“. . . I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19)
Twenty-nine years ago on September 17, 1992, the Lord called me to start a church on a Pacific island. The “heavenly vision” happened during a graveyard shift in the United States Air Force while watching a news report on the War in the Pacific during World War II. A World War II veteran was interviewed, and that veteran was a missionary on the island of Saipan. The news segment ended showing the missionary’s church singing “Bring Them In.” At that moment, the Lord called me to go and do likewise. Island Baptist Church opened its doors on January 7, 2001. With more than 5,000 people whom I have personally led to Christ, I thank the Lord for calling me into His service.
Since my last update, the Lord blessed and used me to lead 16 people to Christ personally. A small window of opportunity opened for me to lead a man to Christ who was having difficulty getting a soda machine to accept his dollar bill. I approached him and asked my “Pastor’s question” (whether he knew he would go to Heaven when he died). The man did not know and allowed me to present the Gospel to him. A sense of urgency was present, so I went straight to the point in explaining the Gospel. To which he said that he understood and believed. We then prayed together, and he received the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart as his personal Saviour. The moment he opened his eyes from praying, with his mask still covering his face, he looked over my shoulder, raised his eyebrows high in concern, then left abruptly without saying a word. I turned to see where he went and saw the man catching up to a lady getting into a car. As they both left together, I thought, One day he won’t have to worry about being left behind.
Island Baptist Church has found an equilibrium in church attendance. Because of the island’s strict mandates, attendance has been distributed over the different service times. As a result, some of our folks don’t see each other often. I am thankful our members come faithfully, still wearing masks, some vaccinated, some not. The Lord continues to work in their lives, maturing them spiritually and answering their prayers as they put forth the effort to be faithful and to be a good testimony and witness for Christ.
Agnes, our church member who has been with us the longest, went Stateside for a second cancer opinion. She recently returned temporarily and gave us a good report. She had two things done: an imaging and a biopsy. The imaging of the area where the cancer was removed looked free and clear of cancer. The biopsy report will be read on the 29th of November when she will receive her results. She returned to the States to see the doctor for that. Thank you for praying for her, and please continue to pray for the pending results.
Thank you for your prayers and for faithfully supporting us. We see the Lord in our lives and ministry and know your prayers are instrumental. Our ministry continues to be blessed and used of the Lord to reach people with the Gospel, teaching and preaching His Word to those who assemble with us at Island Baptist Church. Your support makes this ministry possible. May the Lord continue to bless you for it.
In His harvest field,
Dan Rothwell and Family
