“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
Leading people to Christ and guiding the Lord’s beloved children on a journey of discovery of biblical truths is a privilege heightened in the mission field, especially because the cultural context creates difficulties we do not normally experience.
In the animist context, belief in the action of spirits is one of the strongest points. Most people here believe that when someone dies, their soul remains with the family during the funeral to observe how they will handle the body or to indicate whether someone caused the death.
One of my Bible students, Mario, was very disturbed by the study on the state of man in death. For him, it was something completely new to hear that the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that the hope of those who serve Jesus is the glorious resurrection (John 5:28-29). Most striking is that he has attended an evangelical denomination for about two years, but his own church pastor believes that spirits remain conscious during the funeral, supervising the ceremony.
During a week of prayer at our church plant, this topic was brought up again, and by divine providence, Mario was present. He heard everything the preacher, Brother Vanilson, said, and once again the Holy Spirit moved Mario. At the next Bible study, he asked me to speak more on the topic. Mario also asked many questions, and with his Bible in hand, read each text carefully while taking notes.
“What do you think, Mario?” I asked at the end of the study. “Do you agree?”
His answer impressed and delighted me. “There is nothing more to say. You showed me everything in the Bible. It is not about your opinion; it is the Word of God speaking. I have no doubts.”
The following Saturday, Mario attended worship at our church in the Antula neighborhood for the first time and is now considering becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. We praise God for working in hearts through the Holy Spirit, and we are immensely grateful for the privilege of being part of His process of rescuing the lost.
The work is not always easy, not always simple, but God is in the work. He is touching the hearts of people like Mario here in Guinea-Bissau and in various places around the world through each missionary, whether in the field or far away, contributing their prayers and resources. Participation in the mission is much more than money; it is love for each people group.
May God be praised for your life. May He fill your heart with joy, for you are leading people to Christ. Through you, many have been reached and freed from the chains of evil. Thank you very much!
