Caribbean Basin Volunteers show God’s love

Caribbean Basin No chance encounter

In New Orleans, it’s Mardi Gras. In Martinique, it’s Carnival. In both places, it’s a celebration many evangelical Christians avoid. But this year, IMB worker Dan Sheard and French team member Brice Garres went out on the street a few hours before the Carnival parade began and asked people if they could pray for them. They had meaningful conversations with about 10 people, four of whom accepted tracts. The next week, a school holiday, Dan and his wife, Sue, took their children hiking and then to the beach. They had been there only about 10 minutes when a family arrived and the man approached them. He was one of the people who had accepted a tract the previous week. The families spent the rest of the day together. “We had a very nice time together, continuing to talk of the Lord and how we thought it remarkable that He had brought our paths together again,” says Sue. The Sheards hope their new friends will return to their home in France this month with a new faith in Christ.

East Africa A gift that shows Jesus’ love
From Today’s Prayer, March 26, 2003

A Tanzanian Baptist evangelist who works among the Zigua of Tanzania spent several weeks in the hospital being treated for tuberculosis. When the churches in his association heard about his high hospital bill, each church gave money to help pay it. A pastor went to the evangelist at his father’s home to deliver the gift. The evangelist was very touched to receive the money from the churches, but his father, a member of another religion, was also moved when he heard the money came from other Christians. The pastor told him the Christians gave this money because of Jesus’ love. “We have nothing like this in our religion,” replied the father.

Use this story story to teach others that their gifts through the Cooperative Program and to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering are also a way to show God’s love to non-Christians around the world.

East Africa The power of God’s Word
based on Intercom, March 2003

More than 100 Tanzanian villagers listened for hours as volunteers from the United States told the stories of the Bible from creation to the resurrection. When they finished, the missionary with the team asked those who wanted to hear more about accepting Christ to stay. No one moved. Then one man said, “We’re not leaving. We all want to hear more about accepting Jesus.”

East Asia A most precious gift

The first time the young Chinese woman held a Bible in her hands, she trembled with excitement. Looking into the eyes of the giver, she timidly asked, “When do I have to give this back to you?” The Christian friend replied, “This is yours. You don't have to give it back.” Tears rolled down the cheeks of the one who had received her own copy of the most precious book of all.

The people of China are hungry for God’s Word. Lead your church in praying they will receive it.

East Asia International missions in the United States

The Taiwanese couple were devout Buddhists, so devout that the husband had participated in Buddhist ritualistic ceremonies and the wife had mutilated her scalp and body with burns to reflect that devotion. Together they had performed acts of service and given money to appease Buddha. But when an earthquake devastated Taiwan in 1999, the couple suffered tremendous financial loss. They begged their gods for deliverance, but no help came. Finally in desperation, they began to listen to their daughter, who had accepted Christ while studying in the United States. They had resisted her witness many times, but she had persisted in calling and even faxing to them from America to tell them about Jesus. They finally turned to Jesus to save them and to carry their burdens. Now they speak boldly of the one and only true God who lives and reigns in their hearts.

By reaching out in friendship to international students at a university near you, your church can touch the world. Call the Baptist student ministries director to find out how to adopt an international student.

East Asia Completing the assignment

Several Chinese believers seeking to reach a city for Christ were encouraged by their spiritual mentor to share Christ with five persons each prior to their next training time. But when they met together a week later, only one reported he had done so. He shared that only four of the five to whom he had witnessed had accepted Christ. Then, pointing to a friend who had accompanied him to the training session, he said, “But I brought the fifth one with me.” Before the end of the evening’s training session, that fifth one also had accepted Christ into his heart!

East Asia A gift worthy of the Father’s love

The elderly Chinese villager who had accepted Christ only a few weeks earlier had been waiting to ask an important question. Sitting down beside the one who had led him to the truth, he asked, “What kind of gift does the heavenly Father want me to give Him?” His Christian friend lovingly replied that all that God wants is our hearts and our lives. The impoverished villager responded with relief and joy, explaining that from the moment that he accepted Christ, he had worried that he could never afford a gift that would be worthy of the Father’s love.

South Asia How God Uses Persecution

Throughout history those who love, obey and serve God have been persecuted by those who do not know Him personally. That persecution always leads to the advancement of the Kingdom. Consider a modern day example.

“Adam” is a young Christian in rural India. In his Hindu village, people were antagonistic to the gospel. One day Adam’s older brother and wife became the first believers in the village. Although Adam was not willing to follow, he observed the changed lives of his brother and sister-in-law. They began to share the gospel with other villagers, but no one would listen to them. Then the beatings began. But every time the Hindus beat Adam’s brother, someone in the crowd became a believer. Eventually, Adam himself believed in Christ and began suffering the same persecution as his brother. One day the villagers surrounded Adam, his brother and the small group of new Christians. In rage they had prepared a huge pot of boiling water and were preparing to cook the Christians alive. Then one of the Hindus calmed the mob and said, “If we do this even more will become Christians,” so they agreed to just beat the believers. As a result others were added to the family of Christ. They now have a church of more than 35 families in that village.

South Asia The Church Built on Bloody Ground

Many churches in South Asia were planted in sacrificial service by faithful believers who endured persecution, beatings and even death to take the gospel to the unreached. Pastor Joseph’s story is typical of the pioneer church planters of South Asia.

West Africa Her prayer was answered

West Africa An urgent assignment from God
from Lynn Kennedy via Sarah Haun, 02/10/03

Missionary Lynn Kennedy and four Dagaaari Baptist leaders in Ivory Coast had just taught in a village where they came often. As they were leaving, out of the corner of her eye, Lynn saw a very old woman sitting under the tree. For months, Lynn had seen this woman under the same tree every time they visited the village. The woman had never come to their meetings. But today, the Holy Spirit told Lynn to stop the car, back up, get out and share God’s love with the old woman. As she hesitated, He told her the woman was going to die and spend an eternity in hell without Jesus. Lynn did as she had been told and the old woman said she understood and asked Jesus to cleanse her of her sins.

Use this story to illustrate the urgency of sharing the gospel now.

West Africa Prayerwalkers see answered prayer
from Intercom, 03/03

Western Pacific Guaranteed security

The death of co-worker Bill Hyde led Ann Lovell, IMB worker in the Philippines, to reflect on why she and others stay where they are:

“Bill had told his Sunday school class just a few days before his death that he was willing to give his life for Filipinos if necessary. Ironically, while Bill often traveled to remote and somewhat dangerous areas, he did not die in the jungles of Mindanao.  Instead, he lost his life standing in a ‘safe place’ among countless Filipinos, many of whom were also seriously injured or died as a result of the blast. Our regional leader shared in a Feb. 11, 2003, letter to all personnel in the Western Pacific region, ‘The tragic events in the Philippines [i.e., the kidnapping of Martin and Gracia Burnham] and Yemen, along with the Columbia shuttle tragedy have also reminded me that our chosenness in Christ and the calling God has placed upon each of our lives do not necessarily guarantee our safety. We live in a world that is unsafe. However, the fact that we are chosen as God’s children and called according to His purpose does guarantee our security! Regardless of what may happen we are eternally secure in God’s presence and protection.’

“I can’t help but think of the countless others throughout the world who believe that they are standing in a “safe place” but do not have the security of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, many of the Filipinos who stood in that ‘safe place’ with Bill and died along with him will remain unknown to many of us. We hope that many of them are in heaven with Bill.  Sadly, though, we recognize that many likely died without the security of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  

“This is why we are here.  This is why we stay.”