The Taxi Driver

A number of Manubu’ believers, including Gene’s translation helper, and other Manubu’ Bible teachers have been falsely accused of something which is presently preventing them from going to the village we call Big L in order to see about teaching the evangelistic phase of our teaching program there. Please PRAY that the situation will be resolved soon and the door to teaching at the Big L will open.

In an update in February we asked you to pray for the taxi driver, Vincent. The first time we rode with him Gene asked him if he would be going to be with God when he dies. He didn’t know. We asked him what we have to do in order to go to be with God when we die. His answer was to do good works which is standard theology of the dominant religion here in the Philippines. We have since ridden with Vincent a number of times. As it is more than a two hour ride from our mission guesthouse to the city we have had plenty of time to teach him a mini-version of the evangelistic phase of our chronological teaching program and to share other verses which address his thinking. This week we again rode with him to city. The conversation with Vincent went something like this: “Will go to be with God when you die?” “Yes.” “Why?” “Because Jesus died for my sins on the cross.” So, if you believe that, what would happen now if you were to sin? Would you be separated from God and be punished forever?” “No.” “Why?” ” Because Jesus died for my sins on the cross.”

We talked some more about that – we said that people often answer they don’t know whether or not they will go to be with God. He said, “When you first asked me that is what I said. I said that we have to be good in order to be saved – to go to be with God. But, now, I know it is because Jesus died for my sins on the cross.” Please continue to PRAY for Vincent. We suggested a church he could attend so that he can grow in his relationship with the Lord, but it is difficult because he has two families to support and has to drive a taxi seven days a week to meet expenses.

Vincent is in his fifties and has a number of children ranging from teens to twenty eight years old – none of them are working. He said that he has been sharing the gospel with his present wife. A daughter has been reading the book we gave Vincent called “Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” which is like the evangelistic phase of our teaching program. He has also asked his adult son who recently came to live with him to read the book. Please PRAY that his family will also be saved.

May we all, “Rejoice in the Lord always” as Paul said in Philippians 4:4.