July 6, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

A Total Turnaround

"Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'"
Acts 9:13-16

No individual is beyond a total life change when confronted with the gospel.

Several years ago Tung was known as the "great persecutor" by local Christians in the central Vietnamese town where he lived. The Communist police officer had earned his infamous name because of his reputation for harassing house-church Christians.

Tung had little toleration for such people. As far as he was concerned, these "law*breakers" deserved to be punished when they continued to conduct their "illegal" religious activities by meeting in their homes.

But God had other plans for Tung. Despite his animosity toward the local Christians, several believers began to persistently pray for the police official. Some even dared to share the Gospel with him.

Gradually, as they continued to win his trust and friendship, Tung's heart began to soften. Finally it came to the point when he could no longer reject the truth of the Bible. Tung became a Christian. Like the apostle Paul, the policeman had become one of the very people he had previously persecuted.

Tung's outlook on life was transformed. Many of the villagers could not believe that this was the same man who had been so filled with enmity toward Christians.

Tung's spiritual life continued to flourish, and he soon began to move into a leadership role in his church. Some time later he attended a theological training seminar for church leaders. Tung returned to his home*town, determined that his life should be used by God to further the Gospel.

Since that time many have come to know Christ through Tung's ministry. He now oversees two house churches and is involved among the highland tribal people of central Vietnam.

Prayer: Ask God to help you to never give up on anyone, no matter how resistant they may be to the gospel message.

"God preserves the wicked to give them time to repent."
~Comtesse de Sophie Rostopchine

[Ky Kiske]

hmm... this reminds me of the Jesus Freak books. They tell stories similiar to this.
It is important to pray and lift up the persecuted church.
Here in America I can worship God whenever I want and without fear.
Yet to often I forget the struggles of other christian who practice their faith in secret and are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice. As I reflect on that I am saddened how many people forget what being a christian truly means...