Holiness Propels Evangelism
Entering the cement-walled church building, with its iron sheeted roof and grass mat seating, we first noticed two men sitting in typical African fashion on the floor, legs extended straight in front of them.
I smiled a greeting in their direction as I wondered whether they were regular attenders at this small bush church in Malawi, arriving early to get a good seat.
It was the second day of a ladies’ retreat. The day before, my wife, Sheryl, had taught a seminar focusing on the Articles of Faith, dealing with Christ’s work on the Cross. He was the Bridge across the great divide of humanity’s sin, allowing access to the Father. Jesus’ work on the Cross provided the cure for the human sin virus, Sheryl had taught.
The attendees had listened attentively to the Chichewa translator working in tandem with Sheryl, memorizing the main points and supporting Bible verses.
As we discovered on this morning, they had wasted no time putting their knowledge into action. The previous evening after the seminar, the women had conducted evangelism outreach in the surrounding community, leading 10 people to Christ.
The two men seated before us were among those 10. They’d been delivered from demons during intense prayer that lasted well into the night.
I glanced at the men, who appeared grateful and sat quietly waiting, as one of the women asked us to pray with these brand new believers.
How would they react to experiencing a Christian worship service for the first time, I wondered to myself after we prayed.
The service began as local church women entered wearing their uniforms of white blouses and colorful Chitenjes (wrap-around skirts). They sang as they came. The pastor’s son stood to lead worship. The people followed his all-out leadership style which included joyous expressions of dance and praise. The singing was powerful.
When we came to the song, “There’s No One, There’s No One like Jesus,” the noise rose in crescendo and reverberated off the cement walls of that small church building. The song is accompanied by actions that mimic the search for different things in life that one thinks will bring satisfaction. The conclusion is that only He truly can satisfy. There is no one like Jesus!
The two newly delivered men were swallowed up in the crowd of worshipers so I could not see their faces.
This very weekend, the women believers had received teaching of biblical principles of holiness and the Articles of Faith. They had immediately applied them by sharing these truths for change in their world. And through their obedience, 10 who heard these words of life received the news of light and life joyfully and were delivered from the shackles of bondage and darkness that very day.
-- Fred and Sheryl Tedder have served as specialized
assignment missionaries in the country of Malawi, and are now pastoring
in the United States.
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