Dear beloved,

I went to the evening service of Bethany English Service yesterday and heard some great testimonies from Pst. Ron Pearce from WorldServe - North America, of revival in Cuba, Rusia, Vietnam and another country that I couldn't remember. It wasn't surprising to me because in my spirit I knew that this is the time of harvest. We could experience reaping the soul from any kind of curse easily today because of the season. This is the harvest time.

But the testimonies that I heard, anyway had moved me with question: "have I sacrificed myself for those souls?" For these people who are around me every day?

There's a man in a village down in Vietnam and Pst. Ron called him "Bible Man". He served the Lord by distributing the Bible for his congregation. The communist had forbidden this activity and one day they arrested Bible Man. The army who arrested him didn't tell his family so Bible Man's wife thought he was missing. He was in jail for three years.

Last January 1998, Bible Man was released and came back home. Being surprised, his wife asked, "Where have you been?" He said, "I was in jail." Then she introduced him to their little children who were then three years older since he left them. After that sentimental moment, his wife said, "We have problem. Remember that we were three thousands people three years ago. Now, the congregation have become four thousands people. But we only have four Bible."

Because Bible is forbidden, this congregation wrapped up the four Bible with plastic and buried it in the bushes. Every morning around 3 am they would go to the bushes. Dig the ground where they buried the Bibles and read them as quickly as they can and memorize every single letter they read carefully... and transfer it to everybody. They know how important it is to eat the living bread.

Knowing that problem, Bible Man didn't take another night to be with his family. He met his congregation, got some money to buy the Bible and bought two sacks of Bible in Hanoi. Then he went back to his village.

On the way back, he got arrested again. The army brought him to the truck. Last experience in jail was not sweet at all. Bible Man never want to come back. He was scared to remember the torture. So he spoke to the guard, "Please release me. I got some money. How much should I pay you?" The guard said, "Fifty dollar." Bible Man took all the money in his pocket and found $28. He said, "This is all I got, please take it and release me." The guard refused, "No, only if you pay $50." So the Bible Man kept his money again and started to pray, "Lord, I'm desperated now. You got to help. Please release me."

Then... something happened (until the Bible Man testified this, he doesn't know what was happening) with the wheel. The truck was shaken. Suddenly, the door was opened and with two sacks of Bible in both of his hands, Bible Man jumped out of the truck and fall on the side of the street and rolling toward sideway through the other road which is in a very low ground. The army could not shoot him because the truck was shaking.

Bible Man used the two sacks of Bible as wheels to speed up reaching the street down there. There was a bus shelter and a bus was waiting for him to take him away. Bible Man managed to reach the bus and pay some money to the driver so the bus left with no passenger. Bible Man took a motor bike not far away from there. The army truck finally could arrive to the road and after the bus who went opposite way to where Bible Man is heading with the motor bike. Bible Man managed to bring the two sacks of Bible for his congregation.

Last May 1998, Pst. Ron visited Vietnam again but did not see Bible Man. When he asked about Bible Man, they told him that Bible Man had been arrested again and should be in prison for another three years. Bible Man never want to come back to prison. He didn't forget the horrible food, the beating... the torture. But his love brought him there again. Have we done something for others? Would you sacrifice your life just to help others reading the Bible, hearing the good news? Do you remember that this material belongings that you have means nothing without God? That those beloved ones would die if they don't know Jesus?

Please pray for Bible Man. Pray that God would grant him miracle so he could get out from prison sooner and so Jesus's name would be glorified once again. Pray that his sacrification would encourage you and I, and anyone who hears about it to love Jesus more, to love others more. Bible Man is paying the price for his love ones, he deserves a reward.

Immanuel,
Dian

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Rosdiana Manginta (Dian) (MailTo:dian@jakarta.geoquest.slb.com) "Somehow I believe in love and I'm glad to know that God is love!" Office dir#: (62-21) 52992-142, alt#: (62-21) 252-0372, 252-0660 Fax: (62-21) 252-0375, Home tel.: (62-21) 865-7809 "... for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He" (John 8:24)
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