As the 1960s faded into the 70s, my parents, my older sister, and I all lived in the sleepy little town of C___ S___, M___. I was five years old, going on six, and had been attending church faithfully since nine months before I was born. Fifty-six years ago this week, I sat in revival services and heard the Gospel preached one more time. I knew it so well I could preach it myself and did so often to all of our stuffed toys in the basement—but that night was different. The Gospel shifted in my mind from global to personal. It was no longer merely God loved the world and wanted to save the world, but rather, God loved me and wanted to save me. I walked the aisle that night and prayed simply, “Dear Jesus, I am going to let You save me tonight.”
About five years later, I sat in a Missions Conference in our new church when the focus shifted back. The Gospel was no longer merely personal—God wanted to save me, but rather, global—God wanted to save the whole world and was calling me to have a part in it. Thirty-seven years ago this week, I received another person into my life: C___. Soon after, with my Saviour in my heart and my sweetheart at my side, I set out to the regions beyond, striving to make a difference.
Looking back, there’s not much I would change. If I weren’t saved, I would receive Jesus, and if I weren’t married, I would marry C___. I have traveled the world preaching the good news. Many hundreds of people have received my Saviour. I have baptized over 2,000, who were converting from Islam. The last person I baptized was my own grandson. During one week recently, in the place we now serve, 5 adult Muslims received Jesus. The last 4 months have found me preaching in the U.S. I have preached 74 times in about 20 states, with several services to go in the next 3 weeks. Souls have gotten saved, like I did 56 years ago. Some have surrendered to missions, like I did 51 years ago. Several have been saved even back on the field, including the mother of one of our translators.
We are now looking forward to returning to the Middle East shortly. Pray for my dad, whose cancer seems to be worsening rapidly. Pray for my daughter S___ and her family as they return from Nigeria for a time and bring their sixth child into the world (our eighteenth grandbaby). Urgent: The day I wrote this letter, I learned that one of my grandsons will need emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor. Please pray for him also! Pray for our return and especially the matter of obtaining new visas. Pray for the other four families on our team. Pray for our foreign website to be used greatly to win souls. Pray for our YouTube channel, “Answers from Scripture.” Pray for our massive global undertaking: “Study the Word International.” Pray for God’s continued provision, protection, and power. Pray that many more will receive Jesus, whether they be five going on six or fifty going on sixty. God still wants to save the world!
Missionary #6501
