Jonathan

By God's grace I was saved at six years. I recall having heard many messages on salvation, Heaven, Hell, and the Rapture leading up to that point and I realized that I needed to trust Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. My mom led me to the Lord in the living room of our home.

At about 15 years of age, the Lord made it clear that he was calling me to preach His Word, and began to cultivate in my heart a love for missions and a desire to serve Him in the preaching ministry, wherever that may lead. Over the course of 6 years the Lord allowed me to visit Quebec, England, Wales, and the island of Grenada, but would lay an unmistakable, undeniable, and unshakable love for the people of Wales and a desire to serve the Lord there in a land which had once been termed "the land of Revival."  Sadly, there is now less than 2% of the population attends church of any kind, where an average of one church per week permanently closes its doors, and where souls are perishing every day thinking that they are "good enough."

The Lord closed that door in 2000 but never removed the burden from our hearts for that part of the world. Looking back over time since then, I understand now what I couldn't see at that time--that God was leading us on a very important "detour" that was necessary to further prepare us for the work ahead. Now the Lord is leading my wife and I back to that country where we hope to share the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, presenting the imminent need for His salvation to a people complacent and satisfied in their own heritage and self-righteousness.

Michelle

 Hi. My name is Michelle. It wasn't until age 23 that I dealt with the gnawing question, "Why am I here?" I came to the reality that although I knew "religion", I did not know Jesus, as a personal Savior of my soul. It was time for me to decide if I was going to hand over the reigns to Christ or continue my downward spiral of self will. It wasn't long before I found myself in the middle of a parking garage in Wilmington, Delaware,  asking for His forgiveness and giving my life totally to His work and service.

 I had a lot to learn......and unlearn. During those first few hungry months God kept sending me to the book of Romans.As I read and re-read Romans, I began to see Christ work, God changed my focus from me to Him.  (Romans has now become my absolute favorite book of the Bible! ) Through His word, He brought encouragement, loving reprimand and direction for my life here on earth. I had to learn that He is ultimately in control. I do not have to prove anything to Him. I do not have to "make up" for past sins. It was HIS work that bought my justification. I am covered in His blood. I am just beginning to understand the depth of the verse, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."  And what a joy that is!

In 1998 I went on a church mission trip to the island of Grenada. Two significant things happened on that trip. First, the Lord gave me a desire to serve in the work of foreign missions. Secondly, I met the man that would later be my husband and best friend.

In 1999 I took a missions trip the country of Wales. I could not deny that unmistakable feeling that I had found God's future work for me. My love for the people of Wales has grown stronger with every passing year. I feel so blessed and excited to be working towards the day when I can begin building a relationship with these dear folks, and begin to share what God has done for them.

As my children would be quick to testify, I am still a work in progress, and an example of God's loving patience and grace. But I'm excited to be on this road, and I am open to wherever the Lord leads and whatever He wants to teach me on the way!

Krystal Lynn

This is an excerpt from an email that I sent recently to our friends, telling them of the good news that Krystal was saved! Praise the Lord!......
________________________

As most of you know we hold a Wednesday night Bible Study in our home.  On the week of October 27th, we had a special blessing that Krystal shared with us.

 We start each Bible study with reading/studying with the kids, singing and taking prayer requests. (After this the kids run to bed and call it a night.) Last night during prayer requests, Cora raised her hand and said that we needed to be sure and pray that she gets saved one day. I assured her that we pray for all of our girls daily that they will someday trust the Lord and get saved. Krys spoke up and explained that we no longer needed to pray for her, because she "got saved" on Monday.

I think we all were kind of dumbfounded at this revelation, but she was very “matter-a-fact.” After prayer I went upstairs to talk with her (more for my assurance than her's). She told me that she had gotten saved on Monday, during PE class. I asked her if the teacher walked her through the plan of salvation and she said no, that she had invited Christ into her heart while she was waiting in line. She said that she had been thinking a lot of heaven, Jesus dying on the cross, and her sins, and she decided that she needed to get saved right then.

I asked her how she knew what to do. She gave me that “seriously mom” look and assured me that she has been learning about this “for a long time.” She knew that she needed to make Jesus the boss of her life and ask Him to forgive her sins.” I could tell that she meant what she said, and there was no doubt or apprehension on her part. She had a decision to make, and she made it on October 27th, during PE class. What a joy!

Cora came into the room wanting to know what we were talking about, so I had Krystal explain it to her. I watched as she laid out the plan of salvation for Cora, even explaining that it was a decision each person has to make for themselves and she realized that Mom and Dad couldn’t make it for her. Wow.

_______________________

This of course wasn't exactly how I pictured "leading my little one to the Lord" -- but who said God needs me!  The Holy Spirit did a fine job on His own.   We are so very grateful.  We also now have another prayer warrior, who diligently prays for her sisters' salvation as well. 

Cora-Gracyn

Our four year-old has been praying daily for the last few months that she "would be able to get saved one day."  Yet each time Jonathan and I would talk with her, we could tell that she didn't quite understand the concept of the word.  Diligently we would go over with her the plan of salvation, and each time she would end on a non-related note (common with the attention span of a four year old!)  We were always careful not to "lead her"  up to a prayer that she herself was not ready to pray.

However, this past Friday evening was completely different.  As is common with Cora, during dinner we delved right into religious matters.  She ask me about Satan, his origin, why God couldn't have saved us another way that doesn't include dying on the cross, would she keep on sinning if she were saved, how many times does the average person have to get saved --- and the questions kept coming more than usual.  She took a breath to think for a moment or two and then just out of the blue asked if she could get saved now.  I immediately sent two "flare prayers" to God.  First, that He would give me the right scripture and words to say to Cora, and two, that He would keep Adelyn in the kitchen so she would not be a distraction, as I talked with Cora in the living room.  Not surprisingly, God answered both prayers!

Ten minutes later I watched as my not-so-compliant middle child invited Christ into her heart to be her Savior....and her "Boss" - as she calls it.  (All this while, God must have put an invisible fence around Adelyn, as she played quietly in the kitchen without interruption - that was a BIG blessing!).

Since that time, I have noticed that Cora no longer states her usual "please help me get saved one day" prayers.  I ask her yesterday the reason she had stopped.  Her reply..."Mom, I've already been saved, I don't need to pray it anymore. God isn't moving!" 

The gospel has a sweet simplicity that even a child can grasp - Praise the Lord!

Adelyn Rhys

As for Adelyn -- at  2 years of age, right now the only thing we're trying to teach her is to keep her temper to herself!  Our family is diligently praying and anxiously awaiting the day when we can add her testimony as well.