The Gift

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
This is dedicated to My Best Friend Nancy

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Acts 1:4-5 NIV


I was so excited. Two days with my best friend Nancy. The first night was to be at her house in Buford, Georgia and on the second night she was to travel with me to the television show in South Carolina. What a gift.

Nancy has been my best friend since high school. She is a faithful friend and a faithful supporter of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. A missionary day at Pocket Full of Change Ministries costs about $120. Each month, Nancy donates 1 day.

In anticipation of our time together, I asked God for a special gift. God, Nancy is so faithful to this ministry. It would be a special gift to both of us if you would let us lead someone to Christ together. Let her experience how her money is used.

When I arrived at her home, I was disappointed to learn that she’d forgotten about a prior commitment and couldn’t travel to South Carolina with me. We went to dinner that night and I looked for the gift I hoped God would send. Nothing happened – no doors opened. I was leaving early the next morning so I accepted that God had said no to my request.

Just before bed, Nancy suggested we go out to breakfast the next morning. I slept later than I expected and woke up rushing. I forgot about my request to God.

At breakfast, I did something I often do. I asked the waiter, “We’re Christians and are going to bless the food. Is there anything you’d like us to pray for?”

“Yes,” he said, grinning. “Pray for my hockey team to win.” Matt was a college student about to graduate. I knew the twinkle in his beautiful eyes was going to serve him well (see his picture in the photo gallery under Georgia – Buford).

“What if someone from the other team is also praying?” I quipped.

“You’ll just have to pray harder than them.”

We prayed for Matt’s hockey team. That began the conversation where Matt talked about Jesus and growing up in a church school. He wasn’t in church and had never actually prayed to ask Jesus to become his savior. I pulled out a tract from my purse.

“This is written by Billy Graham.” I said. “Do you know who that is?”

He thought for a minute. “I don’t think so,” he said. I’d never met anyone who didn’t know Billy.

“Trust me,” Nancy and I said almost at the same time. “His work is worth reading.” Matt took it and promised to read it. Matt kept returning to our table to talk about jobs, his future, God, and life issues. Suddenly, I knew God was going to give Nancy this gift.

“Matt,” I asked. “Would you like to change your destiny right now?” I’d stolen that term from a Facebook post from my pastor. Matt looked interested so I continued. “You could pray right now and become a Christian. We could read the prayer that is in that tract.”

“Ok,” he said.

Wow, I thought. That was easy.We opened the tract and Matt invited Jesus to become a part of his life. I gave him a card and left thrilled with God’s gift to Nancy and me. I thought about my doubts from the night before. God was waiting for just the right time to answer my prayer.

Nancy knew she was already a part of everyone this ministry leads to Christ because she donates and helps make these trips possible. She reads the stories I post so she already knew what happens on the road. Knowing and experiencing it are two different things and I was grateful that God gifted us with being able to, together, be a chapter in Matt’s story, “The Day My Destiny Changed.”
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries