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Seeds Produce Multiplied Fruit in East Timor

by George Foster

During my first trip to East Timor, I heard a story that blessed and encouraged me and blesses nearly everyone who hears it. Two of Bethany's early missionaries, Herb and Ruth Billman, were always eager to be led by the Holy Spirit. They studied Portuguese and went to Guinea-Bissau. In 1962 they felt a call to East Timor. Their leaders and friends advised them not to go. "You won't find housing and you won't get a visa to stay," they argued.

But the Spirit was leading, so they went without the approval of their friends and colleagues. To their disappointment things turned out just as they had been told. They lived in a rundown shack with their four children and battled unsuccessfully to get a visa. After two months they had to leave. It seemed to everyone that they had not discerned God's will and their work had been a failure. But during those two months they led one couple to an experience of salvation in Christ. The couple stayed true and started a church that multiplied and now has 14,500 members scattered throughout the nation and on the island of Etuaro, three hours away by boat. A failure? It was the most fruitful two months they ever spent!

Last September, on my second trip to East Timor, I preached in one of their churches. It was a thrill to see what God has done. We never know what may result from sowing the gospel seed. It does not return to Him void! Both Herb Billman and the founding pastor have now died, but their widows still keep in touch.

Most of my time in Timor was spent with Youth With a Mission (YWAM), represented by an international team composed of Brazilians and Australians who are heavily involved in discipleship and mercy ministries. I gave classes in the morning, had one-on-one time with missionaries in the afternoon and taught another group of students at night.

I was impressed by the work of the young people who are making a terrific impact on the country. Since East Timor gained independence, they have adopted Portuguese as an official language, along with their native Tetum. Since the children must now learn Portuguese, YWAM is opening a preschool to get them started. Because of our connections there, we hope to recruit many more Brazilians to work in this harvest field!

George Foster, a former Bethany missionary to Brazil, now travels around the world, providing pastoral care and encouragement to many missionaries.