From One
By Colleen Fitch,
Missionary in Spain,
One Mission Society
Drop of
Obedience
With two fish and five loaves, Jesus fed more than 5,000
people (Matthew 14:17–20). In the kingdom of God, something as insignificant as a tiny mustard seed can experience
exponential growth and blessing (Mark 4:31–32).
photo page 12: The Biblical
Holiness booklets in English
and Spanish. photo page 13:
Colleen teaches a course at
her home church in New
Jersey, using the booklets.
In April 2013, during an editorial team meeting at the One Mission Society
World Headquarters in Greenwood, Indiana, I was
given a writing assignment. OMS leaders asked
me to develop a booklet on biblical holiness, using
simple vocabulary to facilitate translation and format similar
to our Train & Multiply
resources. During May
and June, I sat at my
desk in New Jersey
to study the Bible and
write. The first unexpected blessing came
in the form of simple
line drawings to illustrate the passages that
I wrote. Sometimes, the
words came first and
then the drawing; other
times, I found myself
drawing, and then I
knew what to write next.
After the OMS editorial team reviewed
the original manuscript,
OMS Theological Education team leader Bill Vermillion took the drafts to Brazil
and taught from them in the OMS-related seminary in Londrina. He returned with
encouraging comments and suggestions. Meanwhile, I was teaching a course
on holiness at my home church in New Jersey, and God was using this input to
guide me in the completion of the final revision of Biblical Holiness: Consecrated
Living for the Glory of God (Parts 1 & 2).
OMS missionary Rachel Coleman then translated the booklets into Spanish.
She made suggestions and communicated with contacts in South America for
further guidance. She has also used the booklets in her training presentations
for new OMS missionary candidates, who have then taken the booklets around
the world.
In the fall of 2013, Rev. Ed Williamson, chairman of the OMS Board, contacted
me about working with two translators to make the booklets available in French
and Mizo (a local dialect in South Asia). He extended an invitation for me to present the completed French version in Paris for pastors and laity in the Evangelical
Methodist Church there. After the seminar, Pastors Carlyto and Elyse sent me
this note: “The message has blessed us, and this pushes us further to walk in
holiness and in the fear of our God.” Amazingly, just after the French translation
project was underway, OMS South Africa sent an email inquiring about available
studies on holiness in French. As soon as the digital version was posted, they
were downloaded for use within Francophone Africa.
In June, Pastor Andrés Lopez, from the Chamartín church in Madrid, asked
if I would amplify the study with additional biblical references and open-ended
application questions. During the summer, he asked that all of the small groups
work through the study together. He had a burden to see the congregation move
forward into an experience of life-transforming holiness.
These are just a few of the stories. I rejoice that Jesus is extending the reach
of these booklets, but more importantly, my prayer is that hearts and minds will
be open to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit as they are read and studied.
12
13
The booklets are available in four languages at www.onemissionsociety.org/theological
-education. Click Resources to download, or copies can be requested from
OMS Communications.