My church recently held a baptism ceremony for new believers. As soon as those being “dipped” came up out of the water, we all erupted in cheers. It was a powerful moment. A life reborn is worth shouting from the rooftops.

I want to share a very special letter I received from an undercover church planter located in a hostile region of Africa. Matthew (named changed for protection) is supported by Heaven's Family as he risks his life to spread the rescue message of Jesus Christ. I hope his story will encourage you as much as it has encouraged me.

Kenn looked down at a scrap of weathered paper in his hands for the umpteenth time as he read the blotchy, hand-written text. It read a Chinese phone number. As a citizen of North Korea, Kenn faced a life-long prison sentence if this seemingly insignificant piece of paper was discovered. And yet he’d kept it hidden all these years, as a life preserver of sorts, in case a certain day should ever come along. Today was that day.