This is a story that needs to be told! It is a story of faith, sacrifice, and love. It began, over thirty years ago, when I picked up a cassette tape by Pastor Gardner Gentry of Victory Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.  It contained a message called, “Compassion.” As a nineteen-year-old boy, this message lit a fire in my heart to do something great for my God with my life.

Over twenty years later, I heard about Gardner Gentry going to the mission field of Malawi, Africa.  In my mind, I first questioned “Why would an elderly man, with a successful ministry in America, go to one of the world’s poorest countries?” If he were young, I might understand it, but why leave, in what we might call our retirement years, to sacrifice his remaining years on the mission field: helping to feed the physically and spiritually hungered.

I invited Missionary Gardner Gentry to Harvest Baptist Church to present his work for Malawi, Africa, with the consideration of our ministry supporting their mission work financially and prayerfully. After hearing his burden for Malawi, there remained no doubt in our minds that this man of God would make an impact on that poor world of dying people.

Most people in America stay completely out of touch with the needs of our third-world countries. Malawi ranks in the top three of the poorest countries in the world.

Tens of thousands of children are left as abandoned orphans. They live without clean water, food, and medical care. They endure AIDS at an all-time high as an epidemic. Death resides everywhere, and hope cannot be found.

Gardner and Alice Gentry have brought the hope that this country needs. They have been working in Malawi, Africa, for over a decade. Today Bro. Gentry serves with a body filled with malaria and sickness. Throughout his weeks spent at the hospital, Bro. Gentry never lost his vision for Malawi. Could this be the will of God? Does this bring glory to God? Gardner Gentry, now in his seventies, established over 350 Bible-preaching churches with national pastors leading these ministries. In addition, they also began a Bible college that now serves over 900 students, while preparing them to serve their nation.

The Gentry’s birthed The Good Samaritan Orphanage, which now houses over 100 orphan children: supplying them with food, education, love, and the teaching of the Bible. One of our very own ladies, in our church, recently left to serve in the orphanage. A medical center has been established to help serve the sick and dying.

More importantly, thousands have come to receive Christ as their Saviour and will live in heaven because a man and woman by the name of Gardner and Alice Gentry decided, “It is never too late in life to give your life.”

If you are interested in supporting Gardner and Alice Gentry in Malawi, Africa, send your support to Harvest Baptist Missions and designate your offering to the “Gentry’s to Malawi.” Every dollar that comes in will be sent to their ministry to continue the work of changing lives for Christ.

Written by Marvin Smith