The church was in trouble, and the preacher knew it. The economy was tanking and as faithful as his congregation was, they couldn’t contribute as they had in the past. But the bills were piling up and something had to be done or, well, he didn’t want to think about the consequences.
Then he had a thought; maybe there was something down in the basement storeroom that could be sold to generate a little income for the church! Down the old stairs he goes and as he looks around, his enthusiasm wanes as he sees nothing that would hold any value outside the church; old pictures, architectural drawings, record books. Then, he notices numerous unopened boxes on a pallet way back in the corner. He navigates his way over, tears open a box, and to his amazement, finds that it was filled with brand new Bibles! In his excitement, he shouts out; “We can sell these and save the church!”
The following Sunday, congregation noticed a little more enthusiasm in the sermon. At the close of the service, the preacher stepped down to the head of the aisle and announced his discovery and plan. Then he called upon Tom and Joe to step forward and receive the first two cases of Bibles.
Tom owned a shoe store where many folks in town regularly visited for new shoes and shoe repair. He was well liked and successful.
Joe was one of the most successful businessmen in town. He sold new and used cars, had service station with mechanic on duty, and had a car wash. He was a very persuasive salesman, and all knew he was the man for the job.
But, a voice came from the back pew. It was Festus. Now Festus was a simple-minded fellow who made his living by doing odd jobs around town including cutting grass with his old rusty push mower. Oh, and one other thing; Festus had a terrible stammer and stutter when he spoke.
To the preacher’s dismay, here comes Festus up the aisle stuttering; “I, I, I, I, wah, wah, want, ta, ta, s,s, s, sell Bibles!
The pastor looks at Tom and Joe, then says; “Well Festus, I don’t know. Tom and Joe are successful businessmen who sell to folks everyday.”
But Festus is insistent that he wants to help, so to get out of this embarrassing situation, the preacher hands Festus a case of Bibles.
The next week, at the close of the service, the preacher calls up Tom and Joe while noting that Festus is mercifully absent.
First he asks Tom for a report on his progress. Tom responds that he sold 50 Bibles for $3 apiece, and hands the preacher $150. The preacher smiles, thanks Tom, and tells him that this is a great start towards getting back on track.
Then the preacher turns to Joe. Joe smiles and reports that he sold 200 Bibles for $5 apiece and hands the preacher $1,000. The preacher shouts; “Thanks be to God! I knew you would come through for us Joe!”
Just at that moment, the back doors burst open and here comes Festus dragging a heavy sack; apparently returning his unsold Bibles. But as he approaches the frowning preacher he exclaims; “I, I, I, s,s, s, sold sa, sa, some Bibles!”
The flustered preacher asks, “Yeah, well how did you do Festus?”
Festus replies; I, I, I, s, s, sold 1,000 Bibles f, f, for $10 each!” He then hands the sack containing $10,000 to the preacher.
Everyone was stunned. After a few moments of absolute silence, the preacher recovered his voice and HE stammered out; “H, H, How did you do this Festus, when these two salesman had nowhere near your success?”
Festus replied; “Well, I, I, I, ju, ju, just nuh, knocked on d-d-doors a-and then said; I, I, I, am s, s,s, selling Bibles f-for $10 OR, I, I, ca, ca, can s, s, stand h-here a-a-a-and r-read it t-to you!”
Then he had a thought; maybe there was something down in the basement storeroom that could be sold to generate a little income for the church! Down the old stairs he goes and as he looks around, his enthusiasm wanes as he sees nothing that would hold any value outside the church; old pictures, architectural drawings, record books. Then, he notices numerous unopened boxes on a pallet way back in the corner. He navigates his way over, tears open a box, and to his amazement, finds that it was filled with brand new Bibles! In his excitement, he shouts out; “We can sell these and save the church!”
The following Sunday, congregation noticed a little more enthusiasm in the sermon. At the close of the service, the preacher stepped down to the head of the aisle and announced his discovery and plan. Then he called upon Tom and Joe to step forward and receive the first two cases of Bibles.
Tom owned a shoe store where many folks in town regularly visited for new shoes and shoe repair. He was well liked and successful.
Joe was one of the most successful businessmen in town. He sold new and used cars, had service station with mechanic on duty, and had a car wash. He was a very persuasive salesman, and all knew he was the man for the job.
But, a voice came from the back pew. It was Festus. Now Festus was a simple-minded fellow who made his living by doing odd jobs around town including cutting grass with his old rusty push mower. Oh, and one other thing; Festus had a terrible stammer and stutter when he spoke.
To the preacher’s dismay, here comes Festus up the aisle stuttering; “I, I, I, I, wah, wah, want, ta, ta, s,s, s, sell Bibles!
The pastor looks at Tom and Joe, then says; “Well Festus, I don’t know. Tom and Joe are successful businessmen who sell to folks everyday.”
But Festus is insistent that he wants to help, so to get out of this embarrassing situation, the preacher hands Festus a case of Bibles.
The next week, at the close of the service, the preacher calls up Tom and Joe while noting that Festus is mercifully absent.
First he asks Tom for a report on his progress. Tom responds that he sold 50 Bibles for $3 apiece, and hands the preacher $150. The preacher smiles, thanks Tom, and tells him that this is a great start towards getting back on track.
Then the preacher turns to Joe. Joe smiles and reports that he sold 200 Bibles for $5 apiece and hands the preacher $1,000. The preacher shouts; “Thanks be to God! I knew you would come through for us Joe!”
Just at that moment, the back doors burst open and here comes Festus dragging a heavy sack; apparently returning his unsold Bibles. But as he approaches the frowning preacher he exclaims; “I, I, I, s,s, s, sold sa, sa, some Bibles!”
The flustered preacher asks, “Yeah, well how did you do Festus?”
Festus replies; I, I, I, s, s, sold 1,000 Bibles f, f, for $10 each!” He then hands the sack containing $10,000 to the preacher.
Everyone was stunned. After a few moments of absolute silence, the preacher recovered his voice and HE stammered out; “H, H, How did you do this Festus, when these two salesman had nowhere near your success?”
Festus replied; “Well, I, I, I, ju, ju, just nuh, knocked on d-d-doors a-and then said; I, I, I, am s, s,s, selling Bibles f-for $10 OR, I, I, ca, ca, can s, s, stand h-here a-a-a-and r-read it t-to you!”
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