"Many of God's people are to go forth with our publications into places where the third angel's message has never been proclaimed. Our books are to be published in many different languages. With these books, humble, faithful men are to go out as colporteur-evangelists, bearing the truth to those who would otherwise never be enlightened." (E.G. White, Publishing Ministry Page 274)
Teresa, a Literature Evangelist of Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah (which is a Malaysian state on the Island of Borneo) felt strongly impressed to go over the border into the neighboring State of Brunei to sell literature. At just 17 years of age, Teresa had been a full time Literature Evangelist for 2 years. Now she felt this strong burden for the people of Brunei.
It should be noted tht Brunei is a Muslim stte where it is illegal to practice another religion. To go there would mean that she would selling where cash awards proffered by the government are paid for information exposing the activities of any group of people who might dare to organize for the purpose of worship in a form other than that authorized by the state. If arrested, the sentence would be mandatory to convert to the state religion. So it was the Sultanate of Brunei that Teresa felt impressed to visit in the interest of selling health books, The Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy and a selection of Bibles.
Her first problem was that of entering the country with her cartons of books. In filling out the immigration card she had indicted that she was a missionary. The immigration official laughed at her saying, "Sorry, you cannot enter Brunei!"
At the border, cars and buses are routinely searched for many things including Bibles and any Christian literature. Brunei has religious police that keep a strict eye on any 'Christian' activity, and they handle the matter quickly and firmly. So Teresa said to the immigration officer, "I have books to sell." He responded by saying, "Come, let us go over to this room where you can show me your books." Like a good Literature Evangelist who believes in what he/she is selling, Teresa proceeded to give an enthusiastic presenttion to the immigration official. He was well pleased with what she presented. Not only did he buy her books for his own family, but also he was there to lend assistance to Teresa over the course of the next two years during which time she went to and from Brunei many times. During this period Teresa stayed two weeks at a time in Brunei, and then she would exit in order to restock her supply of literature and return again.
When Teresa reached the capital city, her first customer happened to be a wealthy bank manager. A kind and solicitous man he inquired as to how she would be able to get around in the city. She replied "I have no vehicle. I am walking." For the next two years this sympathetic bank manager supplied his own personal, chauffeur-driven limosine to take Teresa to and from her sales area every day.
Teresa sold an average of 4,000 Brunei Dollars (US$2472) worth of book every week over the next 2-year period. During this time she saw a Muslim mother and her children become baptized. Teresa also sold a copy of The Great Controversy to a man of Brunei who accepted the message he found within. He became a Seventh Day Adventist believer, and eventually he and Teresa were married. Their 2 daughters have become a team in Literature Ministry. I ask you friend, is God behind this work? Why are we so often hesitant when our God is so able?
Consider what God has said through His servant: "God has provided divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our human resources are unequal" and "to everyone who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results." (E.G. White, Colporteur Ministry 109)
Through God's enabling power, He makes influential giants out of the humblest servants who serve in humility and lean upon His divine strength. He did that for Teresa. He can do it for you too. Are you willing?
John Brereton is Director of the Publishing Ministries Department, Southeast Asia Union Mission.