When Vernon Osborn, a Hillside-O’Malley Church member, is deployed with the Alaska Air National Guard, he always knows God will provide him with an opportunity to spread His word.
Prior to departing in September to Karshi, Uzbekistan, he asked the Alaska Conference office personnel, Anchorage Jr. Academy students and other Alaska Adventist entities to supply clothing and other materials for the Uzbek children.
Upon arrival in Uzbekistan, Osborn asked two military interpreters if they knew of any Adventist churches. “It turned out that [one's] husband had once worked with pastor Jobir Iskhakova of the Karshi Adventist Church,” reported Osborn. He, three other Adventists and the interpreter arranged to go off the base, and they worshipped with the local group and dined at the pastor's home.
When Osborn asked Iskhakova what would help him spread God’s word, the pastor asked for a computer and projector so he could take Ellen White’s health messages to the schools. “The Uzbekistan government forbids preaching outside of the church, but it allows anything health related to be publicly taught,” explained Osborn.
With financial help from Osborn's home church, an Anchorage Adventist mailed the needed equipment to Uzbekistan. The equipment has already led to 27 baptisms.
Jobir Iskhakova, pastor, and members of the Karshi Church in Uzbekistan celebrate receipt of a laptop computer and video projector for health ministry.
