God is moving in the hearts of the Mormon people--people I love for their kindness, generosity and family values. Many of them are leaving the LDS Church (some after 50 years) and coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ--the Jesus of the Bible. It is a wonderful thing to see and I thank God for it. Their stories are often painful; many are shunned by their children and grandchildren. They risked everything dear to them to follow Jesus--story after story of modern-day persecution and pain--all for the sake of the gospel.
My father heard these stories, too--many, many times over the course of his ministry, and he would walk around elated for days after talking with ex-Mormons or ex-Jehovah's Witnesses or countless others whose hearts had been touched by the power of God.
Kevin Bywater is one of these special people:
Dear Jill,
Greetings from Oxford, England . . . . I lecture on cults and the occult here in Oxford during the school year and back in the States during the summer months.
I met Walter once, in Salt Lake City. It must have been in the late-80s. I had become a Christian in '87, as a fifth-generation Mormon. After he spoke, I approached to greet him. A lot of people were speaking with him. I didn't have a chance to say anything other than "thank you." That was enough for me. I very much appreciated his leading-edge work, his clarity and charity and confidence, as well as his teachability. Yes, teachability is perhaps something people would not normally attribute to Walter. I saw it firsthand. He listened attentively to others, sometimes seeing enough to warrant modifying his own opinions. I know he encouraged many in their faith, as well as spurring them on in their evangelistic and apologetic endeavors. I'm very thankful to have known of him so early in my Christian life.
Kevin James Bywater, Director
SUMMIT MINISTRIES OXFORD STUDY CENTRE
www.summitoxford.org • www.summit.org
Thank you, Kevin, for taking the time to share this with me; it means a lot.
Take heart, my friends--good things are happening . . . .
posted by Jill Martin Rische at 8:04 PM
5 Comments:
Amen, Jill.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful letter. I could almost see his experience in that after-the-lecture gathering around your Dad.
One tries to remember what they were doing instead of attending earth-shattering, mountain-moving summits like those lectures and when others are being won to Christ in whatever venue...
...living our lives, I suppose.
They say there will be no tears in heaven. However the Bible says he will wipe away every tear. If it turns out the Bible does indicate there will be tears in heaven... most likely it will be at the bema seat judgment when we realize just how much we wasted... what he paid for with his own precious blood... when looking into the face of Glory he asks... "What did you do with the time I gave you?"
Help us Lord to look around right now at not only the Walter Martins you have sent into the world (and blessed the world by so doing) but also for the opportunities to share Jesus with a lost and dying world or to witness by our deeds of kindness exercising our personal spiritual gifts which we are called to and in fact are duty-bound to. Amen.
Hi Jill!
I just found your blog upon visiting waltermartin.com. Your Dad played a large part in my coming to Christ in 1991. To this day I still glean much from his books and videos. He also co-inspired me to start my own blog a few years back called: http://thywordistruth.wordpress.com/
I'll be checking back often. Please write often about your experiences with your Dad. They are much appreciated.
Lord bless,
Jim Richardson
Hi Jill just heard you on the janet show . I never knew walter had a daughter. What a blessing you are! Thanks
Hi Frank,
So glad you heard the interview! Thank you so much for your kind words.
God bless!
Jim--Thanks so much for stopping by. Your daughter, Francesca, is beautiful and talented. :) I promise I will tell more stories about my father. :) Thanks for the link.
Post a Comment
<< Home