I ran across this update that I shared in 2011 about Mission Exuma. I was a part of a team that shared the gospel during the annual regatta that is held on the island of Exuma in the Bahamas. I hope it blesses you.
Mission Exuma 2011
Ramone strolled up to me with three cups of alcohol and half a bottle of liquor tucked under his arm. Like most people attending the 58th Annual Exuma Family Island Regatta, He was there to have a good time, party it up and get drunk. He didn’t expect to have an encounter with the Risen Lord that night on Regatta Point in George Town.
I handed him a gospel tract and he asked, “What’s this?” I told him that it was a gospel tract and that it talked about how much God loved Him. He continued to linger for a moment, so I knew that the Lord wanted me to share the Gospel with him.
I asked him what would happen to him after he died and left this life. Ramone had no clue. So, I shared with him what the Bible says in 1st John 5:12-13…
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1Jn 5:12-13)
As I shared the good news with him, Ramone leaned in close – almost too close for comfort – to listen. From our conversation, it was apparent that he knew the way he needed to go – toward the cross – but he was being hindered by his desire to cling to the world.
He asked me several questions including a question about what I thought Jesus did during those years between the time he was in the temple at age 12, and the beginning of his ministry. I was starting to wonder if I was just wasting my time with him when he pulled me aside off the main path. He bent over and sat his booze down on the ground beside a trash can.
I knew that he was either paying close attention or getting ready to punch my lights out! He was listening. After asking another off the wall question, he did something that I did not expect.
He looks me in the eye and says, “I’m ready to give my life to Christ.” The next thing that came out of my mouth was, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m sure,” he said.
The thing that really astonished me was that Ramone went from being slightly drunk to completely sober in an instant. It was like night and day! I tried to talk him out of it but soon it became clear that God was at work in his life, and he was ready to give in to Jesus. So, I led him in a prayer for salvation.
He thanked me and headed down the dock to find his brother. However, he left his booze sitting beside the trashcan. Immediately, I thought of the woman that Jesus met at the well. After conversing with Jesus, she left the burden of her water pot behind and went to tell the rest of the village about Jesus.
He didn’t return to the trashcan to fetch his burden.
Ramone was one of 17 people who gave their hearts to Jesus during the outreach. We estimate that our team distributed around 7,000 gospel tracts. No one to our knowledge has ever attempted to have an evangelistic outreach at the Regatta before. So, God allowed us to break new ground.
Please continue to pray for each person who received a verbal witness from us including Ramone, Cynthia, Reggie, Sammy, Jermaine, and many others that God would continue to work in their hearts.
Pray for each gospel tract that went out that it would be read by the recipient who would in turn be drawn to Christ. Finally, pray for each church on Exuma, especially Mount Sinai where Brother Cedric Smith pastors. Cedric is the key pastor on the island and the man who invited our team to Exuma for the Regatta.
Thanks for upholding me and the rest of the team during Mission Exuma 2011. Lord willing, I would like to return with a larger team next year to continue to work in the harvest.
