Two hairdressers

My hairdresser only hears a story from me once every three months. We’ve taken more than two years to cover six Old Testament sections and eight New Testament sections. This slower pace seems to suit my stylist as she absorbs and thinks about each story. She has no problem remembering previous stories, and usually a minute-long review is all she needs before she’s ready for the new story. This is great for a couple of reasons. Not only does she remember the stories, but I never have to search for a way to start a gospel conversation. When I sit down in the chair, she knows it’s time for the next installment.

A story is considerably easier to remember than a conversation about abstract concepts. It lingers in the mind, working long after we’ve parted ways with someone. This is particularly helpful in our relationships with people like hairdressers and shopkeepers with whom we have intermittent contact.

Another hairdresser became a believer. She wondered how God could use her to share stories. She had one skill – hairdressing and just enough money to rent one room and cut hair. Every time she cut someone’s hair, she offered a ‘free story’ as a gift. Many people accepted this bonus offer. Over time she saw numbers of people accepting the greatest gift of all.

Adapted from ‘Telling the Gospel Through Story’.