17 Minutes

Etienne quickly pulled over beside a bus shelter, where a young man had likewise taken shelter, waiting for the storm to ease.

At first, as he saw the cars passing by, Etienne was frustrated. “what bad luck,” he muttered. But then he stopped himself. “Change this tire with a good mood,” he thought. 

So, he started to sing. To whistle. To let his joy rise above the trouble he was experiencing.

The young man noticed and, without saying a word, stepped out into the rain and knelt on the soaked pavement to help Etienne place the jack. His kindness was quiet—but powerful.

But Etienne knew this wasn’t just a random, chance encounter. It was a gift from God.

Etienne had been prepared for everyday moments like this. In 2024, he won a GO Trip to Kenya with ShareWord Global—a trip where believers from around the world came together with one mission: to share the gospel alongside the local church.

In Kenya, Etienne ministered in one of Africa’s largest slums. He met people who were hurting, searching, and ready for hope. He learned how to use ShareWord Global’s Scripture magazines—filled with Bible verses, the Gospel of John, and powerful images that connect with the local culture. He saw lives transformed. 

That trip didn’t just change the people he met—it changed Etienne. It lit a fire in him to keep sharing the gospel wherever he goes.

Etienne says the trip was “totally life changing.” He’d do it again “anytime.” And the impact didn’t stay in Kenya—it came home with him.

Since then, Etienne has turned his Uber into a mobile ministry. He consistently orders ShareWord Global resources—Scripture magazines, New Testaments, and more—to keep in his car. Every ride is a chance to share the Good News. Every passenger conversation is a God-given opportunity.

And this moment, on the side of the road, with a flat tire and wet hair, was no exception.

Once the final bolt was tightened, the young man placed the flat tire in the trunk and headed back toward the shelter. But Etienne knew this moment wasn’t finished. Something deeper was unfolding—and he wasn’t about to let it end there. He followed the man. 

“Can I drive you somewhere?” he asked.

The young man nodded. His destination: Les Promenades mall, 17 minutes away.

"Just enough time for me to share something deeper”, Etienne thought to himself.

Rain tapped softly on the car roof as Etienne drove. Ismael, the young man who had just selflessly helped a stranger, sat quietly beside him.

He broke the silence with a question: “Are you from France?”

Etienne smiled and shared a bit about his life. How he was born in Switzerland, married a woman from Paris, and together they raised three boys.

Ismael listened with interest as Etienne continued. He spoke about his work with ShareWord Global, and how a mission trip to Kenya in 2024 opened his eyes to the power of the gospel and deepened his passion to share it wherever he goes.

Then came the deeper question: “What religion are you?”

Etienne didn’t hesitate. He began sharing his testimony.

He talked about being fifteen, angry and lost, and how everything changed when he asked Jesus into his heart. He described what he believes to be a miracle moment in the Swiss Alps, when God moved him nearly fifty meters to save him from falling to his death. Ismael leaned in with astonishment, taking it all in.

Then came the question: “How can I know that I have faith?”

Etienne smiled gently. “Faith is a gift from God,” he said. “And because you’re asking questions and want to understand, it means the Holy Spirit has already started working in your heart.”

When they reached the mall, Etienne turned to him. “Can I hold your hand and pray with you?” he asked.

Ismael nodded.

They prayed together, slowly and sincerely. “Dear Lord Jesus… come into my heart… forgive my sins…” Ismael repeated each word, thoughtfully.

After the prayer, Etienne felt that he could see it in Ismael’s eyes—the Holy Spirit was working. He handed him a copy of the New Testament. “This is for you,” he said.

Ismael held it carefully, grateful.

Before he left, Etienne invited him to a French-speaking church nearby—a place where he could keep learning and growing in faith.

In the middle of a rainy, frustrating afternoon, God showed up—through a flat tire, a stranger’s kindness, a 17-minute drive, a quiet prayer, and the gift of His Word.

This is the kind of moment your giving makes possible.

Let’s keep fueling the mission together.

Let’s keep sharing the gospel.

Let’s keep going.