Storytelling Works at the Restaurant
By Paul Trinh

At a mission’s conference, I was introduced to a local believer. During our chatting, she told me, “I like Chinese food. In fact, I have been eating frequently at a Chinese restaurant for ten years.”

“You’ve eaten at the same Chinese restaurant for ten years?” I asked with curiosity.
She nodded.
“Have you ever shared the gospel with the Chinese workers there?” I inquired further.
After thinking for a moment, she confessed, “I have never thought about that!”

My heart sank, “Why didn’t you tell them the gospel? They’ve worked so hard every day. They worked on Sundays. They need to know God.”

I taught and encouraged this believer to tell Bible stories to the workers at her favorite Chinese restaurant. At the same time, I committed myself to Bible storytelling at restaurants. At the very least, whenever saying grace at a restaurant, I pray, “Lord, please bless the workers here to know you more.”

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Storytelling Works at the Restaurant
By Paul Trinh
Once while dining with my family at a restaurant, I wanted to tell a Bible story to the waiter. There seemed, however, no opportunity.

At the end of our meal, the waiter was talking to the diners at the next table. They exchanged ideas about weather, sports, news, and more. I looked at my watch and timed their conversation. Seven minutes! I thought to myself, “They can talk to the waiter for seven minutes. My story only takes three minutes or less. They pay tips. So do I. Then why can’t I tell this waiter a Bible story?”

Subsequently, the waiter approached our table. He greeted us with a typical, “How was the food?”
At that moment, I boldly stated, “I just thought of a story.”
“Which story?” he asked.

I proceeded to tell him the following:
One evening, a teacher told his students, “You guys go ahead to the other side of the lake.” Later at night, the wind was blowing powerfully against the boat. Those students were in trouble as they fought heavy waves.

After midnight, the teacher walked on the water to reach his students. However, they were afraid when they saw someone or something coming on the water. They cried out, “Ghost! Ghost!” Immediately the teacher comforted them, “Don't be afraid! Take courage. I am here.” After recognizing their teacher’s voice, the students calmed down.

Then one student called out, “Lord, if it is you, let me walk on the water to you.” The teacher told him, “Come!” So this student got out of the boat. He walked on the water toward his teacher. Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and the student was terrified. He began to sink into the water and cried out to the teacher, “Lord, save me!” Immediately the teacher Lord Jesus grasped his hand and said, “O man of little faith! Why did you doubt?”

Then the teacher Lord Jesus brought the student back into the boat. As soon as they got inside the boat, the strong wind stopped. When the other students saw what had happened, they knelt down and worshiped the Lord Jesus, “Truly you are God!”

The waiter listened as if it was his first time hearing this story. I concluded the story by saying, “I have called out to this teacher Jesus, ‘Lord, save me!’ He did save me.”

The waiter gave me a strange look and walked away without saying anything.

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Storytelling Works at the Restaurant
By Paul Trinh
During a family vacation, my wife, her siblings and I went to a steakhouse for dinner. It was late; we were tired and hungry. After dinner, the waiter chatted with us, “I worked as a high school teacher before.” His use of the word teacher seemed to be a good opening for me to share God’s word with him.

“You make me think of a story of a teacher,” I interjected into the conversation.

“Which story?” he asked.
I told him the same story from Matthew 14:22-33. He listened attentively as if he had never heard the story. After I completed the story, he laughed, “Do you mean I can be like Jesus?”
“Yes, but you need to trust in Him first,” my wife responded.
“I think I’ve heard this story before,” he replied.
“When you are in trouble, just call out to Him, ‘Lord, save me!’ And He will.” I left with him this challenge.

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Storytelling Works at the Restaurant
By Paul Trinh
On another occasion, as my wife and I finished our meal at another restaurant, she asked me to get some toothpicks from the counter by the front door. As I returned to my seat, I met the manager. He kindly greeted me. I told him, “The food was delicious!”
“I’m glad about it,” he responded.

“It makes me think of a big group of people having nothing to eat in the wilderness,” I said, and then began my story:
They were so hungry. They cried out to God for help. God answered their prayer and sent them food every morning. God told them, “You need to work six days a week to collect food for each day. On the seventh day, you need to rest. But on the sixth day, you can collect a double portion of food.

Some of the people didn’t listen to God. They went out on the seventh day to look for food. They found nothing. Then they realized God’s word was true. Thus, God fed them for 40 years.

The manager listened. After the story, he began talking about other subjects. I returned to my seat and committed the result of my witness to God.

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Storytelling Works at the Restaurant
By Paul Trinh
Restaurants have become one of my favorite places to tell Bible stories. The workers there work so hard and are so stressed each day. I hope they can enjoy God’s love.

Over the years, I have developed some guidelines:
1. When it is possible, eat out before or after the peak hour.
The restaurant workers are less busy and will have more time to talk.
2. Ask the Lord for divine appointments.
3. Pray for the workers at the restaurant while saying grace.
4. Be proactive and tell Bible story as soon as possible.
5. Leave a generous tip.