Torch, Fall 2001

hospital in Katmandu, Nepal. I knew little of Nepal except that Mt. Everest was there. This brochure went on to describe Nepal as having the lowest standard of health of any country in the world. It had the lowest ratio of doctors and nurses to the population and the lowest average life expectancy, which was 27 years. Your life expectancy is about 77 years and theirs was 27. Another statistic that startled me was that Nepal also had the lowest number of Christians on earth— zero. Having just given my life to I knew a lot about God, but I did not know God personally. He was like an idea, something I just sort of accepted. In 1954, God made Himself known to me. God was asking me to give Him my life. It was an awesome experience, and so I said, “Yes, I will do that.” I did not really understand all that was involved in giving my life to God, but I remember the day I made that promise. I also remember two days later when I picked up a brochure. This brochure described the opening of the first mission T he most important year of my life was 1954. I was 16, and in that year I gave my life fully to God. 2001 may be the most important year in your life. My prayer for you is that something will happen this year that will change your life forever. When I was 16, I thought that I was a Christian. I thought that my parents were Christians. I went to church and Sunday school. I led a relatively clean life. I studied hard. I thought that this was the Christian life. But, I was wrong. 6 TORCH / Fall 2001 Editor’s note: Drs. Thomas and Cynthia Hale were featured speakers at Cedarville University’s annual Missions Conference held earlier this year. Their story is one of commitment, compassion, and contentment.