Beyond Death And Taxes: Help FIA Empower Gospel Workers
An adage reminds us, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and
taxes.” Yet, our transformative God is using both death and taxes to reveal Himself to the nations!
Imagine the impact!
Consider using your tax return this year to help villagers escape spiritual death through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Beyond Death: Pastor Gaby Teaches
FIA partners with Gaby, a tribal chief’s son turned pastor, to reach NiVan villagers with the Gospel in Vanuatu. Although death was unavoidable for one elderly woman, her entire village was transformed by the truth spoken at her burial.
There is no church in this village, no Christians, no one who knows the Lord, so they asked me to come to bury the old lady. As they cried, I asked them, “WHY HAS DEATH COME?” because I know this is in their minds. They have many ideas, but none of them has the answer. I explain to them about Adam and Eve and the first sin and how God provided an animal skin to cover them. This was the first death and since then is repeated through each of us. I explained that we are all dead spiritually as descendants of Adam. We then buried the lady and they said, “WE HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS TEACHING BEFORE,” so I explained how we are already dead and how to have life through the message of the Gospel. They sit all around me in the grass and I ask them if they want to receive Jesus. First, you must admit and realize you are a sinner as part of Adam’s line. Then you can believe and accept Jesus as the sin offering. Everyone, each one of them, raised their hands and received Jesus.
I THANK GOD IN THAT MOMENT BECAUSE HE GAVE ME A TIME, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO THESE PEOPLE.
And, now if He wills, I will visit again and continue to teach the villagers until a church is planted here.
BEYOND TAXES: It’s Already Been Paid
Before heading to work at the sawmill, a group of Wewak men take part in devotions led by Mike, FIA’s field leader in Papua New Guinea. The men have been trained to craft beds, cabinets, and all kinds of items to support missionaries in remote bush regions.
This morning, the workers heard about Jesus’s substitutionary sacrifice to pay our sin debt. As Mike drove one of the workers named Daniel to town to pick up hardware, he wondered if any of the truths had sunk in. Upon arrival, Mike was called away to the local radio station to repair some broken equipment. He handed Daniel a receipt for the parts and asked him to pick up the order for him.
Once at the store, Daniel was shocked that the owner just handed him the supplies when he saw the receipt.
“DON’T YOU WANT PAYMENT?”
Daniel asked. “No,” the owner replied,
“SOMEONE ELSE ALREADY MADE THE PURCHASE AHEAD OF TIME. YOU JUST NEED TO PICK UP.”
As Mike walked into the store, Daniel was wild-eyed. “I get it – this paper is like our sin debt. This is what Jesus has done for us!
IT’S ALL PAID FOR. I HAVE RIGHT-STANDING WITH GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DID FOR ME AHEAD OF TIME. I JUST HAVE TO PICK IT UP!”
Mike reassured him of the truth in such a living metaphor and offered up a prayer of thankfulness.
MORE THAN JUST DEATH AND TAXES!
Life is so much more than just death and taxes! There’s a world just waiting to hear about Jesus! This Easter season, celebrate with us. Jesus’s death has paid our sin debt, and His resurrection has robbed death of its sting!
What better way to give thanks than by investing in opportunities to transform more villagers with these Gospel truths? We need your help to see more villagers reached.
Would you consider giving?
If God uses even small gifts to accomplish much, just think what the compounded giving of $320 (10% of this year’s average tax return) can provide!
