Children Coming to Christ Through Biblical Values

While we were in the Philippines a friendship and partnership were formed with a single lady who worked in the northern mountainous area of the Philippines. Bible League of Canada had begun supporting her ministry, especially the teaching of the Bible in the schools by Christians. However, she was frustrated when we met her because of a lack of appropriate curriculum. Soon, Bible League began helping her purchase the VOICE curriculum and the ministry has continued to expand. The following article was in a recent Newsletter from the Bible League of Canada and although VOICE Philippines is not mentioned, the curriculum being used, “Truth and Honesty,” is from VOICE.

Article from the Bible League of Canada (BLC)

Last fall we asked you to support BLC’s children's ministry in the Philippines and through your generous gifts, the Values Education Program is now reaching more and more children with the Gospel. Consider these words from young Opena:

Before I knew about God I did a lot of bad things like stealing my mom's money, lying, saying bad words, etc. I was in grade 5 when I learned about God through our Values Education Teacher and here is how I got saved.

One Monday morning I was late for school because I waited for my mother to go to work so I could steal some money from her room. As soon as she left the house I ran to her room and got several hundreds and ran to my school.

I was late but it was okay with me because our first subject every Monday was our values class and our volunteer teacher is very kind and never says bad things. I rushed to my seat and she looked at me and said good morning and her kind eyes and sweet smile made me feel uneasy. My heart started to beat fast but l just smiled and pretended I was totally okay.

She went on with our topic which was “Truth and Honesty.” As she continued with Bible verses about being truthful and honest my heart thumped harder. I started to get scared and tried not to look at my teacher. I was hoping her time would soon be over and she'd leave but it seemed the more she read the more the time was getting longer. I almost left the room but then she said, “l still have 15 more minutes to go but I will stop here and l just want to pray for all of you.” She started to pray and asked God to help us. Then she paused and said if anyone had not been honest and truthful to their parents, teachers or others but wanted God to help, to raise our hands and she would pray for us.

I did not know what happened to me but I put my right hand up and started to cry. At first I thought I was the only one but there were several others with me. Our volunteer teacher prayed for us and when she asked us if we wanted to pray the sinners' prayer almost all of us prayed it. I felt like a big needle was plucked from my heart and I felt released. I went home that day and confessed everything to my mom. I thought she would punish me but I was so surprised when she did not get upset but instead she told me to never go back to my old life. It is amazing how God works. 

Lastly, one thing I am so thankful for is the gift our volunteer teacher gave us at the end of the year -OUR OWN COPY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE! For those who have a Bible in their homes this may not be such a big deal, but to us who have never had a Bible at home, IT REALLY MEANS A LOT. 

Thanks to our volunteer teacher, Bible League Canada and to Values Education Program for your best gift to us!

Responding to the Good News before it’s Too Late

During the early part of our consultation regarding the 6^th and final module of curriculum to be published, Obedience, we shared some of the testimonies coming from Test Teachers of how God worked as that value was taught. Then, spontaneously, a number of the consultants themselves shared their own experiences. One of them didn’t actually get the opportunity to teach the module, but in preparing to teach, he was convicted of his own rebellion toward leadership as he was working on a project and asked for God’s grace to submit. He saw God bring that project to a wonderful conclusion.

The testimony that resonated the most with me was from one of the Lower Primary consultants, also named Ruth, who has been teaching some of the modules to children and youth in her own community. As Ruth was seeking permission to do so, she interacted with one of the Community Leaders and found him to be very supportive. He sent his children to attend; they were there every week and often among the first to arrive. When he fell sick, the children asked Ruth to pray for him which they did as a group. Little by little they saw him improve and somewhere in the process, Ruth and her pastor husband went to visit him and pray with him. Ruth sensed God’s leading to also share the Gospel with him which he readily received and made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ…perhaps due to the teaching his children were bringing home from the Values Class.

Not too long after that, this community leader had a stroke and within a fairly short time, passed away. Ruth’s husband was asked to share during the funeral and they were amazed to hear several among his family members share how he had changed and shared his new-found faith in Jesus Christ. Now Ruth and her husband are trying to help the family keep their children in school and continue to build up their faith in Jesus Christ.

Praise God for His children who faithfully teach His Word to those around them, children and youth included, and take opportunities to share the Gospel with those God brings across their path, including the parents! May God continue to use His Word to bring many others, young and old alike, to our Savior…before it’s too late.

Those Special Hugs…from God and from His People

Earlier this week, we received communication from our Mission that the immediate supervisor of the cluster of missionaries we are a part of…since we don’t easily “fit” any group (since SEND does not work in Africa) SEND have kept us with the Southeast Asian group…had asked to be released of those responsibilities. He and his wife, now living in Thailand, wanted to concentrate more on the fast-growing ministry among an unreached people group there which they now lead. Upon reading that email, I certainly understood why they were asking for that change and just wanted to write and thank them for the many ways they have encouraged us over the last number of years, especially since our move to Uganda. We worked with them in the Philippines for a number of years and grew to deeply appreciate them as a couple…and admired them as they transferred to Czechoslovakia to begin a new SEND ministry, then spent time in Canada pastoring a church, and then transferred to yet another culture and language, Thailand…all happening as his dear wife was struggling with cancer. (Good news is that she is doing much better now!) We don’t know their replacement…but we trust SEND fully that he is another faithful servant-hearted leader.
 

What a special surprise to get a return email the next day saying “No, we fought hard to keep you as the one exception—we are still your liaison to SEND.” Because of our personal long-time relationship and because we are into our final term as SEND missionaries, they didn’t want to break that connection. Wow, talk about feeling loved…by God and by this couple. “Thank you Lord, and please richly bless them for their kindness!”