A Lasting Impact

A Lasting Impact

A woman’s close call serves as an important reminder.

We often think of the poem by British missionary Charles Studd. “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

We met a certain woman whose story reminded us of this quote. She once considered herself a Christian, but had since wandered away from the faith. She began to drink alcohol heavily. While drunk one day, she tried crossing a river on a log. The water was quite swift, and she fell into it. She was rapidly swept away in the current. “God, save me,” she cried out. “I will serve You.” Just then, her dress miraculously caught on a stick in the river. She clung to the branch and managed to keep her head above water. When people walking nearby heard her calls for help, they were able to pull her safely out of the river. True to her word, the woman surrendered her life to Christ again, and was baptized. In the throes of impending death that day, she turned to the source of lasting strength and power.

There are many more people who have reached a crisis point in life, just like this woman. The desperate cry for hope and help extends all over the world. We receive requests for Bibles almost daily. “Please help me get a complete Bible,” came a message from Lagos, Nigeria. “I would appreciate it…” A pastor in South Africa reached out to us. “My name is Patrick,” he said. “I am a traveling pastor in the Lesotho mountain area. Lots of Christians here need Bibles.” He requested God’s Word in bulk quantities. From Cameroon, the word reached us that a group of people planned to distribute them in schools, prisons, churches and orphanages. “I am sending a request for Bibles in my area,” came another message from Uganda. “New converts can’t afford them.”

Amos 8:11: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” We believe this type of famine is already affecting many people in the world.  

When we pause to survey God’s blessing on His work, we are inspired. Over 1100 Swahili Bibles and 400 English Bibles have been purchased and distributed. Several hundred “Steps to Christ” and other books in both Swahili and English have been shared. Forty five people were baptized in December. Bible workers study with people in their homes or sometimes in their gardens. They try to meet the people where they are.  

Physical needs are not to be forgotten either. In our area, orphans often possess more provisions than the local children who have families. Neighborhood children will meet at the orphanage fence and linger, wishing that they could come in. The orphans have food, clothes, school to attend and beds to sleep on.  The majority of the community children sleep on the floor, and some do not attend school because their parents cannot pay school fees. Their meal frequency is inconsistent.

We see the suffering, and do what we can. But we know that there are many areas in the world where people are dying from hunger and needless illnesses. Many are also dying for eternity.

How we long for Jesus to come and put an end to the suffering and sorrow in this world. May He give us more faith, more trust and more of a burden for others. Let us remember that while this life on earth is short, what we give to the Master has a lasting impact.


Location
Kenya

Author
Bill and Becky Humeniuk

How You Can Help

Pray that God will supply Bibles to those who need to hear the Word of the Lord.

Donate. If you are impressed to help supply Bibles or care for the orphans of Kenya, send your donations to:

Advent Hope Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 100
Campbellsburg, KY  40011
www.biblesforafrica.org