sharing faith

YOUNG NAHUATL MAN DATED UNBELIEVER, THEN GOD CHANGED HER HEART

(April 17, 2025) Ed and Denise Aulie share…

Springtime in the Sierra, Mexico is full of life with baby lambs, baby foals, baby chicks and newborn babies in the Náhuatl homes.

We have known Carlos since he was a boy but now he is a young Náhuatl man. He began dating Cristina, a young woman who did not know the Lord. We saw his joy fading and his church attendance become sporadic. One Sunday he stood up to tell us that he was ashamed and convicted that he had caused this young woman to become pregnant. He confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness.

How precious to see each person stand up to talk to him in Náhuatl assuring him of his or her friendship and belief in God working through this situation for him. He was visibly moved with tears in his eyes.

Transformed From Observer to Believer
Carlos and Cristina were married very quietly with little fanfare. In a small room where they were to live, they celebrated their union with a sign with their names on it and balloons. They shared some chicken in broth, home-made tortillas and a small cake.

Cristina, who was not a believer, began coming with Carlos to church. We watched her transform from an observer to a believer. How beautiful to see her eagerly read the word, pray, and truly believe. How dear to see Carlos with his arm around her introducing her as ‘my wife.’ We have seen them grow in their faith and sweet love for each other ever since.

In short order a baby would be coming— a little girl. On Cristina’s birthday we were each asked to give a little devotion for the soon to be born child. To our surprise her formerly hostile, distant family came and listened. They were nodding, smiling and delighted with the word of God that we shared.

What a turn-around! We have often thought of the beautiful scripture ‘A little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6) in reference to the influence of children on the faith of adults. This child was already affecting the whole family for good.

Cristina was overwhelmed with emotion. Our hearts sang to see her security in the love of Carlos and the Lord. She recognises that God has blessed her with a man of faith and faithfulness in Christ. Many women in the Sierra cannot say that this is their situation.

Listening Respectively to God’s Word
Only a 15 minute walk from Cristina and Carlos, we visited a profoundly deaf young woman who had her first baby— also a little girl.

This tiny infant was on oxygen from the start. She could not be nursed so they would spoon feed her some formula. They kept her alive for two months with rented cylinders of oxygen used day and night, hoping against hope, until she died.

The heartache was palpable for the young couple and the grandparents.

They do not know the Lord but through hand-signs and visits, they know we care. They too listen respectively to God’s word as we use signs to communicate. May it bear fruit as God has promised.

Younger Generation Seeking Godly Counsel
The younger generation seeks counsel and hope from us. It is a great responsibility and an amazing one to be accepted by another culture in these matters. These relationships take time— lots of time— to nurture. Now when we look at the whole group of young children in this new village, it’s as if we can already see them in a blink of an eye becoming teens and then adults with children of their own.

We feel the clock ticking for them to be exposed to God’s word, to hear about Jesus’ love and sacrifice for them and to know He is real for them this very day. By God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s leading, their lives are marked by Him. We are conscious of this in every interaction.

Please pray that we would reach these young lives around us and encourage those who already are in young adulthood to listen and heed the words of the Lord.

The need is so great. We are thankful for you and your prayers and your support of us here.

  • To learn more about Ed and Denise’s ministry, go here
  • If you want to know more about a personal relationship with God, go here

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GodReports.com, founded by Mark Ellis in 2009, is devoted to promoting Christian missions by sharing stories and testimonies from missionaries and missions.
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CHRISTMAS – AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

(December 11, 2018) Missionary statesman Dr George Forbes reminds us that Christmas is an opportune time for sharing the real Christmas message… here at home!

It’s virtually Christmas! This is a time when people are expecting good things and encouragements by way of cards and gifts. The gospel speaks of the greatest gift of all – God’ gift of his Son, Jesus Christ who would become our Saviour.

Paul made it very clear in Romans 3:23 that ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ – John 3:16 is still the most relevant of all scriptures: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Having been associated with world missions for decades, naturally overseas missions and missionaries are very much on my heart. But, bringing my blog closer to home at this Christmastime I would say this to every Christian at home: We may not be a missionary overseas but as missionaries abroad share the good news of Jesus as Saviour even here at home we can be missionaries by fulfilling the great commission in our local suburbs!

Let’s be Christians of action – moving in faith and seeing the impossible become possible! We can find opportunities to share the good news of the gospel, the real reason for the season.

A time to be daring in sharing
A little but great booklet God’s Little Instruction Book, has a powerful saying in it – ‘Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see!’

Now that’s a saying that tends to stick in one’s mind as it encapsulates a fundamental truth.

Jesus taught us that God’s word is truth (John 17:17). God’s word is his instruction book – the Holy Bible! And it declares that …

  • ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God!’ (Hebrews 11:6).
  • It is not possible to be a Christian without faith.
  • It is equally impossible to live the life of a believer without believing.
  • With the assistance of the Holy Spirit the first disciples began fulfilment of Jesus’ Great Commission commandment of Matthew 28:18-20 in their local suburbs – in Jerusalem! (See Acts 1:8).

(more…)

A LIVING HOPE

George Forbes 2010(January 11, 2017) Missionary statesman Dr George Forbes reminds us of a fundamental truth…

Our world is full of people who have no hope!

There are multiplied reasons for this tragedy; however my purpose is not to describe the hopelessness, but to share the reality that there is hope.

Christians have a living hope
The hope of Christians worldwide is based on God’s love and amazing mercy; on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and on the plan of salvation for all who believe.

If you need hope, if you’re asking questions about life and the unknown future, I invite you to consider what the apostle Peter wrote.  It is found in chapter three of his first letter to the churches. Here are the words he wrote, translated faithfully and clearly in English…

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time’ (1Peter 1:3-5). (more…)

IRAN – WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING EVANGELICAL POPULATION (Apr 9, 2016)

Mark Ellis 2016Mark Ellis shares good news …

Iran is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for followers of Jesus Christ. Almost all of the above-ground, Farsi-speaking churches have been closed and house churches are raided routinely, with their leaders and members arrested, according to a report by SAT-7 (http://sat7.org/).

Iranian Christians share faith despite dangers!
Evangelism by Christians is against the law and may even be punished by death. But despite Iran’s leaders’ strenuous efforts to bring the furies of hell against believers, God is at work and the church in Iran is growing rapidly! (more…)