Message Magazine Online - Vol. 56, No. 01, Winter 2008

Other Online Features

• What is Language School Like?
  By a missionary in South Asia
• Dreaming Big: Church Ministries Institute Partners with Horizon International Schools
  John Taylor
• Nenagh-Gateway to Lough Derg
  Matt Tuttlebee, Baptist Missions Ireland
• Orthopedic Specialists Visit Togo
  Russ and Melody Ebersole
• History Week at the Greater Lisbon Christian Academy
  Mary Kay Smith
• Leader to Leader: Remembering Dr. Kempton
  William Amstutz
• Reaching Couples in Urban Spain
  Cindy Brown
• Phoebe Meets Jesus at English Camp
  Maylin Hartwick
• Zimbabweans Added to the Church in South Africa
  Tom Wolf
• Treasures in Heaven
  Annette Williams
• God Uses Camp in Colombia
  Bob Trout

Phoebe Meets Jesus at English Camp

Maylin Hartwick, Hong Kong

Phoebe is a fifteen-year-old girl who lives in a 600-square-foot public housing flat with her parents and two older brothers in East Asia. Before I met her, she had heard the gospel of Christ, but her exposure to friends belonging to the Jehovah’s Witness confused her understanding of God.

I met Phoebe’s mom outside the student center where we were having an English class during the summer of 2005. Phoebe’s mom knew that her daughter would be interested in meeting foreigners and having more opportunities to speak English. Phoebe started attending class and was very quiet at first, and showed no interest to talk about spiritual things. She told me that because she already heard a lot about Jesus, she didn’t think she wanted to know more about Him. I was surprised when Phoebe said she wanted to attend the English camp that followed the class.

It was at the English camp where Phoebe felt and learned of the love of God for her. The theme of the camp was The Mystery of Christ, and the theme passage was Psalm 139. The Lord touched Phoebe’s heart and coordinated things so that I could talk with her.

One night, I had to rush back to the dorm room where I was staying before our evangelistic time that evening. To my surprise, Phoebe was waiting in my room, hoping that I had time to talk with her. She was so intense in all her questions, that I could sense that the Holy Spirit had been working in her heart. Just two hours before this, all of the teachers had a prayer meeting, pleading with the Lord for the salvation of Phoebe and the other unsaved students at the camp.

Since accepting Christ, Phoebe is full of questions that drive her to learn more about the Word of God. She has been used of God to share Bible study lessons with other girls and to bring other classmates to church, resulting in their coming to know Christ as well. She and her friend, Fanny, have led a fourth grade girl to the Lord. The most visible fruit in Phoebe’s heart is her compassion for the lost. She is moved to tears over the spiritual needs of her lost family members and friends. We have cried together while riding the train and talked about those she loves and is concerned for.

After hearing about the missionaries’ desire to reach out to other unsaved people, not just the Chinese in Hong Kong, Phoebe knew that she would also follow Christ in this way. She has been attending the worship service at Harmony Baptist Church and has taken her friends there as well. We are excited to nurture and disciple young people like Phoebe who will be the next generation of leaders at Harmony Baptist Church in Hong Kong.