Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:14
Preparation for old age should begin not later than one’s teens. A life which is empty of purpose until 65 will not suddenly become filled on retirement. Dwight L. Moody
My mother climbed on a kitchen stool and fetched a new edition of the New Testament from on top of the cupboard. This was 55 years ago when I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, and I never looked back since.
Since everywhere we look, we hear of sickness, death, and just simply bad news, I thought I would share with you this time how I came to know Jesus as my personal Savior 55 years ago. This is the good news; it is the best news that can ever happen to anyone.
Lately, the Lord has been talking to me about going back to basics. The basics of the faith, the basics of the Bible, and the basics of my first love.
I was 11 years old, a student in fifth grade still in pimples and braces. We had a new teacher who asked us to start reading one paragraph from the Bible daily. There was something different about him that made me want to go back and start reading.
I did not have a Bible of my own, and neither did my parents or at least I did not know they had one. They were both traditional Christians who went to mass every Sunday, but I felt that something was lacking, something I saw in my teacher’s face and life.
I started reading the Bible and could not stop at one paragraph a day. I devoured the Bible, and my life started changing without my knowing.
My mother and father were quite alarmed that their son has become so ‘religious.’
After a few months, they realized the change was real.
My father, a major general in the Egyptian army, was a very proud and successful man. He watched me, not knowing what to do with my newfound faith.
My mother, a Coptic Orthodox nominal Christian, was threatened by the change in my life.
In a few months, I won my younger brother to Jesus.
A couple of years later, my dad came to know Christ as his personal Savior. The change that happened in his life was phenomenal. He became a very humble and loving man. He started ministry in the garbage collectors area.
I started the first Sunday school for children at the garbage collectors’ area and had my first dental clinic there. There was no running water, and I had to bring a pail of clean water with me. One of the garbage collectors had to shoosh the flies out of the patients’ mouths as I was working.
Today, three of the children in my Sunday school class have become priests.
Today at 4G3 and MELTI we are reaching over 1000 people a month. We have reached 800,000 in the last twenty years.
Who would have thought that God will use this young boy for His Glory?
Looking back, I want to thank that teacher who has gone to be with Jesus a few years ago.
Never underestimate the faith of a young boy. Take every opportunity to tell of the reason for the hope that is in you.
You never know what effect your words will have on your hearers.
Keep shining for Jesus.
Maranatha
Strategic Meeting with Ron Blue
PRAYER NEEDS
Pray for the launch of the Ron Blue Institute resources in Arabic from 13-15 May. Ron Blue and his son Michael Blue will be traveling to Egypt for the launch. Pray that God will bring the right people to attend and that those who attend will be free of the Mamon of money.
This trip is one of the most challenging trips we have taken. What with the third wave of COVID being rampant, we personally have lost many close friends and relatives. It will be hard to be back in Egypt and not see them. Yet, with so many deaths, it seems like people in Egypt have become blaze to the fact of death. Pray that the current situation will quicken our spirits more to evangelize and disciple others. Pray that those who belong to Jesus in the Middle East might be beacons of hope to others.
Our CFO, George Samir, lost his mother-in-law to COVID-19 this past week. Pray for comfort for him and his family.
Pray for God’s guidance concerning the Lebanon trip. Lebanon is under lock down right now, and even the people we are going to minister to are telling us not to go.
Pray for discernment. Pray for the Syrian refugees that have lost their homes during the blast and are currently homeless. Pray that they would stay firm in their faith.
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