'There's been a death'
Before teaching a Bible lesson last week about the fall of Adam and Eve, missionaries Adam and Julie Martin walked around the village to announce the lesson in traditional Akolet fashion.
They went to each house, holding a large shell -- the traditional money of the Akolet people -- and said, "There’s been a death. Today in the lesson we will find out who died."
During the lesson the people heard how Satan tempted Eve and how he still tempts people today. Adam used an illustration that is familiar with the Akolet people who frequently fish. He spoke of how a fisherman baits a hook with something that appeals to the fish, but in the end means certain death.
"Just like God said would happen, Adam and Eve ate the fruit and they died at that moment," Adam Martin said as he finished the day’s lesson. "Their bodies were still alive, but those would one day die too. Death is the consequence of sin."
After another lesson two days later, an older woman, Malaka, said, "We didn’t just swallow the hook; it went all the way down into our stomachs. What are we going to do now?"
That lesson also contained the promise that God would one day send a Rescuer to save mankind from the rule and authority of Satan and the curse of sin and death.
"This was a big lesson," agreed Kotme and Dina. "We know God’s going to send a Rescuer now. We just have to keep coming and hearing more."
Another man, Lonsi, shared his thoughts about what he’d been learning. "What Adam [Martin] said about Adam dying and his body returning to dust really made me think.
"We go to the graveyard and we leave gifts on our loved ones’ graves, then we go hunting or fishing and hope that they’ll be inclined to help us. But now I know that what’s in the ground is just a body returning to dust. And their spirits still exist, but we haven’t learned about where those are yet."
Lonsi and his fellow Akolets will find out the answer to that as they continue listening to the lessons. Please pray that they will fully understand what they are hearing and come to know the One who will rescue them.
They went to each house, holding a large shell -- the traditional money of the Akolet people -- and said, "There’s been a death. Today in the lesson we will find out who died."
During the lesson the people heard how Satan tempted Eve and how he still tempts people today. Adam used an illustration that is familiar with the Akolet people who frequently fish. He spoke of how a fisherman baits a hook with something that appeals to the fish, but in the end means certain death.
"Just like God said would happen, Adam and Eve ate the fruit and they died at that moment," Adam Martin said as he finished the day’s lesson. "Their bodies were still alive, but those would one day die too. Death is the consequence of sin."
After another lesson two days later, an older woman, Malaka, said, "We didn’t just swallow the hook; it went all the way down into our stomachs. What are we going to do now?"
That lesson also contained the promise that God would one day send a Rescuer to save mankind from the rule and authority of Satan and the curse of sin and death.
"This was a big lesson," agreed Kotme and Dina. "We know God’s going to send a Rescuer now. We just have to keep coming and hearing more."
Another man, Lonsi, shared his thoughts about what he’d been learning. "What Adam [Martin] said about Adam dying and his body returning to dust really made me think.
"We go to the graveyard and we leave gifts on our loved ones’ graves, then we go hunting or fishing and hope that they’ll be inclined to help us. But now I know that what’s in the ground is just a body returning to dust. And their spirits still exist, but we haven’t learned about where those are yet."
Lonsi and his fellow Akolets will find out the answer to that as they continue listening to the lessons. Please pray that they will fully understand what they are hearing and come to know the One who will rescue them.