Fifty years after Jonathan left church, a Bible worker brought hope.

Jonathan decided at a young age that he was done with church. I’m old enough to make my own decisions, he told himself. He started doing things that he considered more interesting, including drinking alcohol. 

Over time he began to regret some of the things he was doing. While he enjoyed them in the moment, he started to realize that they were not bringing him fulfillment. He felt dirty inside, but he didn’t know where to find peace.

Decades passed.  It had been 50 years since Jonathan had set foot in a church. One day, there was a knock at his door.

“Hi! I live here in this community, and I like to visit my neighbors to see how they are doing spiritually.” The young man’s smile felt like warm sunshine to Jonathan.

Jonathan invited the young man in, and when he learned that he was a Bible worker, he began to ask him the questions he had been yearning for answers to all these years. He told the Bible worker about all the horrible things he had done in his life. “How can I have peace after doing these awful things?” he asked.

The Bible worker replied—“Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

When Jonathan heard these words, he sighed in relief. “Tell me more! How can I become clean?” The Bible worker continued sharing Bible promises with him and encouraged Jonathan to come to God just as he was. They began to study together twice a week, and Jonathan loved the new things he was learning. He found a friend in Jesus and began to talk to Him about all his difficulties. Jonathan began to realize that he needed more than Bible study at home—but he was too shy to go back to church.

The very next Bible study was about God’s true day of worship. As Jonathan went over the Bible texts about the Sabbath, he immediately realized that this was the solution to his dilemma.

One Sabbath, at long last, Jonathan decided he would visit the Seventh-day Adventist church. He assumed that because he had not been to this church before, they wouldn’t pay attention to him—but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Jonathan was overwhelmed with the warm welcome he received and kept going back. He even joined the men’s group in the church.

Since returning to church, Jonathan has begun telling others about how God changed his life. Despite his age, Jonathan is actively sharing his faith. He is excited that he chose to let Christ lead his life

After a number of months studying the Bible, Jonathan was baptized. He said, “I love serving God and He has blessed me beyond measure—beyond what I could ever comprehend!” The joy that passes all understanding can be seen on his face.

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Location
Zambia

Author
Hilary Moonga is a pastor of many churches in the Monze district of Zambia.

How You Can Help
Pray for the evangelistic work Pastor Moonga and his team are doing in Zambia. 

Pray for Jonathan as he begins his new life in Christ! 

Give. Funds are needed to provide Bibles to new believers, build churches, support church planters and purchase a light duty truck to transport workers and equipment. Send your check marked “Zambia,” “Zambia Bibles” or “Zambia Workers” to: 

Mission Projects International 
PO Box 151
Inchelium, WA 99138

To give securely online, visit: www.missionspro.org/donate

Thank you. Your gifts are supporting six part-time Bible workers who are bringing the Three Angels’ Messages to central Zambia!