My Prayers Saved Ricky
I had the joy of meeting Calvary missionaries, Russell and Barbara Reed over twenty years ago. At the time, I was the high school pastor, and the Reeds were here to speak to our students about missions.
My first impression was that they were a sweet, soft-spoken elderly couple. I was a bit nervous, wondering how they would hold the attention of our high-energy high school students for thirty minutes My apprehension quickly faded as they shared incredible stories of how God led them from high school sweethearts to the mountain jungles of the Philippines.
Barbara spoke about her high school days as a cheerleader, while Russell was a star athlete. There future held the promise of money, comfort, and popularity. But God was calling them to a different kind of riches. In 1952, they applied to become missionaries with Overseas Mission Fellowship, an organization founded by Hudson Taylor a century earlier. Their mission was clear: to reach the unreached tribes in the Philippines, particularly the Tawbuid people.
For forty-two years, Russell, Barbara, and their four children—Rick, Becky, Bob, and George—dedicated their lives to sharing the good news of Jesus with the Tawbuid people. For the first eight years, however, they didn’t see a single person come to Christ. Imagine—eight years of faithfully serving with no visible results. How did they keep going? The Reed’s credited the power of prayer from their supporters back home in California, who uplifted them during their darkest hours.
One early challenge came in the form of a massive flood that threatened their home. Miraculously, they survived, and they shared their testimony in a newsletter back home. A young boy named David Todd, whose family owned the property where Calvary Church now stands, read about the flood in that newsletter. David had taken the Reed's son, Ricky, as a missionary to pray for, and he proudly told Barbara’s mother, "Look, Mrs. Flory! My prayers saved Ricky’s house!”
Unbeknownst to the Reeds, the Tawbuid people had a centuries-old prophecy from the 1600s that one day, “white people” would come to teach them in their own language. Russell and Barbara were the fulfillment of that prophecy. They painstakingly translated the Tawbuid language, creating a Bible translation that is now displayed in our worship center lobby. Their work bore fruit as many Tawbuid people came to faith in Christ.
The Reeds credited their longevity to the care packages, prayers, and the financial support they received from churches and prayer partners. These partnerships were crucial in reaching the Tawbuid people with the gospel.
I will never forget the day the Reeds shared their story with our students. It was deeply moving and reminded me of the power of prayer and partnership in missions.
We’ll host our annual Reach Week at Calvary from March 22-30 with over 35 missionaries on campus to share their stories! I urge you to join us in celebrating, encouraging, and praying for those we have sent out. Our role is more than just saying goodbye when they are commissioned; it’s about partnering in mission to reach those who had not yet heard about the wonderful news of Jesus.
Who knows? Your prayers might help save a house or a mountain tribe!
Matt Doan
Reach Pastor