The lake was like a mirror reflecting the beautiful trees lining its shore. Then I threw a rock and watched the lake surface transformed by spreading ripples. Our lives are like rocks dropped into other people’s worlds, causing ripples that affect their lives for eternity.

We met a man in Papua New Guinea whose life was transformed by ripples of God’s grace that began with the work of AFM missionaries many years ago. Robert was about 12 years old when he came to the village of Balimo and met Joe Beazley. Robert discovered salvation in Jesus through his new friend and a hunger to know more. Joe provided a way for this young man to get an education and to learn more about Jesus in the Upper Room meeting house.

Years later, another “rock” splashed into Robert’s life when David White befriended him and encouraged him to continue his education at the collegiate level. Unbeknown to Robert, David had found sponsors in America to pay for his schooling. What a surprise and blessing it was for Robert when he learned that his bill had been paid!

The ripples continued. Robert was hired at an Adventist primary school with all non-Adventist teachers. After only three years of experience, Robert was given the position of principal. Two years later, all the teachers were baptized Seventh-day Adventists, and 60 percent of the students were baptized, too. Praise the Lord for ripples!

When we met Robert, he was graduating from Pacific Adventist University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He was rejoicing in the blessing of his education being paid in full and for the providential encounter with AFM missionaries many years ago that transformed his life through the power of Jesus Christ.

This ripple effect is a chain reaction in which lives that are affected affect others in turn. What a wonderful testimony of how God uses people to spread ripples of His grace!

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