“What Do You Want?” Part 2
By Laurie Denski-Snyman
Maria glanced nervously at David as the man approached them in his home in a large city in southern Asia. The man’s cellphone was recording as he waited for them to answer his wife’s question about their religious beliefs.
“As I already said, we are Seventh-day Adventists,” David said.
“Does this mean you are Christians?” the man said.
David prayed silently. He knew many people in this country were not open to Christianity because they were troubled by the reality that many Christians drank alcohol and ate unclean food, which their religion forbade.
“Let me explain,” David said. “We believe what the Torah says, including passages such as Deuteronomy 6:4, which says, ‘The Lord our God, the Lord is one!’ We believe there is one God. This verse tells us that.”
“Interesting,” the man said.
“We also believe the mandate in the Torah that says we should worship the Lord on His Sabbath which begins Friday at sunset and lasts until Saturday at sunset,” David said.
Then he spoke about the Lord condemning pork in Isaiah 66:17.
The man continued recording the conversation, but his terse scowl slowly melted into a smile.
David continued, “We believe our bodies are the temple of God and they are lent to us. While we are here on earth, we are to take care of them.”
The man smiled widely.
“We do not believe in hurting our bodies by smoking or drinking alcohol.”
The man said, “I believe our meeting was divinely ordained.” He got up and left. Returning with food, he placed it on the table and insisted that the visitors eat. “This was not an accidental appointment,” he said repeatedly. “It was set up from above.”
Then he offered a prayer of gratitude for the unexpected meeting and a blessing on the food. After that, he brought in his adult son from a back room, saying, “I want you to meet these people.” Turning to David and Maria, he said, “I want to share my family with you.” He apologized that he and his family could not eat because they were observing a fast.
As the visitors ate, he plied them with questions about The Great Controversy. He appeared appreciative of their replies. Then he said, “We are happy that you came today, and we know that you were sent here. This was not an accident. We will be tolerant toward you, and peace be with you.”
As the visitors got ready to leave, he blessed them, saying, “May you have peace and blessings, especially as you go through our neighborhoods.”
Laurie Denski-Snyman is a retired social worker who works with her husband as short term missionaries overseas. This testimony is printed with permission of Adventist Mission.
World Church Prayer Requests
September 6 — September 12, 2024
- Mozambique: Pray for the English branch of the International Church in Maputo as it is organizing. May God guide the new church, help them find the right place to build a new church building, and provide the Spirit of giving for the mission.
- Sierra Leone: Pray for a bountiful harvest during Creation Sabbath Week of Spiritual Emphasis in schools. Pray also for the growth of the one year old Chadwick Adventist College.
- Liberia: Pray for IMPACT 2025, a training for an upcoming evangelistic campaign, and the leaders who will be attending it. May the Lord provide the laborers for His work, that souls may be won and His name be glorified.
- United States: Please pray for Lena SDA and Green Bay SDA Churches as they are hosting evangelistic series in September. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in a mighty way and for many souls to be brought to Jesus because of these meetings.
- Papua New Guinea: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as church leaders are organizing retention programs and activities for new interested members converted through the PNG for Christ program in June 2024.
- United Kingdom: Please pray for both church growth and spiritual growth in the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Herm, and Alderney.