Every Kindred, Tongue, People and Nation...

I always love Sundays. I love the fellowship and corporate worship with brothers and sisters - no matter what kindred, tongue, or nation they may be from. Yesterday was an exceptional joy for several reasons. The most outstanding reason was a testimony given by one of our Bible College students - Desmond Nji Atanga. Desmond is actively involved in social programs here in Cameroon and abroad. He has been invited to participate in several overseas conferences (including conferences in Asia - Indonesia, Africa - Kenya, Europe - Finland, North America - New York, and South America - Columbia). Most recently Desmond visited New York and Columbia. Desmond shared how he always distributes Gospel tracts wherever he travels (including the Muslim nation of Indonesia) and is sensitive to the Great Commission's mandate to preach the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. While in New York city, Desmond met conference attendees from around the world. During free time one day, Desmond shared the Gospel with several friends and an Italian lady named Nicole trusted in Christ as her Savior! The church rejoiced and praised the Lord, but Desmond's account of his trip was not finished. From NY, Desmond told of his visit and conference in Columbia, South America. He stayed with two families while there. The first home was owned by Camilo and his wife Maria Ann. Camilo speaks English well, but Maria Ann does not. After supper one evening, Desmond shared the Gospel with Camilo, and even though he claimed to be protestant, he admitted that he had never heard this good news before. Camilo bowed his head and trusted in Christ that evening! Desmond told him that he now had the responsibility to share the Good News with his Catholic wife. Maria Ann listened intently to her excited, born again husband and concluded that she too needed to be saved. She stated that she felt that this important decision was something she needed to do in private and promised to believe in Christ later (pray for Maria Ann). The second family Desmond stayed with in Columbia was a staunch Roman Catholic family. Javier, his wife Romerice, his brother and sister-in-law got to know Desmond. One evening, Desmond shared the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with his hosts. Great conviction and lots of questions were their response. By the end of that evening, Desmond told our church, the entire family bowed their heads and began to pray directly to God through Jesus Christ for the first time in their lives! Every prayer they had ever offered before that moment was through the image of Mary. They all four professed Christ as their Savior that night! They were overwhelmed with the privilege of praying directly to God. Desmond recalled how they prayed, and prayed, and kept praying. Tears of joy and gratitude were flowing. At one point Romerice walked into the next room and brought out the family statue of Mary. She threw the idol down, causing it to shatter in pieces and went back to thanking God that she no longer had to pray through her image ever again! Praise the Lord! I want to encourage our ministry partners to realize that while we have been planting and watering in Cameroon, we have seen people added to the Kingdom of God who have gone out from Cameroon to plant and water and see God give the increase in people from Sweden, Italy, Columbia, Nigeria, and of course the U.S.A. It is humbling to think that the Gospel tracts and discipleship materials we have produced here in Cameroon have and are being used in several countries as well. To God be the glory! There is truly joy in serving Jesus, and the glorious, life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ has power to change lives no matter what country they are from or what language they may speak.

"I have Jesus"

As Hudson Taylor visited the inland ministries of China, he heard The following testimony from a national pastor and his wife about the unreached town of Hwo-chow... The place had long been on Pastor Hsi’s heart, though he little anticipated the way in which his desire to commence work there was to be granted. Having no means in hand that he could use for the purpose, he prayed the more earnestly day by day at family worship that the gospel might be given to the Christless population of Hwo-chow. “We have prayed very often for that city,” his wife said at length, “is it not time to do something there?“ “Gladly would I,” responded her husband, “but money is lacking. I have nothing to use for the purpose, and renting houses is expensive.” “How much would it require? “What is her question. And on hearing this reply she went away and said no more about it. But she too could not forget Hwo-chow; and next morning it was an unadorned little figure that came up and laid her packages on the table after family worship. “I think,” she said, “that God has answered our prayers about that city.” Missing something in her appearance as well as surprised at her words. Pastor Hsi opened one of the packages, to find nothing less than all her jewelry – the gold and silver ornaments, bracelets, rings, and even her hair pins so indispensable to a Chinese lady and that form her marriage dower. “You cannot surely mean,” he began, “you cannot do without“ “yes, I can,” she said joyfully. “I can do without these: let Hwo-chow have the Gospel.” And with the money they had brought, the Refuge had been opened and a good work begun. “But do you not miss your beautiful things? “Said Mr. Taylor, turning to his hostess. “ miss them! “She replied, almost with surprise. “Why, I have Jesus: is not he enough?“

The winds will never waft the story; but they must waft us...

Recalling an experience, the pain of which could never be forgotten, Mr. [Hudson] Taylor went on to tell of a Ningpo convert who, full of joy in his new-found faith, had inquired: "How long have you known this good news in your country?" "We have known it a long time," was the reluctant answer; "hundreds of years." "Hundreds of years," exclaim the ex-Buddhist leader, "and you never came to tell us!" "My father sought the truth," he added sadly, "sought it long, and died without finding it. Oh, why did you not come sooner?" "Shall we say that the way it was not open?" continue the speaker. "At any rate it is open now...What are we doing to bring them the tidings of Redeeming Love? It is no use singing as we often do: 'Waft, waft ye winds the story.' The winds will never waft the story; but they must waft us. The Lord Jesus Christ commands us, commands us each one individually – 'Go,' He says, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.' Will you say to him, 'It is not convenient'? Will you tell Him that you are busy...or for other reasons cannot obey? Will he except such excuses? Have we forgotten that 'we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,' that every one may receive the things done in his body. Oh, remember, pray for, labour for the unevangelised millions...or you will sin against your own soul!" ~Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission: The Growth of a Work of God, excerpt from chapter 1

It Is Not Convenient

Hudson Taylor and his unsaved Chinese translator, Peter, were traveling by native junk to the town of Ningpo to preach and to distribute tracts: "Mr. Taylor in his cabin was startled by a sudden splash and cry that told of a man overboard. Springing at once on deck he looked round and missed Peter. 'Yes,' exclaimed the boatmen unconcernedly, 'it was over there he went down!' To drop the sail and jump into the water was the work of a moment; but the tide was running out, and the low, shrubless shore afforded little landmark. Searching everywhere in an agony of suspense, Mr. Taylor caught sight of some fishermen with a dragnet - just the thing needed. 'Come,' he cried as hope revived, 'come and drag over this spot. A man is drowning!' 'Veh bin' was the amazing reply: 'it is not convenient.' 'Don't talk of convenience! Quickly come, or it will be too late.' 'We are busy fishing.' 'Never mind your fishing! Come - only come at once! I will pay you well.' 'How much will you give us?' 'Five dollars! only don't stand talking. Save life without delay!' 'Too little!' they shouted across the water. 'We will not come for less than thirty dollars.' 'But I have not so much with me! I will give you all I've got.' 'And how much may that be?' 'Oh, I don't know. About fourteen dollars.' Upon this they came, and the first time they passed the net through the water brought up the missing man. But all Mr. Taylor's efforts to restore respiration were in vain. It was only too plain that life had fled, sacrificed to the callous indifference of those who might easily have saved it...We condemn those heathen fishermen. We say they were guilty of the man's death - because they could easily have saved him, and did not do it. But what of the millions whom we leave to perish and that eternally? What of the plain command, 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,' and for the searching question inspired by God Himself, 'If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth thy soul doth not He know it? And shall He not render to every man according to his works?'" ~Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission: The Growth of a Work of God, excerpt from chapter 1

A Real Waste

"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." - Nate Saint, martyr

Lift Up Your Eyes

Yesterday I was talking to the pharmacist at Wal-Mart. She said, "Your insurance called and said you all need a 6 month supply of Andrew's eye drops because you are leaving the country this month." I said, "yes" and then she asked where we were going. I told her Cameroon, and she asked how long we would be visiting. I told her that is where we live. That is where Drew and his siblings grew up. I told her we have lived there more than 13 years. She just stood there with her mouth open. I am glad nobody was in line behind me and her assistant was just wrapping up with another customer. I briefly told them Drew's story and gave them each one of Drew's Gospel tracts. They were both thankful and promised to read them. As we walked away, Drew and I looked back and saw them both standing there reading their tract. "...Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." ~Jesus (John 4:35-36)