Home from the whirlwind prayer journey and recovered from a jet lag episode worthy of a Guinness Book entry, I answered our kitchen phone.
“Hi Jerry, and welcome back to the States!” The party on the line with warm Pennsylvania voice was primed to offer intriguing news.
She and her husband had committed to pray for our team in far-off China throughout our just-completed two-week prayer-walking venture. During that fortnite, they received a surprise phone call from the adult son of a Chinese friend from long ago. The father was a former international student befriended by the American family those years before.
“I am serving in government and am now in your state leading a delegation of other officials from my province”, began the caller.
“I have a request, please. May I bring our group of twenty to learn something of your American religion? May we gather somewhere so that somebody of your choosing* may share with our delegation on the topic of Christianity?”
“Certainly, of course”, came the reply.
My PA friend’s mind raced. She and her husband had been praying intently for the precious people of this young man’s homeland – and specifically for the very province he and his accompanying cadre represented.
The visit was made and a culturally-clear presentation on the story of creation, redemption and of life lived in Jesus given. Printed resources in their language, including a Bible for each of the twenty, were presented to an enthusiastic, grateful company of visitors.
It happened that the presenter was son to missionary neighbors of ours in outback Africa of the early 1970s.*
“God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.” Romans 11:33 Msg Bible
©2024 Jerry Lout