Dozens of people around the world have given their lives to Jesus Christ as a result of summer missions by Christian students at one of the world's top Baptist seminaries.
Nearly 130 people in five countries converted after meeting members of five missionary teams sent by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Texas to Japan, Madagascar, Haiti, Canada and Thailand.
Keith Eitel, team leader in Thailand and dean of the Southwestern mission school, described prayer-walking near a mosque and handing out gospel tracts in Thai. One man, after receiving a tract, became puzzled, Baptist Press reported. He could not read the text because he was from Nepal.
Eitel explained the text to him. The man looked up and said: "I need to do this."
In total, 128 people professed Jesus as Lord as a result of the student mission, 99 in Madagascar alone.
In addition, seeds were planted for future decisions, and local leaders in the various locations were equipped for reaching the world for Christ. In light of such results, Eitel often ended his reports from the trips in which he participated with the phrase, "Praise the Lord!"
In Haiti, the students worked alongside Water4Nations and built three gravity-driven water purification towers to provide the community with clean water.
Student Jim Sprouse said: "On the Sunday before we left, I shared with many of the people in the community about how Jesus provides us with living water so that we never thirst again. These water purification systems become a springboard for the Gospel message."
Southern Baptists are the largest Christian denomination in the United States, with nearly 16 million worshippers. There have been recent reports of declining numbers, although church planting is at a record high.
