In February, I had the joy of reconnecting in East Asia with several believers who had come to faith through our Bible study many years ago— those who, at the time, were openly atheistic and even antagonistic toward Christianity.
Before sharing what the Lord used to draw them to himself, let me tell you where they are now—18 years later.
Two of them, whom I’ll call David and Ruth, are now married and serving in a rural region of the country. They were sent out from their home church in a large city to help strengthen a smaller congregation. While they primarily shepherd that church, they also travel to other congregations in the area —raising up leaders grounded in Scripture, just as Paul instructed Titus (Titus 1:5).
Another brother, John, is now a leader in a church where our family served for five years. I had the privilege of serving as an elder there, while my wife taught children and helped with worship. In late February, John was preaching from 1 Peter when the police arrived. God gave him wisdom and peace as he safely guided the congregation. Since then, they’ve met in a different location each week. John’s maturity is the result of years spent in the Word. I meet with him weekly via Zoom, and I thank God for the faithful man he has become.
When I see what God is doing through these coworkers, I’m reminded how different their lives—and ours—might have been had we chosen the safer path. There were many unknowns in our decision to go. Others would see the location of our service as a risky one, but we do not see it that way. Yes, there were uncertainties along the way. But the Lord has confirmed that the “risk” was worth it. These men aren’t just believers now—they’re shepherds and disciple-makers. Only God could have written that story.
When we arrived in East Asia nearly 20 years ago, we brought our four daughters with us, and our youngest was born there later. Some wondered what we were thinking, and honestly, I had moments of doubt too. But God met us with reminders of his providence—even on day one.
At the airport, a border officer glanced at my passport and asked, “Are you a Christian?” To be a Christian there is not usually viewed favorably. When I said yes, he smiled and said, “God bless you,” handing me back my documents. That small moment helped me stop fixating on what might go wrong and start resting in what God could do.
What he did—more than anything else—was use our home, our marriage, and our parenting to adorn the gospel. Titus 2 reminds us that sound doctrine, lived out, makes the truth beautiful. John later said it was witnessing our marriage and family life in our home that first softened his heart. He had assumed Christianity was for the weak. But he saw something deeper in the way we lived—and God used that.
To him alone be the glory (Psalm 67:1–4). And yes—we’d do it all again. Not because it was easy, but because he is worthy.
