I cannot begin to tell you how much South Carolina volunteers have blessed the work God is doing here!
A volunteer from North Spartan Baptist Association experiences the closeness and warmth of South Asian women and children.East Cooper Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant was the first South Carolina group I was introduced to through my supervisor, Carter Bolin.* Throughout my first five years here, they have kept us supplied with Bibles so that nearly 10,000 Muslims now have God’s word in their homes.
Several volunteers from ECBC have come to join us in the work. They have been a cup of cold water to us on the field by loving my family and spending time with my children. When they spend time in our homes, they become family – and from that point on, they have a place in our hearts. They have sown the gospel generously, and we have seen the fruit of their labors. They have opened doors for us to follow up on what God has richly blessed.
A volunteer from East Cooper Baptist Church chats with a Muslim man in a South Asian village.The director of missions for the North Spartan Baptist Association came last November for his third visit in the past three years. He has led volunteer teams from several churches in his association. His first team saw five Muslim men pray to receive Christ after a three-hour discussion in a hotel room. The power of prayer was awesome in that place that day. Today we still keep in touch with these five men, and they are developing into a mighty church to reach their families and friends in their neighborhood and beyond.
One friend from South Carolina really connected with a South Asian woman in a village. Through an interpreter, she shared stories from the Bible and ate a meal with that family. She was so moved by the experience that she wept. Today that South Asian woman is with Jesus. She passed away last May.
Volunteers from North Spartan Association draw a crowd as they approach a beachside village in South Asia.Also in that village is one of our strongest leaders. This man is not only building a fellowship there, but he is also sharing his faith with friends from neighboring villages. In fact, the movement from Islam became so great in 2007 that a high-ranking imam (Muslim leader) returned to the area to put pressure on the new followers of Jesus Christ.
The churches from North Spartan Baptist Association have also been involved in other ways. One lady cashed in her life insurance policy to contribute to the financial support of a key national worker. It not only paid his salary but all his transportation costs as well! Others from several churches in the association have contributed generously to help support the costs of tracts, Bibles, training, and discipleship materials. One Vacation Bible School raised money to buy Bibles for a village. Another group sponsored the purchase of an audio Bible that is put to use each week in a remote village.
A volunteer from North Spartan Baptist Association stops to visit with a barber.We were so encouraged by South Carolina Baptists’ involvement in our work that we spent some of our stateside assignment time with South Carolinians from Spartanburg to Georgetown.
We visited several churches during their Global Impact conferences. Sunday school classes from children to seniors celebrated with us over what we have seen God do. We spent time playing football with Royal Ambassadors and after we returned to the field, we talked with them over a loudspeaker and cell phone.
East Cooper volunteers find Muslims in South Asia willing to receive the gift of God’s word. Every time volunteers from East Cooper Baptist Church and North Spartan Baptist Association go to South Asia, they make friends fast and quickly gain listening ears ready to hear the gospel. They have told many Muslims stories from the Bible and have given them Bibles – and they have seen Muslims trust in Jesus as their Savior. Their partnership has been instrumental in changing lives and has spurred on international and national Christians serving full-time in South Asia.First Baptist Church of Georgetown invited us to speak in their church and put us up for the weekend. One brother invited us to his home, where we had a wonderful meal and evening together. Another friend from Georgetown calls us on the field each year during church services focusing on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis so we can report about what God has been doing. These friendships and the encouragement they give us help us through our lonely moments on the field.
We loved our time in South Carolina and the hundreds of people who poured their love out upon us. They continue to write to us, and, most importantly, they are active in praying for the work and for us. When my son Toby,* 4, was hospitalized for four days in Bangkok last year due to bleeding from his colon, we received many letters and even phone calls of support.
I could go on and on about how lay members, pastors and associational leaders have loved on us, thought of us, prayed for us, and supported us. Without their encouragement and support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, as well as special gifts above and beyond that, we would not be seeing the fruit we are today! God has blessed South Carolina, God has blessed us through South Carolinians, and God is making his own name great through the love and support of our South Carolina brothers and sisters in Christ.
*Names changed for security reasons. Reece and Gianna Donat serve Christ among Muslims in South Asia.