June 12, 2015
Mike Hale had an accounting degree but called himself a retired cotton farmer. He never accepted recognition from men, but now that he sleeps in Jesus, we can share something of his work.
John, a Nigerian, worked on the Island of Crete as a technician. A discouraged Pentecostal pastor, he was seeking the true church. When Mike showed him the scriptures teaching the necessity of immersion, he traveled to Athens to be baptized by Dino Roussos. As they continued to study, John led the congregation to take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and to stop using musical instruments during worship. Within three months, all 18 in that congregation were immersed, and the church was revived on Crete after 850 years.
Because of the bad economy in Crete, John now lives in Bristol, England and is using WEI to teach immigrants. Others who left Crete are living faithfully in the five countries to which they scattered.
Bene was a Pentecostal elder in Brazil, but his heart was good soil, and Mike planted the seed. Bene, his wife, and their daughters started meeting in their home as their city had no congregation. They have taught and immersed others and now number 25.
Prabhu is an evangelist in India. With Mike’s help, he and others whom he recruited have used WEI to teach the Good News to 24 states in India and have immersed 531 people. Prabhu estimates around 48,000 people have heard the Word.
So because of Mike, who never even led a public prayer, thousands heard, and 574 obeyed in the last 10 years of his life. Only God knows where the ripple effect will end.
Dan. 12:2-3: “Multitudes who sleep will awake: some to everlasting life … and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.”
Sleep well, Mike. Although small in your own eyes, God sees you like a star shining brightly in the night sky.
Rev. 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, … they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”
Bob & Jan Towell
