“ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

How did I get to Ghana, West Africa from a small town in West Texas? I looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and wondered what I was doing on the other side of the world. Why had I longed to be here? I was in way over my head. In fact, I was scared to death - not of the people, but of teaching the Gospel face-to-face.

I had been a WBS teacher for 5 years and corresponded with hundreds of students about the Gospel. I was always thankful for the time to research an answer when a WBS student asked a difficult Bible question. Now, this day was different. Although I had prayed and practiced my Bible "presentation" for weeks before traveling to Africa, today I was teaching my first prospect.

I sat, sweating nervously, in the small sewing school adjacent to the Accra New Town Church of Christ. A sweet lady named Mary who was a school teacher sat in front of me and smiled as I told my Bible presentation - as one long, run-on sentence. About half-way through the "sentence" she politely stopped me and said, "My friend, I am enjoying what you have to say but I already know what I must do. I believe in Jesus and want to be baptized so I can be forgiven of my sins."

I was a little confused so I asked, "Have you been studying the Bible with someone else?"

"Yes, I am a World Bible School student and when I told my teacher in the U.S. I wanted to be baptized, she told me to come here today."

Happy at her news, we talked about World Bible School and the things she had learned in the courses. There was no more presentation. Now we were just talking over an open Bible as friends in fellowship, as one believer to another. I was blessed to be witness to the evidence that World Bible School brings people the soul-saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Mary did have faith in God and understood the Gospel message thanks to her WBS lessons and WBS teacher who had planted the seed. As always, God gave the increase and taught me a valuable lesson about relying on Him and His promises and instead of relying on myself.