Shocking Encounter
Copyright © Dave Earley
http://www.InIt-2-WinIt.org
When the enemies of Christ finally meet a Christian, it is a shocking encounter.
A certain Muslim imam led repeated attacks against a church in West Java. The day was September the 10th, of 2005, when this man , followed by a mob of 200 strong nailed a church shut in Jatimula, Bekesi, West Java. The Christians would sing and worship each Sunday, even though the mob would attack. The Muslim leader said that, “Christianity is a strange religion.”
One day, Huta Julu, one of the sisters whose life was threatened by the Muslim leader, spoke up in the middle of the screaming crowd, “If I die, then you will take my place, or you will go crazy because God will convict you.” The imam returned to his home, and something unexpected happened. A week after the incidents with the church, he was standing on stage at the mosque during Friday service, and these words came out of his mouth, “The only way to salvation is Jesus. Jesus is the way”. He did not even know what he was saying at that time.
Of course, the worshipers were mad. They ran up to him and beat him. Somehow he managed to get away. He took his wife and children, got on a bus, and went to Jogjakarta. When they got there, they stood in the street wondering where they could go. Muslims were looking for them, and they had no place to go…or did they? Looking throughout the crowd, they saw a Christian pastor come up to them, and he asked if they needed any help.
They stayed in the pastor’s home, and they called the church the imam had been attacking, to tell them happy (blessed) Sunday, every Sunday. The church is now closed, and the congregation has moved to houses. Huta Julu said that 71 churches were closed the previous year. The Muslims tell them to stop, but Huta says that they would rather obey God than man. They preach and are not afraid because they believe that God is with them.
She also said, “Sometimes we hear people say, ‘How come nobody likes me?’ So what are we doing to be liked? Are we giving out God’s love? We must be like the cow. Everyone likes the cow. The cow gives its milk while it is alive. It does not wait, giving nothing, until it dies. Give your life. Give everything you can while you are still alive. We should not judge others, but we have to believe that God rewards the righteous and executes judgment for those who oppress us. Believe that God is here, that He walks in the middle of your problems. As you bless others you will receive blessing.”
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” (Acts 18:9&10)
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts: 4:19&20)
If we are the hands and feet of Jesus, should not we also be His lips as well? The former mosque leader said that he had expected the woman to fall when he attacked the church, but she preached, and she did not fall. Maybe one day when his children get older, he will tell them about his encounter, and that Jesus spoke to him from the lips of an elderly woman.
This is only one of many stories, of our persecuted brothers and sisters in foreign lands. I love the faith of those in stories just like this one, for it is uncontainable. They are standing firm in their faith, no matter the cost. Let’s stand with them!
Resource: Who Was the Man in the White Hat? by Tom White http://www.persecution.com
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