It was our day off, and Jose and Naara treated us to a time of relaxation at a beach resort, where we mainly just sat and looked out on the beach, or looked for the monkey’s that inhabit the place. The day was going great. I was relaxing and reflecting on the last few days.
Two men rowed up in a boat and began unloading wooden carvings, jewellery and paintings. Some of the members of the teams went to look at what they had. Eventually I meandered over there and gave it a quick glance. There were some cross necklaces out and Hollis asked the men if they were for Jesus or the witch doctor. They said witch doctor. Inside of me I was crying out “no”…. but apparently it wasn’t as inside as I thought. The “no” actually was aloud and before I knew it I was going at it. I asked them if they believed in God. They said yes. I asked them if they believed in Jesus. They said yes. As the group began to back off not wanting to get involved, the holy spirit spoke to my heart and I began to talk to them about darkness and light not existing in the same place. I told them that if Jesus was their Lord, then the witch doctor is a conflict of belief and I told them that God loves them and I love them and for that reason I do not want to see them following false teachers and caught up in that sin. I continued to share with them some scripture.
I left promising to be praying for them and their business, and then I walked away in shock. I had just spoke out against sin and lies to two grown men in front of my peers in Africa. Okay that was all the Holy Spirits doing, I can’t take credit. I was shaking in my flip flops. It felt good though to know that at least I said something. So much of Africa is “Christian” but still lives in fear and bondage of the local witch doctors. It is a common issue that we face not just in Africa but all over the world. There is either lack of discipleship, or lack of resources that teach people the word of God. We have a great responsibility to bring the word of God with us and to be the body. I did not know how those men would respond. At the end it’s not up to me to worry about it. The body of Christ is dying in sin and untruth’s, false teachings, fear, etc…. there are many who know the voice of the true Sheppard, but there are many who don’t. I had to turn them to Jesus. Whether they are convicted or not, they repent or they don’t, I had to turn them to Jesus. It’s always about Jesus
I saw them a little before we left, they called me back over. I went a little leary as to what may happen. The one man handed me a painting and said that it was a gift for me for sharing knowledge and truth with them. I was so overwhelmed with emotions. God is good. He used me to shed some light into the darkness. We talked a little more and I told them they had a few choices. They could burn all the items they had dedicated to the witch doctor. They could repent and dedicate their business to the Lord and tell others what God had done for them today. I prayed for them and their business and headed on my way. My new brothers Patrick and Alex headed off and so did I praying that the seed that was planted, would be nurtured, and thanking God, that we do the planting and he does the watering. We come with love, we come with grace, we bring the word and we lead them back to Jesus and to the cross. 2Tim 2:25 – Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
