earlier that morning, as she had watched the snow fall outside her window, she felt that God was telling her. “It’s time” – time to just surrender! As she made the decision to trust Christ and follow Him with her life, an overwhelming peace came over her.
At church that morning another co-worker of Beth’s and Anna’s who was visiting for the first time was listening to this conversation. This was Skylar’s first time at church, and Anna’s story of conversion was foreign terminology to her. She claims to be agnostic. Brand new baby Christian Anna began to share her faith journey with Skylar – that she too had been agnostic and how she came to trust in Jesus. Beth, Anna and Skylar began to have a gospel-centered conversation. Skylar did not trust Christ that day, but she plans to join Beth at church again; and Beth plans to invite her to study The Exchange. We can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!
“How amazing that Anna is already sharing her story on Day 1 of being a Christian!” – Beth Brown
Takeaways from Beth’s story:
- Share the gospel in your sphere of influence. Beth’s sphere influence included her fellow nurses at the hospital.
- Be patient! Did you notice that it took Anna a full year before she completed the last page?
- Don’t feel satisfied to just invite friends to church. That’s a wonderful step! Like Beth, invest in your friends. Take time. Share the gospel!
- The Exchange Bible Study gives you a platform to fully share the gospel in a relational way.
- Try it!
Anna Musgrave is the Cofounder of The Exchange and serves as an Exchange Trainer with her husband Jeff. Contact Anna at anna@exchangemessage.org