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A Doctor a Day Keeps the Devil Away

Our team at the Bethesda Mercy Home in Kovalevo

What God can bring about in 10 days (some things you would never expect)

8 people saved, dozens of new visitors in churches, scattered all over Omsk region and 3000+km travelled.

What a trip! When I picked up this three doctor team at the airport, I did not expect such a whirlwind of activity, nor the amazing work God accomplished.

Working from dawn ‘til dusk

While this was a medical outreach effort, it was primarily an evangelism trip. When Maria (name changed for security reasons) measured blood pressure and checked lungs, she could talk to patients about their soul. It is amazing how God opened the hearts of so many unsaved and made them receptive to the Gospel.

Checking vitals and witnessing

She has “seen„ so many different people–from pastors and their wives to drug addicts, who had lost their limbs to frostbite, from surly grandmothers to children with special needs. I praised God when I noticed that almost everyone exiting her “office„ had a huge grin on their face, because the doctor not only attempted to cure a sickness, but also touched their soul with kindness and dignity.

I once was blind but now I see…

Checking how the new glasses work. What better way to start seeing than reading God's Word!

Checking how the new glasses work. What better way to start seeing than reading God’s Word!

 

Another doctor we had was an optometrist–let’s call her Anna. Truth be told, the prospect of getting free reading glasses was the driving force that resulted in so many people coming to us.

Praying with each patient at the end of the visit

Praying with each patient at the end of the visit

To decide what prescription to give each person, Anna used a chart with Bible verses! This was an awesome segue to ask “Do you understand what you’ve just read?„ Thus, a vision test became an evangelism tool. Anna and her helper, Sofia, personally led 4 souls to Christ!

Ivan is using an EvangeCube to present a plan of Salvation

While our doctors met with patients in their makeshift “offices„ Ivan and I greeted visitors, helped to maintain a semblance of order and shared the gospel with them. At one church 30 people showed up at 11 am, and some of them had to wait 3.5 hours to be examined by the doctor!

People waiting in queue

People waiting in queue

I had the privilege to lead 2 men to Christ and to present the plan of salvation to many others. One lady was very close to praying the sinner’s prayer but said she would do it at home. Please pray for Natasha to get saved!

Witnessing to people who came for a check-up. “Tell me, do you know where you are going to spend eternity?”

Witnessing to people who came for a check-up. “Tell me, do you know where you are going to spend eternity?”

We finished with a bang!

Last day was something else! Disregarding safety concerns, the church posted flyers all over the city to invite unbelievers. And they came… all at the same time! After initially being terrified at the prospect of being detained by police, we prayed and asked God to watch over us. That day we received the largest amount of patients–43. Four people accepted Christ, but the amazing thing was that we got done at a reasonable 5pm.

Selecting the right pair of glasses for a patient in the hospital

Selecting the right pair of glasses for a patient in the hospital

What we did next was as unexpected as it was awesome! Through a connection of a church member, we went to a city hospital (after visiting hours, mind you) and witnessed, encouraged and gave reading glasses to 46 more patients. Close to 100 souls heard the Gospel on Thursday. What a mighty God we serve!

I learned several precious lessons on this trip

First of all, people all around us are ready to accept Christ as their Savior. They long for someone to come and ask them the most important question in their life “where are you going to spend eternity?„

Nikolay waited for a couple of hours to see our doctors. In the end, he found Christ!

Nikolay waited for a couple of hours to see our doctors. In the end, he found Christ!

Second, it is amazing how God uses newness. After leading a man to Christ I talked to his pastor,and he confided in me they witnessed to him for 6
months. It took a new person sharing the same Gospel, but in a new light, to cause Alexander Viktorovich to call on Jesus!

Aleksandr Viktorovich accepted Christ as his Savior!

With every outreach effort we get someone new to meet, to minister and to call a friend. Because of this medical trip, every one of the eight churches where we have been welcomed new visitors to their services afterward.

There was another situation where an older man laughed off his personal need to accept Christ. However, after talking for a while he said something that shocked me, “would you please pray for and work with my granddaughter? She really needs to turn her life around.„ This grandfather, although blind to his own condition, saw a spiritual need in his family.

This grandfather asked us to witness to his granddaughter, who desperately needs Christ

This grandfather asked us to witness to his granddaughter, who desperately needs Christ

Because of this outreach, many villagers in Vasiss, Tara, Kolosovka, Omsk and other places, no longer view Baptists as a sect, but as people who genuinely care for their souls.

I call this the greatest victory of all!

To God be the glory, great things he has done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son!

To God be the glory, great things he has done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son!

 

 

{ 1 comment… add one }
  • Jo DeLong April 27, 2019, 8:45 pm

    I was wondering how you were coming along since your home burned. We attend Fellowship Baptist Church in Aurora, Mo & I saw your prayer letter mentioning that. I am sure that you know Allen & Michelle Ketel who are also missionaries there! God bless you!!! Jo

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