A Victory in Grace Story
By: Cameron Edwards

Burton Camenzind has always felt burdened for the dense population of foreign immigrants near his home in Palo Alto, California. Burt has discovered a simple, yet effective means of welcoming them to the country and telling them about Jesus.

He greets each person in their native tongue and tells them God loves them. Then they’re given gospel coins with John 3:16 printed in their language. Every day, he wears a vest loaded with 25 pounds of these coins. Burt makes a point of distributing the coins to everyone he meets. He feels a day is wasted when he does not share the gospel.

Burt first used a small passenger airplane for his evangelistic efforts. He would invite children to look at his plane and offer them a ride, and then he would share the gospel with them. When Burt learned of the gospel coins, he saw an even greater opportunity. He says, “God is teaching me through the coins how to share the gospel without them.” Each day, Burt mails out between 2,000 and 20,000 coins, so others can share their faith as well.

Sharing the Good News of Christ with the world has been very rewarding for Burt, but it’s also presented many challenges. Burt has endured persecution as he tells others of the love of Christ. Ridicule is not uncommon, and he has even been spit upon for sharing his faith. I John 4:19 encourages him—“We love him because he first loved us.” He remembers the love God has shown him and wants to share His love with a world in need.

Burt sees Victory In Grace as a co-laborer in the effort to reach the world with the gospel. He has found the Quiz tracts to be invaluable resources which he has integrated into his coin ministry.

Burt is adamant that the power for his personal evangelism is not within himself. He insists he is merely a vessel who is unable to keep the message of Christ from spilling out. Living out the Great Commission is his mission, and Christ, his motivation.