God's Word Will Never Return Void

Our last few months have been so busy with teams from the states partnering with us in various ministries. Our first team from FBC Clanton, Alabama camped in the middle of the bush, in a camping area prepared for us by our Zambian brothers and sisters. They even built us a bush toilet (down wind). We had an awesome time teaching, playing, singing, dancing and fellowshipping with the believers from the Mpanza church, who also had a campsite next to us. We ended the week with the Jesus Film, and new believers were added to the church.

Our second team from Wynne Baptist Church, Wynne, Arkansas camped on the shores of Lake Kariba in an area known as Sinazongwe. This team worked alongside us and two small groups of Zambian believers in doing evangelism, Bible storying, and teaching new believers. Two new Bible study groups were started, which means we have lots of work ahead of us.

God did great things through both of these teams, but I have to tell you the story of how God worked through this last team. It is a story that began one year ago:

One year ago, this same team, with a few different faces, came to do prayer walking, survey work, and evangelism in the Sinazongwe area. For us, it was a brand new area, and we were looking to see where God might be at work in bringing people to Himself and starting new churches.

As the team walked the streets of Sinazongwe, they talked to many people, shared the good news, gave out tracts, and prayed for people. They saw very few people accept Christ during the actual week of their ministry, although two new Bible study groups were planted from this ministry.

One member of the team, Cathy, talked to a young lady on the street who said she was a prostitute. She did not accept Christ, but was given a booklet to read. On the front of the booklet was the question, “If you died today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven.” Cathy went home burdened for this young lady, and throughout the year prayed for her and asked others to pray as well.

On the third day of ministry, one year later, part of our group went to the town of Sinazeze to do evangelism with the Bible study group there. Just before reaching the town, the truck broke down. We walked to town and divided up into groups, going out into the villages evangelizing with the Bible study group.

After a few hours, we met back in town and found out that the truck was still broken down. While we waited for transportation to pick us up and carry us back to camp, we went into the shops and invited people to come to a Jesus Film Crusade we would be having on the weekend.

When we came to the end of the shops, we stood around talking to some people while we waited for our ride. One of our Zambian translators came to me and said, “There is a woman across the street that says you must come and see her. She wants to know why you are here.” This made me a little nervous, but I crossed the road with a few other members of the team.

The young lady that met us began questioning us. She said she worked with the town council and wanted to know who we were, what we were doing, and warned us not to be giving out things and make promises that we would not keep. I assured here that we were not here to give out things accept for the good news of Jesus. Then I reached in my pocket and said, “Well there is one thing we are giving out, and it is this little booklet.” When I handed it to her I said, “On the front it asks a question, ‘If you died today do you know for sure that you would go to heaven.”

She looked at me and said, “You asked me that same question last year. You don’t remember me, do you? I met you in Sinazongwe in front of the shops and you asked me this same question.” I had to admit I did not remember her.

I then asked her, “Well, what was your answer last year?” to which she replied, “No, I do not know if I will go to heaven.”

A young Zambian believer who was standing with me said to her, “Why don’t you know, you’ve had a year to read the book. Why haven’t you responded?” I can’t remember what she said, but I asked her, “What is your answer this year?”

She replied, “I still don’t know, and I haven’t responded because I have some hidden sins that I need to get rid of first. I am an adulteress (prostitute).”

Seeing a table and chairs nearby, we sat down together. I then explained that she did not have to wait until she quit sinning before accepting Christ. I explained that if she would give her life to Christ, He would help her to put away her sinful life. This young lady was ready to give her life to Christ, and right there with two men at the next table watching and listening while they drank their beers, this young woman accepted Christ .

By now you have probably figured out that this was Precious, the same young lady that Cathy had witnessed to the previous year. Wow, what a great God we serve. He is at work in the hearts of people even we do not see it. It may take a year, or longer, but His Word will never return void! I can’t wait till next year to meet others whose lives were touched by the ministry of this team this year.