Ezra-The Purifying of A People

By Mary Vee
Ezra 10

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon. And now, thanks to the loving grace of the Almighty God, I stand in Jerusalem. The land given by God to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The last time I visited you, I had wept bitterly. The leaders told me of a great sin committed by the first group of Jews who returned home. And the worst news, they were still doing the sin.

My heart ached so terribly. How could this much wrong be done in such a short time? I won't go into the details, you can scroll down and read my last post for that.

While I lay on the ground crying out to God for His forgiveness, Shecaniah said to me, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples and land around us. As you said, these foreigners have already kept us from our worship and obedience to God. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."

I sat up and listened to him. The crowd of men and women who'd gathered around me hushed to hear Shecaniah.

"There is a hope for Israel," he said. "Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign women and their children as you and the leaders of Israel have said. Let this be done according to the Law." 

He held out his hand to me. "Rise up. This matter is in your hands. We will do whatever you say. Please. Take courage and do what God encourages you to do."

I wiped the tears from my face and accepted Shecaniah's help to stand. "All right, then. I want all the leading priests and Levites to gather over here," I said.

The men I called for moved from the crowd and stood close to me. "You men must promise to carry out this duty. Do not stop until the job is completely done."

Every leading priest and Levite gave their word to do this job. They first met to form a plan. The plan ended with a rule for all Israelites. The rule said every exile living in Judah and Jerusalem must come to Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would lose all his property and be forced to leave Israel. This was the leaders and Levites decision.

During the time of their planning and waiting the three days I went to the house of Jehohanan. I spent my time in prayer and mourning the exiles great sin, refusing to eat or drink.

What I know is that we need to fix this problem before any more improvements can be made in Jerusalem.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

1. What was the problem?
2. Who suggested an answer?
3. What was his suggestion?
4. What plan did the leaders come up with?
5. What did Ezra do during this time?

Ezra-The Small Band of Escapees

By Mary Vee
Ezra 8

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon.

It took four months for the group I led to travel to Jerusalem. We rested and had a time of celebration, praising God for His goodness.

We were the second group of Jews to return home. Time had passed since the first group arrived. The men another families from the first group had fixed their home and were to work on rebuilding the city and temple. I didn't see much of that work done.

I met with the city leaders to see what they had planned. In that meeting they told me news that broke my heart. 

See, a long time ago, when our fathers escaped from Egypt, God gave us His laws. There was the ten commandments and then other laws to help us keep healthy, clean, well, and live peaceably. 

In that second group of laws, God commanded us not to marry anyone from another nation. The reason, God told us, was to keep the false idols from coming into our homes and culture. Jews who lived before us became examples of the truth in God's words. Even King Solomon stopped worshiping God. He worshipped the idols of his wives to make them happy. In the end, he became miserable. 

The leaders told me that people of Israel, including the priests and Levites have married those from other nations. They have taken on the practices of worshiping the idols from the other nations. Not everyone did this, but many had. 

When I heard the news, I ripped my clothes, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down with so much sadness and anger I couldn't speak until that evening. 

That night I fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God and prayed: 

“O my God, I’m so totally ashamed, I can’t bear to face you. O my God—our iniquities are piled up so high that we can’t see out; our guilt touches the skies. We’ve been stuck in a muck of guilt since the time of our ancestors until right now; we and our kings and priests, because of our sins, have been turned over to foreign kings, to killing, to captivity, to looting, and to public shame—just as you see us now."

I wept and threw myself closer to the ground in front of a large crowd standing at the house of God.

"Now for a brief time God, our God, has allowed us, this battered band, to get a firm foothold in his holy place so that our God may brighten our eyes and lighten our burdens as we serve out this hard sentence. We were slaves; yet even as slaves, our God didn’t abandon us. He has put us in the good graces of the kings of Persia and given us the heart to build The Temple of our God, restore its ruins, and construct a defensive wall in Judah and Jerusalem."

Men, women, and children walked closer to me. Watching. 

“And now, our God, after all this what can we say for ourselves? For we have thrown your commands to the wind, the commands you gave us through your servants the prophets. They told us, ‘The land you’re taking over is a polluted land, polluted with the obscene vulgarities of the people who live there; they’ve filled it with their moral rot from one end to the other. Whatever you do, don’t give your daughters in marriage to their sons nor marry your sons to their daughters. Don’t cultivate their good opinion; don’t make over them and get them to like you so you can make a lot of money and build up a tidy estate to hand down to your children.’

Those watching wept with me. Their cries and wails growing louder.

“And now this, on top of all we’ve already suffered because of our evil ways and accumulated guilt, even though you, dear God, punished us far less than we deserved and even went ahead and gave us this present escape. Yet here we are, at it again, breaking your commandments by intermarrying with the people who practice all these obscenities! Are you angry to the point of wiping us out completely, without even a few stragglers, with no way out at all? You are the righteous God of Israel. We are, right now, a small band of escapees. Look at us, openly standing here, guilty before you. No one can last long like this.”

Oh what sad news. We all wept before the Lord, our Creator.


*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
                The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

1. Ezra and those who traveled with him were the ______ group to return to Jerusalem.
2. After the celebration to God, what did the leaders tell Ezra?
3. What did Ezra do when he heard the news?
4. Then Ezra prayed. Where was he when he prayed?
5. Who came and watched Ezra pray?
6. What did they do when they heard Ezra's prayer?
7. How do you think the people felt at this time?

Johnathon Goforth-This Country Boy in The Big City

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1883

Jonathan Goforth-24 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Toronto late 1800's - Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. I feel it deep inside.

In fact, I will leave on this morning's train for Knox College. Twenty two other boys my age will be in my class, all studying to be ministers. I'm so excited I can barely talk.

My mother and father couldn't hold in their excitement for me, either. Mother stayed up several nights sewing a new suit and shirt for me. And father had worked extra hard to set aside money for my first semester. 

The train doors opened. I stood between my parents and five siblings standing by them waving to me and those train doors--bursting with excitement. I hugged everyone one, listened to their last words of advice then boarded the train for the big city. Toronto. 

I'd never been to a big city before. My entire life had been spent in the farming community where my parent's lived. As the train soared, the view out the window changed from fields to homes then buildings. Big buildings. I had study science but was amazed at how tall the buildings could be.

When the train stopped, I gathered my belongings and walked to the college. I suppose I could have hired a carriage to take me, especially since I had the suitcases, but Father's money had to last the whole semester. And the truth was, I had more than enough excited energy to haul my own things.

I settled in my dorm room then went straight to the Christian service office. Each student had to do some sort of Christian service, like help in a church, stuff like that. I actually looked forward to the opportunity. Just think. A big city. So many people right here for me to tell about the God who loves them.

I introduced myself to one of the college professors in the hall. "Hello, Sir. My name is Jonathon Goforth."

"Welcome Mr. Goforth. This your first day?"

"Yes, sir. I arrived this afternoon."

"Good. Good. Study hard." He slapped me on the back and smiled.

"I'm assuming my classmates who have already arrived signed up for most of the Christian service opportunities. I was wondering if you could tell me how to get to the poorest part of the city. I plan to tell the people who live there about the God who loves them."

He gave me the directions then said, "Take care, son. They don't call Ward the poorest part of the city for nothing. It isn't safe."

"Thank you, sir." He slapped me on the back, smiled, and walked down the hall.

I looked for a classmate to go with me, but didn't find anyone. That was okay. I walked out of my dorm, and off the campus, following the directions given to me. I wasn't afraid. God would be with me.

Look at the time. This story is going to be too long to finish this time, I'll have to tell more next week. I will let you know,though, that my late afternoon in Ward taught me many lessons. Remember, I was a country boy who had never been in a big city and definitely had never been in a place where people would do anything to get money. Would I have gone if I knew ahead of time. Well, now that is a question for the next story.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Ezra-Going Home For the First Time

By Mary Vee
Ezra 8

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon.

The Jews who met me by the river leading to Ahava had chosen to leave their homes in Babylon and return to the land of our fathers. A gift from God, promised to Abraham. 

We were excited. And nervous. Our whole lives have been spent living in Babylon as slaves. We didn't know any other way of life. We didn't know what the land would look like. How much work would be needed to restore the ruined homes and buildings when Babylon burned our city? We could only picture these things in our mind.

And so, at the end of our three-day fast and prayer we gathered our things. 

King Artaxerxes gave me offerings of silver and gold for the temple. I called the Levites to gather around the offerings. These were the men who were from the tribe of Levite, the chosen priesthood of the Jewish people. The men in this tribe were given the task to care for the temple by God. 

I weighed the silver and gold items in front of the Levites for the record. The same amount should be weighed when we arrive at Jerusalem.

I said to them, "You and these silver and gold articles are dedicated to the Lord. These articles are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard them carefully until you weigh them in the inner chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests, your brother Levites, and the family heads of Israel."

The men took the job very seriously. They wrapped the articles carefully and packed them for the journey, agreeing to guard them and keep them safe at all times.

I looked around at the people. Everything was packed. We had formed groups to help each other carry our things, care for the animals, and assist those who needed help walking. "Let's go."

This was the twelfth day of the first month. The day we left the bondage of Babylon, the only life we knew, for the freedom of a new-to-us land. 

We arrived in Jerusalem the first day of the fifth month safe because the hand of God was on us. He protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. After the long journey, we chose to rest for three days.

On the fourth day, the Levites and I went to the house of our God. The silver and gold articles were placed in the hands of the priest. Eleazar and a number of Levites were there. All the articles from our journey were accounted for by number and weight and recorded at that time. Every piece had arrived safely.

We had such a great celebration giving offerings and praising the God of Israel. We also delivered the king's orders to the governors of Trans-Euphrates. The orders stated Trans-Euphrates should help us and assist in the repairing of the house of God.


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Before the people left Ahava, what job did he give the Levites?
2. Where were the people going?
3. Have they been there before?
4. Why were the people nervous about going?
5. After they returned to Jerusalem, and rested what was done?
6. Was the number correct?
7. That means who did their job honestly?

Ezra-For the Sake of Our Children

By Mary Vee
Ezra 8

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses while a slave in Babylon.

The king of Babylon has asked me to lead a group of Jews back to our homeland. He has given me the task to teach the Law of Moses to those living in Jerusalem.  

Apparently King Artaxerxes has decided that making Israel a good place for the Jews to live and worship our God is a good way to protect his kingdom from any surprise Egyptian attacks. He may think that is the reason, but I am convinced and praise God for His putting these thoughts into the heart of the king.

I must admit, the job seemed huge to me. I prayed and set my mind on doing the work. Although the king's invitation brought many Jews living in Babylon and willing to move back to our homeland, I didn't see any Levites, the chosen ones to work in the temple. 

I put out a notice for anyone interested in returning home to meet at the canal that flows toward Ahava. This was a river in Babylon near the Euphrates. Once everyone arrived, we camped for three days, hoping, and waiting... and still no one from the tribe of Levi showed. I sent messages to certain Levites who were good men of God and knowledgeable in the Law of Moses. I told them what to say to their brother Levites, hoping they could at least encourage some to go with us. It worked. They persuaded more than 250 Levite brothers to take the journey back to our homeland. 

I stood before all the men and women gathered at the river considering the instructions I would share. This would be a difficult journey. Most of us were born in this land of Persia as slaves. We had not seen the Promised Land given to our fathers by God. None of us really knew what to expect. Neither did we know if the journey would have hardships. We were leaving everything we knew behind. Everything. To go back to the land of our fathers and to build new lives in Jerusalem.

There, by the water's edge, I said, "Let us fast and humble ourselves before our God. Let's ask him for a safe journey for us and our children and all our possessions. I must tell you I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road because we had told the king 'The hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his anger is against all who turn away from him.' I am confident in our God that He will protect us."

Yes. God could protect us.

We continued to camp by the Ahaha canal to fast and ask our God about the journey. And He answered our prayer.  We should go. All of us.

That settled it. 

We were going home. To Jerusalem.


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What task did the king give to Ezra?
2. Who were called to meet at the Ahava Canal?
3. What did Ezra ask the people to do while there?
4. What answer did God give the people?
5. Where were they going?

Jonathan Goforth-No One Would Go? Really?

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1881

Jonathan Goforth-seventeen years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. I feel it deep inside.

I'd turned seventeen years old and finished my political course. Every time I thought back to the day my teacher and classmates asked Jesus to be their savior I was convinced I should be a pastor. 

The next step was to study Latin and Greek at Knox College. I'd become quite excited about being a pastor, especially as I watched Mr. Cameron preach in his church. It was because of his teachings that I realized my need to ask Jesus into my heart.

I couldn't wait to get started. I ordered hundreds of tracts to share with everyone I knew and met. I taught a Sunday School class. These experiences helped me learn a lot about sharing God's love with others. 

One day a friend invited me to hear a guest speaker at the Knox church. The speaker was a missionary to Taiwan. How intriguing! I went with my friend to hear Dr. Mackay speak. He was an older man and his words captured my attention.

Dr. Mackay told us many ways God had provided for him in Taiwan, about the many people there who didn't know the Gospel, how there was a great need for more missionaries to go and help with the work. He said he had traveled all over Canada searching for one man to go back with him. To learn the ministry and to take over before Dr. Mackay died. It seemed there wasn't anyone.

I felt horrible. Not sick. Just incredibly sad inside. No one would go? His work would simply end? How would the people learn about the God who loved them?

And then I questioned my thinking of the past month. Why did I want to be a minister? There is a great need in the world. Who am I to stay home when I could be in some other place telling people who had never heard about Jesus and that there really was a God who loved them.

I sat in the pew and lowered my head. That's when a Bible verse came to mind, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?"

That was the answer. Clear as the sky above me. I needed to finish my training at Knox then prepare to go to a mission field. I didn't know for sure if God needed me in Taiwan, but I did know God wanted me to help somewhere in a foreign land.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Ezra-The King Wanted To Help Us--Can You Believe It?

By Mary Vee
Ezra 7

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses. 

I have been a captive in the land of Babylon along with many other Jews. Our land had been conquered almost seventy years ago and we were brought here to serve the Babylonian people.

But there is a new king on the throne. And time has passed. Artaxerxes was the king of this land now called Persia. I had many opportunities to speak with him.

What I found especially exciting was seeing God work in the king's heart. A king who did not believe in God. 

Artaxerxes wanted people to occupy Israel. He wanted them to grow their crops, rebuild cities. Live. Worship a God he didn't know. 

As long as the Israelites remained strong, their cities would be like a wall between Egypt and him. This way, if Egypt decided to start a war against Babylon, they would first have to conquer Israel.

So, the king gave me everything I asked. God blessed us by causing Artaxerxes to want to help. In fact, King Artaxerxes gave me a letter to carry with me on my journey. This is what he wrote in the letter:

I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. I am sending you and my seven advisers to teach the people the Law of your God, which is in your hand. Take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel the silver and gold from those remaining in Babylon. Use these as an offering to your God for the temple of your God in Jerusalem. 

Use what ever money is left over in anyway your God says. Be sure to deliver all the articles given to you for the temple worship. And if you need any more money for the temple, you may have what you need from my royal treasurer.

I am ordering all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to give whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of God of heaven, asks. Whatever the God of heaven has ordered, let it be done for His temple. You may not impose any taxes on any priest or worker of the house of God.

And you, Ezra are to appoint leaders and judges using the wisdom God has given you. You are to teach any who do not know the laws of your God. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must be punished by death, banishment, lose their property, or put in prison.

This is what I, Artaxerxes decree.

And this is where the king's letter ended. Amazing, right?  I am so very happy.

*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Why did King Artaxerxes want to help Israel?
2. What did he give them?
3. What was his gift to be used for?
4. What could Ezra do if they needed more money?
5. Who did the king say the people had to obey?

Malachi-Guaranteed Way To Be Blessed

By Mary Vee
Malachi 3

From Malachi's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Malachi. I am a prophet sent to be God's messenger to the people.

The problem He wished to talk about was their stealing.

God said His people stole from Him.

When I told the people this, they asked, "How are we stealing?"

God said, "You steal from me when you do not bring the tithes and offerings as instructed in the law."

We do have a very loving God. One who is patient and forgiving if we listen and obey His laws. Even when we do wrong, He will forgive us if we confess and turn from our bad ways.

God said "If the people bring the whole tithe, not just a part, but the whole required offering to the storehouse and fill the chambers with food for my house then they will receive great blessings.

"Want me to prove My word?" God asked.

"Try obeying my law. Bring the full offerings to my house. When you do I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour blessings beyond belief. Blessing you will not have room enough to store. 

"I will prevent pests from devouring your crops and the vine weeds in your fields will not grow up and strangle your plants. 

"Then all the nations around you will call you blessed. Your land will be a delightful land.

"For you who honor God's name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like a young calf released from the stall. 

And so I reminded God's people. This is something everyone man, woman, and child who loves God needs to remember. God said, "Remember the law of my servant ones, the decrees and laws I gave him at Mount Horeb for my people, Israel.

"I will send you the prophet Elijah before the day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. 

"But if they won't turn their hearts, a curse will fall on the land."


*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What did God want the people to do?
2. What blessing would the people receive if they obeyed?
3. What will the people from other nations say?
4. What reminder did God have for the people?
5. Who will God send?
6. What will this person help the people do?
7. What will happen if they don't listen?

Jonathan Goforth Refuses to Let The Mean Words Stop Him

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1880

Jonathan Goforth-sixteen years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. I feel it deep inside.

Until then, I am going to do whatever work I'm suppose to do each day. I've been in charge of one of my father's farms here in Canada. In truth, I knew this wasn't going to be my lifelong work. I was a bit afraid to tell my dad, though. Wow. He surprised  me. 

I told Dad I wanted to become a politician. One of my older brother's lived near a school that offered a course on politics. Dad made the arrangements and I started school that fall.

Remember, I lived in the late 1800's. We didn't have a lot of things you do. Our schools were small and we had teachers who taught special classes visit the school. One taught Bible classes, his name was Rev. Cameron. He was very interesting and kind to all the students. I was intrigued with what he taught and wanted to learn more. 

Out of respect for all the time he'd given to us students, I thought I should visit his church and listen to him preach. The church wasn't close to my brother's house, but I could walk the distance. Rev. Cameron's sermons were very interesting and the people in his church were kind, like he was. 

I went back to the church several times. And on the third visit, I asked Jesus to be my Savior. The feeling inside surprised me. I wanted to read Bible more than the political books. I wanted to study it. Share what I'd learned with others. In fact, when my parents came for a one month visit to my brother's house, I took a chance and suggested we have a family time with God. I'd chosen some Bible verses and planned everything, all I had to do was ask. My nerves trembled. I didn't know what Dad would say or if the family would listen. But to my big surprise they did!!

Since this went well, I decided to tell my classmates about Christ. That was an epic fail. 

Around the same time, our teacher taught about Thomas Paine's ideas in our political classes. Thomas Paine criticized those who believed in Jesus. He said Christian thinking was outdated and no longer important to people who lived today. My classmates listened to the teacher and agreed with the teachings. When I raised my hand and said I believed in Jesus...well...let's just say the students AND the teacher made fun of me. They were really mean about it.

On and on the joking went. When I didn't get mad enough, they bullied me--just because I believed in Jesus. Unbelievable. My biggest problem was I didn't know very much about the Bible. I didn't know how to defend my belief in Jesus against their questions and bullying. I must admit, I felt discouraged and hurt. BUT I didn't let their cruel words stop me.

For each mean question they threw at me, I spent hours studying the Bible until I had a good answer to show my classmates in the Bible. 

And, this is almost funny. Really. By the end of the school year, those questions helped me learn a lot about the Bible and my faith in Jesus. I used the answers I'd found and the techniques my political teachers taught me to present Bible facts to my classmates and my teacher. Are you ready for this? They all believed and accepted Christ as their Savior. I know. Isn't that exciting?

Talk about a great feeling.

I can't wait to see what God has next for me.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.