Korowai Treehouse the People ALSO in THIS ISSUE a View from the Field Africa, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America Missionary Spotlight David Silva in Peru Kris P

78 JAN - MAR 2014 THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS

KorowaI Treehouse the People ALSO IN THIS ISSUE A View from the Field Africa, europe, Eurasia, latin america Missionary Spotlight DAvid Silva in peru Kris P. in the U.S. Office For this reason, the Church can Greetings continue to march into the darkest places on earth with confidence in the Welcome to the Spring Edition of guarantee of ultimate victory. Although the HeartCry magazine. I hope that it we are a mixture of faith and doubt, finds you growing in the knowledge of obedience and hesitation, the Gospel God, the grace of Christ, and the power will ultimately triumph, because all of the Holy Spirit. authority in heaven and earth has I am writing this from Campiña been granted to Christ. This was the Grande, Brazil, where I am preaching strength of the early church, and it with other men in a week-long meeting must be ours. Like the first disciples, with over 9,000 in attendance. It is we look at ourselves and see that it is just another great illustration of how an impossible task; but when we look God is working in the world. Although to Christ, all our doubts dissipate. many parts of the West seem dark and David Brown writes: without hope, the Gospel continues to march forward in full strength, people “What must have been the feelings continue to be saved, and believers which such a Commission awak- continue to grow in grace and truth. ened [in the first disciples]! ‘We In the darkest times, we must conquer the world for Thee, Lord, always remember that God has not who have scarce conquered our abdicated His throne. Although the na- own misgivings – we, fishermen of tions are in an uproar and the peoples Galilee, with no letters, no means, devise a vain thing; although the kings no influence over the humblest of the earth take their stand against creature? Nay, Lord, do not mock the Lord and His Christ; God’s only us.’ [Then the Lord responds,] ‘I response is laughter. He has installed mock you not, nor send you to His King upon the throne of heaven, warfare on your own charges: All and the nations will not prevail against authority has been given to me Him (Psalm 2:1-6). In fact, if all the in heaven and on earth. Go ye armies of earth and hell were to join therefore. Lo, I am with you all the forces and come in full strength against days. Go ye therefore.’” (The Four Christ’s throne, it would be like a tiny Gospels, p.134) gnat beating its head against a world Your brother, of granite. Paul Washer

IN THIS ISSUE Korowai: The Treehouse People...... 3 efforts in planting biblical churches. HeartCry Associate Trevor Johnson Netherlands: Paul Washer shares about shares about the work among the a new ministry tool for Jacques Brunt. Korowai people: a remote, animistic, and sometimes polygynous lowland jungle Eastern Europe...... 16 tribe of Indonesian New Guinea. Sorin Prodan and Don Currin give a comprehensive overview of the work in A View from the Field: HeartCry Coordi- Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova. nators and Missionaries give updates on the Lord's work in their respective areas Eurasia...... 24 of labor. Holden Barry and Dimitry R. give us an idea of how the Lord is currently Africa...... 9 working in Russia. Zambia: Conrad Mbewe and Marc Glass share about a new strategy for training Latin America...... 28 students for the mission field. Kenya: Walter Isse shares about the advances Naphtally Ogallo gives a report of his in the work in Lima, Peru. 2014 recent work. ar Missionary Spotlights: Conversion testi- Western Europe...... 14 monies from a missionary and a coordinator. - M

an Germany: Peter Schild and Nathanael

J David Silva, Peru...... 29 Armisen tell us about their recent Kris P., U.S. Office...... 31

HEARTCRY MISSIONARY SOCIETY | PO BOX 3506 | Radford, VA 24143-3506 (540) 707-1005 | www.HEARTCRYMISSIONARY.COM KorowaI the P Treehouse by Trevor Johnson eople

Trevor Johnson and Paul Snider house People.” Their jungle huts sit have been laboring among the North- perched at elevations of between ern Korowai, just north of Papua’s As- six and twelve meters (20-40 feet) mat region, since 2007 and 2012 re- off the ground. Four thousand semi- spectively. They are trusted associates nomadic, never-dying tribal souls of HeartCry. You can read their testimo- live spread out over these several nies on the HeartCry Missionary Soci- hundred square kilometers of dense ety website (www.heartcrymissionary. lowland jungle. The Mission Aviation com). Fellowship pilot who lands here calls our area “the most remote area in an The Furthest Place already remote land” and “about the furthest place from anywhere.” His from anywhere float plane sets down with a splash he island of New Guinea resem- on our narrow river – a river often bles a left-facing dead bird. Its too dangerous for a float plane due carcass lies sprawled across the to wide fluctuations in depth (which T makes medical evacuation for emer- South Pacific, just north of Australia. Formerly known as Irian Jaya, Papua gencies precarious during the dry season). Roads, electricity, and land is the left half of this envisioned fowl airstrips have yet to find their way – the eastern end of Indonesia. While into this broad region. Governmental Indonesia is the world’s most popu- presence has only recently begun to lous Muslim nation, its easternmost be felt. Two years ago, this tribe was portion is home to some of the most counted in the Indonesian census for remote and neglected tribal peoples the very first time. Two dozen villages and many treehouse clusters dot this vast green expanse, and two dialects of about 2,000 speakers each divide this area roughly in half between north and south. A faithful Dutch translator labors in the southern dialect of the Korowai and is making excellent lin- guistic progress. We live further up- river, in the centrally located village of Danowage, among the northern- dialect speakers (the Korowai Batu or “Rock Korowai”). We are currently partnering with seventeen indigenous Christian evangelists from the highland Dani tribe. We desire to sat-

A typical Korowai tribesman. urate this whole region with a solid Gospel witness. remaining on earth. Our two fami- Our Ministry Team lies – the Johnsons and the Sniders – serve one such group: the Northern ur team which ministers to the Korowai people. Northern Korowai consists of National Geographic calls the O two American families: Trevor inhabitants of our region “the Tree- and Teresa Johnson (and their chil-

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 3 One of the local churches among the Korowai people. Advances are being made at great cost to both the cross-cultural missionaries and the indigenous missionaries who partner with them. dren Noah, Alethea, and Perpetua) already sent over two dozen evange- and Paul and Patricia Snider (and lists and airstrip workers here to the their children Lane and Marianne). lowlands to aid these efforts. Some We also work closely with a Dani have gone out with no financial sup- couple, HeartCry missionaries and port and have even arrived at mis- evangelists Jimi and Perin. They have sion posts with merely their machete proven particularly fruitful in help- and a net bag full of seeds and basic ing people to understand the Gospel, supplies to plant their gardens. They especially among the women and are a shocking redefinition of what youth in this region. There is also a it means to be a “tent-making” mis- broader team of over a dozen other sionary. These Dani evangelists are Dani Christian evangelists of vary- frequently stricken with malaria; and ing capabilities serving the various they endure much hardship, hunger, preaching posts throughout this re- and threats in the service of Jesus gion. However, at the moment, we Christ. Some have even buried chil- are a bit undermanned. Five of the dren here. But a readiness to suf- seventeen have been hospitalized fer and a zeal to reach their distant within the past several months due Melanesian kinsmen with the Gospel to illnesses contracted or injuries compels them onward. sustained while serving this region. For example: Pastor Bimber has a Those To Whom We broken shoulder; Brother Ainus was mauled by a wild pig; and others Minister have malaria, tuberculosis, etc. he Korowai are a remote, ani- The Gospel was planted in the mistic, and sometimes polygy- mountains of Papua a generation T nous lowland jungle tribe. They ago among the highland Dani tribe. practice semi-nomadic cultivation While many problems still face the of sago trees, bananas, and panda- Dani tribe and church, many faithful nus for food. Tribal women, with ba- believers still remain, gripped by a bies swinging from their net bags, tremendous missionary zeal to carry dam up small streams and then use the Gospel to others no matter the shovel-like spathes of the sago tree cost. Rather than bypass these indig- to bale these streams in search for enous believers that God has raised minnows left on the muddy bottom. up, we hope to equip and facilitate Some villagers still use a local plant an indigenous movement in order to to stun the fish for easy capture, but help fully reach the Korowai. We want the younger men have all but forgot- to see highland Papuan Christians ten this skill. They hunt pig and cas- reaching lowland Papuan animists. sowary and consider the sago grub Zealous Dani highland churches have worm (the larva from a local beetle)

4 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 Missionary Paul Snider with some of the Korowai tribesmen after a discipleship lesson. a delicacy. They periodically gather describe non-native things that come socially for grub feasts. in from the outside world. Thus, I The Korowai fear demons and have been called Tario-Alin (a white death-dealing witches. They rub pig- Tario), my clock is a Tario-Tup-Kun (a fat on the door frames of their tree- demonic or foreign sun circle), and houses and fashion charms to ap- bread is Tario-O (demonic or foreign pease dark forces. Some Korowai still sago). Chief among the Tario, if even clutch their heads if you photograph considered one of their class, is Saip them since they believe that the top (sometimes Saif-Abul, the Shiver- of the head is where the soul es- Man), whom most now identify as capes upon death. They believe there Satan. is a separate world that exists on the Something resembling a belief in underside of this world made up of reincarnation exists (though we are demonic Tario (Laleo in the southern still learning). The dead are reborn in dialect), who desire communion with the world of the Tario, and the Tario Yanop (people). This term has also are reborn on this side of the world. come to be used as an adjective to These two worlds are meant to stay

Missionary Trevor Johnson teaching Korowai evangelists so that they might teach others.

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 5 apart. There is a belief that when- recovering on the coast after being ever the outside world of the Tario mauled by a feral pig) untied and and the Korowai world of the Yanop carried Yamis back to Danowage mix, surely the end of the world is after the community in Ujung Batu at hand. could not decide whether to strangle The A’huwah (or xaxua or A’ua) him or drown him. Yadison, a men- are witches who are also greatly tally challenged boy from Waina, feared, who can live among us. They was tied up in the middle of his vil- supposedly shoot their victims with lage in 2009 until evangelist Yowe- invisible arrows and eat their vic- nus shielded him with his body and tims’ guts while they remain unc- brought the boy into his own home. oncious. They then replace their in- Now Yadison attends every session nards with leaves (sometimes ash), of Bible teaching and tries to soak slowly causing death. Sometimes up as much as he can despite his sick people come to our porch dur- mental limits. ing afternoon clinic complaining, “I One part of the evangelization have been shot by a hidden arrow process done by the highland indig- from Satan.” People attribute many enous Papuan evangelists has been illnesses to witchcraft and often ac- the gathering of people from scat- cuse the weak and defenseless (usu- tered tree houses into villages to ally young boys) of witchcraft when facilitate teaching and preaching. there are sicknesses. Anthropolo- These new village houses are built gist Rupert Stasch, who focused his close to the ground on stilts and do work among the southern dialect in not follow the traditional “treehouse” the mid-to-late 1990’s, documented pattern. These new “village-dwelling over 200 witch executions in the Korowai” often struggle with this recent past. The father of my son dual existence of static village living Noah's soccer companion, Pilemon, and semi-nomadic jungle circula- was murdered, dismembered, and tion. The gathering of the Korowai eaten as a witch when Pilemon was into villages brings them into closer still a young child. Yamis is a young proximity with one another and often boy who is cared for by HeartCry increases conflict for a time, until missionaries Jimi and Perin. Two they get used to each other’s pres- years ago, he was also accused of ence. witchcraft. Evangelist Ainus (now A normal way of relating to

A Korowai tribesmen teaching his people the Scriptures through proclamation and illustration.

6 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 Joyful Korowai evangelists are ready to launch out once again into the jungles to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their people. one another among the Korowai is it is reported that they do so over a through threats of violence or vocif- hole dug in the ground for such a erous demands. One anthropologist purpose. Some abandon their babies describes this as “brinkmanship” in the jungle and push leaves down (think of the Soviet Union and the their throats with a stick in order to United States during the Cold War ei- keep them quiet. ther threatening or appeasing one another as tensions ebbed and flowed). Our Longing If a husband dies in America, people e long to see a church of will visit and offer gifts and condo- Korowai believers led by Ko- lences to the widow. In contrast, a rowai shepherds. We pray Korowai widow will be met with harsh W for indigenous pastors and evange- demands for foodstuffs and gifts by lists who themselves know the Gos- the extended family. pel and who can teach the Gospel to Finally, the Korowai are some- others. Our methodology is based on times polygynous. Men barter for II Timothy 2:2: “And the things that young girls as future wives. These thou hast heard of me among many young girls then go and live in the witnesses, the same commit thou home of their future husband until to faithful men, who shall be able to menstruation begins and the mar- teach others also.” Our goal remains riage can be consummated. Many discipling tribals who can then make young mothers and their babies die tribal disciples (reaching the lost to at childbirth due to poor nutrition reach the lost). We read and discuss or the young age of the girl during bible stories to six or eight young her first pregnancy. Women often go tribal men throughout the week. Sev- out into the jungle to give birth, and eral profess faith and show lives con-

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 7 sistent with the Gospel. es. Every week we continue to pro- It is exciting to see that a few claim the Gospel to these disciples men are going out to their families’ using simple pictures. During the clan areas to proclaim the Gospel weekends, these six or eight tribal there as well. Brother Simson claims believers then take those lessons out that he does not have a single mem- to other villages and treehouses. On ber of his family who has not heard Monday morning, they begin their the Gospel clearly and believed. journey back to Danowage to spend Brother Salomo states that what he another week learning another round most desires in life is to become an of stories for further distribution. evangelist. Brothers Amsal, Daud, and Musa have trekked a day’s hike “And other sheep I have, to voluntarily deliver food to the sick which are not of this fold: in the treehouses, praying for them them also I must bring, and afterwards. Brothers Barnabas, Wa- they shall hear my voice; and hyu, Simson, and Salomo regularly there shall be one fold, and lead church services in various plac- one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

Conclusion

e have seen people profess withhold your hand; for you do not Jesus and repent of sins. know which will prosper, either this W We have seen some lives or that, or whether both alike will be changed; but not as many as we good.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4-6). We are would hope. We have seen some of planting despite frequent unfavor- the sick be healed and some who able weather and stubborn soil. We were close to death recover; but not remain confident that the Master of as many as we would like. We have the Harvest will grant fruit to our la- seen other missionaries recruited bors.  into missions; but the needs are still many. I remain confident that the Good Shepherd has His elect sheep scattered throughout this remote region. He will call them invariably through His Word. Victory is assured. Each human soul is exceedingly precious. We are immensely privileged to serve God in this needy area. Despite many trials, we thank God every day that we may serve Him here. We know from Ecclesiastes that “he who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” We have, therefore, resolved: “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not

8 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 Africa Regional Reports GO SNTUDE TS IN MISSIONS

...... : by Conrad Mbewe : : ~ Above: Some of the students attending the ~ ~ Students in Missions Conference in Lusaka, ! HeartCry’s primary partner on Afri- Zambia, in January of 2014. It is hoped can soil is Kabwata Baptist Church in ~ ~ ~ that from this student ministry God might ! Lusaka, Zambia. We have worked with ~ raise up an army of missionaries for the ~ KBC for nearly fifteen years in their ~ continent of Africa and beyond. i church-planting and mission efforts : ...... throughout Africa. In an email corre- spondence at the end of 2013, Pastor our missions coordinator, to develop Conrad Mbewe conveyed the following a short-term missions program that vision for the next season of labor. would enable us to use Christian students in missions during their holi- ore must be done in days. Whenever I would come across Africa. What’s the next an article on short-term missions, es- ÒM challenge?” After ten pecially if it had to do with students, months of praying about this question I would forward it to him to help him and never being at peace with the come up with our own program. I answers that presented themselves, suggested we call it our Students in I believe that my heart has finally Missions program. At that time, it was landed on the next challenge. It purely an effort to use the energies of is related to our new initiative for Christian young adults who are stu- campus outreach ministries and is dents to supplement what our mis- in line with our effort to swell the sionaries were doing in their various ground force for missions. I have stations. As the weeks turned into discussed the matter with our elders, months, the burden kept growing. I and we are all excited to go forward. watched our own young adults in the Let me explain: church busy serving the Lord through Our ground troops are already la- various outreach efforts with hardly boring on several different campuses, any push from me or any of the other struggling with meagre resources, elders. They are in love with the Gos- but sharing the Gospel with students. pel and want to see it impact their A few months ago, I asked Misheck, generation. It then hit me that the

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 9 BOTSWANA / KENYA / MALAWI / SOUTH AFRICA / ZAMBIA / BOTSWANA / KENYA / MALAWI / SOUTH AFRICA / ZAMBIA

Students at the Students in Missions Conference communicating the truths of the Great Commission through song.

next best move was to expose these sions. We would use the conference same young people to missions in to launch the program that Misheck the rest of Zambia and Africa. I real- had been working on. We would give ized that once they got out there, they out brochures to the students so that would translate this same love for they could read about Christ’s call to the Gospel into missions endeavours give themselves to this great king- throughout the whole of Africa. It is a dom work. fact that the great missionary move- Finally, with HeartCry’s help, our ments of the 19th and early 20th cen- one-year pastoral internship program turies were born among students (for is growing. Next year, we are expect- example: the Haystack Prayer Meet- ing interns from Zambia, South Af- ing in Williams College in 1806). So if rica, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Canada, we could get even more students with and more. This year, we have sent out sound doctrine exposed to missions one man who has gone through the while they are in this formative stage internship program, and we are in the of their lives, we could, under God, process of ordaining a second one. begin an unstoppable ground swell Although this is extremely profitable, of indigenous missionaries to take the benefit of the Students in Missions the Gospel across Africa and beyond. program is that we will have the stu- I put these things before our el- dents with us for about three to five ders, and they heartily endorsed years. During this period, they will them. In fact, they agreed that our be taught the Gospel in all its height next missions conference in January and depth, discipled by older church of 2014 should be under the theme members, and exposed to missions. “Students in Missions.” Furthermore, If this ground swell does occur, it we intended to “bus in” students could be the start of a second great from the various college and uni- missionary movement from African versity campuses across Lusaka for students! Pray with us! Pray with us! four days of preaching about mis- STUDENTS IN MISSIONs UPDATE In February of 2014, Pastor Con- e have just finished our 2014 rad Mbewe updated HeartCry on what missions conference and transpired at their annual missions con- W missionary prayer retreat. ference in January. He also noted, as The Lord was with us. The theme you will read, a further development in was “Students in Missions,” and KBC’s vision for their Students in Mis- Isaac Makashinyi did an excellent sions program. job in showing us the personnel, the potential, and the price of missions.

10 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 / BOTSWANA / KENYA / MALAWI / SOUTH AFRICA / ZAMBIA

Pastor Isaac Makashinyi was the main speaker for the 2014 Stu- dents in Missions Conference. He delivered powerful exhortations on the need and cost of missions.

Last night, one student wrote to me, churches would become a spring- “I enjoyed the missions conference; it board for further missions work in was a big eye-opener. It is only after their respective nations. It would also that conference that I realized how be easier to network these churches under-utilized I have been. I have been in an Africa-wide fellowship, as they comfortable with just being saved. It would all be using the same language. was indeed a beneficial theme!” We Once we have covered the majority had a very good spirit among all our of the English-speaking nations, we missionaries. I can sense a maturing can then start spilling over into the taking place among most of them, French- and Portuguese-speaking especially when I compare them to countries as well. We need to cover their first years with us. Africa with good, solid churches that We have also decided to make will have a “lighting” and “salting” a new desire of ours a matter of effect upon their nations. We have prayer and planning: the planting of lost too much ground to religious at least one reformed Baptist church chaos. We think that Students in in each of the capitals of English- Missions may give us the nursery bed speaking African nations. We believe for the indigenous missionaries we that if we can achieve this, these need to cover the whole of Africa! Heartcry's involvement in students in missions by Marc glass

pringing forth from their vision dents will be bussed to the church to further utilize college stu- from various campuses around Lu- S dents in mission and church- saka for the purpose of continuing planting endeavors, HeartCry has discipleship efforts. Because the committed to helping Kabwata Bap- various colleges and private universi- tist Church in two specific ways. ties close at different times through- First, we have sent funds for KBC out the year, KBC will be able to uti- to purchase a bus for transporting lize different groups of students for students to various mission stations short-term missions trips through- throughout the country. Every year at out the year. These short-term trips Kabwata’s annual missions confer- will also bolster our mission stations, ence, they take up a one-time offer- as the students will work alongside ing to be used for a missions cause. current KBC and HeartCry mission- Prior to the conference in January, aries. Combining HeartCry’s gift with KBC’s elders determined that this the missions conference offering, year's special offering should be des- Kabwata was able to purchase two ignated to purchasing a missions missions buses. bus. During the school term, the stu- Secondly, part of the Students in

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 11 BOTSWANA / KENYA / MALAWI / SOUTH AFRICA / ZAMBIA / BOTSWANA / KENYA / MALAWI / SOUTH AFRICA / ZAMBIA

Missions program will involve train- work. Those that are active members ing young adults for the work of mis- of KBC already do this for the vari- sions. To avoid giving them a paid ous ministries of the church, so now holiday, Kabwata will have the stu- they want this to translate into mis- dents raise a certain percentage of sions endeavors. To help in this work, their money needed for the trips. The HeartCry has determined to give a students will do this by asking Chris- set number of “scholarships” to be tian friends and relatives to sponsor applied to some of the students’ them and by doing extra fund-raising funds, at Kabwata's discretion.

MISSIONARY REPORT by Naphtally Ogallo

Naphtally has been involved in sermons on holiness were most ap- church planting since 1975, when preciated. he worked to establish Trinity Baptist I also continue to preach exposi- Church in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds a tionally through the Gospel of Mark B.A. in Theology from Wales Evangeli- on the Lord’s Day. It is wonderful to cal School of Theology in Brynterion, continue to see the Lord Jesus Christ Wales. He and his wife Helida and their as the gracious and sovereign Saviour two children are now laboring in Grace of sinners. Through and through, our Baptist Church in Eldoret, Kenya, a Lord kept to the purpose of His com- church that Naphtally planted and has pastored since its inception. ing – “Not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” nce again we are glad to write We are glad to see how the Lord and share with you our news so is equipping Paul Wamkowa Keno in O that you might pray for us. It the area of preaching. Paul has come is the practice of many to make New to embrace the doctrines of grace Year’s resolutions, and our congrega- with all his heart and might. He is tion is not exempt. At the beginning greatly benefiting from our reformed of the year, I preached from Hebrews theological studies. He delivers God’s 12:14: “Pursue peace with all men, Word with passion and is active in and the sanctification without which evangelism. Please pray for this dear no one will see the Lord.” Why this brother's continued development. choice of a passage? At the beginning As a church, we have a weekly of the year, I phoned a dear Chris- memory verse, and a recent one has tian brother, my former teacher and greatly encouraged us: “Therefore, mentor, to wish him and his wife a my beloved brothers, be steadfast, Happy New Year. In our brief conver- immovable, always abounding in the sation, I expressed to him that look- work of the Lord, knowing that in ing back over the previous year I have the Lord your labour is not in vain” had a sense of regret since I did not (1 Corinthians 15:58). With a small achieve “great things for the Lord” as membership in our church, it is not I would have wanted. Now standing unusual for us to doubt the Lord’s at the threshold of a new year, I won- presence; but this verse has been of dered if I would realize those desires constant encouragement to us. We for the Lord. This godly man gently want to spend and be spent for the exhorted me and said, “Naphtally, Lord. We are learning to count it a what ultimately matters is not what privilege as we share in our people’s great things you will have achieved, lives. Two young men who are church but whether or not you are holy; for members are in the university, two without holiness, you will not see the other young men are in college, two Lord!” This was a very timely remind- boys are in secondary school, and er. I was then immediately convinced now three girls have just enrolled in that my congregation needed the tailoring and dress-making courses. same guidance. The two subsequent As each one of them faces similar

12 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 / BOTSWANA / KENYA / MALAWI / SOUTH AFRICA / ZAMBIA

economic challenges, had traveled from Eldoret we do what we can for to visit her at her hospi- them and then encour- tal ward in Kisumu in the age them to learn to company of my mum and look to our sovereign my older brother. While Lord. Please pray with we were still within the us for them. hospital, she passed on! Please pray with Our plan to travel back us also with regard to a Paul Wamkowa Keno to Eldoret the same day plot of land that is ear- is being prepared for was therefore canceled, marked for our church the Gospel ministry by and we began to make use. We have been Brother Naphtally. burial arrangements. We steadfast in prayer to decided to conduct the the Lord for the provision of funds for burial five days later. Mobilizing all of the purchase. We believe that eventu- our family members to the practical ally moving the church to its own plot realization of our goal turned out to will make a radical difference to our be one of the most testing and chal- ministry in Eldoret. lenging task of our lives. However, the We continue to receive invitations Lord was very gracious to enable us for ministry from various institutions. to give our only sister and the young- The two wings of learning at Moi est member of our family a decent Teaching and Referral Hospital have burial. The more we felt pushed to called us for ministry. At the School the wall, as it were, the more we ex- of Medicine, I preached from Ephe- perienced and felt the sufficiency of sians 2:10; and at the Kenya Medical God’s grace. My sister left behind a Training College (KMTC) for nurses, I daughter, Helen, and a son, Tom, who taught on what is currently a contro- has just joined secondary school. versial national debate – homosexual- Two weeks after the burial of my ity. The discussion afterward revealed sister, my cousin’s son was brutally just how timely and relevant the murdered while at night duty. He was teaching was. I was invited to preach buried last Saturday. Please pray that on Sunday, February 23, at Achego these tragedies would push our whole Girls High School. My wife Helida and family to seek hard after the Lord. I had already had an opportunity to A fierce exchange of gunfire address the same school last month erupted a week ago between Islamic on January 12. Another invitation youths and the police at a mosque that has come is to a local FM Chris- in Mombasa. The youths were being tian Radio Station. I have been asked “radicalized” in connection with Al- to prepare a brief series of talks on Shabab. The government has reacted “Family Life.” We are greatly encour- by tightening requirements for opera- aged and excited by the interest be- tions of religious groups, including ing generated in these important in- churches. We must pray if the Gospel stitutions for biblical teachings. of the grace of God is to be the ur- The death of my only sister, gent and true response to all these Grace, on January 6 became a diffi- threats and reactions. Please breth- cult experience for our entire family, ren, pray with us!  but especially for Helida and me. We ...... ,• = • ... :\ l•v·. · - "" • •1 , •~ ', • • ' . .J ,/· ·~• \Ji,•~ -~...... ,.\ . ; · • , . :)- -.. • ./ 1-t. L-, ' ' ... .'\'.'£ \. . ."J .~ ' --J I\ , . . ~ ..a, . I ~ ~~ · 1 .;?~,' .~},._? , _,' ~.i .·. •,:. 1 ";.1' ~ t ·--~ ~ P.:• ., .. _... -;. ~}..,.,, ;r\J \ ~ ft,, : .,:::;>,- .J . :>; -,L,:r.,· ~ • . in ,,..1-4 ~ -~ . ' . . . ,.. Brother Naphtally and the members of Grace Baptist Church of Eldoret, Kenya, in front of their temporary meeting place. THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 13 Peter teaching the congregation in Wetzlar. WesternEurope GO aRe ching the Lost in Germany

by Peter Schild and Nathanael Armisen

Peter Schild and Nathanael Ar- the teeth of our exertions, and misen are working to plant biblical let not one go there unwarned churches in Germany. Throughout the and unprayed for.” week, they are teaching, preaching, and evangelizing in the streets of Wetz- Next to our weekly preaching and lar and Frankfurt. teaching ministry in the church, we consider it a tremendous privilege e would like to begin this re- and pleasure to share the Gospel with port with a very powerful and hundreds of people on the streets of challenging quote by Charles W Germany and from door to door. We Spurgeon of the Metropolitan Taber- preach Christ to all kinds of people nacle. He said: in all kinds of situations. Every week “Have you no wish for others we hand out a great number of Gos- to be saved? Then you are not pel tracts, Bibles, and booklets. We saved yourself. Be sure of that... face a lot of rejection, but the more If a man has come to have a love we proclaim the Gospel, the more joy for perishing sinners and his we receive. Every week we encounter blessed Master, then the saving people who are open to learn more of souls will be an all-absorbing about the Gospel and show interest passion to him. It will so carry in visiting our services. For example, him away that he will almost we recently had the opportunity to forget himself in the saving of visit the home of two Syrian asylum- others. He will be like the brave seeking men three times in a row to fireman, who cares not for the speak to them about the Gospel and scorch or the heat, so that he to study the Bible together for several may rescue the poor creature on hours. whom true humanity has set its Our church in Wetzlar (Reformed heart. If sinners will be damned, Baptist Church) has now officially at least let them leap to hell sent us out as missionaries to begin over our bodies. And if they will a church-planting work in the city of perish, let them perish with our Frankfurt. As soon as we have a place arms about their knees, implor- to meet in a flat, we will begin to evan- ing them to stay. If hell must be gelize in Frankfurt and to offer a week- filled, at least let it be filled in ly Bible study and fellowship time.

Nathanael answering the questions of an inquirer at the book table. The response of the people is greatly varied. Some oppose, some are only curious, but others stop and listen. Whatever the case, the Gospel is preached, and for this we must rejoice.

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Please pray for the moving process – that we will be able to find the right place to live and make all the proper arrangements. Also pray for Nathanael and his wife Domi- nique, as they are expecting their first child in August. Finally, please pray for all of us as we strive to make Christ known in Wetzlar and Frank- furt. We need the Lord to grant us a greater and greater burden for the lost. We desire that sinners be saved for God’s glory, that they turn from Brother Nathanael doing door-to-door their sin to worship the one true God. evangelism in the streets of Germany. At the end of March, our church will host a conference with the title a wake-up call for many Christians to “Evangelism with Heart.” Pastor join the Great Commission more ear- and author Jeremy Walker from the nestly. Please pray for the prepara- U.K. will be the speaker. We expect tion, the speaker, and everyone who visitors from across the country and will be attending. beyond. As a church, we long to see Finally, thank you so much for more biblical evangelism and church every single prayer that you offer to planting in our country, and we hope the Lord on our behalf! We are truly and pray that this conference will be blessed through your intercession.

A New Car for a network throughout the Netherlands. A trustworthy vehicle is absolute- Worthy Ministry ly necessary for Jacques’ itinerant By Paul washer preaching ministry. For this reason, when we heard that he had need, we acques T. Brunt is an itinerant were glad to help. Through your giv- preacher, teacher, and evange- ing, HeartCry was able to supply the J list in the Netherlands. He was $11,600 that was still needed for a married to Annette in 2004, and they new vehicle. Jacques wrote, “We have have three children: Levi, Boaz, and received our new car today. Your fi- Jesse. Jacques’ ministry can be di- nancial gift is well spent. It is a large, vided into two specific areas. He is seven-seater car with plenty of stor- a teacher in his local Baptist church age space – perfect for our family and in Alblasserdam, and he is an itiner- our ministry. We are so grateful to the ant preacher traveling throughout the Lord for your help. Glory to God.”  Netherlands. Jacques’ itinerant ministry demands that he preaches in many different places throughout the Nether- lands. His ministry includes Sunday worship services, conferences, evangelistic outreaches, church weekends, and numerous other meetings where he preaches the Gospel. He is also involved in an interdenomi- national, rural prayer group of pastors and preachers with Oscar Lohuis and Arjan Baan. Through Stichting Heart Cry (separate from HeartCry Missionary Society) and the Baptist Jacques and Annette’s children stand- churches, they have built a very large ing beside their new ministry tool.

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 15 easternEurope GO Ministry Overview

by Sorin Prodan

astern Europe is presently un- is growing. der a great deal of political While the strife and uncertain- E turmoil as countries that were ty grows in Ukraine and Moldova, formerly under the hegemony of the ministry in Romania is passing the now-dissolved U.S.S.R. attempt through a time of refreshing. This is a to join the European Union. Two of direct result of the renewed commit- these countries in particular are also ment to prayer and fasting in most the mission field of many HeartCry of the HeartCry churches and mis- missionaries – Ukraine and the Re- sions. This greater concern for seek- public of Moldova. Both countries ing God’s face has led to an increase are going through intense trials, but in conversions, and more baptisms the situation in Ukraine is particu- are being reported by our mission- larly severe. Riots in the streets have aries in Brasov, Pucioasa, Fieni, and led to hundreds of casualties. The Bucharest. The Gospel is preached country is now split into two parts, on the street, in schools, in kinder- both politically and ethnically. The gartens, in factories, and in homes. conflict is deeper than can be seen Some prayer groups have also been or understood on the news. There established in new communities such are spiritual powers behind the dic- as Pietrosita, Mihailest, Nufarul, and tators and their imperialist desires. Casota. In the future, Lord willing, But despite this turmoil, the Gospel these groups will become starting is being preached, and the Kingdom points for new churches. First Quarter 2014 Missionary Report

he beginning of 2014 brought man with a real heart for the desti- a fresh move of God’s Spirit tute people of our city. The weekly T over the missionaries and their Sunday night meeting brings 15-20 ministry in Eastern Europe. Renewed homeless together for a cooked meal commitments, prayer weeks, fasting and the preaching of the Gospel. days, planning, and praying for this Out of this number, eight of them new year have been the norm at ev- have been sent to rehab centers, and ery mission point that is under the HeartCry banner. This time of seeking God’s face quickly resulted in fruit. A significant number of people were converted in January, and as a result, several missions had baptisms in February or March.

Brasov, Romania We are glad to report that several homeless people from the streets have been converted. This outreach is coordinated by Adi Martin, a Evangelical believers praying for Ukraine.

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A open-air baptismal service at Providence Church in Brasov. The work was started by Sorin Prodan, shown here performing the baptism.

three have professed faith in Christ and the New Year brought together – Liviu was baptized several months several hundred people to hear the ago, and Gica and Dorin were bap- Gospel, and the fruit is clearly vis- tized in March. The student minis- ible. The Gospel touched a number try in Brasov is also bearing fruit. A of families and individuals. Many student who was saved at the end of testify of a deep work of God in their last year has asked to be baptized. lives. A lady named Monica was re- We are also glad to announce that we cently converted and freed from her have begun an internship program drinking addiction. She will soon be with six men from our church who baptized. are pursuing ministry. The program is going to last two to three years and Fieni, Romania will provide theological training and Florin Stan and Marian Bicajan exposure to ministry. continue to visit the many families in Fieni who were exposed to the Gos- Bucharest, Romania pel during the annual Christmas ban- Costel Gheoanca has just quet. Two people are being prepared completed one year working in our for baptism. The mission in nearby new church plant in the capital city Petrosita also continues reaching out of Romania. His ministry has been to children and families. evaluated and approved for another year. He is currently preaching Draganesti, Romania through a series of sermons on the Danut Opris and George Serban identity of a biblical church and continue to reach out to new families teaching a small group class using in the villages of Coteana and Stoien- Charles Leiter’s book Justification and esti. We have just appointed George Regeneration. as the new missions coordinator for the entire area. It is a post that was Pucioasa, Romania previously held by Raul Costea, who Nicu Vulpe is reporting healthy will be stepping down in order to re- progress in his ministry. The out- turn to the pastoral ministry in the reach activities during Christmas Draganesti area.

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more and more people keep coming to the mid-week service. One family is ready for baptism. Brother Ilie Hlus- cac held a church-wide public prayer meeting during one week in January. The time they spent in prayer re- freshed the church and challenged it to be more focused on evangelism. He also visited some churches with an ex-Orthodox priest who had been The Church in Pucioasa has converted. This man preached in all experienced significant growth. our HeartCry missions, and his testimony had a powerful impact on the lives of many people. Vitalii Rusnac Danube Delta, Romania reported that two people, Vadim and The work of Florin Galateanu Mariana, were recently converted. At in the Danube Delta area is mov- Christmas, they caroled and shared ing slowly. The church in Mahmudia the Gospel with more than fifty un- has been hindered in its outreach saved families. Also, a new children's to others by the bad testimony of group from non-Christian families some who attend there. In spite of has been established in Vitalii's this conflict, Florin continues to visit home with the purpose of teaching some families in the village of Nufa- them the Gospel. Finally, the work rul, where there seems to be an open of teaching in the Romanian schools door for the Gospel. Florin also trav- in Ukraine continues. Many of our eled by boat to reach some isolated missionaries are now teaching Chris- and destitute families living in small tian ethics (and the Gospel) in the communities scattered throughout public schools. They report that the the Delta. principals of the schools have had a

change of heart about Evangelicals Buzau, Romania and consider them a positive influ- Marian Jipa reports with joy ence among the students.

about open doors in two more villages – Mihaiesti and Casota. These Moldova openings are a direct result of a time Anatol Dunas, the coordinator of of prayer and fasting in the mother the team in Cahul City, reports about church, which was planted by Jipa! their outreach to over 120 children from the village of Andrusu. In ad- Ukraine dition, the Vacation Bible School in Ion Gireada continues visiting the Cahul had forty-five children in atten- families that live within the proxim- dance, and many of these are now ity of his church, and God is granting attending Sunday School meetings. fruit. One man, who is the husband Ten poor families outside the church of a Christian women, invited Ion to were helped with food for six months. preach the Gospel in his house. He This kindness, along with the con- invited over fifty of his neighbors, tinuous proclamation of the Gos- who were mostly Orthodox and Cath- pel, had a tremendous impact upon olics. At the end of the meeting, he their lives. After two more outreach declared that he had surrendered his events to the youth of the area, sev- life to Christ and asked to be bap- eral young people seem to have been tized. His bold confession of faith converted. Anatol and Gelu Ciorna had a great impact on all who were at- are teaching classes in the public tending. Brother Sandu Deac contin- school about sexual abstinence. But ues to be encouraged with the revival the principals from different schools and renewal in his area. Surprisingly, are now asking them to take on even

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more classes. Nicu Dunas continues to reach out to young people through his sport ministry. He is now training several hundred students in sports, and he preaches to every one of them the truth of the Gospel. Finally, Gelu has passed through a trial of fire. The doctors predicted that his son would die at birth; but the Lord has answered our prayers, and the child is now five months old and continuing to get better. Igor Seremet coordinates the HeartCry team in Anenii Noi, working Emmanuel Church alongside other team members Pavel in Cahul City, Moldova. and Natasa. Six months ago, a new church plant started in the village of Harbovat. During January the team held a three-day children’s camp with over seventy children in attendance. This winter has been hard on many people, so the church in Anenii Noi also provided food for ten poor families and wood for seven other families. Sister Natasa no longer has any family members left in Moldova because they all went to Russia or Turkey to look for work. However, she was visited last month by her rela- The HeartCry team in tives, and God opened a great door Anenii Noi, Moldova. for her to share with them about salvation.

The Gypsy Ministry ony Anghel, our missionary in Strehaia City reported to us T about how ten buses loaded with Gypsy people left Strehaia for France. This is a common thing now among the Gypsy communities. Many of them are neighbors of the church, and some are even believers. He spent time visiting these families A recent baptismal service at the and teaching them to stay close to Romanian church where Marian Vale the Lord wherever they go. The win- (second from right) pastors. HeartCry ter was hard here, and some fami- missionaries Moises Marin (far right) and lies were afflicted by severe poverty. Marian Toma (far left) were also present. The church in Strehaia provided food supplies for some families in critical church as a result of forty days of situations. prayer and fasting. During this time, Sorin Iordan, who ministers in he also visited thirty-three families in Rosiorii de Vede and Troianu, reports the two different towns. He reported that there is a genuine revival in the to us about how the Lord worked in

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 19 romaniaBelarus // ukrainemoldova / / moldovaromania / romaniaukraine // BelarusUkraine /

a family that was on the edge of di- Recently, after having been beaten vorce. Like many Gypsy families, the by her husband, she came covered in husband left Romania for work in blood to the church, seeking for help. Norway. After a short time, the wife The brothers intervened. Please pray reported to her husband that she that God would keep this dear lady also found a good job in Romania. and that He would change her hus- They were making so much money band’s heart. that in a few months they were able A ministry of great impact which to buy an apartment. However, the is supported by HeartCry and coordi- dream exploded when the husband nated by Brother Moises is the Gypsy discovered that his wife was working School. Hundreds of children from for a prostitution ring. As a result, he destitute families have attended this returned to Romania and asked for school in the past several years. Pres- a divorce. The wife repented of her ently, there are approximately twenty children enrolled in the school, and a new school is about to be opened. HeartCry provides support for the teachers’ salaries and for various supplies. Marian Nae, the missionary in Glina, has shared with us how Mari- ata, a recently converted women, opened her house for a Bible study. There are now five families coming to her house! In the village of Fru- musani, the work is still advancing. However, they had a huge snow storm that left the town completely cut off for several days, and many Gypsies HeartCry’s school for Gypsy children suffered terribly. in Bucharest, Romania. Our missionary Marian Toma serves in the villages of Tunari and sin and asked Pastor Sorin Iordan to Tamasi. He recently shared with me help save her marriage and two chil- about a very unusual incident at a fu- dren from divorce. Sorin counseled neral that led to the preaching of the the family, and by God’s grace, the Gospel. The car that was taking the husband forgave his wife and with- coffin to the cemetery broke down drew the divorce papers from the on the way. When this happened, a court. They have both repented and group of religious people came and are attending the church faithfully. demanded that the body of the de- Praise God! ceased person be taken to the Ortho- Brother Moises Marin, our coor- dox Church, as the tradition requires. dinator for the Gypsy ministry was This gave Marian an opportunity to very sick. After spending most of explain to them that the deceased December in the hospital, he was person was a repenter (Christian), diagnosed with a bad illness. For a who followed the Bible rather than while, he was very restricted in his tradition. Around the same time, a ministry work, but now he is recov- brother in the church in Tunari was ered and is back on the field serving told by the doctors that he was go- his church and the Gypsy missions ing to die. As he was dying in the throughout Romania. He recently hospital, the church ministered to shared with me a sad story about him, and the door opened for them a Gypsy woman who was abused to minister to and share the Gospel physically by her husband because with many of the other sick people she became a repenter (Christian). who were languishing there. Finally,

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in Tamasi, a mother was close to los- tismal service! These new converts ing her life in a miscarriage, but God are from the villages of Pantelimon spared her. She and her husband and Petrecheni. Through them, the used to attend church, but they had church in Frunzanesti has an open stopped seeking the Lord. With this door to begin prayer and Bible study trial, they promised to return to the groups in these unreached towns. Lord if He would save her life. God One of the new Christians is named was gracious, and they are now back Ica. She opened up her house for in the church. such a group, and six other people Our missionary Marian Vale were saved. This is how the Gospel shared with us that during a recent advances in these Gypsy communi- baptismal service in December, other ties. We can only praise God for His people were touched by the Gospel. sovereign plan to take the Gospel to Now he is preparing for another bap- all nations, languages, and peoples.

Campus Ministry

eartCry missionary Alex of John for the ladies in the preg- Palade held an evangelistic nancy center. Ruxi shared with us H event in Ploiesti; more than the good news that a young female fifty unconverted students attended. student who attended the ski camp Similar events were also held on last year was saved and has asked other campuses in the cities of Sibiu, Brasov, Targu-Mures, and Bacau. Ion Tomeci is now discipling a student named Daniel. He is an orphan who came from Bucharest and joined Providence Church in Brasov. Ion often shares with us how difficult it is to help him because he was so badly affected during his years of living in a state orphanage. Ion's wife Ani leads two Bible studies: one with the married ladies and one for single ladies. She is also helping Nicoleta, who is divorced and raising two children alone. Before Nicoleta met Ani, she was so desperate that she was considering suicide. Ani was Student Ministry of Providence introduced to Nicoleta by a young Church in Brasov, Romania. lady named Alexandra, who was also converted during her studies in the to be baptized. Please pray for he, university. for her mother opposes her decision Our missionaries Dana L. and vehemently. Ruxi is also discipling a Ruxi worked very hard to prepare the mother who is growing both in her annual student ski camp in February. spiritual life and in the way that she God used it to reach out to many with raises her children. the Gospel of Jesus. Dana is current- Lastly, God has opened a great ly leading a discipleship group using door for ministering to Muslim stu- Charles Leiter’s book, Justification dents on the campuses in Romania. and Regeneration. She also continues Please pray that this work might be to lead a Bible study of the Gospel fruitful!

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 21 romania / ukraine / moldova / romania / Ukraine / moldova / romania / ukraine / moldova / Romania Ukraine's Circuit-Riding Preachers By Don Currin

n the past, the phrase “circuit rid- from Romania preached the Gospel. er” referred to ministers who were The host said he wanted to repent I either assigned or compelled to and be baptized. We are thankful to travel to specific geographical lo- God for His wonderful works and for cations to serve communities by the doors He opens for us to preach evangelizing and planting churches. the Gospel.” Their ministries also included making disciples and edifying the body Ilie Hluscac of Christ. Ilie was born in Russia. While he In southern Ukraine, four Heart- lives and serves different congrega- Cry missionaries have taken on the tions in his community in the Ukraine, role of circuit riders. For years, Ion he also regularly travels back to his Gireada, Ilie Hluscac, Sandu Deac, beloved Russia to share the Gospel. and Vitalii Rusnac have invested their In brother Ilie’s update last month, he lives in traveling to various commu- wrote: “Beginning in January, I met nities to preach the Gospel of the with unbelievers almost every day; straight gate and narrow way. In and in the evenings, we held prayer spite of sub-zero winters, antago- meetings with the church members. nism from local Orthodox priests, Some of these people that I visited cynical villagers, and ongoing disap- continue to come to our Sunday wor- pointments in their families and min- ship services. On January 6, we had istries, they have not wavered in the a special program with the children, work. and many unbelieving parents came to the meeting.” Ilie’s ministry in his ion Gireada church in Poleana continues to grow. Ion is HeartCry’s point man in Unfortunately, Brother Hluscac could southern Ukraine, where he works only get to the church one time last with our other three missionaries in month because of a heavy snow. Cernauti County. Although the area was formerly part of Romania, it is Sandu Deac now part of Ukraine; however, most Brother Sandu has experienced inhabitants still speak Romanian and much difficulty and disappointments consider themselves to be Roma- in his life as a minister. But the hard- nian. Brother Gireada ministers to ships have only strengthened him in different congregations in the villag- his ministerial labors. Encouraged es of Tereblecia and Bahranesti. His and sharpened many times by his pastoral ministries include preach- HeartCry brothers Ion Gireada and ing in churches and homes, visiting the sick, counseling, organizing evangelistic meetings, and leading prayer gatherings. In a recent report, he wrote: “Last Sunday, the unbelieving husband of one of our church members came to church and invited us to have a worship service in his house. After arriving, we found the house full of his Orthodox and Catholic friends. We had a wonderful time together as a guest preacher Brother Sandu Deac.

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Vitalii Rusnac, Sandu has rebounded eryone who believes. I am praying from intense assaults from the en- to God to keep me full of passion emy. Consequently, he has become a for His glory and to help me tes- burning and shining light among the tify about His wonderful works as people in his area. In his most recent long as I live.” report, he related what God is teaching him in evangelism: Vitalii Rusnac In the little village of Storojinet, “An important thing for me is per- Vitalii pastors his flock. His duties sonal evangelism. I am thankful as a minister of the Gospel include to God for giving me the oppor- preaching, teaching, counseling, and tunity to talk to people. I believe serving his fellow ministers in their that a Christian and servant of respective villages. He related in a God must testify about the Lord recent report about how the power everywhere. I pray every day that of the Gospel was displayed in the the Lord might give me good op- salvation of souls: portunities to share the Gospel with the people I am going to "On December 31, the Lord meet that day. Because of this, searched the heart of Vadim, and I have the honor of telling some- he received Christ. Since then, one about my Lord almost every he has received much opposition day. This is one of the most spe- from his family (his uncle is an cial things that I can do, and I Orthodox priest); but he is strong try to do it as much as possible in faith. I gave him some written for my Savior’s glory and for the testimonies about several priests salvation of souls. I do not have who came to Christ, and the mate- an exact number of people with rials helped him a lot. On the sixth whom I shared the Gospel this of January, we visited his family, month, but I believe it was about sang Christmas songs, and invit- a hundred. ed them to church. Unfortunately, they do not have enough cour- age to come. We continue to pray “Most of the people with whom for them. At the same time that I talked, especially those that do Vadim was converted, a young not want to have anything to do lady named Mariana also made with me, did not have a good re- a profession of faith. Her parents sponse when they heard the Gos- came to the Lord five years ago. pel. It is also true that most of We are very glad that both parents them were totally uninterested are active Christians. On January in hearing about God. The ma- 6th, our church was able to visit jority of both the young and the fifty homes and sing Christmas old here know almost nothing songs. People were open as we in- about the teachings of the Bible. vited them to come to our church In spite of all of this, God has meeting. Six people attended for given us a wonderful opportunity the first time. We were very joyful by opening the public schools for this opportunity.” for us so that we might teach the Scriptures to the children in Please continue to pray for these a systematic way. This is indeed men and their ministries. Your in- an extraordinary thing and is a tercession for our Ukrainian broth- proof of God’s grace for us and ers and their families is invaluable our people. Even if all the people to them. Please continue to pray refuse to hear, we must still testi- for their churches and that the Lord fy about God’s love and kindness, might protect them in the wake of His faithfulness towards us, and the civil conflict that is engulfing His enduring passion to save ev- their country. 

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 23 Brother Paul preaching the Gospel to over 700 people on the first night of the youth conference in Samara, Russia. Eurasia GO Coordinator's Report By Holden Barry Training Conference in Samara, Russia s I reflect on the recent confer- victed of their sin and confronted ence in Samara, Russia, that with a biblical understanding of who A Paul Washer and I attended, I God is for the first time. As a result, am thankful for God’s faithfulness. people turned to Christ alone for It is evident that the Lord’s hand is salvation. Glory to God! Also, many upon the church and training center believers testified that their faith was there and that He was also at work strengthened and their love for the during our week-long trip. The first Gospel of Jesus Christ deepened as three days were devoted to an annual a result of the preaching. youth conference, followed by a day HeartCry currently supports six of meeting with the HeartCry mis- men through the Samara Center for sionaries. The trip concluded with Biblical Training (SCBT). They were two full days of training students all present for the conference, and we and pastors. In total, Brother Paul were able to meet with each of them. preached over twenty times. The Lord It was a great encouragement to talk, answered many prayers. There were pray, and fellowship with these men. no major obstacles, and the entire All of them are SCBT graduates who trip went exceptionally well. Thank have been sent throughout Russia you to all who prayed on our behalf! and Kazakhstan to plant churches The youth conference was re- and proclaim Christ. ported to be their largest yet, with We continue to be impressed over 700 people from all over Russia with SCBT’s high level of training, attending. This is quite uncommon coupled with their ability to truly hold for the Evangelical community in these men accountable with regard Russia, and it came as a surprise to to both their lives and doctrine. Fur- many. For three days, Paul centered thermore, all training is done through his preaching around the theme of “Understanding the Gospel,” and Five of the six HeartCry missionaries he was able to answer several good supported through SCBT. From left to questions from the youth. There were right: Andrey G., Dimitry R., Bakhid N., many reports of people being con- Alexander S., and Eugene M.

24 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 Brother Paul teaching during one of the training sessions at SCBT. the local church – Transfiguration the minister’s life. This was a special Church. At SCBT, the missionaries time as the Lord drew near and made are taught Greek, Hebrew, herme- His presence felt among us. Brother neutics, expository preaching, and Paul mentioned feeling especially biblical counseling. The goal is not helped in his teaching, and most of to churn out big-brained theologians the men were greatly impacted. who are detached from the church, Even though the trip was very but to raise up and adequately train brief, I glorify God that it was fruitful, pastors to better know and love God, and I trust that it will prove to have His church, and the lost. made an impact in His Kingdom for Perhaps the most blessed time eternity. Pray for those who put their of the entire trip was the last two trust in Christ alone for salvation at days, which were devoted entirely to the conference. Pray also for the mis- training the SCBT students as well sionaries whom HeartCry supports as many pastors from the surround- through SCBT. Finally, pray for the ing areas. Altogether there were students and pastors who were at the about one hundred men present for training – that their living, preaching, the training, in which Brother Paul and praying might reflect their sin- focused his teaching on personal cere imitation of Christ. prayer, communion with God, and

New Missionary Alexey P. and his family. t the beginning of December of 2013, HeartCry began sup- A porting a new missionary in Eurasia – Alexey P. This brings the total number of missionaries that we support in Eurasia to fourteen. Alexey ministers in European Russia, specifically in the city of St. Peters- burg. He is a graduate of SCBT and was sent out from his home church in Penza (west of Samara). He and his family have accepted a request by a small group of believers in St.

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 25 Petersburg to plant a church. With a population of 10 million people, St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia; and the need for Bible- centered, Christ-exalting churches there is enormous. Alexey began his church-planting efforts in the fall of 2013. During our time in Samara, Brother Paul and I had the privilege of meeting with Alexey and his family. According to the leadership of SCBT, he is a wonderfully gifted brother, who graduated at the top of his class. In our meeting with him, Holden Barry and Alexey P. during we were encouraged by his humility their meeting in Samara. and his love for people. You can read more about Alexey P. on the HeartCry website.

Missionary Report by Dimitry R.

heart more diligently this year, to get rid of anything that is not pleasing to the Lord Jesus. Other than that, everything is the same – I am preaching on the third chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and we are finish- ing the Epistle of James in our small group. We have particularly enjoyed our study of James. By God’s grace, we have started noticing things that need to be changed in us. All of us are tempted today in the same way that the people in this letter were. As a result, the brothers and sisters Transparency and have been sharing how God works in desire to be more their hearts and teaches them to ap- like jesus ply the Word in their lives. It makes me glad! In this letter though, I The following update from Dimitry would like to share with you how the R. is both encouraging and transpar- Lord is working in my own heart and ent. Here is a Russian pastor who gen- ask you to pray for me. uinely desires to be further conformed Last Sunday, we had a young into the image of Christ and is willing married couple come to our service. to share his struggles because he un- They came earlier than many mem- derstands the necessity and power of bers of the church. I came up to others praying for him. Please read them to introduce myself. To my sur- Dimitry's report and pray for the re- prise, they said they had found out quests of our brother. about the church from the internet and decided to come and visit. They eace to you dear mission ser- vants! A new year has come, explained how they were not Chris- P and the coming of our Lord is tians but wanted to attend a “lec- approaching. I decided to search my ture” of such kind. Also, they were

26 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 Kazakhstan / Russia / Belarus / Kazakhstan /

expecting to see a lot of people. I normal. It was one of the best ser- answered some of their questions vices and prayer times we ever had! and told them about the service we Please continue to pray for me were about to have. Unfortunately, and for the work here, brethren, es- many members of our church had pecially in the following areas. not yet come and were running late. I felt discouraged, and deep down 1. Pray for me to seek the glory of I started condemning my brothers God when I prepare sermons; and sisters for taking our service so pray that I would hide behind lightly and for not being responsible Christ and His Glory when I enough to be on time. I immediately preach instead of trying to show felt I was doing something wrong. myself off or seek attention. When we got done reading the 2. Pray that I would always remem- Word of God and were about to pray, ber that I cannot do anything to I felt that my grudge was not going build Christ’s Church if I do not away, and I knew it was really bad. I have His power dwelling in my started asking the Lord to show me weakness. the true reason why I felt so upset. I 3. Pray that I would immediately realized that I could not preach until be aware of my sin when I fall the issue was resolved in my heart. to the temptation of seeking for In just a few moments, it became personal glory. Also, pray that I clear to me. The true reason for would not be discouraged when my discouragement was my desire this happens, but that I would to look better and more success- turn to Christ for healing, joy, ful than I really was – I wanted the and gratitude. glory. I repented and asked the Lord 4. Pray that I would have an ever- to help me avoid having the same increasing burden and desire to problem during the sermon, but I proclaim Christ to unbelievers. still felt ashamed. As a result, I de- 5. Pray that I would always have a cided to confess before the church, complete dependence upon the which was fully assembled by then. Spirit of God, that I would use The Lord gave me grace to tell them only the means which are pleas- how I felt and how I sinned against ing to Him, and that I would not them. Then we all prayed about our fear people but love them. sins and our secret desires to wor- 6. Pray that the Lord would raise ship ourselves instead of Christ. up new pastors and leaders in After that, I was able to preach like the Church in Russia. 

Dimitry R. and his wife, Yekaterina, with their daughter, Ksenia, and son, Timothy.

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 27 argentina / brazil / Peru / argentina / brazil LatinAmerica by Walter isse He has added some new brothers and sisters to our congregation. Some time ago, the Lord brought a precious family to us through a very painful experience in their lives. The little three-year old daughter of this family suffers from a degenerative disease that affects her motor skills. The sickness has left her paralyzed from the neck down, and she is now dependent on a breathing machine. However, the Lord has used this trau- matic experience to bring this fam- Eager for Growth ily to Himself, enabling them to see their own impotence in the midst of in Lima, peru such circumstances. They have surrendered to Christ, repenting of their Walter Isse is a native of Argentina, sins and trusting in Him for salvation. but is currently serving as a HeartCry Their testimony of faith and patience Missionary in Peru. His primary respon- in the Lord encourages us deeply and sibility is working alongside David Silva leads us to give glory to our good God to raise up a work in Lima, Peru. for His infinite mercy. According to sincerely hope that this report the doctors, their daughter does not finds you all growing in the grace have long to live; but we know that Iand knowledge of our Lord Jesus the only determining factor in the Christ and that your lives are abun- life of this child is the sovereign will dantly filled in Him. of our Father, in whose hands rests This new year finds us desiring the life of every man. Please pray for as a church to know and obey the will this family, that they might grow in of God in humility. We are all devot- grace and in the knowledge of our ing ourselves to prayer and desiring Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that the for the church here to move forward work God has begun in them He will in a way that encourages all the be- continue to perfect until the day of lievers to serve and work for the Lord the coming of our Lord Jesus. according to our gifts. For the Lord During this current year, we have has given gifts through His Spirit to many challenges and opportunities each of us for the building up of the of which we want to take advantage. Body of Christ, His Church. In order We want to grow in each area of our for this to happen, we are depend- lives and be good stewards of the ing upon the supernatural work of things that the Lord has entrusted to our God, who equips us by giving us us. We want to continue focusing on grace to fulfill such a calling. We un- the care of the life of every brother derstand that separate from Christ and sister in the congregation, and we can do nothing. We pray that to- we desire to see significant advanc- gether, as brothers and sisters, we es in each individual. With all of my might attain the full assurance of heart, I desire personally to grow understanding of who Christ is and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, what He has done, so that by His abounding in Him in everything and mercy we might grow as a church in drawing nearer to Him each day. Here service to Him. are some specific areas in which we The Lord has been very good to us would like to see significant improve- recently. Over the past few months, ments as a congregation:

28 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 argentina / brazil / Peru / argentina / brazil / Peru / argentina / brazil / peru / argentina

 To grow in individual discipleship, Looking back on 2013, I can see with a special emphasis on pre- how the Lord has carried us through paring believers for the work of great deserts. I can see that He has the ministry. tried us in ways that have shown us that only His grace and faithfulness  To grow in the grace and knowl- , are able to sustain us. Our great God edge of our Lord Jesus that we has placed us in difficult situations might all attain to the full stature in order that we might see that He of a mature man, to the fullness alone is able to uphold us. If it were of Christ. not for the grace of God, we would  To grow in evangelism individually have been overcome by every trial. and collectively, proclaiming the Yet, in our most needy moments, we Gospel in the church building,.. in have found that the answer is always houses, and on the streets, as the to have more of Christ. He has been opportunity arises. our fortress, and His Word our ref-  To make use of every biblical uge. His promises have led us, and means in order to spread the Gos- the glorious hope that we have in pel of Christ. Him has sustained us and enabled us to persevere. We recognize that  To grow individually and collective- apart from Him we are nothing and ly in reliance upon God through we can do nothing. We are vitally prayer, encouraging the brothers united to Him, and our strength is and sisters in the church to meet dependent upon our abiding in Him. together and persevere in prayer. His Name and His glory are the joy  To grow in love for others, knowing of our heart. that this is the most visible distin- May the grace, mercy, and peace guishing mark that we are truly of God and of our Lord Jesus be with disciples of Christ. each of you! 

Missionary Spotlight was born• in 1983 in the city of Iq- uitos in the jungle of Peru. I was David Silva I raised in a family that professed to be Christian, but when I was twelve years old, my parents separated. Throughout my childhood, I had always heardr that one must believe in Christ to be saved and that only He could save us from our problem. Be- cause of what I was taught, I knew that I had a problem, but I could not see its gravity. During' my childhood, I liked to be with the church, but only because I enjoyed singing the songs and hymns.... The part that I did not enjoy was the time of preaching. When it was time I In 2013, HeartCry began support- for the sermon, I often became so ing missionary David Silva. Along with bored that even before the pastor be- his family, David left the Amazonian gan speaking, I was already falling city of Iquitos, Peru, in order to serve as asleep. What was most displeasing to a teacher in the HeartCry Bible Acad- me was that no matter' the theme on emy, which was recently established in which the pastor was preaching, he al- Lima. Currently, he teaches several the- ways had to mention Jesus Christ. In , every sermon he said the same thing: ology courses at the academy. He also that Jesus died on the cross and that helps with the teaching and preaching one must believe in Him. Little did I at various new works in Lima. -- know that this is the core of all bibli- THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 29 • ' cal preaching., the Word, I began to understand the When my parents decided that Gospel, and I started to see my own they were no longer going to live to- sin. Through His Word, the Lord began gether, I looked for refuge and com- to show me His holiness; and at the fort in my friends at school. I tried to same time, I began to see His mercy. please them and earn their respect by Finally, at the age' of 21, I was brought doing the same kinds of things they to the feet of Christ. The specific date were doing. I thought that by disre- of my conversion is not known to me, garding all the rules and authority of and I cannot explain exactly how it my parents, I was becoming an adult. happened. I only know that I started I thought that I was wise and mature, to be so ashamed and had such a with liberty to do as I pleased. Howev- sense of my unworthiness because of er, I was completely wrong, and later I my sin that I felt I was the most foolish saw that this kind of wisdom was not man on the earth for not having seen wisdom at all. the gravity of my sin before. I was In all of this, I knew that God ex- overwhelmed with terror, knowing that isted and was always present, but I God was against me because of my did not know Him. I knew that God wickedness; and yet, through faith in - .. speaks to us through His Word, but I Christ, I gained the tremendous and did not hear Him. I knew that I was a inexplicable joy of knowing that I was sinner, but my sin did not bother me. I now at peace with Him, having been knew that I was supposed to hate my completely forgiven in Christ. sin, but I loved my sin very much. I had been born again. I felt that I As the years passed, I continued was different than the people around trying different things that the world me, and I sensed that I no longer be- has to offer, but I was never happy... I longed to this world. Glory to God for never felt peace. I thought that hav- all that He has done! Thanks be to ing a lot of money, women, and alco- our Lord for His mercy! Thanks be to hol was going to make me feel better Christ for His love displayed on the about my life, but I never found hap- cross, for taking my sin upon Himself piness or peace. I knew that• I was not and• dying in my place! right. Something was missing from With• time I grew in my desire to my life. Now I know that it was not study and understand the Scriptures. “something” that was missing from Often I would stay in my house for my life, but “everything” – God was hours with the purpose of knowing missing. more of God and His Word. Now that When I was seventeen, after many I knew the Gospel and had forgiveness years of not attending church, an ac- of sins, I also wanted others to see quaintance of mine invited me- to at- the same,' so I began sharing my testi- tend services at his church. For sev- mony whenever I had the opportunity. eral weeks, •I was able to avoid him I was always looking for a chance to or make an excuse for not going, but proclaim the Gospel. Seeing the need eventually I agreed to go with him. The in churches for a true knowledge of people at theI church were very pleas- doctrine, and seeing the lack of spiri- ant, and I enjoyed their company, but tual growth in many churches, I could still I continued with my sinful life; I not remain silent. However, I knew.. continued to give myself over to my that I also needed to grow in my own own pleasures and desires. Over time, understanding. So in 2005, I began as I occasionally attended the church preparing in a Bible institute inI Iqui- services, I began to realize that the be- tos, Peru. lievers in that congregation had some- Though I cannot explain exactly thing that I lacked. They had joy in how the Lord called me to the min- their lives, and they loved one another istry, I do know that' from the time I very much. They cared about me and was converted I could not keep from were concerned for me and for others. speaking of Him. This is the prima- They could be happy without resorting, ry motive I have for serving Him: He to the same worldly pleasures that I saved me. That is more than suffi- was seeking after. cient. I have been serving the Lord in As I listened to the preaching of the ministry for nine years now, and

30 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 I am now training current and future loved the Father above all things; and pastors and missionaries. I have been if He made Him responsible for all my married since November of 2010 to a sins, all the filth of David Silva; and if daughter of God named Angelica, and He made Him suffer with tremendous we have one child named Jaris, who pain, abandoned by God for David Sil- was born on April 16, 2012. va; and if God has credited the righ- This is the truth that weighs on teousness of Christ to my account, my heart: if the Master and Owner saving me from my disgrace and of the universe had compassion and misery – He has now told me to serve mercy on David Silva, a sinful man Him; then how can I refuse such an worthy only of punishment and less opportunity? How could I not want to than a worm; and if He sent His only obey such a commandment? Thanks Son, the only One who has ever truly be to God for His great love! 

Missionary Spotlight Kris P. | U.S. Office Kris is co-coordinator for South Asia question whether or not I was truly a with his brother Aaron at the HeartCry Christian, and nobody that I remem- home office in Radford, Virginia. Kris is ber ever expressed doubt to me that married to Crystal, and they have two I was genuinely converted. My pastor sons: Kamron and Timothy. had taught us to ask Jesus into our hearts in order to be saved and to be- grew up in a nominal Christian lieve that He died for us on the cross. family with sporadic church in- I did this at an early age and meant I volvement. Some years we went it just as much as anyone else. I even to church every Sunday, and other repeated the prayer a few times down years we only went on Christmas and the road, “just to make sure,” as my Easter. My mother taught me some pastor would sometimes tell people. things about Christianity as a child, My father owned a small land- and from a young age, I always be- scaping business during my child- lieved I was a Christian. I thought I hood, and he worked a very heavy had a pretty good relationship with schedule. So I was predominantly God, and I prayed and talked with raised by my mother. She expressed Him regularly. I believed all of the a lot of love to her children, but her standard Christian truths that I had parenting style was very indulgent, been taught: that Jesus died for often giving in to whatever my broth- our sins, that He was the only way er and I wanted. I learned how to ma- to heaven, etc. I cannot remember nipulate my mother and to get her to ever hearing anything that made me give in to my demands.

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 31 From a young age, I became at- others were due to my relationship tracted to violence, and I began lis- with the basketball coach and his tening to heavy metal music. I was son. The coach’s son and I were ri- also attracted to many of the kids vals growing up, and we did not like who would always get into trouble in each other. We also played the same school. I found them to be more inter- position, so I didn’t have much of a esting and exciting than the others. chance to start over him. Eventually They had a bad influence on me, and I decided that I had had enough of I eventually began watching R-rated high school basketball, and I went movies and listening to gangster rap hard core into drugs and further de- music. Because I had learned to ma- pravity. nipulate my mother, I could get her It was around this time that I met to buy music for me that she didn’t Crystal at a local night club. Crystal realize was full of violence, profanity, and I began dating shortly afterward, and all manner of wickedness. and her presence in my life had some My parents began having serious positive effects on me, such as im- marital conflict when I was in middle proving my performance at school. school, and my father moved out of However, there was something else the house when I was in 8th grade. happening to me around this time Although he wasn’t around much to that was very ominous. The attrac- begin with, I now saw myself as the tion to violence I had acquired in el- man of the house. I felt I could do ementary school had been growing just about anything I wanted to, and I and growing, and I had now also de- didn’t think there was anyone around veloped an intense anger and hatred to stop me. My mother had largely for the world and for other people. I given up trying to control me, and hated the way that the world oper- she was also very distracted due to ated, and I sometimes wondered if her marital problems. this was the way it was supposed to When I was 14, I began experi- be. I felt that I needed to destroy the menting with tobacco, alcohol, and weakness of my emotions in order to marijuana with some of my friends. properly deal with the pain and ad- This eventually led to many more versity in life. I also began to expe- dangerous drugs, and I also began rience recurring fantasies of taking getting involved in sexual relation- out my anger and rage on other peo- ships and other escapades. Though I ple, since I felt that many people had considered myself to be better than wronged me throughout my life, and my friends, we were increasingly cor- I thought they deserved to feel my rupted by the music we listened to pain and suffer my vengeance. How- and the influences of others we met. ever, I believed that I was a Christian, I was always involved with sports and I knew that God would not ap- throughout my childhood, and I prove of such a thing. played high school basketball during In 2001, I started college at Ohio my first two years at the school. I was State University, and after one quar- considered to be one of the best bas- ter, I joined the Army National Guard. ketball players in my city (Gahanna), I needed a part-time job during col- and some teammates even made lege, and my mother had told me the statement in 8th grade that they about the Guard and how they paid thought I would one day play in the 100% of your college tuition, along NBA. I didn’t think this was neces- with a significant amount of money sarily feasible, but I did think I would for only working one weekend per at least play Division I basketball in month. During Basic Training, I went college. During the two years I played to church every Sunday and fairly reg- in high school, I had many problems ularly read my Bible since it was the that greatly interfered with my suc- only thing we were allowed to read cess on the team. Some of these other than the Army handbook. The were due to my parents separating standard church service there was a and eventually getting divorced, and Pentecostal service, and I really en-

32 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 joyed the preaching and the worship. on the movie, he looked away from I often “felt” what I “thought” was the the screen, and eventually he left the love of God during the worship por- room. The other soldiers made fun tion of the service. of him, but I had never seen anything Before I went to Basic Training, like this before – someone near my Crystal and I had started attending age who did not like pornography. a Church of Christ that was associat- During the time I worked with ed with the church in which she had Sargent, we would often talk about grown up. I really liked the pastor, for the Bible. I liked talking about the he seemed like a very caring man and Bible, and it was nice to have some- was often moved to tears himself dur- one else to talk to about it. Sargent ing his sermons. I had never would share verses and pas- before known a pastor like sages with me which often him. I had planned to con- The attraction were difficult to understand. tinue attending the Church He also gave me several of Christ when I finished to violence... books to read. Two of these Basic Training, but circum- developed had Bible verses organized stances in my life prevented into different topics, and the me from doing so. My Na- [into] an other contained stories of tional Guard unit was ac- intense anger Christians who had died for tivated in the beginning of their faith in Christ. 2003, and I was called to and hatred... I began spending time provide security for an air However, reading these verses and force base in Ohio. During also reading the Bible my- my training at Fort Knox, I I believed self. I was shocked at some heard another soldier men- of the things I found in the tion a man in our unit who that I was a Bible. For example, I read “listened to Christian Rock Christian. that it was not only a sin to music.” I had never heard commit adultery, but also of Christian Rock music before, and even to look at another woman with I was curious and intrigued. I felt like lust in your heart (Matthew 5:28). God wanted me to reach out to this I thought, “If this is true, I’ve com- man and get to know him. mitted this sin thousands of times!” After my training at Fort Knox, One day, I asked my squad leader I was stationed at an air force base what he thought about this verse. outside of Columbus, Ohio. I was He was a pleasant, respectable man retrained as a military police officer whom I looked up to, as well as a (MP) in order to beef up the secu- professing Christian. He told me that rity at the base in case of another the Bible is not meant to be taken lit- terrorist attack (following September erally but rather is more of a guide- 11, 2001). During this time, I often book. This explanation was pleasing worked on the same shift with the to my “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3), man who listened to Christian Rock. I but it didn’t quite sit right with me. I found that he was very different from considered myself to be a very intel- the rest of the soldiers in my com- ligent man, who used sound logic to pany. Soldiers are known for using arrive at my opinions. And although very filthy language, and this man part of me hoped that he was right, never used profanity. He was very the verse in the Bible seemed pretty kind, gentle, and respectful toward clear in what it was communicating. others. There was also another thing As I read more of the Bible each about him that was truly amazing to day, I began to be very impressed me. Many of the soldiers would look with some of the statements that Je- at pornography while on duty. One sus made. Though I strongly thought day some of us were watching a por- of myself as a Christian, I sometimes nographic movie in the guard shack, wondered if it was really possible to and Sargent (the Christian man) know the truth. I believed that Jesus was in the room. When they turned was the Son of God and that one

THAT GOD’S NAME BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS 33 could only be saved by believing in permissive of my profanity, drinking, Him, but I wondered if it was possi- and smoking as long as I didn’t hurt ble to know this as an absolute fact. anybody. I felt like I just wanted to know the I had a friend that I sometimes truth about the world. But as I read hung out with at this time, and we more about Jesus, I found His life sometimes got into arguments about and teachings to be self-validating. I religion. He was a Catholic, and saw Someone who spoke differently he believed that you just had to be from anyone I had ever seen. His a good person to go to heaven, re- teachings contained a wisdom and gardless of your religious beliefs. righteousness that I had never expe- I knew that the Bible said believing rienced before. His words seemed to in Jesus was the only way to heaven, explain everything about the world, so I stood firm on this conviction. including many of the things that I One night, I went to a bar with this had had trouble understanding. friend, Crystal, and another guy. As Though God was clearly work- we were having a drink, my friend ing in my life at this time, I was still suddenly started angrily debating utterly enslaved to my sin. My inner religion with me. He told me that I hatred and rage were continuing to was stupid for believing that Jesus is grow stronger, and I began to be the only way to heaven, and he was afraid of what was hap- shaming me and trying to pening to me. My rela- convince me that you just tionship with Crystal was I thought God need to be a good person. also on the rocks, and was permissive Normally this would have she was strongly consid- made me furious, as I was a ering leaving me. of my profanity, person with great pride who One evening, I was drinking, and thought that nobody should sitting on Crystal’s bed by ever talk to me as my friend myself. I was completely smoking as long was and get away with it. awake, but all of a sud- as I didn't hurt But something very strange den, I felt like I was flying happened that night. I had through some very dark anybody. read how Christians are place that looked like a supposed to be persecuted wasteland. It was almost completely for their faith, and I realized that pitch black, and I felt like I was on this is exactly what was happening fire. After a few minutes, I snapped to me. So it completely made sense out of it and was back in the bed- to me that my friend was so upset. room. I thought to myself, “Was God It was with Christ he was upset, not trying to tell me something?” Though me. And instead of feeling animosity I completely believed myself to be a toward my friend, I felt a great love child of God, I felt like maybe God for him that seemed to come from a was showing me I needed to change. source outside of myself. Instead of Thus far, nothing had happened responding with anger, I responded to me that made me question wheth- with a meekness and love that I had er or not I was really a Christian. never felt before for another person. Sargent had never told me that he While my friend was arguing with didn’t think I was a Christian, though me, a man came over from another he did share a number of verses with table to join us. He told us that he me to express this idea. But I didn’t couldn’t help overhearing our con- understand many of them, and I be- versation, and he said that he was lieved that I had a close relationship a pastor. I immediately knew that with God and that He was my closest God had sent this man to help me. friend. I saw that Sargent lived dif- My friend began debating harshly ferently from everyone else I worked with this man. He told the pastor with in the Army, but I believed that that if he could show him a pas- God’s will for him was different from sage in the Bible where it says that His will for me. I thought God was it is only by believing in Jesus that

34 HEARTCRY MAGAZINE VOL 78 people are saved, he would change from the previous night continued to his stance. The pastor pulled out his be with me, and it seemed as if all Bible and read to him a verse that the anger and hatred that had been answered exactly what we had been building up over the years had evapo- arguing about. The verse said that we rated. I felt a love for everyone I en- are saved through faith and not by countered, and I wanted them all to works (Ephesians 2:8-9). My friend know about Jesus. I also started to then asked the pastor what version see sin everywhere. It was all around his Bible was, and upon finding out me, including in myself. The conver- it was not the King James Version, he sations people were having were filled claimed to only accept that version. with profanity and sin, and I saw it As my friend debated the pastor as filthy. Some people were watching that night, I realized that every single a television show in the guard shack Christian was supposed to live like called Jerry Springer, which we often Sargent, exactly as the Bible tells us watched. I usually found the show to live. I had never seen this crucial funny. We were even watching it the fact before; I always thought that previous day, and I had had no prob- God’s will was different for Sargent lem with it. But now I was stunned than myself. But I now knew that God at what the people on the show were was calling me to surrender my life doing. I thought, “Don’t these people to Him and live like Sargent. know how much God must hate what When I got home that night, I they’re doing?” It was utterly putrid lay on my bed, deeply pondering to me, and I wanted nothing to do the events that had taken place that with it. night. I began counting the cost of There is much more I could say what it would mean to wholehearted- about my post-conversion experi- ly follow the teachings of the Bible. ences, but the important thing is There were many things I loved that that these changes have continued I knew I would have to give up, es- to this day, by God’s grace. Though pecially pornography and gangster I was often very tempted to go back rap music. However, I felt like I loved to my previous sinful life, the Lord Jesus, and I wanted to do whatever never allowed me to return. He al- it was that He desired for me. Still, I ways sustained me and helped me knew it would be the biggest decision to continue to follow Christ, fleeing I ever made in my life. What would my from sin and pursuing obedience friends think about me? They would to His commandments. Sanctifica- think I’d absolutely lost my mind! tion is a process, and though my I needed something to assure me desires often waver, I have contin- that I would not regret this decision ued to desire that Christ be honored and that it would all work out well. and glorified through my life on this Suddenly, as I was thinking about earth. He is my great Treasure and this, I felt the presence of God more my Portion, and I can honestly say strongly than I ever had before in my with the psalmist that “there is noth- life. I experienced an overwhelming ing on earth that I desire besides joy and love inside of me, and it was You” (Psalm 73:25). I only count my absolutely clear that God was assur- sanctification and continued fruit as ing me that He was with me and that evidence that the faith God has given I could trust Him to take care of me me is genuine. My hope is complete- if I surrendered my life to Him. All of ly and utterly in the Gospel and in my remaining doubts and hesitations Christ’s perfect sacrifice, atonement, were swept away, and I confidently and propitiation on my behalf. By His decided that I would start living ex- grace, “I press on toward the goal for actly as Jesus teaches in the Bible to the prize of the upward call of God in the best of my ability. Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).  The next day, I went to work at the military base, and everything was different. The love and the joy I felt

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