G
od is a work in the lives of His people. We have a collection of His work in the lives of people in the pages of the Bible. We have assembled in this Messenger further evidence that God continues to call people to particular places of service. This article reminds us that it is not only here in the United States that He is at work in the lives of His followers but around the world as well. International Missions asked four of our many faithful co-laborers to share their story of International Missions calling for this Messenger. The first two of these come from Honduras where missionary Rodney Walls gathered, translated, and edited the callings of Pastor Miguel Ramirez and Dr. Sharon Castro. The others come from the Philippines and India with General Baptist Bible College President Dr. Joyce C. Porcadilla-Rubia sharing her calling and Pastor Dr. Prakash Pamu in India.
CALLED IN THE WORLD
Pastor Miguel Ramirez with Dr. Rodney Walls The depth of success of mission work rests in the development and equipping of nationals. The mission of making disciples for Christ in Honduras has been greatly blessed with a host of Hondurans who serves Christ as General Baptists. Our General Baptist movement today would not be where it is without the sacrificial service of Pastor Miguel Ángel Ramirez Padilla. Foremost, Miguel is a pastor and has a pastor’s heart. “In January 1996, the Lord called me to His vineyard as a pastor. This was a new experience for me and my family. I did not know how to do it, but I prayed to the Lord, and He began to move the lives of the people in the community of Canchias, Comayagua, where I was born. It was very nice to see the spiritual movement in the church as my family and I worked with the ladies, gentlemen, young people, and children. “One day in January 2005, I was praying in the early morning and God spoke to my spirit and said, ‘tell the church that you are not a permanent pastor in this place. I’ll take you somewhere else.’ That night I said exactly what God told me to the church. The brothers of the church were saddened by the news, as they were accustomed to our work as pastors. “While in Canchias (my birthplace), I met an American missionary, Marvin Hech, and his wife Benjamina. They moved to Santa Cruz de Yojoa. While I lived in Yojoa, they visited me and on one of their visits, they talked to me about Faith Home. Brother Marvin knew David Kelle and his wife Marta. He told me that Faith Home needed a pastor. I was already praying, but I didn’t know where the Lord was going to take me. After three months of praying, Marvin (my friend) talked to me again about Faith Home, so I understood that it was God’s will for me to move somewhere else. “Then I got a call from brother David Kelle, and I met with brother David. I was hesitant to apply because
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