Steven was a man searching for answers. Searching for truth. I met Steven while in Ghana, evangelizing in a small neighborhood with my team. This was our 4th day in this particular neighborhood and we had already developed a few connections with some of the residents. A few days earlier I had met a few ladies who love singing and songwriting, and I promised them I would return to visit them before we left for our next country, so that’s where my team was going. To hang with the singin’ ladies. When we arrived at their home, however, they were not ready for visitors and asked that we come back a little later. So, we walked a little further down the dirt road and came upon two women sitting outside doing laundry next to a corner store that the elder lady owned. We introduced ourselves, struck up a conversation, and started sharing the Gospel. Just like any normal day of ministry in Ghana.
I don’t know when exactly he showed up, but at some point I noticed a man standing behind me while we were sharing the Gospel with the laundry ladies. He seemed very intrigued, but didn’t say much. After a few minutes I turned to acknowledge him and began asking him questions about what he thought of our message. Here’s where it gets interesting.
Steven explained that the day prior to this he met another team of missionaries from the United States (no doubt, one of the other teams in our squad). They shared the Gospel of Jesus with him and he was very interested in hearing more about their message. A member of the group told him they would be back later in the evening to continue the conversation, but no one ever showed up. He said he was very saddened that he did not get to see them again. That evening, after waiting many hours for the other team to show back up he said he got on his computer and started doing his own research about Jesus – a man he says he had never heard of before (this is rare in Ghana). He felt very connected to the story, but he did not know how to accept the salvation that Jesus offers. As he sat on his bed preparing for sleep that evening, he said he spoke (prayed) to God and asked that He would send him the answers he was searching for. The next day, my team shows up.
Steven has been involved in many different religions, and the worship of many gods. When members of his family were sick at one point, he went to a spiritual leader in his village and was told he had to offer drink sacrifices to a dead demon in order to save his family from their illness. He followed what he was told to do, expecting this to save their lives, then they all died. Since then he has become very skeptical of anyone claiming to know the truth because the supposed truth took members of his family from him.
As we continued our discussion of Jesus and the Gospel, I felt led to begin speaking to him about the hope that Jesus offers. The hope that one day we will leave this world and be with Him in heaven. One major difference, I’ve learned over the last several months, from Christianity and other religions is this concept of hope. Other religions tell people they have to do things in order to please their gods so that they can make it to a better afterlife. It’s all about works and actions and making their gods happy. The Christian faith, however, is quite the opposite. We have already been saved by grace. He loved us yet when we were still sinners. We do not need to do anything to earn God’s love – He already loves us. And when we accept the salvation of Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters our lives and directs our paths. We don’t have to do anything but keep the faith, and through that there is hope in our salvation.
I could tell by the look in Steven’s eyes that this message was getting through to him. At one point he stopped me while I was talking and told me he could feel something from the words I was speaking. Something powerful that he could feel on the inside of his body. I told him that was the Holy Spirit trying to get his attention. He wants Steven to be saved. Right there – this is where he finally asked, “What do I need to do to be saved?”
Sitting on a wooden stool on a dirt road, with goats freely roaming everywhere next to a little corner store, Steven accepted Christ into his life and became saved. After we prayed, he looked up at me and said, “Wow! I feel free! I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me! I want to learn more about this truth, and maybe one day I will be like you and travel to tell others about it as well! Everyone needs to know!”
Steven was searching for answers and truth, and he found it. The Holy Spirit prepares the hearts, and Steven’s heart was ripe.
I love what God has me doing right now. It’s hard and challenging at times, but so rewarding. Steven’s story brought some much needed encouragement to myself at the time. It helped encourage me to see that I really am right where God wants me to be.
If that’s something you can agree with and support, I ask that you consider offering a small or, if possible, large donation. I have right around $3,000 left to raise in order to be fully funded for this trip. Approximately $1,000 of that has to be raised by July 31st or this journey may have to end for me. I appreciate all of your prayers as I trust the Lord that His desires for me will in this will be what comes to pass.
