March 24, 2018
How can we convince a violent world to follow Jesus, the Prince of Peace? Con-
sider this.
When Bill Mc-Donough and I led the first team of teachers to Tirana, Albania in July1992, the Communist regime had just fallen, and the nation was in shambles. For forty long years, the Albanians had suffered under the brutal dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, a despot so cruel that Joseph Stalin urged him to lighten up on the Albanian people.
That summer, my host family and my students wept as they related heart-wrenching stories about ways they had suffered under communism, and I wept with them. Considering the sorrow and uncertainty the Albanians had endured, it is not surprising that they were drawn to the Prince of Peace. Forty-two of our students were baptized into Christ during the month of August. Then Russ and Rosemary Burcham taught and baptized fifteen more in September. The stark contrast between Enver Hoxha and Jesus Christ was compelling.
Today, our nation and the entire world are being torn by turmoil and strife, and politically we are polarized right and left. Rarely have I seen such anger, violence, turmoil, division, and distrust. Never has there been a greater need for the Prince of Peace.
While we agonize over the strident political debates that rage in our country, and while we grieve over the slaughter of innocent children and civilians in Syria and other war-torn countries, we must not despair. The violence and bloodshed are driving tender-hearted, peace-loving people into the arms of Jesus. According to reports, a million Muslims are converting to Christianity in North Africa every year.
God is using WEI to open doors to every nation on earth. Nearly one-fourth of our Internet students live in countries where it is a capital offense to change their religion. Yet, some WEI students are being baptized into Christ at the risk of their lives.
Christianity almost always flourishes under persecution. Let us pray that the violence and turmoil in today’s world will open people’s hearts to the Prince of Peace.
We love you.
