Stories of Faith - Episode 2

Originally published on The Voice of the Martyrs Newsroom on July 31, 2015

Merv Knight is the co-founder of VOM Australia and has ministered to persecuted Christians for more than 46 years. When I have the opportunity to collect insights from Merv, my ears are wide open and my pen is usually busy scribbling notes!

This time, Merv shared about a Christian man who was called by God to distribute Bibles in a remote part of Vietnam, even though he knew that it was risky. He was certain that if he was found with a box of Bibles, he would be taken to prison and perhaps even tortured (This still happens today in Vietnam. Click here to learn more).

In spite of the risk involved, this brother knew that he had to answer the call. He prayed hard, and then summoned all of the courage he had. The only option for transportation was a public bus.

So, he boldly purchased a bus ticket for a 12-hour ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the inner regions of Vietnam and climbed on board with a box filled with Bibles. He knew there would be checkpoints along the way, but he hoped that somehow the guards would miss this box.

As he prayed and waited for the bus depart, he was surprised, and more than a bit worried, to see a uniformed police captain board the bus. The captain walked toward the Bible smuggler, and selected the seat next to him.

Strangely, the captain quickly settled in to a very deep sleep. But, just before the captain fell asleep, he gently rested his hat on top of the box of Bibles.

While the smuggler watched and waited, the captain slept. It wasn’t long before they reached the first checkpoint.

As the Christian expected, the guards boarded the bus and began checking the identification papers of each of the passengers. Then the guards asked the passengers to open their bags while they inspected the contents.

When the guards reached the Christian’s row on the bus, they glanced at the box, at the captain’s hat resting on top, and at the slumbering captain. Then, without a word, they quietly moved on to the next row.

Repeatedly during the next 10 hours, checkpoint after checkpoint, the police captain slumbered and the guards quietly moved by without ever checking the box.

This testimony reminded Merv of another brother who was searching for a lady with a reputation for having “great faith.”

He asked around her village, and when he finally found her, he asked, “Are you the lady with great faith?”

“No,” she replied, “I am the lady with the simple faith in a great God!”

What miracles does God have in store for us as we learn to “walk in faith” like this Bible smuggler?