Mosquito Man!

“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:26, NIV.

Doris Burson has corresponded with hundreds of prisoners from all over the world through her Bible correspondence ministry in  Thailand. One of her favorite memories involves a man from Pakistan named Muhammad*. He took several Bible correspondence courses and had answered questions about John, Romans and Acts. Many of his responses showed incredible insight.

Doris wrote him, “You’d make a good Christian.”

Muhammad wrote back, “If you had grown up in a Muslim country with Muslim parents, then you’d be a Muslim too.” Doris thought about that and agreed that he was probably right.

Their correspondence continued, and one note especially amused Doris. He said, “Taking your classes is more interesting than swatting flies or mosquitoes.” After that Muhammad became affectionately known in the Burson home as the mosquito man!

God had plans for Muhammad. Months later he wrote to Doris and said, “I don’t know why I was put in solitary confinement, but it was during that time alone that everything I had learned became real to me and I trusted Jesus as my Savior. And as soon as I made that commitment I was let out of solitary. I never did learn why I’d been put there.”

Doris had a pretty good idea of who was behind Muhammad’s solitary confinement! She has seen how relentless God is in getting someone’s attention. There are 196 lessons in the Bible correspondence ministry that Doris coordinates. Muhammad has been through them all, and he has asked to be allowed to do them all again.

“It is such a joy to see him grow and mature in his relationship with Christ,” said Doris. “He was right, getting to know God’s word IS better than swatting mosquitoes!”

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will continue to use Doris to reach prisoners from around the world with the gospel.

Prisoners like Muhammad will learn to share their faith with other prisoners and start churches in the prisons.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.