John Harbold of 2014 G Squad encountered a man who lost everything during a rebel invasion in his African village, yet continues to preach hope to those around him.
His wife was raped. His daughter was killed. His son was kidnapped. He fled the country with his wife and four other children. Now he’s behind bars.
He was a pastor. Now he’s a prisoner.
This past month in Botswana my team and I traveled all over the country in search of future hosts for the World Race. It was a month of praying and letting God lead us to places we couldn’t have gone on our own. We were led to our first city, Francistown, where we were introduced to Deb, who works with a few different ministries including a prison ministry with her husband and three children.
This prison is for illegal immigrants who had fled their countries for a better life. There are men and women from the Congo, Somalia, Namibia, Burundi, and Zimbabwe. Every six months there are hearings where the men and women have an opportunity to share their story and ask for a release. They aren’t allowed any contact with the outside world due to safety reasons, which makes it almost impossible to be released.
I met an older gentleman who all the men referred to as, “Pastor”. He spoke softly and was full of wisdom. A pastor in the Congo, his family was attacked by rebels, he lost both of his eldest children, and his wife was raped. He decided to flee the country to save his family from this torture and find a better life, but the Lord had a different story.
While in prison he is only allowed to see his wife and two youngest children for one hour a day. It’s enough to make a man go mad. Through it all, Pastor keeps his eyes on the Lord. Every morning he preaches to the other men in the prison, that’s how he came to be called “Pastor”. He’s made an impression on their lives. While I listened to his story, I thought about how angry and bitter I would be towards the Lord and those who had torn my family apart.
How would you respond to seeing your wife raped? Or your eldest daughter and son kidnapped and murdered? How about being thrown in jail for spreading the gospel?
This man responds with love. He could live life in prison bitter and angry with the Lord but he knows the Lord placed him there for a purpose.
Pastor has experienced a lot of loss and sadness, but one thing I could see that is evident in his life is how much he loves the Lord. There’s a joy that comes with knowing the Lord that can never been extinguished and that’s what pastor has. He has never lost hope, the eyes of his soul gaze solely on the Lord.
Does Pastor’s story inspire you to live for Christ no matter what? Click here to learn more about how you can step deeper into radical faith of your own.
