REACHING
ELIAKIM A man who learned about the saving gospel of Christ and wants to pass it on.
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liakim’s story encourages us all to get involved in some way to spread the gospel to others. We may not be able to travel to other countries, but we can help others learn in some way!
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n October 23, 2012, two friends registered to study English with World English Institute in their new internet program. Monista Retsia Eliakim and Milson Medora Zantara were high school students from Toliara, Madagascar. World English Institute’s creator, Richard Ady, taking advantage of the world’s hunger for English lessons, designed his free courses so that while learning English, students were also learning the Bible. Eliakim and Milson were assigned a WEI teacher and began studying.
SEEDS OF CONVERSION
Six months later, after much discussion and many questions and answers, Milson requested to be baptized. However, the nearest congregation of the Lord’s church in Madagascar was 800 km (more than 450 miles) away. Although Eliakim was not a Christian yet, he was instructed on how he could baptize his friend in the ocean. On May 8, 2013, Eliakim reported that Milson “had taken his baptist very well.” He said that he had been unable to take pictures, but not to worry--God saw it all. On July 15, 2013, Eli wrote: “In my land many people doesn’t know God and I try to fix them and to the Musslim people too. I want to be a missionary of Jesus forever.” He was reminded that he first needed to be a missionary to himself because he had not obeyed the gospel himself yet. That would change as his studies continued. A little more than two months later, on September 23, 2013, Eli wrote: “I am ready to follow it and have decided to do baptist again. I am Baptist; what is your denomination?” Eliakim began to learn about undenominational Christianity, and he said, “I am happy to follow you and Milson no denomination. I will ask Milson to baptize me.” Eli was baptized in the sea by his friend on October 4, 2013.
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SPRING 2016
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