One OM team member in Turkey writes, “Yusuf was a Bible Correspondence Course student living on the Black Sea coast. A few years ago when members from our church first traveled to visit him it seemed that he was mentally ill. From then on we had monthly phone calls with him and realized that gradually Yusuf was changing. The Lord was working in his heart and he was continually sharing his testimony. He said that he had been plagued by demons but after meeting Christ, God had delivered him. Yusuf begged to be baptized.

“We visited him with a psychologist from the church who confirmed him to be intelligent and certainly in his right mind. As we were driving together we stopped to eat at a busy restaurant area. Noticing a swimming pool I wondered if we could use it for a baptism. We didn't normally baptize in such a public place but before I could argue against the idea, Yusuf was heading for the reception to ask for permission. Back he came accompanied by tens of people. ‘Oh dear, will there be a fight?’ I feared. The crowd came up to me and asked, ‘Pastor, is it OK if we watch the baptism too?’ Yusuf had explained everything and invited them to come and see!

“So, Yusuf was baptized in the pool with 20-30 spectators. When he came out of the water their applause was more than we had ever heard at any church baptism and almost all of it coming from unbelievers! Before we parted we were able to share more with them and give out New Testaments.

God had gone before us and lifted up his Holy Name.”

Please pray for this church on the Black Sea that follows up Bible Correspondence Course contacts in the city and outlying regions. Pray that those present at the baptism would become believers.