From A Brother In Canada

I must here acknowledge the deep debt of gratitude owed to my sincere friend and brother in Christ, Paul Latour, whose counsel and example have proven tremendously instrumental in this newfound path of public obedience. For it was the Lord Himself who used this faithful servant to provide the very extra push my timid soul required toward the direction in which the Spirit had been speaking to me of late. Out of all the testimonies and fervent preaching videos I have consumed this past year, it was their specific method that resonated deeply with my inner intentions.

Their unique approach—both to the necessity and the terrible urgency of the Gospel message, and the bold, uncompromising manner in which that message was delivered—struck a chord of agreement with my own settled convictions. It spoke directly to the spiritual need of my heart. And thus, it pleased the Lord to settle it unequivocally in my spirit that I should reach out and write to them, confirming this shared burden for the perishing souls of men.

This cross was inspired by what they used when bringing the Word of Life to the lost. Scarcely had the day dawned following my earnest email exchanges with the dear Brother when, while driving home in quiet contemplation, the Lord did suddenly and powerfully move me to pull over to the side of the road near a common supply yard. Needless to say, I obeyed without question, acquiring the necessary lumber and having the wood cut to a suitable measure.

I returned home with a spirit of holy excitement and set myself to the task, intending to fashion a copy of their humble cross. Yet, having no precise specifications to hand, I finished with a plank that was much larger and heavier than their own, standing a full foot or more above the standard measure. As it turns out, this greater weight and stature is precisely just right for my purpose! For this magnificent, towering sign is more clearly seen at night, which is the very hour when we are most often commanded to go out into the public places and shine the light of the glorious Gospel. Thus, the Lord provides the vessel and the sign, and makes no mistake in the measure of our burden!

Our dear Brother Paul, demonstrating the blessed fellowship of the Gospel, did also convey to me a copy of the very Gospel Tract they employ in their own open-air ministry. I confess I loved this missive immediately, for it was clearly created anew to be presented directly unto the people, and not merely a lifeless copy drawn from some older, existing source.

My soul had been inwardly troubled by the popular, ubiquitous tracts of the day, such as the Chick tracts, because they often contained that dangerous shortcut known as the "sinner's prayer" upon the final page. I knew I could not, in good conscience, use a tool that encouraged men to trust in a formula rather than in true repentance. Thus, I was faithfully waiting upon the Lord for clear direction regarding the true means to put in the hands of the perishing—and with this timely gift, He answered my waiting.

Immediately, I set to the holy task of translating the pure content into my native dialect. And in that moment, I realized I had received the very tract that my soul had yearned for! It did then go through a few more faithful iterations to be perfectly suited to the short attention span of the Filipino reader, so burdened are they by the noise of the world. Yet, the work is now complete: The Gospel is now presented clearly in its fearsome, glorious entirety.

The Lord is indeed gracious.