Please, Lord, One More Soul

“Please, Lord. Help me get one more. Help me get one more.”
– Desmond Doss, Hacksaw Ridge

One of the ministries that I’ve never felt entirely comfortable with is evangelism. No matter what form it takes—whether open-air, house-to-house, or friendship evangelism—it’s the last thing I would willingly do as a Christian. I’m not the type of person who approaches strangers or starts conversations. I don’t like rejection; it hurts, and I feel embarrassed when it happens. But after participating in missions and eventually having it become my responsibility, I learned to overcome that discomfort, bit by bit.

Friendship Evangelism at Burnham Park

After returning from Kapangan, Benguet, our team continued our ministry in the beautiful city of Baguio. Our first outreach there was friendship evangelism at Burnham Park. To be honest, I didn’t feel excited when I found out what our task would be. I could perhaps muster the courage to do it in the rural areas or the mountains, but in the heart of the city, in a crowded public space, my knees would shake. If I could have stayed at the church where we were staying as a team, I would have. But, there I was, standing at the park, feeling even more nervous when I saw the crowd. The park was huge, filled with tourists from nearby cities, and it was a holiday—December 30th of 2022—a fair and sunny day.

I had a fellow missionary with me as we roamed around the park. We silently prayed, asking God to show us whom we should approach. Minutes passed, but we didn’t approach anyone. We walked the length of the park, admired the scenery, bumped into fellow Cebuanos, but still, no one seemed to be the right person. I was almost ready to give up when I crossed to the other side of the park (Melvin Jones Grandstand), heading to the restroom. Even though I had already gone a few times in the last 30 minutes, I wrestled with myself not to cross over, but I ended up doing it anyway.

A Divine Appointment

As I exited the restroom, my eyes locked on one guy. It was as if the world around him blurred, and he was the only one in focus. I walked toward him, noticing that he was watching a football game.

The first move was critical. I was unsure what to say or how to start the conversation without embarrassing myself. I quickly remembered a book I had read on witnessing, which shared practical steps for approaching strangers. But I decided not to overthink it. I inhaled, exhaled, and silently asked God for strength. With the question in my heart, I walked up to him. “Bro, sino yung mga naglalaro? [Bro, who are the players?]” I asked him while he was sitting on a log.

He answered, and we continued to chat. We were sitting near the soccer field with Burnham Park behind us. As we spoke, he noticed my accent and commented on how I was struggling to speak Tagalog. He asked where I was from, so I introduced myself and explained why I was there.

He shared that his name was Migs, and he was 30 years old. “I just escaped from my home. Nagpapalipas oras lang ako dito [I just passing the time here],” he said with a heavy heart. After that, the floodgates opened. He kept asking, “Why God? Why me?” His voice cracked as he said, “Bakit nangyayari sa akin ito? Mabait naman akong tao. Wala naman akong inaapakang tao. Bakit ginaganito niya ako? [Why is this happening to me? I’m a good person. I don’t hurt anyone. Why is He doing this to me?]” His eyes were teary, his hands trembled, and his whole demeanor spoke of deep pain and confusion. I gave him my full attention, allowing him to pour out the turmoil in his heart.

God’s Message: Finding Hope in Joseph’s Story

While he shared, I prayed silently, asking God what message He wanted me to deliver to Migs. When he paused, I asked if I could speak, and with God’s guidance, I shared the story of Joseph, the dreamer. I told him, “I may not be able to answer your ‘whys,’ but I want you to know that God has heard every one of them. He knows your pain. He understands your questions.”

I reminded him of Joseph’s journey: how he faced betrayal, hardship, and confusion, yet God was with him through it all. I shared Genesis 50:20 with him, saying, “What the enemy meant for evil, the Lord will turn it for good.” I encouraged him, “If you stay humble before God, He will lift you up. As the Bible says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.‘”

Our conversation lasted for less than an hour, but by the end, Migs had shared more of his life story—his wife, his three kids, and the struggles he had been facing. He seemed lighter, more at peace, and thanked me deeply for taking the time to listen and share. It was as though hope had been rekindled in him. Before leaving, I prayed for him, asking God to bring healing and guidance into his life.

A Fulfilled Mission: “One More Soul”

As I walked away from the park, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. I knew that this was God’s appointed time for Migs, and I left feeling inspired and deeply encouraged. The famous line from Hacksaw Ridge—“Please, Lord. Help me get one more. Help me get one more”—resonated with me. My version of that prayer became: “Please, Lord, one more soul.” That day, I was reminded of the desperate need to seek out just one more person, one more soul in need of hope and healing.

Final Thoughts: A Mission for Every Christian

As Christians, we are all called to share the love and hope of Christ with those around us, even when it’s uncomfortable or intimidating. Just like Desmond Doss, whose prayer for “one more” became a powerful motivation, we too are urged to seek out just one more soul. One more person who needs hope, one more life to touch with the message of God’s grace and love. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.

— Eric Zed