Our team is pleased to introduce two new members of Christ's body in Etas village, Vanuatu. Andrew and Mary  were baptized on September 28th following several weeks of studying the Bible.

Andrew is the brother  one of the Christians in Etas village, Sam Tabawa. Uniquely, about three years ago I was running weekly studies in Etas village. Andrew had been told to relay a message to me that I was to be forbidden from coming to Etas village and running any more Bible studies. Interestingly, Andrew took an approach similar to that of Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-40) and concluded that if I were teaching the truth, then even he could not stop the studies. If, however, I was teaching false doctrines, my teachings would become evident and would lose momentum. Needless to say, Andrew never delivered the message to me, so I continued running my weekly Bible studies even though Andrew was not attending those studies.

Fast forward three years and Andrew's brother, had gone with a group of Christians to Tanna I was working with to help start the church on that island. During our time spent on Tanna evangelizing and studying each night, Andrew began to realize what the Bible said was indeed true! Following our return to Etas, Andrew, and his wife, Mary, were now interested in studying the Bible.

For several weeks I studied with Andrew and Mary slowly moving deeper and deeper into Biblical subjects. They were eager to study and somewhat surprised at how little they knew about the Bible. Several times Mary wept as she saw how her life was different from that found in the Word of God.

Previously, Andrew and Mary were members of the AOG church in Etas (Assemblies of God). They both recognized that many of their practices and beliefs they held were apart from the Word of God. With soft hearts and readiness to please God, Andrew and Mary were baptized into Christ.

Maybe the best part of the whole experience was my baptizing Andrew, and then watching him in turn baptize his wife.

It truly was a special time for them both as they started their spiritual walk in Christ together. May God bless their new beginning in Christ! Please pray for this couple and their new journey in Christ.

-AB