I heard someone tell this story a couple of weeks ago, then found the original story from Ken Gaub (which I've edited a bit). It probably happened thirty-five years ago, but it is such a good example of God's economy. Not only will he use a supernatural event to bring someone to the kingdom, her will use the same event to encourage his children when they are struggling!
Do you believe that God not only loves you but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had.
I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with my wife Barb and our children. We turned off the highway for a rest, and my wife and children went into a restaurant. I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so I waved them off ahead saying I'd join them later.
I bought a fountain drink and as I walked up the street, feelings of self-pity enshrouded my mind. That had been happening for a while. I loved the Lord and my small television ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was empty.
Suddenly the impatient ringing of a nearby telephone jarred me out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner near me. Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone?
I thought the traffic flowing through the busy intersection must have drowned out the sound because everyone else seemed oblivious to the ringing.
“Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?” I muttered.
It kept ringing.
Then I began reasoning. It may be important. What if it's an emergency? Curiosity overcame my indifference, and I walked over and stepped inside the booth and picked up the phone.
“Hello?” I said casually and took a big sip of my drink.
The operator said: “Long distance call for Ken Gaub.”
My eyes widened, and I almost choked on a chunk of ice.
Swallowing hard, I said, “You're crazy! This can't be! I was walking down the road, not bothering anyone and the phone was ringing—”
Is Ken Gaub there?” the operator interrupted, “I have a long distance call for him.”
I was shaken, perplexed, and searching for a possible explanation, I wondered if I could possibly be on some candid camera show.
“How in the world did you reach me here? I was just walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and I just answered it on chance. You can't mean me.” I explained.
“Well,” the operator asked, unimpressed. “Is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?” Her tone convinced me the call was real.
“Yes, I am Ken Gaub,” I answered.
Then I heard another voice in the background say, “Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub.”
As the operator put the call through, I listened dumbfounded to a strange voice identify herself. “I'm Millie from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't know me, Mr. Gaub, but I'm desperate. Please help me.”
“What can I do for you?”
She began weeping, but when she finally regained control, she continued. “I was about to commit suicide and had just finished writing a note. But I prayed to tell God I really didn't want to do this.
“Then I suddenly remembered seeing you on television, and I thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me. Of course I knew that was impossible because I didn't know how to reach you.
“But then some numbers came to my mind, and I scribbled them down on my notepad.”
At this point she began weeping again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help her.
She continued. “I looked at the numbers and thought, Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and he has given me Ken's phone number? I decided to try calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you! Are you in your office?”
I replied, “Lady, my office is in Yakima, Washington.”
A little surprised, she asked, “Oh really? Then where are you?”
“Don't you know?” I responded. “You made the call!”
She explained, “No. I don't even know what area I'm calling. I just dialed the number that I had on this paper.”
“Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!”
“Really?” she exclaimed. “What are you doing there?”
I kidded her gently, “Well, I'm answering the phone. It was ringing as I walked by, so I answered it.”
Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, I began to counsel her. She told me of her despair and frustration, and the presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth, giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and met the One who would lead her out of her situation into a new life.
I walked away from that telephone booth with an electrifying sense of our Heavenly Father's concern for each of his children, including me!
What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time.
Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering if they would believe my story. Maybe I better not tell this, I thought, but I couldn't contain it.
“Barb," I said to my wife. "You won't believe this! God knows exactly where I am!”
Ken Gaub was an international minister from Washington who--among other things--had a radio broadcast on 700 stations and wrote several books. He died in February of 2023. You can more learn more about Ken here.
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