Near the end of our first trip to Emao Island, we met Edmond because he visited the worship services of the church in Marou Village that Sunday morning. He expressed an interest in studying the Bible, and we scheduled to get together during my follow up trip that was only two weeks away.

Edmond found me early Friday morning and after breakfast we studied the Bible together for about two hours. I was already encouraged by Edmond because he had been worshipping with the Christians in Marou for several weeks, which evidenced his level of interest and a certain level of commitment.

Edmond is nineteen years old and was raised in Marou. He hasn't received much in the way of secular education, and reading is somewhat difficult for him, especially in English which is the only version of the Bible he had previously been able to study from (I would later give him a Bislama Bible). We started our study by talking about the effects of sin; ultimately that it separates man from God (Is 59:2), and causes us to die spiritually (Rom 6:16). We spent a considerable amount of time talking about the lasting implications of such a separation and death. Next, we talked about the gospel, the "good news" that God has established a way for us to be reconciled to Him. That way is Christ, or more specifically, His body, the church.

I have studied this information with a number of folks before, but Edmond is the first to ever ask a certain question at this point in the study..."How do I get into Christ?" He understood the devastating effects of sin and genuinely wanted to know how to take advantage of God's grace. Together we read Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:27 which both state how to "get into Christ" - we are to be "baptized into Christ" just as the Roman and Galatian Christians were in the first century. With this knowledge, Edmond asked that we baptize him into Christ. I assured him that we stood ready to assist him.

We talked for a few minutes about the consequences such a decision would have on the rest of his young life. He especially appreciated the idea of him currently being his own boss, deciding what to do with his time, talents and money, but willingly giving that right over to Jesus, allowing Him to dictate his life. Edmond assured me he was ready to start this journey of new life, and so we walked down to the lagoon where Bill baptized him into Christ. Please be praying for Edmond and his new life, as well as all the relatively young Christians in Marou Village - that they will be faithful servants and a light to their community.

EB