In the 1970s, Khmer Rouge soldiers forced residents to dig their own graves before they were executed. As villagers called in desperation to various gods, one woman prayed to "the god who hung on a cross." As she cowered on the ground, waiting to be shot, a vision of a cross came, with a voice saying, "None but I can save you." When the villagers opened their eyes, the soldiers were gone.

For twenty years the villagers worshiped "the god who hung on a cross," not knowing the name of Jesus, until an evangelist visited them recently. Upon hearing the good news of salvation in Jesus, the villagers readily accepted Christ and started a church.

Roger Williams III was sitting in the window seat and was looking forward to thumbing through a magazine on a short flight from Sacramento to attend a National Youth Ministry Conference in San Diego, California. He’d fastened his seat belt, made sure his chair was in the full upright position, his tray table was locked and that his luggage was properly stowed when two well-dressed Ally McBeal look-a-likes sat down next to him.

Their conversation competed for attention with his magazine. They talked about the club scene—what they enjoyed drinking, who they were “dating,” their intimate relationships with men, both single and married. Then it turned into a gripe session.

“Why do guys have such a hard time committing?” One asked. “And why don’t they ever leave their wives like they promise to?” Another complained.

They talked about work for a while, and about the time Williams was tuning out, one of them said, “But you know, if it wasn’t for church, my life would really be hell.” By now, Williams was only pretending to read his magazine, they had his full attention. “Wow, you go to church too. I know exactly how you feel. If it wasn’t for church, I don’t know where I’d be.” “Yeah, I know what you mean,” the other lady said, “if I miss more than two weeks of church everything in my life goes nuts.”

The plane started its descent into San Diego and everything got quiet, and Williams sat still—stunned by what he’d just heard. He concluded that worship, to these ladies, was just a “religious fix.”

It is possible you know, to build up an immunity to the gospel. Like a vaccine or inoculation, some people get just enough religion to insure that they go to hell.

“Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NASB)

What happens to people who are raised by unbelievers? In an interesting study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life they discovered that 14 percent of people raised Catholic and 13 percent of people raised Protestant abandon the faith of their childhood.

At the other extreme, over 50 percent of people raised in “staunchly atheistic or agnostic households” have abandoned the non-faith of their childhood. These people have abandoned disbelief and have embraced faith.

What moved them to faith? Over half of those who abandoned unbelief say they had unmet spiritual needs in their lives.

-- World Magazine, June 6, 2009, p. 14. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

We were created to be spiritual people. If we are open and honest with ourselves we recognize there are some uniquely human needs that cannot be met apart from God. The spirit then will move us toward Christ.

Romans 1:19 (ESV) “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”

Ten after being the number 3 draft pick in the NFL draft, Akili has a new purpose and is a new man. The money, the lifestyle, the publicity, and the pressure combined to crush him. Smith never became even a shadow of his promise.

Today he has put his life back together, recommitting his life to the Lord. He is serving as a deacon in his church with plans to become a Pastor. He is coaching Quarterbacks at a Junior College in his hometown of San Diego.

Getting his priorities right has made a difference in his life and his outlook.

--Sports Illustrated, July 13, 2009. P. 114. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB77) Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Gary Paxton wrote over 2,000 songs. The two best-known songs from the 1950’s were “Alley-Oop” and “Monster Mash.” All the time he was writing he struggled with a tumultuous personal life. He made and lost a fortune, overcame addiction, and was once gravely wounded when a disgruntled singer hired hit men to gun him down. Then, in 1971, Paxton said, he “walked into a church—stoned on drugs—and got saved.” His song writing fused gospel and rock. Everything was not rosy from then on but late in his life he said, “I thank God for every scar, trial, and setback I’ve ever had, because they help you grow.”

Knowing Jesus Christ changed his life, and probably saved it as well. When Jesus comes into a life it is changed. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (HCSB) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”

When Kim Phuc Phan Thai was a 9-year-old child her war planes dropped bombs and napalm on her village in Vietnam. A journalist snapped a picture of the girl, naked, running from the village, screaming in pain from the napalm burning her neck, back, and arms. You have probably seen the photo. It became famous and won a Pulitzer prize. The communist government of Vietnam used the photo and Phan as propaganda tool to demonize the Americans and prop up their new government. Government authorities constantly pulled Phan from class until she was absent so much the school dismissed her. She said, “Why was I still suffering? I didn’t have any peace or joy, I still struggled. My heart was so empty.”

She borrowed a Bible from the local library and read about a God who was willing to die for His people. A distant family member, an associate pastor, came for a visit and answered her questions. She professed Christ and her life turned around. “It was an amazing turning point in my life,” Phan said. “I had peace, joy, and security.” Today she is involved in the Kim Foundation International which helps children who have been injured or disabled in wars.

Her testimony today is, “I was ugly, naked and in agony. I was so hopeless, crying out. Why would that happen to a child? Wow, Lord, You allowed that to happen to me. In the middle of that, You were there and You saved me. . . It changed my life completely, turning darkness into light, from hatred to forgiveness, from sorrow to joy, from hopeless to hope.”

This is the difference that Jesus Christ can make in a life. What a blessing to get a great message from a terrifying picture so many years ago. Jesus can make the same difference in any life. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

June Cheng, Through Fire to forgiveness, The Napalm Girl of Vietnam says a bomb pointed her to Christ. World Magazine, April 28, 2018, pp.55-56

You have heard a lot about Foxhole conversions. A soldier hunkering down in a hole while the battle is ongoing, makes a promise to walk with God if God will get him out of the situation. Bill Patten’s conversion wasn’t made deep in the earth, but high in the sky. Bill was co-piloting a B17 bomber over Germany in 1944 when the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire which tore through the pilot’s thigh. As he took over the controls to maneuver the broken plane out of German air space, he made a promise to God that he would be more faithful if He would just help him land the plane.

When they landed, Patten kept that promise. He joined his wife’s church and was baptized. Later the two of them were instrumental in planting a new church that thrives today. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Sharon Dierberger, “Flying Unfriendly Skies” World Magazine December 5, 2020, pp 67-68

Billy Joe Shaver wrote country music for the superstars, including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, and Willie Nelson. All was not well with Billy Joe though. For years he struggled with his addiction to drugs and alcohols. By his own testimony, that addiction ended after he found Jesus Christ. He went on to write songs such as “Jesus Christ, What a Man,” “You can’t beat Jesus Christ,” “Jesus Christ is still the King,” and “Jesus is the Only One Who Loves Us.” One musician said that the biggest challenge when performing with Shaver was keeping Shaver from turning their show into a revival meeting.

Shaver’s life wasn’t perfect after that conversion, but he was a changed person. His addiction was gone, and he shared the good news of Jesus. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!