The missionary in Africa was tired. “How could the gospel message ever reach all these people?” This was the question he was asking himself as he saw the ill-kept villages, the small huts the people lived in, and the children running about naked and unwashed. The need was so great, but he had no one whom he could send to the natives to live among them.
Then it was God had a surprise in store for the missionary.
“Are there any Christians here?” he asked.
“I am a Christian,” said one. “Come to the palava shed and have a meeting.”
What a sight soon met the missionary’s eyes. Thirty black little mouths, showing thirty sets of little white teeth all pealed forth in the Chokew tongue:
I hear Thy welcome voice,
Which calls me now to Thee,
For cleansing in that precious blood
That flowed on Calvary.
“How did this happen?” asked the missionary, and this is the story he was told: “A native African soldier had finished his course in the military school. He was able to read, and returned to his village. Back home he decided to take a few sheep to the Diamond Mines to sell and make a little money.
“On the way he stopped at Munjumbu’s village, where Daniel, a native evangelist was working. The soldier heard the gospel message of how the Lord Jesus Christ had died to save him from his sins. He believed the message and was gloriously saved.
He stayed for a while to learn more of this wonderful Saviour. Daniel gave him a New Testament and a hymnbook in the Chokew language.
The soldier left and returned to his village. Nothing was heard or known of him until the missionary found him teaching the Word of God and hymns to his own people in his own little village.
Truly God has many unknown followers hidden away in places where they are witnessing for Him.
The missionary felt so happy, yet he felt rebuked too. He had had no one to send to these people, but God already had His servant there. God’s ways were not his ways. He had the right man in the right place at the right time.
Stories From Other Lands
ML-09/10/1978