Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

American Indian boy helps missions team lead 30-plus to Christ

  • August 18, 2022
  • Georgia's The Christian Index
  • Featured, Georgia, Latest News, Missions, Montana
Delaney Gosart takes a selfie with members of a mission team from Jonesboro’s First Baptist Church.
(Photo courtesy of the Christian Index)

American Indian boy helps missions team lead 30-plus to Christ

A 10-year-old American Indian boy who recently came to faith in Christ in Montana has inspired a missions team from First Baptist Church Jonesboro, Georgia, with his enthusiasm for reaching others with the gospel.

The boy they knew as Billy was one of at least 33 people who the FBC Jonesboro missions team led to Christ recently at Fort Belknap Indian Community, home of the Nakoda and Aaniiih Nations.

Delaney Gosart dabbed tears during a church gathering as she talked about Billy’s contagious enthusiasm for serving “Creator Sets Free,” his tribe’s translation for Jesus.

“As soon as he came to faith, he said he was going to work with us,” said Gosart, who has Billy’s photo on her phone’s lockscreen.

‘We all cried’

“To see a little 10-year-old boy with the work ethic he had, it was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever watched.”

When the missions trip was over, they had to say goodbye to Billy.

“This little boy turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘Do you guys have to go?’” Gosart recalled, wiping her eyes. “Then he walked us to our cars, and he cried, and we all cried.”

Richie Howard, who serves on the Jonesboro church’s missions staff, said the six-day trip was life-changing not just for Billy, but also for 28 other children and four adults who made professions of faith.

Powwow

The missions trip was centered around a powwow, a traditional gathering of thousands of American Indians. The Georgians’ job was to pick up trash on the powwow grounds. They also set up an open tent where they gave away water and coffee.

“On the first day, we worked 22 hours straight,” Howard said. “We set up tipis. We slept in tipis. No electricity. No running water. By the end of the week, 33 new believers had professed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That’s what really matters.”

Howard said FBC Jonesboro routinely sends short-term missionaries to places across the nation and around the world.

“Our philosophy is we want to go to places where no one else wants to go, to reach people who no one is knocking down doors to get to,” he said.

Under tribal law at Fort Belknap, members of the missions team weren’t permitted to approach people to initiate gospel conversations. But they could answer questions when people asked.

To prompt such questions, they placed EvangeCubes on a table. When people asked about the small, colorful cube, they used it to share the salvation story. The cube opens to show a series of pictures that illustrate the gospel, including an image of Jesus dying on the cross. The EvangeCube caught Billy’s eye, and he asked what it was. Howard explained the gospel to Billy. “Billy’s eyes just lit up,” Howard said. “He said, ‘I want to choose Creator Sets Free.’”

Then Billy began bringing other children to the missions team’s tent to see the EvangeCube and hear the gospel.

Billy listened to the presentation until he was able to make the gospel presentation himself.

“I’m convinced Billy was called to ministry within two hours of being saved,” Howard said.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Roger Alford and originally published by the Christian Index. 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • ABSC employee honored for service, named Arkansan of the Day
    ABSC employee honored for service, named Arkansan of the Day
    March 20, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • First Person: The beauty of country churches
    First Person: The beauty of country churches
    March 20, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Rashional Thoughts: Trickle-down effect of better listening skills might surprise us
    Rashional Thoughts: Trickle-down effect of better listening skills might surprise us
    March 20, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

ABSC employee honored for service, named Arkansan of the Day

Sitting in a red rocking chair in front of a group of at least two dozen second graders, Bob Fielding recently read the students the

white concrete church near green trees under blue sky and white clouds during daytime

First Person: The beauty of country churches

I was reared in a good ole country church called Six Mile Baptist. You have seen churches just like it: gravel driveway and parking lot,

Rashional Thoughts: Trickle-down effect of better listening skills might surprise us

I’ve been evaluating my verbal communication style lately. What I think I’m saying seems to get lost between my mouth and the other person’s ears.

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for March 26

Jesus Opened My Eyes to the Truth John 9:1–7, 32–33, 35–38 To my surprise, the exam questions before me during my third year of college

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel