Thank you, Cuyahoga Valley Church, for giving to the CVC General Fund. A portion of your gift ends up in our CVCMissions budget. And from that budget, we support a wide variety of causes.
One person we support financially is our own English as a Second Language teacher, Brian Bonus, who teaches ESL in an Asian country that is closed to missionary work.
Brian recently sent an update to us as his partners in the work.
The fruit that is growing here is proof that God can use anyone if only they trust and obey. Without your prayers and support none of this would be possible. I appreciate all of you more than you could ever know.
I want to share with you a few of the amazing stories that have transpired here.
I teach English using the Bible as my teaching materials. For the last two years I have been using CMA’s Evangelism Explosion materials. This has worked very well for me.
Last week I began an EE session with a group of 5 students between 18 & 26 years of age. A woman named Alice was so intrigued by mankind’s dilemma and God’s solution to our problem that she began to share with her friends. Alice called me and asked permission to invite 5 of her university class mates. At first I was hesitant as that would bring the number of students in my class to 10. I usually keep my class size to 6 at the most because large groups increase my exposure. I felt like the Holy Spirit was saying that everyone needs to hear the good news so I told her it would be OK.
At the next class I had 10 students crammed into my small make shift classroom. All were very excited as I presented the Gift of Heaven, man’s sinful nature, God’s love and mercy and explained how Jesus is the solution to our problem. The class went better than I ever anticipated. I know for sure that, not I, but the Holy Spirit was leading that class.
Today we had another class and discussed that Faith is the key that opens the door to Heaven.
At the end of the class I explained that they had just heard the greatest story ever told about the greatest offer ever made by the greatest person who ever lived – Jesus Christ. And that the question that God is asking them now is: WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE?
To my amazement 7 of the 10 acknowledged a need and desire to follow Jesus!!! Then one of the three men I am discipling prayed with them as they made a decision to follow Jesus. Their names are Phoung, Thoung, Alice, Dung, Nhu, Anh, and Dao. To God be the Glory. Now much follow up is required. Please keep them in your prayers and pass on this prayer request.”
Wow. God is good to use us when we share the greatest story ever told about the greatest offer ever made by the greatest person who ever lived.
The great missionary, Paul, wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). I am glad that Brian, too, is not ashamed of the gospel and that the gospel is changing lives in a closed country in Asia through ESL classes.
Thanks, Cuyahoga Valley Church, for giving and thanks for praying for Brian Bonus!