Note from The Prayer Foundation ™: A sample copy of our Monthly E-mail Newsletter may be seen on our page: Sample Newsletter!  See also: E. M Bounds On Prayer.  The E. M. Bounds quote mentioned above may be seen on our page: Heaven's Knighthood.

9/12/02________________________________________________________

Dear Monks,
I was delighted to find my prayer request for Nigeria on your web
site.  And the Dwight L. Moody quote I shared with you also.  Blessing!
I am still thinking about what day of the week and what time slot I
can best commit myself to (as a Prayer Warrior on the 24-Hr. Prayerchain).
I will be in China for most of *****.  Prayer for our teaching team would be greatly appreciated.  Because of the sensitive nature of our sojourn, I will not give full names or destination over the net. In prayer for us: M., R., G., & W. and we will be on the mainland.  Our Lord will know.
Look to hear from me after the 21st.
Yours truly,
William

Note from The Prayer Foundation ™: Our Web Site is viewed all over the world, except in The People's Republic of China.  The Communist Chinese Government has placed an Internet Filter over the entire Country that blocks out all Religious Web Sites (they also block out any Anti-Communism Sites).

9/12/02________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                      Hi! Thank you very much for your prayers!  I am from
Bulgaria, East Europe.
Vera (Bulgaria)

Dear Prayer Foundation, God bless you for your prayers and response.  Thank you for your ministry!                                                                    Love,
Ashley D. and family (Knoxville, Tenessee)

9/9/02________________________________________________________

Thank you so much.                                                                           Katherine K. (California)

9/3/02________________________________________________________

Hi, I have been looking for a Church and haven't found one I am happy with, so I looked online and found this online study of Bible lessons and they give you a teacher. 

I made it to the second lesson and can't get past it.  It is about Baptism.  The teacher tells me that you will not be forgiven for your sins or go to heaven unless you are baptized.  She gave me some scriptures and said that is what the Bible says.  However, I told her I disagree.  I haven't read the Bible all the way through yet, but my brother has.  He told me that yes, it is a command to be baptized, but that is not what gets you into heaven.                                                                                                 

My brother said that as long as you believe in Jesus Christ and believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins, that you will go to heaven.  I told my teacher that, and she said that nowhere in the Bible does it say that.  I asked her that if that was the case, how does she explain the thief on the cross next to Jesus.  She did not respond.  

My brother told me about you and told me to write and ask you and maybe you can tell me where in the Bible it says you just have to believe.  I thought that verse in John was one.  If you could help me I would greatly appreciate it.                                                                

Thanks for your time. 

-Stacie R.

The short answer is: that many verses in the Bible tell us that Salvation is obtained through (and only through) Faith in Christ (indeed, this is really the message and major theme of the entire Bible...see: Plan of Salvation), and no mention is made in these verses of Baptism).  Baptism is something we do out of obedience to Christ's command.  To see our complete answer, with which we actually answered this letter, including all of the Scripture references, go to our page: Open Letter On Baptism.   -The Prayer Foundation ™. _____________________________________________________________