Micah Ricke

Micah Ricke ’10 and his wife, Kayla, live, learn, and work in a metropolitan area in East Asia, where they make friends and share the gospel. This is the twelfth annual Thalassa Prize. Micah has won $1,000, of which $500 will be sent to the mission he designates. 

Auntie Nancy

We had no home, jobs, or friends. But we had a family.

It was our first night in our new home. We came here to teach people about their Savior, but we needed a place to sleep first.

A local house church welcomed us with open arms. They had no pastor, no board, no programs, no organ or praise band. All they had was a small flat with a couch, a kitchen and a cross. Our first three nights, we slept on that couch. We weren’t just the foreign teachers. We were family.

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.”
Acts 2:44

Their services were simple but genuine. Four or five people would sit in a circle, and Auntie Nancy would open their songbook and lead them in praising their Good Shepherd. Nancy does not have a gorgeous voice, but she sang with the confidence of one whose faith has been refined by fire—more heart than harmony.

“Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.”
Matthew 18:20

Auntie Nancy’s father was a successful businessman who later in life became a pastor. When the Communist Party came to power, her father had his teeth knocked out and had no way to feed his family. Nancy’s childhood went from rich to ragged.

“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
John 15:20

Yet here she was, an 80-year-old saint singing praises to her King. At any moment the police could barge in and these believers could be jailed or worse. With her life on the line and a smile on her face, Auntie Nancy kept singing.

“Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4