I picked up the phone and heard my Dad’s voice: “I’ve called to say good-bye.” Several months earlier, my 84-year-old, unsaved father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now he was telling me he was in pain and didn’t want an agonizing death. Then Dad added these horrifying words: “I’ve got a gun to my head. I’m sorry to leave you a mess.”

I knew he wasn’t bluffing. I begged him to put the gun down. Twenty minutes later I threw open the door of his house and saw two guns lying on the living room floor. Holding my breath I turned the corner into his bedroom. I bumped into him as he came out the door. Then we raced to the hospital, where the doctors scheduled surgery for the next morning.

My dad was more closed to the gospel than anyone I’d ever known. I prayed for Dad’s salvation, as I had for 22 years, as I walked into his hospital room. Incredibly, by the time I walked out Dad had prayed and asked Christ to forgive his sins.

Have you been praying for years for someone’s salvation without any visible results? Don’t get discouraged. Just keep on doing what you’ve been doing. Praying, witnessing, giving them helpful books, giving of your time and affection. Be faithful to your Lord and leave the results to Him.