‘You stole from God’
Mwinikas who have been hearing evangelistic Bible lessons were upset when they showed up for the lesson on Monday and found that someone had stolen one of the two long wires that are used to hang the pictures that accompany the lessons.
The missionary team decided to add a separate message to the Bible lesson they recorded on the audio players that they pass around the village. The message came from one of the clan leaders. He informed the community about the incident and had a special message for the thief.
“You didn't steal from people but from God,” he said. “If you think you are bigger than God then just go ahead and sit at home with the wire. Don't bother to bring it back. You will be like Pharaoh who we learned about today.
“However, if you think God is bigger then you had better bring it back so we can hear God's Word. We will not arrest you or take you to court. God is the One who will judge you and bring a plague upon you. We have delivered this issue over to God. You are fighting against God because you are ruining the way that we listen to God's Word.”
The leader showed by his comments that he had been listening to the teaching that day.
Last week started with only a small group attending the teaching because of drizzly, overcast skies. The rain fell continuously on Tuesday, causing the lesson to be canceled, but attendance picked up the remainder of the week. On Thursday a good-sized group gathered, including about 100 children whose school classes were canceled for the day.
Over the weekend, a steady stream of people came to pick up audio players so they could listen to the lessons.
“Pray that those who are listening for the first time will begin to come to the teaching,” Phil and Elin Henderson wrote. Pray too “for those who use it as a catch-up and review tool, that the Lord will really make clear these truths to them.”
And pray that the wire will be returned.