Since January 1, 2016, more than 5,000 potential students gave registered to study on the WEI website. As of this writing, 1996 have submitted answers to the Introductory Lesson and have started their lessons.
During that time, twenty-six new teachers have started, Two have died. A few have had to stop teaching because of ill health, and some have reached the limit of what they can adequately accomplish.
In 1946, the Harding College lectureship featured several speakers who passionately pled for workers in the war-torn nation of Japan. Two of those who heeded the call were Joe and Rosa Bell Cannon, along with fourteen others. In January 1948, they set sail for Japan. The Cannons had only been married seven months, and Joe celebrated his 21st birthday on the voyage.
In the ensuing years, they served in Japan, Okinawa, and in areas of New Guinea where the gospel had not been preached. The day they decided to leave Okinawa for New Guinea, Joe wrote the following poem:
“There is someone out there waiting who has never heard of Christ. There is someone out there dying who must face eternal loss.”
“Can I sit in easy comfort and ignore the plaintive cry? Can I live for self and safety when the world’s about to die?”
“Can I turn from bloody Calvary and seek the easy way—when He died for me and saved me, changing all my night to day?”
“No! I’ve got to face the issue of work yet to be done. Yes! I’ve got to take my cross until the victory is won.”
“So, hold on, Oh child in bondage, for the Word is drawing nigh! You shall hear the gospel story, and no longer shall you die!”
The world is certainly as much in need of the Gospel now as it has ever been. In 2016, we have tools not available in previous generations. What will you do with them? Perhaps we should read again the conversation between God and Moses (Exodus 4).
God bless us all as we fulfill the Great Commission. —Bob and Jan
Joanna concludes, “This experience has helped me to understand the Parable of the Sower so much better. Many seeds were planted, but it took time for the plant to grow.”
