Words

Preaching in their synagogues (1:39) 

In 1866, Robert Thomas persuaded the captain of the american vessel the General Sherman to sail to the shores of Korea. At that time Korea was closed to foreigners with some 8000 Christians murdered by the government in an attempt to purge the country of this foreign religion. Thomas was undaunted and threw pamphlets onto the river banks as they passed. As a result an uproar ensued which led to the death of all aboard the General Sherman as well as a number of local officials. Thomas's cargo of bible portions was left scattered on the shoreline, to be picked up by an official named Pak Yong-Sik, who took them home and used them to paper the walls of his house. The story then becomes a little hazy but what is clear is that the house and its walls became the centre of a Christian revival. People came from all over to see the house and its bible wallpaper, which led to the appearance locally of over a hundred churches.

Jesus' words passed down the ages have astonishing power. They call millions, nay billions to repentance and faith. They explode in the heart of those who read them, even pasted on a house wall. Do we dare let them do the same for us?



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