Edwin* watched from his village as a truck pulled up and parked under a tree nearby. The truck had an American and some local men who came to meet with the villagers, but Edwin stood on the outskirts as the others greeted the strangers.
Soon the commotion surrounding the believers’ arrival settled down, and they stood in front of the villagers and began to tell an amazing story. Edwin found himself coming closer and closer as they were talking.
He couldn’t stop listening. They talked about a man who was unlike any other man he had ever known or even heard about, and as Edwin looked around, he could tell that others were thinking the same thing.
When the believers finished their story, they asked if anyone would like to follow the man in the story, Jesus. He said yes, and he wasn’t alone. Nine others said yes to Jesus that day and prayed for the forgiveness of their sins.
Edwin and his friends were excited and spent that night telling others in the village what they learned that day, and when the strangers came back to baptize the new believers the next day, 20 more people had decided to follow Jesus.
Now the excitement and joy of the gospel continues to spread through other villages as Edwin and others share how their lives changed as gather to worship.
*Names have been changed for security purposes.