'Changing hearts one at a time'
The growing faith of two couples -- Goster and Yania, and Se’o and Maira -- has been a huge encouragement for Mike and Cher Riepma as they work with the believers to establish mature churches among five Ese Ejja villages.
"God is working in individual hearts one at a time," the Riepmas wrote.
Goster grew up as best friends with Mike and Cher’s son, Jared. He heard many Bible stories, "but he never saw his personal need of a Savior," the couple wrote. He got married, had several children, and lived like those around him.
But one day his 8-year-old son asked, "When are we going to believe in Christ? I know God is real and our teacher says He is coming back soon." That simple faith got through to Goster, and he and his wife, Yania, soon came to Mike and Cher asking to hear God’s plan of salvation again.
Both trusted Christ, and Goster has been challenging other families in his village to come and learn about Jesus.
Maira impressed Cher by intently listening to each word whenever the ladies gathered for Bible study.
Maira grew up in church, but one day her dad decided he didn’t want to follow any longer. "Maira always knew deep in her heart that God’s Word is the truth and the key to having a meaningful life," the Riepmas wrote. So after she got married she started to attend Bible studies again, even though her husband -- who had previously placed his faith in Christ -- was uninterested.
"One day all the teaching came together for her and she understood why Christ had to come and die," the Riepmas wrote. "Her husband could tell there was a change right away and this caused him to recommit his life."
Maira is growing in the Lord and her relatives are noticing. She had also been asking to be baptized.
So last month, she and Goster and Yania were baptized, "with each one giving a clear testimony of their faith in Christ before their peers," Mike and Cher wrote. "God is changing hearts one at a time."