By Herbert Boyd
Sunday March 20, 2011, was another baptismal service in the Evangelical Baptist Church of Valkenswaard, The Netherlands. There was just one candidate, Ad. Ad’s testimony was special. He was raised in a family of unbelievers and early in his teenage years began getting into trouble. He married, had a daughter, divorced, and eventually got into crime. He was arrested, convicted, and sent to prison. Through friendship with a young woman, he had heard the Gospel and then while in prison began hearing it again.
When he was released just a year or so ago he sought out the young woman (she is from our church in Valkenswaard), and she brought him to church and subsequently to our seekers’ class. He made his decision for Christ and his life was completely changed. Last Sunday he was baptized, and this week he is leaving for India to join a team of workers helping to build a facility for an American team of Baptist missionaries in that country.
Just about all of his yet unsaved family members (about 15) were present because they wanted to see what brought about such a miraculous change is his life. They are asking questions, and some will hopefully be in our next seekers’ class. We are thanking our Lord for the faithful witness of one person and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of this special new creature in Christ Jesus.
Herbert and his first wife, Ruth, opened Baptist Mid-Missions’ work in the Netherlands in 1954. In the fall of 1987, they and two couples from their first church in Eindhoven began Bibles studies in the city of Valkenswaard. Those studies developed into the Evangelical Baptist Church of Valkenswaard, which Herb pastored until 2005. After Ruth passed away, Herbert married Madeline Luce, and they have continued ministering in the Netherlands, even after their 2007 retirement.