Yesterday, Dawn and I were blessed to have two dear old friends drop by our little house for a visit. Zane and Cindy Edwards occupy an important position in our lives – mine in particular. You see, Zane is the man who led me to faith in Jesus Christ. God used him at a specific time in life to help me nail down the question about my personal salvation. That in itself is a long and interesting story. Maybe I can tell it to you over coffee sometime? I’d like that 🙂 He is also the minister who officiated our wedding ceremony. He must have done a good job of it since we are still married after over 40 years!
Here is the short version of my salvation story. Zane and Cindy were serving a small Baptist church in our hometown way back when we were in our early twenties. I came to a point in life where I struggled with the age-old question… “Am I saved or am I lost? If I don’t wake up in the morning, where would I spend eternity?” If you have not reached a point in life to honestly ask that question of yourself, I pray you do soon. Time is fleeting my friend and that IS the ultimate question. Everything hinges upon it.
Ok, back to the story. One night after being shaken from my spiritual slumber, I drove home from Memphis, TN to attend a revival service at Faith Baptist Church where Zane was the pastor. After that service, I met him at the church parsonage and we wrestled with the question for four hours. We talked and talked and talked some more! At the end of that evening, I was spiritually, emotionally, and physically spent. At one point, Zane said something along these lines… “If you are still confused about all this, stop fighting it and with your whole heart, as best you can, and full commitment, ask Jesus to forgive you and save you right now. If you really mean it, He will do it. Later, He will reveal to you if you were saved as a boy or if tonight is the night.” I did, and even through my human weakness, God poured out his eternal peace on my life – the next day… in a quiet, solitary moment in my dorm room at Memphis State University. Through His grace and the power of His Spirit, I have not questioned my salvation since. Amen. Mind you, I have not been, nor am I perfect. No, I am still encumbered with a fleshly body, but my confidence comes from scripture and the knowledge that I know of Whom I have believed and He is able to hold my fate in His hand until that Great Day when He calls me home. Hallelujah!
Now, let’s move ahead in time to the here and now. Zane and Cindy Edwards are faithful servants of God and they previously served him in churches around the US, then in New Zealand as church planters among islanders and other groups for 17 years. Now, they are going back to continue serving Him. Zane is 67 and God has blessed them both with good health and strength and more importantly, a desire to serve. They are raising individual support to do this and that is not an easy task. If you would consider this for me and for the Edwards… would you make a gift, large or small, to help them get reestablished in New Zealand? I can assure you of their quality and qualifications to do the work of the Gospel ministry. It is not easy to do what they are about to do and it takes resources and money to survive and meet daily needs. Send correspondence or gifts to the following address or ask me personally and I’ll connect you with them. God bless you and thank you in advance.
The Edwards – Missionaries to New Zealand
Central Missionary Clearing House:
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, TX 77218
