Our Heart  

(Last updated Sept 9, 2008- Picture of the Robertson family c.1988)

It was around 1985. We were living in Upper East Tennessee with our family of 5 and were active in our local church, Hales Chapel Christian Church. I was a deacon, Debbie played the piano and we were in the choir, our kids were active in the childrens and youth ministies, we were really enjoying our life in the church and it seemed like we were involved in some activity or other most nights of the week. However, we also recognized that there had to be more to life in Christ than just all this activity. We knew people who were really excited about their faith, who shared the Gospel, who, it seemed, could talk about little but the Lord. Their passion and love for the Lord was very evident and we realized that was what God desires for His children. One thing that was common in all of them was the Word of God. They spent lots of time reading and studying the Bible and we simply had not yet really put much of ourselves into that. So, we started. We got involved in Bible Study Fellowship, began our own personal studies in the Word, doing family study and prayer times. Sure enough, God began honoring that and we began growing in Him and our hunger for His Word increased considerably. In the fly leaf of the famous D.L. Moody's Bible were found the following words:

This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners. Its doctrines are Holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, its prophecies are sure and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be Holy. It contains light to direct you, and comfort to cheer you; it is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character.

Here Paradise is restored; Heaven opened and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is the grand subject, our good its design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, a river of pleasure. It is given to you in life; it will open at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

 Hebrews 4:12 says "for the Word of God is living and active, sharper that any double-edged sword" and He has proven that over and over!! 

 The next few years were used by the Lord to grow us greatly in Him. He was obviously preparing us for something, and the beginnings of that happened when Phil was in the church nursery taking his turn in helping with the little ones along with a new man in the congregation. This man said he was a JAARS bush pilot and flew missionaries in and out of their jungle villages. We had never heard of such a thing! A couple of weeks later he and his wife came and shared with our Sunday School class and what he said blew us away! He told about how there are over 6000 languages spoken in the world today and the vast majority of them are only spoken languages with no writing systems. That means they didn't have a Bible in their language and therefore had no access to God's Word and no chance to really know God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Considering what God had done in us through His Word, we were pricked in the heart. He then proceeded to tell us how they needed people from all walks of life to join and help bring God's Word to these Bibleless people, numbering about 300 million. When they were finished with their sharing Debbie and I looked at each other and said "When are we going?"

That began a journey that took us first to Dallas, Texas in 1988 where we participated in the Managers Development and Orientation Course and cross-cultural training. Next we went to French Language School in Quebéc, Canada, because we were heading for West Africa where French is spoken as the national language. It was there we encountered our first obstacle. Due to some difficult family issues it was recommended that we needed to take an assignment stateside at the technical support center of Wycliffe, or JAARS in Waxhaw, NC. While we were heartbroken, God used our time there as Phil learned about computers and after a few years of experience, in 1994 we had the opportunity to go to Oaxaca, Mexico and serve as a computer support consultant. There's some pictures and a little more about that time in Mexico at the Oaxaca page.

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