By David Pam McQuel
"According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor..." Philippians 1:20-22 NKJV
In mid 1991 I was 20 years and a few months old, already two years in full time ministry, serving in a small church holding in a primary school. It was quiet a great moment in my life. The future was unsure but the hunger for God in my heart was beyond boiling point.
My Senior Pastor then, was a great evangelist. He went to minister in a crusade and came back with some new friends for me, they were on fire for God. This three girls were in Junior high school and aged between 15 and 16. A revival had broken in their village, Where behind the famous Shere Hills Tourist site, through the three and the whole village, was on fire for God.
I have not to this day seen young kids on fire for God as these girls and many who found Jesus through them.
Just one example, an elder sister of one of these girls had received Christ and received the baptism with the Holy Spirit as well. She visited us in town with her 5 months old baby. On Sunday evening I was seated with her and suddenly she said to me the Lord just sent her to Rukuba Barracks, to a Colonel in the Nigeria Army.
Rukuba Barracks is the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigeria Army based in Jos my home town.
Such messages were no longer new to me and I was not surprised. I told her I didn't have money and it was 5:00PM. Can't it wait? I gasped. This 17 year old looked at me and smiled, and say my pastor do you want to help God? I looked stupid. I have just been teaching her about God 5 minutes ago!
She got dressed, backed her baby and I saw her off. Believe me, I tell the truth and I lie not, God bears me witness. We got to the roadside, a nice clean car stopped without us flagging it down. The driver asked where she was going, he told her to get in. She told him she had no money but God sent her. The gentleman replied her with "Did I ask you about money"?
That's how she went to military base and came back paying nothing. The colonel who she had never seen, in fact, she had never been to the barrack, didn't even know where it was located. Yet God gave the colonel's name, his house number and the particular message.
The officer and a few colleagues had stolen money from the office and God told her to warn them to refund, she got there and delivered the message to this dreaded officer. By the time she left, he was broken, scared and trembling. Needless to say, the money was refunded. She refused his persuasion to spend the night and be treated well, she even refused to take money to transport herself back to my house.
Such was the manifestation of the power of God. And her younger sisters crisscrossed Nigeria, delivering accurate life transforming messages from the Lord. Its been over ten years we lost contact.
The girls invited my colleague and I to their village to witness the revival going on. There is no space enough to put into words what we witnessed. God sacking those villagers and filling them with the Holy Spirit.
It was however the first place and time I will come face to face with death in my line of calling.
That weekend, in July 1991, my colleague and friend preached in the local church, God's word was clear, emphatic and life transforming. There was an open air preaching planned and I was to speak. Sundays were equally the market day. Villagers gathered from other smaller villages to buy groceries from this big village.
From the church, we didn't even have time for lunch. We went straight to the market square accompanied by our fine three sisters and many others who were basking the aura of their salvation. We sang a song as we moved along. As we got to the market centre, I raised my voice and began to cry, "As it was in the days of Noah", "As it was in the days of Lot", I repeated it a few times more.
Unknown to us, the traditional idol worshippers had been angered by the spread of the kingdom of God in just six months. They had gathered that same Sunday for whatever reason, armed with bows and arrows, machetes, spears, cultlasses and knives.
Suddenly as I began to declare God's Word, there was a shout and they rushed in from different directions. They had a drummer drumming while they chanted war songs. They seized me alone dragging me eastward away from the village square.
One of our three friends after a few minutes rushed through them and hugged me holding me close. And she shouted, I want to die too with you today. And as they dragged us they threatened to hack us down to pieces. Later she explained that the moment the came to grab me, she saw a spiritual vision of huge tabernacle above my head with a giant golden cross above it. And she knew God was with me.
When I had been dragged about a hundred and fifty metres, they began to beat the two of us with batons and sticks. It was amazing that I did not panic or feared for my life. Things happened so fast. I rather smiled singing a song of praise to God.
As suddenly as it started, so suddenly did it end.
I don't know what happened, I guess it was the power of God or God sent His angels to shield us. I can't explain. They simply just stopped. And none of the axes, machetes, spears, cutlasses or knives was used on me.
I came out without a scratch! Praise God!
We went home to the house where we lodged and multitudes immediately gathered and everyone was in the mood of prayer.
On the mission field, I have had moments to fear danger, this was the fiercest. Here i am alive, serving God without looking back.
God bless you all.
Photo: Courtesy of Israel Military Archives
Comments
Post a Comment