A Moment With Pastor Fred

What a joy to welcome Tony Gomez back to HBC. The church has supported the Spanish American Mission for over 50 years. Tony’s wife and son are with us as well as some folks from SAM. Today is also the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Tony has seen his share of persecution in his ministry in Mexico. We need to continue to pray for his ministry’s protection along with the pastors who serve in SAM.

A little over a week ago, a missionary from Indiana was killed in Cameroon. Charles Wesco, 44-year-old Baptist missionary was shot in the head several times while traveling in a region known for its violence. He and his family had only been in the country for 2 weeks. Lesh Sharibu is 15 years old and is in danger of being executed by her Boko Haram captors. Lesh  refuses to renounce her faith in Christ. She is the last Dapchi schoolgirl left in captivity under the Muslim terrorist group. The other girls who have been returned have recounted Lesh’s determination to stand for her faith. 

We cry with the saints in Revelation, “How long O Lord?” How long is the cry of the sufferer. Dale Ralph Davis writes, “If our trouble is not so severe, we should nevertheless vicariously adopt the position of our brothers and sisters and pray [for God’s deliverance] on their behalf.” May we pray for believers around the world suffering for the gospel.