1. The story of Dawson Trotman ofLong Beach CaliforniaFrom: Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

2. Dawson drove a truck for a One night he was so drunkliving. he couldnt find his car but He was not always the he did find a policeman whobest branch on the vine.changed Dawsons lifeforever with a question. When he was young and Son, do you like this kindstill in school he was theof life?class president, chairman of The policemanthe student council, anddidnt arrest himcaptain of the basketball for drunkennessteam. but did council As if that wasnt enough he him and get himgraduated with honors and going in the rightwas the class valedictorian.direction. Dawson attended a Bible Then his life crumbled andstudy that challenged theled to gambling, seriousgroup to memorize tendrinking and other fast and verses about salvation.destructive living. 3. Of the group Dawson was In Junethe only one to memorize all 1956,ten.Dawson Dawson then realized thatTrotman,the emptiness he was tryingfounder of Theto fill with living in the fast Navigators, alane, could only be filledscripture basedwith God.program that had spread to As he said, saying you over 90 countries, drownedwere a Christian wasntin New York while trying toenough so Dawson set out save the life of a swimmerto make disciples for thewho was in trouble.Lord. At the time of his Dawson had begun a Bible death, the now famous Billystudy with a couple of boysGraham, interrupted hison Saturday mornings inevangelist crusade inLong Beach.Oklahoma City to preach Dawsons funeral. 4. At the funeral Billy made It was the sapthe statement that Dawson of the vine, thehad touch more lives than Holy Spirit, thatany other man he knew.fed and led Billy should know.Dawson to It was Dawson whothe Bible studydeveloped follow-up materialand the memorization of thefor Billy in his early years of verses which led him to God.preaching. What a marvelous vine As a young branch on thegrower we have who lovesvine all looked well forhis vine, knows when toDawson but in time he prune, how much to pruneneeded some pruning fromand applies the right amountthe vine grower who placedof fertilizer to feed thea policeman in Dawsons branches of his church thatpath. produce the fruitful harvest. 5. Excerpts from The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of theUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.