The “banana bread” Bible

May 8, 2006

By Donna Molizon

My husband, Jeff, and I have been involved for many years with our church’s bus ministry. It’s so exciting to bring about 200 people from seven areas in Burlington, N.J., to Fountain of Life Center each week.

Whenever my enthusiasm begins to waver, I think of Maria.

It was a Saturday in the early 1990s, and I simply felt too tired to make my visiting rounds to invite families to church the next day.

I can’t remember how many times I had visited Maria’s house. I would stop by, knock on her door, and ask if her two boys could come to church that week. She would always hesitate. Then say no.

As I approached Maria’s house, I was already too discouraged to expect any other reply. But a strange thought began running through my head. Banana bread. Banana bread. It just kept repeating itself, even as I stood at Maria’s door and tried to start a conversation.

It sounded so crazy, but finally I blurted out, “Maria, do you have a recipe for banana bread? Have you ever tried it?”

She looked shocked. Then, for the first time, she invited me into her home. She broke into a story that blew me away.

Maria was raised in Guatemala and was an only child of 5 years when her mother came down with pneumonia. Her father was a hard man and had no patience with his wife’s illness. She tried to keep up with his expectations, but more and more of the load fell to Maria.

About a month into this ordeal, a woman knocked at the family’s door. It was a missionary they had seen in their community but had never talked to. The missionary had heard of their need. She offered to visit their home, care for Maria’s mother, and do all the household chores. She understood Maria’s father could not find out and wanted no money in return. Out of desperation, Maria’s mother agreed.

Thanks to this missionary’s secret visits and tireless work, Maria’s mother finally recovered.

“How can I thank you?” she asked the missionary.

Both women knew Maria’s father would never let the family attend the missionary’s church.

“I love banana bread,” the missionary said with a smile.

As Maria told me this story, I was amazed at the simple way God chose to communicate His love to her. She associated the God of that missionary with the God I serve. Maria gave her heart to Christ that day. Not only did she faithfully attend our church, but her boys were actively involved in Royal Rangers and in our children’s productions.

They moved away a few years ago, but I’ve never forgotten them. And I’ve never forgotten that missionary. She did all that work, and she never had the privilege of seeing anyone in Maria’s family come to the Lord. But 40 years later, Maria didn’t remember a sermon, a tract or a quoted Bible verse. She remembered a tangible act of kindness, and the smell of her mother’s banana bread.

Jeff and Donna Molizon attend Fountain of Life Center (AG) in Burlington, N.J. (Paul J. Graban, pastor).