Inside Story

Stranger in the Parking Lot

People ask Zeth Louis Lekatompessy how he supports his wife and three children without a paying job. Zeth says God gives him and his family everything they need.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed Zeth that he needed to trust more in God and less in himself. So, Zeth decided to volun­teer as a Bible worker. Zeth loved leading people to Jesus. Zeth made a plan to lead his family to the Lord. Then Zeth decided to use that same plan to help other people accept the Lord, too.

Zeth and his wife made a list of every person they knew on Ambon Island where they lived. Every day Zeth and his wife prayed for the names on the list. They also got on their motorcycle every morning and visited the people on the list. During the visits, many people asked to study the Bible with Zeth and his wife. Later, many of these people got baptized.

Zeth and his wife visited about three families a day. They ­talked about the Bible. Sometimes their conversations continued until late at night.

Zeth wasn’t paid for his work. So, many people didn’t understand how the family could afford to live.

Someone asked Zeth, “How do you live without any pay, savings, or land that you can sell for money?”

Someone else asked Zeth, “How can you support your family without a job that pays money? I can’t believe you’re really doing it. Prove it!”

For sure, Zeth says that his family often suffers hard times. He remembers when their money ran out on a Friday. Zeth and his wife prayed to God for help. They kept praying all during the Sabbath. They said, “Lord, we don’t have anything but You. We can trust only in You.”

That Sabbath, a stranger approached Zeth in the church parking lot and gave him an envelope. The man said, “This gift will help you joyfully continue your work for God.”

At home, Zeth and his wife thanked God and opened the envelope. Inside they found enough money to take care of their needs for many months to come!

Zeth says that he has hundreds of more stories that are proof of God’s loving care. This story is only one of them!

Today, Zeth is studying religion at Klabat University. He hopes to learn how to give better Bible studies. Zeth said God continues to take care of his family’s living expenses. When he finishes school, he wants to serve as a pastor or Bible worker. Or wherever else God leads him to serve.

Zeth said, “Pray for me and my family. Pray that when I finish my studies, I can lead more people to God’s kingdom.”

Watch a YouTube show about Zeth at: https://bit.ly/Zeth-IS.

Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at https://AdventistMission.org.