I Thought I didn’t have Time
“You should hold a Revelation Seminar in your town.” Our conference ministerial secretary was gently urging me to get involved in witnessing. I had just finished attending a lay-training session at our small church in Adrian, Michigan.
This guy is crazy, I thought. Doesn’t he know I have a growing business? Can’t he realize I’m busy? I simply don’t have the time.
As a business owner, I frantically worked hard to build myself an empire, clawing my way up the ladder of success. And frankly, I didn’t believe in mixing business and religion. I didn’t have a neat and tidy 9-to-5 job with free evenings for good works. Sometimes I worked 18-hour days. I had convinced myself it was unrealistic to commit to teaching a Bible seminar three nights a week for six weeks.
But the Holy Spirit was speaking to me, and I couldn’t put the idea of holding a seminar out of my mind.
The next month after the lay training session my wife and I attended our first ASI convention in Hawaii. ASI is a group of Adventist business professionals who teach people like me how to share Christ in the marketplace.
I came home from that convention with a zeal I had never known before. I promised God that I would witness for Him. And I began praying and asking the Lord to lead me to what He wanted me to do. Within two months, with the help of my wife and church family, I was teaching a Revelation Seminar—three nights a week.
I held three complete seminars that year. And when my first student was baptized, I experienced a thrill I’ll never be able to explain this side of heaven. Subsequently, more than 15 people joined the church. Amazingly, my business flourished and grew in spite of the fact that I spent much less time working.
As I look back now, I can see how God rewarded my faith and commitment of time and energy to Him.
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
By Raymond J. Hamblin
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