“I WANT TO LOOK MY VERY BEST FOR JESUS.”
COUNTING THE COST
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
“I want to look my very best for Jesus.”
I’m excited when I see new believers baptized.
Years ago, Rosene and I made a trip to St. Lucia, a Caribbean island and popular tourist destination. However, we were there to reach young Chinese adults in a garment factory who wanted to know about Jesus. They were from mainland China and knew nothing about the Bible.
With the help of a dear Chinese friend, Katherine Pih, we told them Bible stories beginning with Creation and ending with Christ. We did this every night for two weeks beneath a house on stilts. A bare light bulb hung from the rafters, and about 30 factory workers sat on wooden benches mesmerized by the stories. Many trusted in Jesus for forgiveness of sins and invited Him into their lives.
Since we were near the ocean, I announced that on the following Sunday I would baptize those who had put their trust in Jesus and were serious about following Him. Many called home to China asking their families for permission to be baptized, but only three stepped forward on Sunday. Two were women who were floor managers, and one was a man who maintained and repaired the sewing machines. They personally assured me they were ready. This was huge, because the Chinese government was against them having anything to do with Christianity.
All the other Chinese workers stood on the beach and watched as I baptized the three. One of the floor managers showed up in a beautiful, bright red silk dress. I was concerned that it would be ruined by the water, but she said, "I want to look my very best for Jesus." A few months later, those three planted a church near the factory and sent me a video of their new church family that had grown to almost 35 baptized believers.
Eventually, the workers returned to China when their contract ran out. Missionaries who followed up on them found many of these new believers still faithful to Jesus and serving Him despite the threat of persecution.
Written by Ralph Speas, president of Meridian University
Counting the Cost
A young lady asked to talk with me after a morning worship service at our church. She was Iranian and was very troubled. As we sat to talk, she told me about a dream she had. Tears rolled down her face when she described a man in her dream who reached out to her with tender kindness. She said she knew who it was. It was Jesus. She wanted to know about Him. Rosene and I invited her to our house that afternoon, and she spent hours asking questions and sharing her discontent with Islam. We had many meetings with her, and we could tell she was close to making a decision for Christ.
About a month later, on a Sunday morning, I heard a knock on my office door and there stood Miriam. She said, “I’m ready to be baptized.” I wanted to make sure she was trusting in Jesus for forgiveness of her sins and was determined to follow Jesus at any cost. She assured me she was ready. Kneeling by my desk, she opened her heart to Jesus and experienced forgiveness, eternal life and the indwelling Presence of the Lord.
After we rose from prayer, we sat and discussed baptism. I wanted to make sure she understood the gravity of being baptized, considering her upbringing. It could cost her everything, yes, her life. She told me with certainty that her brother would kill her if she returned to her home in Iran. Nonetheless, she wanted to be baptized.
She told me with certainty that her brother would kill her if she returned to her home in Iran.
Later that Sunday morning, hundreds of witnesses rejoiced with her as she came up out of the waters of baptism.
Written by Ralph Speas, president of Meridian University
Disappearance of Titus Davis
It has been two months since Titus Davis was last seen. He went missing on June 24. There has not been a single lead as to his whereabouts. It is uncertain if he is alive, but hope prevails that he is. If he is being held captive, prayers are being spoken that God will protect him, encourage him and keep him in good health until he is released. Many have reached out to the Davis family by providing financial assistance for their domestic needs. A church in Wisconsin raised funds to pay school tuition for two of the Davis children in college and three in private school. Titus Davis, a beloved leader and mentor to many, has served as the ReachAfrica leader for the entire continent of Africa. His partnership with Meridian University goes back to 2011. Believers all over the world are praying for his safe return.
New Transportation for African Trainers
It has been a joy to provide motorcycles for Meridian Master Trainers in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. A mountain church in Colorado generously gave to provide transportation for these men who faithfully train believers to evangelize, disciple, and plant churches in multiple countries of Africa. Their work to remote places has been greatly accelerated with the purchase of these bikes. Some were regular motorbikes and some were three-wheeled cargo bikes.
In January of this year, Musa Kpaka, Meridian Master Trainer in Sierra Leone, began taking teams into predominately Muslim communities to share the Gospel. Currently, they have shared the Gospel in 195 villages. Since the government shut down churches due to COVID-19, Musa decided to hold open-air meetings on Sundays to tell Bible stories from Creation to Christ. Only one village was hostile to the Gospel. Musa said, “Matthew 10 was very clear to us because of what Jesus Christ said would happen and actually did happen yesterday. We went to one Islamic town to preach the Word of God and the people chased us out of that town because we wanted to talk about Jesus Christ. Two of our team members were beaten with sticks. This makes us happy because of what Jesus said. We thank God for our lives for we returned home safe. Many are hearing the message of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer warriors have told us they like to know everything we are doing. Click the links below to download this month's prayer requests or to support the expanding ministry of Meridian University. As always, thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support!
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