How would you respond if your wife and children were robbed and BEATEN?

We pray for and support a missionary in Iraq, “RL.” He led the short-term missions team I was on to Outer Mongolia in 1991 (his family stayed on full-time and moved to Iraq soon after our brave forces liberated those precious people).

A few weeks ago, robbers broke into their home when RL was away teaching at a Bible conference. The robbers stole pretty much everything they had and then went on to BEAT Mrs. RL and their three children.

I wept as I read their letter last month. And now I’m weeping as I read the one that arrived today.

Do you know they’ve been responding to the robbers (who were quickly caught and thrown into jail)? By seeking justice, yet, but also by DOING MERCY.

They visit the robbers in prison. They bring them food. They share the gospel with them. They even petitioned to have one of the men released when it was clear that he was not actually involved in the crime beyond having made the tragic error of confirming where the RL’s lived. (And he is extremely sorry and repentant.)

Can you imagine? RL describes his family’s work and ministry like this:

“It is grace like this for which we have been created. I can’t help but wonder what the jailer at the prison and some of the guards think as they have listened to the gospel and watched us come with unconditional love. And now to see us work so hard to have a prisoner released to whom none of them or their own countrymen would give a second thought …

This has to be the greatest job in the world.”

God bless you, RL! Thank you for helping us all to remember the gospel.