The Stuttering Colporteur Story

While I was studying for the ministry, I was in the student literature evangelism club at Southern Missionary College (now called Southern University).  I remember our publishing leader telling us the story of a man who had a terrible stuttering problem, and yet he wanted to be a literature evangelist!

The publishing leader tried to be gentle with the man and told him that his speech problem would be a real hindrance to him in his work.  After all, the man was hardly able to say his name without stuttering terribly!

But the man persisted, and said he wanted to be a literature evangelist.  So the publishing leader, rather than trying to discourage him any more, sent him a typed copy of the canvass he could learn, and he sent him some sample book covers and books.  The publishing leader was sure that when the man actually tried to sell books with his speech impediment, he would see how difficult it was, and give up.

But something else happened instead!  The conference publishing office began to receive the weekly reports from this man with the stuttering problem, and the reports were good!  He was selling more than some of the best LE’s were! How could that be?

The publishing leader said to himself, “I’ve got to go out with him and see how he does it!”  He made an appointment to go out with him the next week.  The publishing leader noticed that the man began his day with earnest prayer for success.  Before he went to the first house, he went behind a tree and prayed again for the Lord to help him sell these truth filled books.  “The man even stutters when he prays!” the publishing leader thought to himself.

When the man knocked on the door, the publishing leader stood behind the man determined to see what happened. The lady opened the door and said, “Yes, can I help you?” Then the man began to say, “Hi, I’mmmmmmmmm in the neighborhood tooooootaaday showing ffffffolks some beautiful Bbbbbbbbbible bbbbooks ...”  He stuttered the same as always!

But to the publishing leader’s amazement, the stuttering actually worked to the man’s advantage.  As the day progressed, he noticed that the people felt sorry for him, and often finished his sentences.  They invited him in, and were quick to buy books from this unlikeliest of all salesmen!

This illustrates the truth that the Lord does not need our ability as much as He needs our availability!  In the book Christian Service, on page 113, Ellen White wrote:  “He (The Lord) will use humble, devoted Christians, even if they have not received so thorough an education as some others.”

He used the stuttering man to put many truth-filled books into many homes, and he will use you too!  Praise His holy name!