Fox News analyst Dr. Marc Siegel shared a powerful story about a young theology student who transformed thousands of life after a chance encounter with a stranger in Israel.
Dr. Siegel talked about this amazing story on TV while discussing his new book about miracles, “The Angels Among Us: How God’s Messengers Play a Role in Healing.” The story focuses on a man named Bill Rhodes who was living in Jerusalem with his wife many years ago. He was studying Biblical Hebrew but he felt a little lost about his true calling.
One day they were driving on the road to Nazareth and they picked up two hitchhikers. One of the young men happened to be a medical student from Britain.
When Bill asked him why he wanted to be a doctor the young man gave an answer that changed the course of history for thousands of people. He simply said, “I would just like to see if couldn’t alleviate a little bit of suffering in some small corner of the world someday in the name of Jesus.”
That short conversation was a true divine appointment. Because of that chance meeting Bill decided right then to go into medicine to help others. He went back to the United States and pushed through years of hard medical training. Even though he started later in life, he became a board certified general and plastic surgeon.
Dr. Bill Rhodes then packed up his wife and four kids and moved to rural western Kenya to serve at Kapsowar Mission Hospital. For over two decades this Christian medical missionary has performed life saving surgeries for people with severe burns and tumors. He literally built the hospital into a major regional surgical center providing high level care.
I find it absolutely beautiful how he and his wife travel across Africa to treat patients in remote places that have no access to modern medical care. African Mission Healthcare even awarded Dr. Rhodes the Gerson L’Chaim Prize for his outstanding Christian medical missionary service. His son also became a surgeon and joined him in this vital work.
Dr. Siegel shared that this dedicated doctor recently won major humanitarian awards for his selfless service in Africa.
How many times have we asked ourselves whether we’re in the right place God intended for us? It may be our jobs, our role in the church, or ministry. We ask God to reveal His true purpose for us. But let me tell you, God sees our hearts and He will direct our steps exactly where they need to go. It may come through a gentle whisper from the Holy Spirit in our heart, or through a person.
If you go back to Acts chapter 8, you see Philip doing great work in Samaria, but then the Holy Spirit directs him to a new place. The Spirit tells him to leave that busy city and walk down to a dusty desert road. Now that made zero sense on paper. Why leave a major revival to go stand in the middle of a lonely desert? But Philip obeyed without questioning God.
While he was walking down that road, a grand chariot drove past carrying a wealthy government official from Ethiopia. This man was sitting there reading the prophecy of Isaiah in his Bible, but he was totally confused about what it meant. That was when the Holy Spirit whispered to Philip to go right up to that chariot.
Philip did not hesitate for a second. He ran right alongside it and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The man looked down at Philip and said, how can I unless somebody guides me?
Philip climbed right up into that chariot and explained the good news about Jesus to him using that exact scripture. Right there in the middle of nowhere that man gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized in a stream of water by the road!
That official went on his way rejoicing and carried the gospel back to Africa. Philip had no idea that his simple obedience on a dusty road would impact a whole nation, and that is exactly how the Holy Spirit moves when we listen to His voice today.
In this story, we can see so clearly how God directed Bill on that road. When he listened to that gentle whisper through a stranger, it changed not only his own life but poured out healing and hope for thousands of others.
If you have that hunger to serve God, He will surely direct you in the way you should go. When you receive such a call, trust in Him and take the next step, even if the path ahead isn’t fully clear.
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” – Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)
If you want to read more powerful testimonies like this check out Dr Marc Siegel’s new book “The Angels Among Us: How God’s Messengers Play a Role in Healing” available right here on Amazon. (We may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our ministry.)
WATCH: God Used a Single Conversation with a Stranger to Heal Thousands of People
WATCH: Dr. Bill Rhodes’ Ministry in Africa
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