The introduction of Too Small to Ignore opens like this:
Late one evening D. L. Moody, the premier American evangelist of the 1800’s arrived home from speaking at a meeting. Emma, his wife, was already asleep. As her exhausted husband climbed into bed, she rolled over and murmured, “So how did it go tonight?”
“Pretty well, “ he replied. “Two and a half converts.”
His wife lay silent for a moment pondering this response, then finally smiled. “That’s sweet,” she replied. “How old was the child?”
“No, no, no,” Moody answered. “It was two children and one adult! The children have their whole lives in from of them. The adult’s life is already half-gone.”
Late one evening D. L. Moody, the premier American evangelist of the 1800’s arrived home from speaking at a meeting. Emma, his wife, was already asleep. As her exhausted husband climbed into bed, she rolled over and murmured, “So how did it go tonight?”
“Pretty well, “ he replied. “Two and a half converts.”
His wife lay silent for a moment pondering this response, then finally smiled. “That’s sweet,” she replied. “How old was the child?”
“No, no, no,” Moody answered. “It was two children and one adult! The children have their whole lives in from of them. The adult’s life is already half-gone.”
* * *
I have to ask you, what mental image came to your mind when you read “two and a half converts” just now? Did you picture what Emma Moody pictured: two grownups standing at the front of the auditorium with a little child beside them? Be honest.
If you did, don’t feel bad -you’re in the overwhelming majority. In fact, I’ll be honest too. I had worked with Compassion International, a child-focused organization, for ten years when I first heard that story, and even I sat there imagining two adults and one child.
I don’t anymore…and that’s what this book is all about.
With that opening, Dr. Stafford raises his battle cry to make children a priority in every area of life.
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