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Tragic Good News
by Dixie Phillips Deo Mwamba trudged through the Equatorial Forest. He and his missionary team had been braving the elements for three days. The intense heat withered their bodies, but their souls were hydrated by God's Spirit. They knew that God had opened the door for them to reach a neglected people, the Pygmies of Central Africa. Deo was a Bantu. Pygmies and Bantus did not get along because of years of severe persecution and cannibalism. Before Deo had given his heart to the Lord, he would not have given this primitive tribe an ounce of attention, but after his miraculous conversion from Islam to Christianity, he began to sense a divine Call. He knew what God was asking him to do - lay down his life for his Pygmy brothers and sisters. "How much further?" Deo asked. "According to the map, we're almost there." His assistant answered. A shrill whistle interrupted the missionaries. Suddenly, they were surrounded by hundreds of Pygmies. Men, women, boys and girls stared at the foreigners. Quickly, Deo identified the leaders and began to shower them with small gifts. Laughter replaced suspicion. "We've brought you some crackers to eat. Sit down and I will give you some and tell you a story." Deo declared as he slipped a cracker into the hand of a young boy. Sniffing the mysterious gift, the boy began to lick the salt and cooed, "Mmmmm!" "I want to tell you about the one true God." Deo addressed his new friends. A woman stood, "I Isokee. I understand what you say. I help you tell my people about your God." "Thank you, Isokee." Deo said as he continued, "The one and true God loved you so much that He sent His only Son into the world." Isokee repeated so the Pygmies could understand. One little girl stood and chattered in her foreign tongue. "What is she saying, Isokee?" Deo asked. Isokee smiled, "She say. True God gave Son. What did people do to Son? They worship Him? They build huge house for him? They make King out of Him? She want to know what people do to Son that true God gave?" Scalding tears fell from Deo's eyes as he spoke, "They killed Him." *** This is the true story of Deo Mwamba, an African Muslim sheik who came to the Lord. He left Islam to become His Lamb Deo is now working with the Pygmies in the Equatorial Forest and seeing hundreds come to know Jesus. Dixie is a pastor's wife, ghostwriter, mother of four grown children, and grandmother of five "perfect" grandchildren. You can find out more about the ministry she and her husband are involved in at www.floydslighthouse.com. Guardian Angel Publishing has published 10 of Dixie's children's books. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |