· By Ada Brownell
·
I
was a kid. A visiting missionary stretched a snake skin over the church altar.
That day in the early 1940s, it seemed to cover the mourners' bench and go from
aisle to aisle.
“That
kind of snake hides in the trees in Africa,” my brother told me. “They drop on
you, squeeze you to death and swallow you whole.”
The
missionary showed a home movie of almost-naked Africans who heard the gospel
for the first time. I thought hearing about Jesus and his love was good, with
them living with big snakes and all. Then my brother informed me some were
cannibals.
The
missionary then told how a witch doctor came to Jesus and the whole village
accepted Christ and danced with joy.
I
remember what happened when Christian missionaries took the gospel to remote
Indian tribes in Ecuador during the 1950s. Jim Elliot and his wife, Elisabeth,
studied Spanish, tropical diseases and learned to do some medical treatments.
Jim and Elisabeth also translated the New Testament into the Quechua language
and ministered to the Quechua Indians from their missionary station at the base
of the Andes Mountains.
One
day the pilot, Nate Saint, who flew in supplies regularly, spotted Auca Indian
houses. The five men on their team prayed for a way to reach Aucas with the
gospel.
After
trading gifts with the Indians, the missionaries found a beach where they could
land. They prayed, and Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully and
Roger Youderian set up camp.
Three
Aucas acted friendly, but on January 8, 1956, hostile Aucas speared the
missionary men to death.
Yet,
Elisabeth Elliot and her daughter, Valerie, along with Rachel Saint (Nate
Saint’s sister) went back and lived with the tribe. With the help of Dayuma, an
Auca woman, Elisabeth created a written language and used it to translate the
Bible. Now many Auca Indians are literate Christians.
Following
Jesus has always been dangerous. In the 20th century, Christians were among
millions killed or starved by Communist dictators Mao (China), Stalin (Russia),
Leopold (Belguim), Tojo (Japan) and the world has no idea how many thousands or
millions have been killed by Islamic radicals in the 21st century.
Nevertheless,
nations have been changed by Christians who teach what Jesus taught: “Love your
neighbor as yourself; Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you; Love your
enemies and do good unto those that despitefully use you.”
A
2011 Pew Research poll showed China now has an estimated 67 million Christians.
Africa is the zone of Christianity’s greatest growth today, according to Crux,
a Catholic publication. Africa is the world’s most populous Christian
continent, with slightly more Christians than North America. The Pew Forum
projects that by 2050, sub-Saharan Africa will have 1.1 billion Christians,
almost twice as many as its nearest rival, Islam.
The
turning of wicked individuals and nations to Jesus is not only a story of
courage, but also one of unconditional love, healing and forgiveness.
Gospel
light blazed from mouths and actions of missionaries, evangelists such as Billy
Graham, Christian organizations that built hospitals, schools, universities,
and charitable agencies that do something about illiteracy, disasters, hunger,
disease, poverty and orphans. Christians lift up the value of human life, equal
human rights, compassion and mercy; value of education, marriage and family;
and political freedom. Also rising from biblical teachings is a strong work
ethic and the joy of music and singing.
My
friends Ruth and Curtis Butler went to the Philippines to teach the gospel and
stayed despite finding cobras in the kitchen. They weren’t harmed and served 31
years in missions, obeying Jesus’ command to go into the world and preach the
gospel. After retirement, they taught the Ablaze Bible Class at Pueblo
Christian Center for 10 years before Curtis’ death, and Ruth continues to
teach.
Why
take risks like deadly snakes to spread Christianity?
Because
each person needs to know God loves him, will forgive sin and gives eternal
life. No one can be forced to believe and receive salvation. It’s a choice, but
“how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14).
Ada
Brownell is a retired reporter for The Pueblo Chieftain. A freelance writer,
she has eight published books and writes occasionally for Christian
publications. Her blog is inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com
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