May 29, 2024 • 17 mins
When we hear about the perils faced by missionaries, it's often a fleeting news item, but the recent tragedy in Haiti brings the reality of these dangers into sharp focus. This episode is a call to arms for prayer warriors, inspired by the Apostle Paul's example, as we delve into the challenges and spiritual battles faced by those spreading the Gospel. We honor the fallen while also shining a light on the courage and trials of national believers, especially in countries like Nigeria, where their faith often puts them in harm's way. Our conversation is a poignant reminder of the power of prayer and the need for a dedicated, persistent spiritual support network for God's servants on the front lines.
The intensity of spiritual warfare and the vital role of perseverance in missions is further illuminated through a personal tale of defending a church in Arequipa, Peru. Listeners will hear how faith can be tested in the most extreme circumstances and the miraculous ways in which these tests can be overcome. As host, I also introduce the World Evangelism Podcast Challenge, encouraging our community to engage in the deeply impactful act of intercession for missionaries worldwide. Join us as we foster a collective effort to support and uphold those who are committed to the mission of sharing hope and love around the globe.
Thanks for listening. Find us on YouTube, Substack, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
W. Austin Gardner (00:01):
Well, I'd like to welcome you to the World
Evangelism Podcast.
My name is Austin Gardner and Iam honored to have the
opportunity to speak with youabout all that God's doing
around the world, and I knowthat you know that during this
week, we have seen the death ofa young missionary couple a very
alarming, saddening, horribleevent that shocks all of us as
(00:27):
we see different people whosuffer for the cause of Jesus
Christ.
I don't know of anything thatcould shock us or hurt us more
than what we see in that, and soI want to bring to you today a
lesson on how to pray formissionaries.
I want to talk to you about howto pray for missionaries,
(00:48):
because I think it's easy everso often to just kind of forget
all that's happening in thesepeople's lives, that are
happening the ultimate price.
You know, a guy in Cameroon wasshot and killed several years
(01:11):
ago, and that was a horriblething to have happen in his life
.
And then this young couple thatis, I think, breaking
everybody's heart.
They were missionaries in Haitiand they were killed by a gang,
and so I want to ask you topray for them.
(01:32):
You can go to Facebook and lookup missions in Haiti and find
them, and you'll know about thatstory.
I'm on their Facebook pageright now and it says Davy and
Natalie and Jude were shot andkilled by the gang about 9
o'clock this evening.
We're all devastated.
That was written three days ago.
They say then later on so manythings to say.
(01:55):
We're facing the most difficulttime in our life.
Thank you all for all yourprayers and support.
The embassy is working ongetting the paperwork done to
get them flown out of thecountry, and so there's a fund
me page, a GoFundMe page, forthe Jude family, and there's a
tremendous need.
Without a doubt, none of us candeny that this fine family has
(02:18):
gone way above and beyond andGod has taken them home and
they're in glory, but there's afamily left hurting here beyond
any hurt that we can imagine.
So I just want to take todayand tomorrow be off the normal
script and we'll talk to youabout how to pray for
missionaries.
The Apostle Paul said in 1Thessalonians 5.25, brethren,
(02:40):
pray for us.
Now, if the Apostle Paul woulddare to say I need you to pray
for me, that would shake me andmotivate me, because if Paul
needed prayer, you know everyoneelse needs prayer and Paul felt
that prayer accomplishedsomething because he said
Brethren, pray for us.
(03:01):
In 2 Corinthians 1.11, he saidthat when you pray, you are
helping together by prayer forus 2 Corinthians 1.11.
And Paul, in his writings,gives us several things that he
would ask us to pray about.
You see, you may be one ofthose people that God has called
(03:25):
and spoken to and told to stayhere, and you're a strong
mission supporter.
Or you may be a missionaryserving on a field where things
may not be quite so dangerous.
That happens, you know.
I mean my family faced all sortsof things.
I got beat up and had to have12 stitches.
Nine of us got sent to thehospital.
Our daughter was viciouslyraped.
(03:48):
We were robbed 55 times in thefirst three years before we lost
count.
A ton of bad things happened onthe mission field.
The man killed in the Cameroon,leaving a widow and children in
front of another missionary agood man of God.
That's not all.
In Peru, a missionary's truckwas brand new truck was burned
(04:10):
and destroyed in town when hewas downtown and a riot took
place.
We have seen so much andnationals suffer beyond what we
can imagine, and Nigeria is oneof those places where a great
deal of suffering has takenplace.
And so Paul said get in thebattle.
He says that in Romans, chapter15 and verse 30,.
He said I beg you for JesusChrist's sake, I beseech you for
(04:34):
Jesus Christ's sake and for thelove of the Spirit, that you
strive together with me.
Strive together, fight with me,get in the battle with me in
your prayers to God.
For me it wasn't a selfishprayer.
He wanted it done for the sakeof Jesus Christ.
He wanted them to pray becauseof Jesus.
They could get involved.
(04:54):
See, god answers prayer.
Now, I'm not one of those guysthat likes to say I believe in
the power of prayer, becausesometimes I think that almost
puts it into like positivethinking.
But I am one that believes inthe power of prayer, because
sometimes I think that almostputs it into like positive
thinking.
But I am one that believes inthe one we pray to, that he
hears and that he answers, andit's not our prayers, it's him
that hears and answers.
But he told us you have notbecause you ask not.
(05:16):
And so we need to learn to ask.
We want to learn to bedisciplined to pray regularly
and think about all of thesemissionaries.
We want to be dedicated todisciplined, to pray regularly
and think about all of thesemissionaries.
We want to be dedicated, toknow what to pray for.
We don't want to be interestedenough to stay in touch with
them.
We want to learn to carry theirburdens and to feel their
(05:37):
burdens.
God gave us four wonderfulchildren that are all serving
him in full-time ministry or inministry.
Not all are full-time, but mostof them are full-time and they
are serving the Lord.
And I know that it hurt me sodesperately when my children
were hurt, so I can't imaginewhat some parents are feeling,
(05:58):
some grandparents and somefamily members.
So one of the first prayerrequests that Paul asked for and
it's all we'll talk about todayis in Romans, chapter 15 and
verse 31.
And he asked that they pray forprotection.
Pray for protection.
Listen to what it says, if youwould.
In Romans 15.31,.
(06:19):
Let's just talk about this thatI may be delivered from them
that do not believe in Judea.
Paul suffered more than almostanybody we can imagine ever
suffering and Paul said as I gointo the mission field, as I go
(06:40):
to do this, I want to ask you topray for me.
Pray for me, because there arepeople there that don't believe,
they don't trust Jesus andthey're against everything I
stand for and everything I teachand everything that I do.
In 2 Thessalonians 3, in verse 2, he basically gives the same
(07:03):
prayer request.
It starts in chapter 3 andverse 1, where he says, brethren
, pray for us, that the word ofGod will have free course and be
glorified, but then he says andthat we may be delivered.
From Now we know we fight notagainst flesh and blood.
To be blunt, honest, it wasn'tHaitians that worked about the
(07:27):
killing of that beautiful youngcouple.
It's the enemy, it's spiritualdarkness in high places.
We wrestle against Satan andSatan uses his means to twist
minds and have these terriblethings happen.
But there are unreasonable andwicked men all over the world.
There are dangers on themission field and we ought to
(07:52):
pray.
You ought to pray.
You ought to pray.
It ought to become a part ofwho we are.
We would pray that God would doa work in the lives of these
people, that they would not harmthe missionaries.
A Chinese pastor taken,arrested, hung by his arms up,
receiving hits and striking him.
(08:13):
A tremendous man of God inMorocco being arrested but
getting to preach to everybody.
What causes more hatred is thehatred towards the message.
You see, it's the devilfighting God's message.
They're not so much against theperson delivering the message
(08:36):
they may think they are but whatthey're really against is the
message.
It's the message, and so Satanrises up to do all that he can
to stop it.
It is a satanic attack, it issatanic oppression, it is a real
thing that's happening on themission field and so you know,
(08:59):
before we, I want to tell youone more major story.
But before I tell you thatstory, we are in a spiritual war
and those that live in modern,developed, christianized
countries live in modern,developed Christianized
countries.
We tend to forget that Satan isreal and powerful and at work.
In Ephesians, chapter 6 andverse 10, the apostle Paul told
(09:21):
the church of Ephesus be strongin the Lord, be strong in the
power of the might of God.
He told them to put on thewhole armor of God and then he
said that she'll be able tostand against the wiles of the
devil.
Now I think you tend to think,and I tend to think unless we're
careful, we tend to think thatmeans deception and tricks and
(09:44):
temptation.
But for many people from Pauland Peter and the apostles that
all died for the faith.
It meant Satan doing anythinghe could to stop the message.
We wrestle not it says inEphesians 6.12, against flesh
and blood.
You see, we're againstprincipalities and powers and
(10:07):
rulers of darkness and spiritualwickedness in high places.
Satan wants to blind the eyesand cover the ears of people so
they won't hear the truth.
People are lost in their sin.
They've been lied to anddeceived by the devil.
The devil has used religion andthe devil has used politics,
and the devil has usedeverything in his power to hide
the glorious good news, thegospel of Jesus Christ, from
(10:30):
these people.
So we must take the shield offaith on us that we would be
able to stand in the day andstand for God.
Can you imagine what's going onin the hearts and minds of a
family that lost their children?
Can you imagine how Satan'sattacking their faith?
Can you imagine how otherChristians are beginning to
(10:50):
think maybe we ought not do whatGod wants us to do?
All of that is the wiles of thedevil, who would seek to do
anything in his power to hinderthem and stop them.
We must put on the whole armor.
We must raise the shield offaith.
We must be ready to quench thefiery darts of the wicked.
He is throwing them at us.
He's doing everything in hispower to stop us from getting
(11:13):
the gospel to them.
Men of the past have suffered.
It's the blood of martyrs,that's the seed of the church,
and so maybe those people willbe used in a great way.
I know that we were in Arequipa.
We were doing all we could toget the gospel message to people
and as we tried to do that, godgave us a piece of property for
(11:34):
our church, for our Biblecollege, and so we went out
there and some people tried toinvade our land and I walked up
to them and I said would youplease just stop where you are
and let us take what's left.
You can have what you've stolenalready, but please don't
encroach anymore on our land.
And every day they would standand chant on top of the building
materials.
They would yell the blood ofthat fat American is going to
(11:56):
run on this ground before it'sover.
All the guys that worked withme were nervous.
They said you're going to gethurt, we've got to get out of
here.
And I said no, they won't hurtus.
But then one day about 150 ofthem started screaming and
yelling and blowing whistles andmaking noise and they charged
us and there were like 15 of usthat were working on the Bible
college land and when theyattacked they came and they tore
(12:18):
down our fence and then theystarted tearing down every
building we had.
Literally the sky was full ofrocks.
You could see them raining downon us and sticks being thrown
at us.
It reminds you of a battlescene out of some movie.
And I kept yelling at ourpeople back up, back up, back up
, and so we were finally hoveredtogether in one building.
(12:41):
It was made out of cement andbricks the white adikipeno
bricks and we're back therewaiting.
And finally it all calmed downand I told the guys I said look,
let me go over here, I'm goingto move the rocks.
They put rocks in the littledriveway and I said I'm going to
move those rocks so we candrive out of here.
(13:01):
We'll just let them have it.
Nobody's life is worth whatthey're doing.
And so I went out to the rocksand I reached down to grab the
rocks and a bunch of women camerunning at me and they were
yelling, and all of them, manyof them speaking Quechua, which
I don't speak, and they were allsaying what are you doing?
I said I just simply want tomove these rocks.
Just let me move these rocksand I'll take the truck and load
(13:23):
all of my people up and we'llleave and y'all can have the
land.
And they started yelling at me,and all of them.
They were all around me.
I was alone, a white face, in asea of Peruvians, and then one
of them swung a big, 10-footlong stick and hit me in the
side and so I simply grabbed thestick so he wouldn't hit me
again.
And when I grabbed it, sheyelled and said he's trying to
(13:46):
hit me with my stick and theystarted pounding me in the head
and they beat me until I wasbloody.
You may have seen some of thosebloody pictures.
They beat me until I was bloodyand I didn't know how I got out
.
But one day, when I was tellingthe story here in the States, I
had one of the young men with meand he said one of our guys got
(14:07):
his arm broken.
Another guy got his nose andhis ear was about ripped off.
Nine people went to thehospital.
Another guy's leg my sonChris's leg was almost broken
when they swung a steel rod athim and we were standing and he
said to me you don't know how wegot hurt.
How do you think you got out ofthat mob?
And they didn't kill you.
And I was totally unconsciousof what was happening and I
(14:30):
remember leaning up against thewall and blood was pouring down
and they were taking my picture.
You see, that was not an attackagainst me as a white guy, that
was an attack against theLord's work and what was going
on.
But God won the battle becausehe figured out.
He bought us another piece ofproperty on the other end of
town that ended up being idealand they now, 450, 500 families,
(14:51):
own the property that theyillegally took from us.
They fought us all the way tothe Supreme Court in Peru and
won.
We won all the way up.
I even got phone calls fromjudges saying what will you pay
for us to throw them out ofcourt?
I said we're not going to pay.
Right's right.
And they went ahead and ruledfor us and told me if you want
(15:18):
to get rid of them, you hiresome bulldozers and policemen
out of your pocket.
And I said we can't do that.
They'll put it in the newspaperthe rich Americans stealing
land from poor Peruvians, and sowe ended up just walking away
and they took over all of ourbeautiful land.
What I didn't know was what Ithought was the greatest place
in the world for the BibleCollege.
What my buddy, paul Forsythe,had helped me to think of and
(15:41):
look at turned out not to bewhat I thought, but God gave us
another piece of property wherethe Bible college is today, and
it was beautiful beyond compare.
So all I'm going to say is Ibelieve it was Jean Smith, who's
in heaven now.
She prayed for me every day andwrote me a letter every month,
a handwritten letter.
She's old enough to be mymother, and she sent a great big
(16:02):
offer of like $10 a month.
But it was her, and hundredslike her, who prayed and asked
God to help me and to help mestand against the call of the
wicked and to help me keep myshield raised up.
And when my daughter was rapedand my family was destroyed, it
was the devil attacking but Godhelping.
(16:26):
And so I'd call on you today tostart really being interested in
missionaries' lives and to prayfor them, and to understand
that they also have to deal withloneliness and they have to
deal with being hated for theirmessage.
They have to deal with newcustoms and a new language.
They have to deal with all ofthe things that Satan could
throw at them to make them doubt.
They so desperately need you topray for them, not because of
(16:50):
you, but they need God involved.
But God said you're to ask andGod is ready and willing to work
, but he wants you and me tomove and to work and to act.
Will you pray?
Will you get involved inhelping pray for mysteries?
My name is Austin Gardner.
This is the World EvangelismPodcast.
(17:11):
I am so excited to be able totalk to you, but we have a major
work to do and we can't quitand we can't give up.
I want to challenge you tolisten tomorrow, share this
podcast with your friends andtell others about it, because
tomorrow I want to continue withthe idea of how to pray for
missionaries.
I may do it two or three daysin a row, because we need to
pray.
You need to pray for thatfamily who lost their loved ones
(17:34):
in Haiti.
Go, look it up on Facebook andbe in prayer for them.
Let's make a difference, and wecan do that by praying.
God bless you.
Thank you for all the likesyou'll give us, and all the
shares, all the comments.
Thank you for being involved inthe World Evangelism Podcast.
God bless every one of you.
Well, I'd like to welcome you to the World
Evangelism Podcast.
My name is Austin Gardner and Iam honored to have the
opportunity to speak with youabout all that God's doing
around the world, and I knowthat you know that during this
week, we have seen the death ofa young missionary couple a very
alarming, saddening, horribleevent that shocks all of us as
(00:27):
we see different people whosuffer for the cause of Jesus
Christ.
I don't know of anything thatcould shock us or hurt us more
than what we see in that, and soI want to bring to you today a
lesson on how to pray formissionaries.
I want to talk to you about howto pray for missionaries,
(00:48):
because I think it's easy everso often to just kind of forget
all that's happening in thesepeople's lives, that are
happening the ultimate price.
You know, a guy in Cameroon wasshot and killed several years
(01:11):
ago, and that was a horriblething to have happen in his life
.
And then this young couple thatis, I think, breaking
everybody's heart.
They were missionaries in Haitiand they were killed by a gang,
and so I want to ask you topray for them.
(01:32):
You can go to Facebook and lookup missions in Haiti and find
them, and you'll know about thatstory.
I'm on their Facebook pageright now and it says Davy and
Natalie and Jude were shot andkilled by the gang about 9
o'clock this evening.
We're all devastated.
That was written three days ago.
They say then later on so manythings to say.
(01:55):
We're facing the most difficulttime in our life.
Thank you all for all yourprayers and support.
The embassy is working ongetting the paperwork done to
get them flown out of thecountry, and so there's a fund
me page, a GoFundMe page, forthe Jude family, and there's a
tremendous need.
Without a doubt, none of us candeny that this fine family has
(02:18):
gone way above and beyond andGod has taken them home and
they're in glory, but there's afamily left hurting here beyond
any hurt that we can imagine.
So I just want to take todayand tomorrow be off the normal
script and we'll talk to youabout how to pray for
missionaries.
The Apostle Paul said in 1Thessalonians 5.25, brethren,
(02:40):
pray for us.
Now, if the Apostle Paul woulddare to say I need you to pray
for me, that would shake me andmotivate me, because if Paul
needed prayer, you know everyoneelse needs prayer and Paul felt
that prayer accomplishedsomething because he said
Brethren, pray for us.
(03:01):
In 2 Corinthians 1.11, he saidthat when you pray, you are
helping together by prayer forus 2 Corinthians 1.11.
And Paul, in his writings,gives us several things that he
would ask us to pray about.
You see, you may be one ofthose people that God has called
(03:25):
and spoken to and told to stayhere, and you're a strong
mission supporter.
Or you may be a missionaryserving on a field where things
may not be quite so dangerous.
That happens, you know.
I mean my family faced all sortsof things.
I got beat up and had to have12 stitches.
Nine of us got sent to thehospital.
Our daughter was viciouslyraped.
(03:48):
We were robbed 55 times in thefirst three years before we lost
count.
A ton of bad things happened onthe mission field.
The man killed in the Cameroon,leaving a widow and children in
front of another missionary agood man of God.
That's not all.
In Peru, a missionary's truckwas brand new truck was burned
(04:10):
and destroyed in town when hewas downtown and a riot took
place.
We have seen so much andnationals suffer beyond what we
can imagine, and Nigeria is oneof those places where a great
deal of suffering has takenplace.
And so Paul said get in thebattle.
He says that in Romans, chapter15 and verse 30,.
He said I beg you for JesusChrist's sake, I beseech you for
(04:34):
Jesus Christ's sake and for thelove of the Spirit, that you
strive together with me.
Strive together, fight with me,get in the battle with me in
your prayers to God.
For me it wasn't a selfishprayer.
He wanted it done for the sakeof Jesus Christ.
He wanted them to pray becauseof Jesus.
They could get involved.
(04:54):
See, god answers prayer.
Now, I'm not one of those guysthat likes to say I believe in
the power of prayer, becausesometimes I think that almost
puts it into like positivethinking.
But I am one that believes inthe power of prayer, because
sometimes I think that almostputs it into like positive
thinking.
But I am one that believes inthe one we pray to, that he
hears and that he answers, andit's not our prayers, it's him
that hears and answers.
But he told us you have notbecause you ask not.
(05:16):
And so we need to learn to ask.
We want to learn to bedisciplined to pray regularly
and think about all of thesemissionaries.
We want to be dedicated todisciplined, to pray regularly
and think about all of thesemissionaries.
We want to be dedicated, toknow what to pray for.
We don't want to be interestedenough to stay in touch with
them.
We want to learn to carry theirburdens and to feel their
(05:37):
burdens.
God gave us four wonderfulchildren that are all serving
him in full-time ministry or inministry.
Not all are full-time, but mostof them are full-time and they
are serving the Lord.
And I know that it hurt me sodesperately when my children
were hurt, so I can't imaginewhat some parents are feeling,
(05:58):
some grandparents and somefamily members.
So one of the first prayerrequests that Paul asked for and
it's all we'll talk about todayis in Romans, chapter 15 and
verse 31.
And he asked that they pray forprotection.
Pray for protection.
Listen to what it says, if youwould.
In Romans 15.31,.
(06:19):
Let's just talk about this thatI may be delivered from them
that do not believe in Judea.
Paul suffered more than almostanybody we can imagine ever
suffering and Paul said as I gointo the mission field, as I go
(06:40):
to do this, I want to ask you topray for me.
Pray for me, because there arepeople there that don't believe,
they don't trust Jesus andthey're against everything I
stand for and everything I teachand everything that I do.
In 2 Thessalonians 3, in verse 2, he basically gives the same
(07:03):
prayer request.
It starts in chapter 3 andverse 1, where he says, brethren
, pray for us, that the word ofGod will have free course and be
glorified, but then he says andthat we may be delivered.
From Now we know we fight notagainst flesh and blood.
To be blunt, honest, it wasn'tHaitians that worked about the
(07:27):
killing of that beautiful youngcouple.
It's the enemy, it's spiritualdarkness in high places.
We wrestle against Satan andSatan uses his means to twist
minds and have these terriblethings happen.
But there are unreasonable andwicked men all over the world.
There are dangers on themission field and we ought to
(07:52):
pray.
You ought to pray.
You ought to pray.
It ought to become a part ofwho we are.
We would pray that God would doa work in the lives of these
people, that they would not harmthe missionaries.
A Chinese pastor taken,arrested, hung by his arms up,
receiving hits and striking him.
(08:13):
A tremendous man of God inMorocco being arrested but
getting to preach to everybody.
What causes more hatred is thehatred towards the message.
You see, it's the devilfighting God's message.
They're not so much against theperson delivering the message
(08:36):
they may think they are but whatthey're really against is the
message.
It's the message, and so Satanrises up to do all that he can
to stop it.
It is a satanic attack, it issatanic oppression, it is a real
thing that's happening on themission field and so you know,
(08:59):
before we, I want to tell youone more major story.
But before I tell you thatstory, we are in a spiritual war
and those that live in modern,developed, christianized
countries live in modern,developed Christianized
countries.
We tend to forget that Satan isreal and powerful and at work.
In Ephesians, chapter 6 andverse 10, the apostle Paul told
(09:21):
the church of Ephesus be strongin the Lord, be strong in the
power of the might of God.
He told them to put on thewhole armor of God and then he
said that she'll be able tostand against the wiles of the
devil.
Now I think you tend to think,and I tend to think unless we're
careful, we tend to think thatmeans deception and tricks and
(09:44):
temptation.
But for many people from Pauland Peter and the apostles that
all died for the faith.
It meant Satan doing anythinghe could to stop the message.
We wrestle not it says inEphesians 6.12, against flesh
and blood.
You see, we're againstprincipalities and powers and
(10:07):
rulers of darkness and spiritualwickedness in high places.
Satan wants to blind the eyesand cover the ears of people so
they won't hear the truth.
People are lost in their sin.
They've been lied to anddeceived by the devil.
The devil has used religion andthe devil has used politics,
and the devil has usedeverything in his power to hide
the glorious good news, thegospel of Jesus Christ, from
(10:30):
these people.
So we must take the shield offaith on us that we would be
able to stand in the day andstand for God.
Can you imagine what's going onin the hearts and minds of a
family that lost their children?
Can you imagine how Satan'sattacking their faith?
Can you imagine how otherChristians are beginning to
(10:50):
think maybe we ought not do whatGod wants us to do?
All of that is the wiles of thedevil, who would seek to do
anything in his power to hinderthem and stop them.
We must put on the whole armor.
We must raise the shield offaith.
We must be ready to quench thefiery darts of the wicked.
He is throwing them at us.
He's doing everything in hispower to stop us from getting
(11:13):
the gospel to them.
Men of the past have suffered.
It's the blood of martyrs,that's the seed of the church,
and so maybe those people willbe used in a great way.
I know that we were in Arequipa.
We were doing all we could toget the gospel message to people
and as we tried to do that, godgave us a piece of property for
(11:34):
our church, for our Biblecollege, and so we went out
there and some people tried toinvade our land and I walked up
to them and I said would youplease just stop where you are
and let us take what's left.
You can have what you've stolenalready, but please don't
encroach anymore on our land.
And every day they would standand chant on top of the building
materials.
They would yell the blood ofthat fat American is going to
(11:56):
run on this ground before it'sover.
All the guys that worked withme were nervous.
They said you're going to gethurt, we've got to get out of
here.
And I said no, they won't hurtus.
But then one day about 150 ofthem started screaming and
yelling and blowing whistles andmaking noise and they charged
us and there were like 15 of usthat were working on the Bible
college land and when theyattacked they came and they tore
(12:18):
down our fence and then theystarted tearing down every
building we had.
Literally the sky was full ofrocks.
You could see them raining downon us and sticks being thrown
at us.
It reminds you of a battlescene out of some movie.
And I kept yelling at ourpeople back up, back up, back up
, and so we were finally hoveredtogether in one building.
(12:41):
It was made out of cement andbricks the white adikipeno
bricks and we're back therewaiting.
And finally it all calmed downand I told the guys I said look,
let me go over here, I'm goingto move the rocks.
They put rocks in the littledriveway and I said I'm going to
move those rocks so we candrive out of here.
(13:01):
We'll just let them have it.
Nobody's life is worth whatthey're doing.
And so I went out to the rocksand I reached down to grab the
rocks and a bunch of women camerunning at me and they were
yelling, and all of them, manyof them speaking Quechua, which
I don't speak, and they were allsaying what are you doing?
I said I just simply want tomove these rocks.
Just let me move these rocksand I'll take the truck and load
(13:23):
all of my people up and we'llleave and y'all can have the
land.
And they started yelling at me,and all of them.
They were all around me.
I was alone, a white face, in asea of Peruvians, and then one
of them swung a big, 10-footlong stick and hit me in the
side and so I simply grabbed thestick so he wouldn't hit me
again.
And when I grabbed it, sheyelled and said he's trying to
(13:46):
hit me with my stick and theystarted pounding me in the head
and they beat me until I wasbloody.
You may have seen some of thosebloody pictures.
They beat me until I was bloodyand I didn't know how I got out
.
But one day, when I was tellingthe story here in the States, I
had one of the young men with meand he said one of our guys got
(14:07):
his arm broken.
Another guy got his nose andhis ear was about ripped off.
Nine people went to thehospital.
Another guy's leg my sonChris's leg was almost broken
when they swung a steel rod athim and we were standing and he
said to me you don't know how wegot hurt.
How do you think you got out ofthat mob?
And they didn't kill you.
And I was totally unconsciousof what was happening and I
(14:30):
remember leaning up against thewall and blood was pouring down
and they were taking my picture.
You see, that was not an attackagainst me as a white guy, that
was an attack against theLord's work and what was going
on.
But God won the battle becausehe figured out.
He bought us another piece ofproperty on the other end of
town that ended up being idealand they now, 450, 500 families,
(14:51):
own the property that theyillegally took from us.
They fought us all the way tothe Supreme Court in Peru and
won.
We won all the way up.
I even got phone calls fromjudges saying what will you pay
for us to throw them out ofcourt?
I said we're not going to pay.
Right's right.
And they went ahead and ruledfor us and told me if you want
(15:18):
to get rid of them, you hiresome bulldozers and policemen
out of your pocket.
And I said we can't do that.
They'll put it in the newspaperthe rich Americans stealing
land from poor Peruvians, and sowe ended up just walking away
and they took over all of ourbeautiful land.
What I didn't know was what Ithought was the greatest place
in the world for the BibleCollege.
What my buddy, paul Forsythe,had helped me to think of and
(15:41):
look at turned out not to bewhat I thought, but God gave us
another piece of property wherethe Bible college is today, and
it was beautiful beyond compare.
So all I'm going to say is Ibelieve it was Jean Smith, who's
in heaven now.
She prayed for me every day andwrote me a letter every month,
a handwritten letter.
She's old enough to be mymother, and she sent a great big
(16:02):
offer of like $10 a month.
But it was her, and hundredslike her, who prayed and asked
God to help me and to help mestand against the call of the
wicked and to help me keep myshield raised up.
And when my daughter was rapedand my family was destroyed, it
was the devil attacking but Godhelping.
(16:26):
And so I'd call on you today tostart really being interested in
missionaries' lives and to prayfor them, and to understand
that they also have to deal withloneliness and they have to
deal with being hated for theirmessage.
They have to deal with newcustoms and a new language.
They have to deal with all ofthe things that Satan could
throw at them to make them doubt.
They so desperately need you topray for them, not because of
(16:50):
you, but they need God involved.
But God said you're to ask andGod is ready and willing to work
, but he wants you and me tomove and to work and to act.
Will you pray?
Will you get involved inhelping pray for mysteries?
My name is Austin Gardner.
This is the World EvangelismPodcast.
(17:11):
I am so excited to be able totalk to you, but we have a major
work to do and we can't quitand we can't give up.
I want to challenge you tolisten tomorrow, share this
podcast with your friends andtell others about it, because
tomorrow I want to continue withthe idea of how to pray for
missionaries.
I may do it two or three daysin a row, because we need to
pray.
You need to pray for thatfamily who lost their loved ones
(17:34):
in Haiti.
Go, look it up on Facebook andbe in prayer for them.
Let's make a difference, and wecan do that by praying.
God bless you.
Thank you for all the likesyou'll give us, and all the
shares, all the comments.
Thank you for being involved inthe World Evangelism Podcast.
God bless every one of you.
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.