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Sergio Shares the Answer
"I'm sorry, Sergio, but you must keep quiet during religion class," the school principal said. "You are creating too much disturbance."
Twelve-year-old Sergio was a bright, curious boy who had many questions about God. One day, he discovered some Bible lessons called The Great Questions of Life, produced by ICI (International Correspondence Institute) University. He read the lessons, asked Jesus to be his Savior, and began attending a Pentecostal church.
Sergio was eager to learn about Jesus and how to please Him. However, a problem soon developed.
As with all schoolchildren in his country, Sergio was required to attend a religion class each week. But the things his teacher taught were very different from what he read in his Bible and learned at church. Often Sergio raised his hand and said, "Teacher, I have been reading my Bible. Here is what it says." Then he would read from God's Word.
Finally the teacher grew tired of Sergio's interruptions and sent him to the principal's office. The principal told Sergio to keep quiet and take the course without causing further trouble.
Sergio obediently went back to class. For three weeks he kept quiet.
Then one day some boys in his class met him in the hall. "Why have you quit saying anything in religion class?" they asked. "We enjoy your comments."
Sergio looked around and whispered, "I can't say anything here." Then, noticing the boys' restroom across the hall, he said, "Let's go in there."
In the restroom, the other boys said, "We want you to teach us the Bible. One time you said something about a course you were studying. Can we study that course too? How much does it cost? How can we get it?"
"The course is free," said Sergio. "All I need are your names and addresses. I'll send the information to ICI University workers, and they will mail the lessons to your homes."
Sergio and his friends began studying the Bible, using the boys' restroom as a meeting place. In only three months, forty of Sergio's classmates had accepted Jesus as their Savior.
ICI University lessons answered Sergio's questions about God. Now Sergio is helping others learn how they can know God too.
Thanks to BGMC, The Great Questions of Life has been translated into many, many languages around the world. BGMC also provides the funds for the translation and printing of many other ICI courses and books.
Information for this story was provided by ICI missionaries and is used with permission from Assemblies of God World Missions.
© 2002 The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the local church. Any other use requires written permission.
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