Changed lives

(Carol has been writing most of our blog entries, but this time it's Richard.)

Today I met with one of the 8 supervisors of the evangelistic counselors for follow-up of the soccer outreach in Port-au-Prince. His name is Yves.

I asked him how the calls were going and he said he made 7 calls and got 2 appointments with people who wanted to study the Bible with him.

Then I asked him if he had called any of those who had indicated they had trusted Christ during the game in Port-au-Prince. He said he had contacted 2 and then told me their stories.

The first was named Bernard. He had heard about the game over the radio and had come just to watch his favorite team play. When he got there he was surprised to see that it was something “Protestant”. He said he would never have come if he had known that. When the message was given he listened, and filled out the response card saying that he had accepted Christ so that he could have a chance at winning a laptop computer. But then during the second half of the game, the Holy Spirit touched his heart and he saw his need for salvation.

Even though it has taken us 2 months to follow up with some people like Bernard, they are still happy to hear from us. In Bernard’s case, Yves suggested they meet for 30 minutes, but he was so interested in what Yves was showing him from the Bible, that Yves spend two hours with him – and he wants to meet with Yves again. Yves is convinced that Bernard’s conversion is sincere and praises God that he has the opportunity to feed one of His lambs.

As Yves was telling me this story I was overcome with emotion and started to cry. Through my tears of joy I explained to Yves that even if Bernard were the only person who trusted in Christ as a result of the soccer tour, it was worth all the investment of time and money and heartaches that made the tour possible. Changed lives are the reason we’re here.

The second person Yves met with said he understood the plan of salvation at the stadium, but did not make a decision to accept Christ until the following week when he attended an evangelistic crusade near his house. Then he went home and promptly forgot about his commitment. If it wasn’t for Yves being faithful to follow up, this person could have been like the seed sown along the path that withered for lack of water. But now Yves has met with him and he wants to continue to study the Bible with Yves and grow in Christ.

Thanks to our friends at Blue Ridge Ministries, we were able to get over 2,700 New Testaments and Psalms to give to people like Bernard who is eager to study God’s Word. They also gave us several hundred Bible study books called “Beginning the Christian life”, also in Creole. Having these books to offer makes the job of those doing follow up a lot easier since most people are eager to receive them.

Please pray that we will hear many more encouraging stories about how God worked through the soccer tour!