One of many baptisms in Congo

July 1, 2010

For us Americans, the major summer holiday is nearly here—the 4th of July. While our nation remembers its birth by igniting gunpowder in various forms, how much greater of an “Independence Day” we have to anticipate! In the Hebrew economy, every fiftieth year was a grand jubilee. “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10)Liberty from bondage was the great theme of this jubilee. When the jubilee trumpet sounded, servants were freed and everyone was returned back to his patrimony. Soon the “last trump” will sound, and true, eternal liberty will be proclaimed to God’s faithful people as Jesus comes and eternal freedom is proclaimed in the grand, anti-typical jubilee—what an independence day that will be! “If all will take hold of the work in the spirit of self-sacrifice for the sake of Christ and the truth, it will not be long before the jubilee song of freedom can be sung throughout our borders.” Review & Herald, June 3, 1902.

I hope that by now you have received and watched our newest mission DVD “An Open Door” about our recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. (If you have not received it please contact us, or view it on our website and look at pictures from the trip in the picture gallery at

Lining up for a baptism in Congo

www.missionspro.org.) I am very excited about what the Lord is doing there and pray that His work may extend throughout the remote villages of the grasslands of Congo. Since we left, the work has continued to go forward with even greater power. As the Bible workers lead people to the Lord, baptisms are following and many more are waiting. These baptisms are not just an emotional acceptance of a new creed, but an entire new life. There is probably greater examination for baptism in Congo than any other place I have been. The Bible studies there do not take place once a week or several nights a week; but every single day, either in the morning or evening, a meeting is held. Those who want to make the full commitment to the Lord through baptism must not only be faithfully coming on Sabbath, but also to these daily Bible studies at 5:00 in the morning. Each candidate is then individually examined to see, not only if they understand the message, but if they have given their lives fully to the Lord Jesus Christ. This process can literally take days when hundreds of people desire to wash away their sins and publicly surrender their lives to the Lord. Over one hundred and fifty from different villages were just recently baptized, and hundreds more are preparing to make this full and complete stand for their Savior and the Three Angels’ Messages. What has brought about these hundreds of new believers and dozens of new churches? The printing of full message Bible studies in their own local language, Bibles that they can individually read (frequently for the first time in their lives) and faithful Bible workers who are sacrificing to give the message of truth. The work has grown so much that it is almost overwhelming, but it is the Lord who is in charge of the work, and we can trust Him! We are praying that the Lord will continue to bless the work of these earnest workers and to provide the funds to equip them with the tools necessary to continue sharing the message of truth with all who will hear. We need your help to make this a reality because as the work increases so do the needs. Would you like to have the blessing of supporting one of these faithful workers? Please pray that the Lord will continue to bless and expand the work in Congo and also bless the efforts that I will be putting forth in Angola by the time you receive this letter.

In labor for the Master,