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Daily Scripture
 
"Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person."

Psalm 31:23

BAPTISMS SPUR INTEREST IN THE BIG PICTURE

Bill Housley teaching the Inapang believers

August 7, 2008

by David Bell

Eleven Inapang believers were baptized Sunday and others want to be baptized.

Some of the church leaders and missionary Bill Housley determined that some who asked to be baptized needed further teaching.

"The believers decided to do a 'big picture' or 'big story' class for those who had heard it and were believing but were having trouble articulating their faith," the Houslelys wrote.

A small group of 15 to 20 people were expected for the class Tuesday night, but the whole village showed up. The Inapang Bible teachers began with who God is and what He is like and then reviewed the Bible lessons they had learned from Creation through the sacrifice of Christ and His victory over death. They ended the teaching session by talking about baptism.

After the meeting Bill talked with the teachers.

"Wow!" he said, "you guys have surpassed me in your ability to teach in the parts of the story that you already know. God has strengthened you and this is your natural language and it was a beautiful thing for us to hear God's Word tonight. Thanks for strengthening us with God's Talk tonight."

Others then approached Bill. One of them said, "Thank you. God sent you here and you came with this story and it is clear in our minds now and we are so happy to know that Jesus made a road for us back to Papa God."

Another man pointed to the thick darkness outside the building and said, "Before, that is where we were -- complete darkness, groping at anything. God sent His Talk here with you and now our eyes are opened to Him and His Talk, and it is so sweet to our ears. Now, we are like this light," he pointed to the new light in the building, "because God's Spirit is in us and helping us and holding us until Heaven."

Praise God for these incredible testimonies of Inapang lives being transformed. And please continue to pray for the Inanpang believers as they take more steps toward maturity.