‘I’m reading my Bible’
It wasn’t a chance encounter that led missionary Andrew Ferguson to a probable new co-worker among the Southern Tepehuan people.
A few weeks ago, Andrew was so surprised when he saw a Southern Tepehuan man with a Bible open in his lap, that he asked the man what he was doing.
“He kindly answered the obvious: ‘I’m reading my Bible,’” Andrew wrote.
“Yes, but why?” Andrew asked.
The man’s reply: “Because I’m a Christian.”
As Andrew chatted with the man, he found out his name is Agustin and he is from the area of the Southern Tepehuan village where Andrew and his co-workers have ministered, but cannot currently work because of violence.
Agustin was sent to prison for being with a man who committed murder. When he was exposed to the Gospel through a church’s prison ministry, he refused to listen, and hurled abuse at anyone who tried to talk with him about the Bible or God.
Then, he told Andrew, he was thinking about how he missed the mountains, his village and his people, and God spoke to him.
“He said that God told him that he was there all alone, no one cared for him, no one came to visit, and he really had no friends apart from those that wanted to talk to him about the Bible,” Andrew wrote. “God told him that even though he was in prison, He was right there with him and He wanted a friendship with him.”
This led to Agustin’s salvation. He learned to read Spanish by reading the Bible given to him, and after he got out of prison he joined the church that led the prison ministry. There he was discipled and baptized.
“My first meeting with Agustin was brief and I knew it wasn’t a coincidence,” Andrew wrote. “I prayed that we would meet again.”
Andrew was to be surprised again, when he found out that Agustin is staying at the home of Placido, who is helping Andrew translate Scripture portions and Bible lessons.
Now Agustin is attending church with Andrew, and going to Andrew’s house one or two times a week to talk about the Bible.
“It has been great sitting around and sharing about the truth of God’s Word in Tepehuan,” Andrew wrote. “He’s also been trying to teach me how to pray in Tepehuan. (Not easy!)
“He is very excited about us wanting to reach his people with the Gospel and wants to help in any way he can. We’re hoping he will work out for ... Bible translation.”
Pray that Agustin is able to help establish a church among his Southern Tepehuan people.