I came to Jesus at the age of eighteen. I had already finished high school and I was working in a factory. I heard God’s call to salvation and service one night as I worked, and I gave my life to Christ. Upon the advice of people I trusted, I made my way to a denominational college.

I did not yet have much background in the faith, but I was hungry to learn. I began to read the New Testament and I was quite taken by those first four books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

I fell in love with the work and will of God. I had little interest in the theological debates that seemed important to others. I simply trusted God and I tried to live my life under the authority of what I was encountering in Scripture.

Reading what I later learned was the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:18–20 and another passage in Acts 1:8, I thought, This is God’s Word and it has authority over me. God says in His Word that I must go to the Nations. So I guess I will have to go to the Nations if I am to be Jesus’ follower.

It was so simple and so straightforward. With deep joy, I had read and understood that the entire world was open to me for service and ministry.

. . . .

By that time, my wife and I had been preparing for overseas service, and we were thrilled at the prospect of following through on the biblical command to “go to the ends of the earth.” Ruth and I went through the complicated application process. An interview with the sending agency was one of the final steps. Ruth and I found ourselves in a small room with a group of rather serious men. They looked at Ruth and said, “Tell us about your call to overseas missions.”

. . . .

To this day, I am not exactly sure how it happened, but I was approved for overseas service. Ruth and I were headed for Africa . . . with a one-way ticket.