Back in January, during a missions trip that spanned Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand, God’s grace was evident in two remarkable ways. Through His blessing on our preaching and the efforts of my co-laborers, we saw 55 souls accept Christ as their Savior. This harvest of souls is a testament to the prayers of God’s people and the power of the Gospel.
Equally miraculous was God’s protection in an event that demonstrated His care for fools like me! In Papua New Guinea, I was driving a stick-shift Toyota Land Cruiser with no one else in the vehicle at the time of the incident. Over there, they drive on the left side of the road and sit on the right side of the car. I was driving to help pick up hundreds of New Guinean kids for a youth camp and found myself in a harrowing situation.
Due to what we believe was a mechanical issue (no, I wasn’t on my phone!:), the truck rolled into a 25 ft. ravine, teetering on the edge of a river. Just one more quarter turn would have dumped the Land Cruiser (and me) into the river. Despite the absence of seat belts, a common practice in PNG, and potentially dangerous items like a heavy tool bag flying around the cabin while it rolled, I walked away with only a few bumps and bruises. The accompanying images bear witness to what could have been a tragedy.
This incident became a somber part of my message later that same day during the opening night of the youth camp. Sharing with the young people how I could have easily met Jesus that night brought an eternal reality to our gathering, and God used it all for His glory.
Our adventures and close calls in mission fields far from home remind us of a profound truth: in God’s will, we are just as safe on the other side of the world as in our homes in America. This reassurance is not just for me and my family but all who worry for God’s servants in distant lands. Our Father’s protective hand knows no bounds. 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
For His Glory,
Micah McCurry
