The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

I have a dear friend in the United Kingdom (England) who sometimes writes:

“Story Time:” and then procedes to tell a story. Are you ready? Story time!

Sixty years ago, I heard this story. Whether it is apocrphal or true, I do not know. What I do know is – well, listen and you tell me.

The seminary was winding up its year, and it was customary for one of the students to be selected to give an address to the entire school. The faculty poured over the records and selected a fine, young man as the annual speaker.

The student was scared-to-death. His forte was as a scholar in the classroom. He had never given more than a short talk in one or two of his classes. Speak to the whole school?

“Oh, no!” he pleaded. But there was no backing out. He had been faculty-selected, and he was going to face the school with a formal address.

The day came, and he was literally shaking as he stood before the entire school.

“Duh…duh…do you know wha…what I…I’m about to say?”

Of course his subject had never been announced, so the entire school body said loudly and politely, “NO!”

“Wuh…well…neither do I, so let’s all go home.”

The exhausted speaker was devastated. “I’ve…I’ve ruined everything,” he said.

“No, you haven’t,” said the dean. “You’re just not used to speaking in public. Go back and study a bit more. We’ll let you speak again next week.”

Self-dejected, he dutifully returned to the books. He was not happy, but there was no other way out. He had to address the school –the entire school!

When the day finally came, he was on the platform, but not in good form for speaking. Yet,

he stood, walked to the lecturn, caughed nervously, looked scaredly at the school body, and said, “Duh…duh…do you know wha…what I…I’m about to say?”

His fellow-students were now thoroughly confused. Some said, “Yes,” and snickered beneath their breath. But some said, “No,” because they still had no hint as to what he would might say.

“Then,” the young speaker said, “Those who know, tell those who don’t know, and let’s all

go home.”

Literally mortified that he had failed twice, the dejected young speaker-to-be left the auditorium in devastating defeat!

“I am a total failure,” he said, “a total, total failure!”

“Oh, no!” said the dean. “You’re not a failure. In fact, we want you to stay with the school and teach! For what you said is a fundamental, biblical truth. It’s for those who know to tell those who don’t –before we all go home.”

I challenge you to think on this story and ask yourself –well, you know. Just do it!

We meet people every day who do not know Jesus. You do, too. Let’s pray for one another that we may share Him before He comes at the end of our “school year.”

Love and prayers always,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. What a trooper, Rose Marie is! We’re both convinced that this extended illness

has the purpose in bringing us into contact with lost, confused people. Some day

we’ll share some of our experiences in contacting the lost.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”