The following is a response to the letter published by Deborah Kanhai in the May 2 Guyana Chronicle as well as numerous other places on the web.
Let me start by saying that I believe the Bible is true and I do my best with God’s help to stand upon that. I believe that God is the final authority. I happen to be Baptist by conviction, but a person does not have to be a member of a Baptist Church in order to get to Heaven. In fact, just joining a Baptist Church will not get you to Heaven. The Bible is clear that a person must repent of their sins and accept Christ as their Savior in order to go to Heaven some day. If a person has done that, they will be on their way to Heaven. That is what I believe and teach.
I have received several emails from people who are concerned with what I am doing in Guyana. That is understandable considering the statements that were made. In responses to Ms. Kanhai’s letter, I have been compared to Jim Jones. Please rest assured that I am not trying to create a following for myself, only point people to Christ. It has been stated that I lack respect for everyone’s beliefs. I believe that if you were to ask people that we speak with whether I treat their beliefs and religion with respect, you would find that they would tell you “yes”. I simply share with people what the Bible says, if they accept or reject is up to them. I am not “high-pressure” in my approach. I would certainly not say that I am brain-washing them. Everyone has a choice. How can I convert anyone? I am simply the messenger. The Bible does teach judgment for sinners, and that is the very reason God sent His son to die on the cross for our sins so that we could be saved. He is a God of justice and a God of love. The message we have from the Bible is the Gospel, which means “good news.” We are in Guyana to give people the good news. The truth of the matter is that the majority of people that we give this good news to reject what we have to say. We do not shun them because of it. We have many friends here in Guyana that are members of other religions.
As far as I know, there is freedom of speech and religion in Guyana. The sharing of beliefs and ideas is encouraged and one of the things that Guyana prides itself in. I simply offer the Bible and its message. People have a choice. Again, I cannot personally force someone to take my beliefs or convert them to any particular religion.
Please do not see us as the monsters that the letter to the editor made us out to be. We have nothing but respect for the people of Guyana and I deplore those that would come to Guyana to take advantage of the people. I am truly sorry for the poorly chosen words on my website that have caused offense. I made an all-inclusive statement implying that all of Guyana is in spiritual darkness. There are certainly those in Guyana that are not. Who is, and who isn’t in darkness will be something that God will sort out one day. I have since updated my webpage and offered an apology to Ms. Kanhai, before the letter to the editor was published. I have chosen what I will believe as everyone must, and I can’t change my beliefs to suit everyone else. I am not ashamed of the Gospel or my Savior who has given His life for me. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the payment for my sins and the sins of the whole world. On this I stand.
John 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
Sincerely,
Kyle Ficek
The Ministry
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18
In the region of Guyana that we work in there is a lack of understanding concerning what the Bible truly has to say. There are also many misconceptions about what a Christian is. We have been diligently working to help the people of Guyana to be able to clearly see what Christianity is all about. As we visit with them, they share with us their beliefs, and we in turn then share the truth of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been blessed to see some repent of their sins and come to Christ.
Presently, we are continuing a church plant started by another missionary as well as beginning a second church in another village. Please pray for us as we strive to be lights for Christ in the country of Guyana.
