Mercy Gave Up Her Ring
"Jesus, keep me
near the cross, There a precious fountain . . . ." Fanny Crosby
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Jim Elliot
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last." C. T. Studd
By God's amazing grace, Mercy finally said yes!
First, I noticed her name - my favorite name in all the earth, other than
the name above all names! Mercy. Oh how I love
the Mercy-Heart of God. Next, I noticed her theology: she was quoting
Paul Washer. She's a solid, Reformed Baptist, Jesus trusting and Jesus loving girl! Then I noticed her extraordinary beauty: "Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful!" (
Song of Solomon 4:1). After many months pursuing her, I proposed at the foot of
the cross on
Manga Hills in
Kisii, Kenya, on November 18, 2024. I told her 200 reasons why I love her and asked her to marry me. She said yes! Praise the LORD! We hope and pray always to live at the foot of the cross -
boasting only in the cross.
Two and a half months before that joyous day, while we were courting and reading
John Piper's book,
Desiring God, we came to the chapter on money.
John Piper has been a huge influence on me and how I think about the use of money for God's glory. As we read about the godly use of money, it seemed like a good time to ask Mercy about how we might get engaged. Mercy and I have both been deeply influenced by
Elisabeth Elliot. And we were both familiar with the story
Elisabeth told of how Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth got engaged.
It's such a great story! Please read it! Instead of giving Rosalind an engagement ring, Jonathan used the funds to purchase Gospel literature in order to spread the Gospel to lost sinners in China so that they might be
saved for heaven and not
go to hell.
Ever since I read that story, I hoped that God would grant me a woman who would joyfully be willing to follow the Goforths as they followed Christ in that particular sacrifice. So I asked Mercy about this, and to my great delight, she was willing! On September 2nd, 2024, I wrote in my journal:
Mercy and I began reading the chapter in
Desiring God on money today . . . She was eager to read and wanted to keep reading! She "Amen'd!" it and did not disagree! When I brought up
Randy Alcorn's #6
treasure principle - she "Amen'd!" AND!!! I told her my dream of being used by God like
Rosalind and Jonathan Goforth and not getting an engagement ring for the sake of the nations and for the glory of
King Jesus! She agreed! She said she does not want an engagement ring! I was so happy! I jumped up and started dancing! Thank You LORD! You have answered my prayers and desires! Praise to You the LORD, the Almighty
Who reigns!
I even broke out in song, singing the hymn:
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.
Mercy Gave Up Her Ring
For The Sake Of
Her King Who Forever Makes
Her Sing!
Instead of receiving an engagement ring, Mercy was willing to give up the ring and donate those financial resources in order to support two missions organizations that focus on reaching
unreached people and
unreached language groups:
John Piper commends both of these organizations here:
The Next Generation Of Missionaries
This was a very small sacrifice, especially in light of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Who gave up everything for us on that cross. But it is our earnest desire, hope, and prayer that God might use Mercy's sacrifice to inspire numerous other young couples to follow the Goforths as they followed Christ and give up the ring (or make other sacrifices) for the sake of the King Who forever
makes us sing and live more
war-time lifestyles in order to reach the nations for the glory of
King Jesus and store up treasure in heaven where moth and rust does not destroy:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Would you please join us in praying that God might free up many hearts and dollars for the sake of His name and for the sake of those who are most in need to hear the Gospel? Maybe it won't be a ring, but how might you sacrifice joyfully for your King? He doesn't need us or our money, but oh what a joy and privilege it is to seek the lost with Him!
And may we all learn that we never really made a sacrifice!
I saw the most beautiful, glorious name
That any young woman could have or could claim
Mercy I saw on Mary's Facebook frame
And her comment was good for she'd proclaim
Truth about God in Paul Washer's name
So I went to her page and found more of the same
Delighting in Christ Who took her shame
Spurgeon and Elliot made me exclaim
This girl's got good doctrine and Christ is her aim
Plus she's so gorgeous - set my heart all aflame
She is the hot chocolate with greatest acclaim
My longings to know her, no nothing could tame
I want to pursue her for the fame of God's name
I know if I'm with her, I'll never be the same
And every obstacle - God overcame
To be hers the rest of my life is the aim
And Mercy for good as my wife to rename
Christ is all and our joy and treasure became
Together let's serve Him - His praises proclaim!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Psalm 67:4-5
