Lost … But Found!

An Amazing Fact: Thousandsof hikers get lost in U.S. national parks each year. The resultingsearch-and-rescue operations can be costly—up to $50 million annually. Butthanks to these well-coordinated efforts and advanced technology, most soulsare eventually found. However, about 2 percent of missing persons in nationalparks have never been found.

Zachary hit rock bottom. Each choice he made seemed to digthe hole ever deeper, leaving him trapped in a darkness he thought he couldnever escape. But through you and your loving gifts, God sent a ray of lightinto this young man’s heart that rescued him from darkness.

All of heaven was poured out through the gift of Jesus tobring salvation to our rebellious, broken planet. And it amazes me that theLord invites us to cooperate with Him in bringing this everlasting gospel topeople like Zach! When you join the Amazing Facts search-and-rescue team,you create Bible lifelines—like our popular sharing magazines—and become amissionary sending the message of salvation around the globe every single day.

God used you to reach, find, and rescue Zach through AmazingFacts publications. After Zach prayed for guidance, he received our sharingmaterials, which led this lost soul into the light of truth. I’d like to sharehow you can help create a vital new sharing resource—but first, let me tell youmore about how Zach was changed through your compassion …

Downward Into Darkness

When Zach was young, he liked going to church, but he likedother things more—alcohol, drugs, and guns. As time went by, he became a thief,a drug dealer, and a brawler, and he made his home with a dangerousgang. As you might expect, Zach ended up in prison. In that dark, lonelycell, bruised and beaten, the lost sinner took inventory of his life and wasafraid. At night, he was tormented by a demon of fear. Sometimes, it held himso tightly that he could not move or speak.

Zach soon realized that his cell was not his only prison.One agonizing day, he broke down and cried out to God. He explains, “I knew mylife was wrong and that my situation was a direct result of what I had done.And I also knew nothing could save me but God.” So … Zach prayed. He toldGod how sorry he was for all the evil he had caused and pled for divinehelp. “In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me” (Psalm120:1). Suddenly, it was as though the cement blocks of his cell hadbeen parted by an unseen hand, allowing the sun to shine down on him. And hefelt something he never had before—joy.

Have you experienced the joy of salvation? It’s the desireof every sincere heart. God longs to find and rescue lost people. “ForGod so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoeverbelieves in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Upward Into the Light

God had more in store for Zach, instilling in his heart agrowing desire to read Scripture. Not long after, Zach also found a book thatchanged everything: The Great Controversy. In the back of the bookwas an offer for Bible studies from a ministry called Amazing Facts. He quicklysent in the offer and received the lessons, which he devoured as nourishmentfrom heaven.

Hungering for even more lifesaving truth, Zach sent away formore lessons, magazines, and books. Zach was soon in awe of the truths Godused you to bring to him. He discovered from TheAfterlife Mystery—a magazine he especially loved—how the Bible clearlyteaches about resting in Jesus until the resurrection. The resources you put inZach’s hands changed his life forever. Praise the Lord!

A Powerful Witnessing Tool

If you or your church is thinking about handing out aresource to encourage someone to consider Bible truth, I can’t think of abetter witnessing tool than an Amazing Facts sharing magazine. Praise God, youhave helped distribute millions of them all around this dark planet. They arecolorful, vibrant, and beautifully designed—and they explain truth in acaptivating yet easy-to-understand way.

Another person you helped, David, writes, “The magazines youprovide are chock full of good information. In fact, many questions I had askedof other Christian groups didn’t have simple answers you provided in a clearand factual manner in your publications.” He goes on, “I love your no-nonsenseapproach to so many concerns. … You’ve presented the facts in easy,down-to-earth language.”

Salvation is one of the most fundamental truths in theBible. It’s holy ground. Without this foundation, all other truths wouldn’tmatter. Amazing Facts has always had sermons and Bible studies onsalvation, but we’ve never produced a sharing magazine on this crucial topic.If you’ve never helped create one of our magazines, this would be one of themost important ones to help create and send out! This magazine will notonly cover the key steps in walking with Christ on a journey to the kingdom ofheaven—it will also identify the hazards of false gospels that often ensnarenew believers. We are praying it will be ready this summer!

Marvelous Light

Friend, God has used you to rescue people from darkness andbring them into “His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We wantto make this attractive magazine available to anyone and everyone searching forGod on our TV and radio broadcasts, as well as seekers on our websites, inprisons, and in communities everywhere.

But we can’t do it without you! Will you join me inproclaiming the good news of redemption so that the lost can be found? Yourloving gift today will help people be changed by reading this eye-openingmagazine and other Amazing Facts outreach efforts! You have made adifference in Zach’s life—he is now an Amazing Facts “missionary” and loves togive away sharing magazines. Will you join him in being a co-laborer withChrist leading the lost into the marvelous light of truth?

Your search and rescue partner,

Pastor Doug Batchelor

President, Amazing Facts International