From Africa and Asia
God is using all kinds of
ways to call people to Christ in countries where it is almost
impossible for Christians to evangelize. Yes, these even appear
to include certain DBEs (death bed experiences) and NDEs (near
death experiences). Let none of us attempt to limit how God may
choose to work!
A BRIEF STORY FROM IRAN
Quoted in a Prayer Letter of the Barnabas Fund, 2003.
A young Iranian became a
Christian after the death of his father, following a three-day
period in hospital.
During this time the father had been in a coma and never said a
word to family members.
The night after the funeral, the young man had a dream in which
his father appeared and explained that he didn't speak during
those three last days because he had been talking with Jesus. In
the morning the son found that his sister had dreamt exactly the
same dream. As a result, the whole family became
Christians.
A BRIEF STORY FROM
INDIA
Quoted in a 'Salem Voice' e-mail around 2003.
Hawa Ahmed was a Moslem
student.
One day, she read a Christian tract in her dormitory, and decided
to become a Christian. Her father was an Islamic ruler, so she
expected to lose her inheritance because of her conversion. But
she was completely unprepared for what really happened: When she
told her family that she had become a Christian and had changed
her name to 'Faith', her father exploded in a rage.
Her father and brothers stripped her naked and bound her to a
chair fixed to a metal plate with which they wanted to
electrocute her. Faith asked them to at least lay a Bible in her
lap.
Her father responded, "If you want to die together with your
false religion,so be it." One of her brothers added "That will
show that your religion is powerless."
Although they had bound her, she was able to touch a corner of
the Bible. She felt a strange peace, as though someone were
standing beside her. Her father and brothers pushed the plug into
the socket - and nothing happened. They tried four times with
various cables, but it was as though the electricity refused to
flow.
Finally, her father, angry and frustrated, hit her and screamed
"You are no longer my daughter." Then he threw his daughter out
into the street, naked. She ran through the streets, humiliated
and in pain. Shaking and tearful, she ran to a friend. People
looked at her, curious rather than shocked. Her friend let her
in, clothed her and gave her shelter.
The next day, her friend asked neighbours what they had thought
when they had seen Faith running naked through the streets.
"What are you talking about?" they responded.
"The girl had a wonderful white dress on. We asked ourselves why
someone so beautifully clothed had to run through the
streets."
God had hidden her nakedness from their eyes, clothing her in a
beautiful white dress. Today, Faith is a full-time
evangelist.
A BRIEF STORY FROM
AFRICA
This famous story is a
little different and it happened many many years ago, but it is
very inspiring:
75-100 years ago stories of
missionaries, and how God intervened for them in the most
unpromising of situations were quite commonplace, but in a far
more secular and far less religious age, one doesn't hear such
stories any more. But here is quite a famous one; The missionary
and his wife had worked hard in spreading the message of Jesus
Christ in a most difficult part of Africa, but they were working
with a most difficult and war-like tribe.
On one occasion this tribe went on the warpath and decided that
they would simply kill the missionaries, who noticed that there
was much drums and chanting going on for a very long time one
evening. The couple were frightened but they had faith in God to
protect them. After a few hours of this chanting from the nearby
village, it suddenly became obvious that the sounds were becoming
louder. The missionaries knew that this meant that a large group
from the village were heading for their hut. Sure enough, they
could soon make out the light from the burning lanterns which a
large group were carrying up toward their little hut. The
missionary couple now prayed with even more urgency!
But suddenly, the light and accompanying sounds started to fade
and it became clear that the advancing group had decided to
return to the village.
After many months, the natives from the village were again
friendlier, and contacts were resumed. Eventually the couple
decided to enquire about that particular evening. Why had quite a
large group approached the missionaries hut, but then turned back
again? "We were going to kill you both, but when we got close to
your hut, we saw that strong man carrying his sword right outside
your door, so we left you alone. We never knew who he was, but he
looked bright and strong"
And so the missionaries knew without a doubt that God had heard
their prayers and had indeed sent an angel to protect them!
With time, I have forgotten who these missionaries were and which
part of Africa that was, if anybody knows please e-mail a
reminder to us on the linkl below!
MUSELTOF COUNTERCULT AND APOLOGETICS UK