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How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can
they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them? (Rom 10:14)
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Simeon sat on the roof, thinking about God. Here he was in Bamako, Mali. It
had been over a year since leaving his home country Benin due to his job, and
he was still dreaming about a life in Germany. He needed some kind of
purpose, a goal, in his life. He had been interested in spiritual things all
his life, yet nothing seemed to give him the answers he was searching for. So
here he was sitting on the roof, in front of the rising sun, closing his eyes
and meditating. Was there a God? Could you know Him? Was there more to life? Recently
he had found some comfort in astrology – there was a lot a truth in what he
read in the horoscopes.
Then, one day, a white teacher moved into the apartment upstairs. She came
downstairs to visit and said she loved God. And one day she showed us
pictures from her life and kept talking about God. Simeon had never heard
anyone talking like that and just had to find out more. He started asking
questions – why, how, when, where etc. And then she Simeon and the others
books to read. Simeon read about that guy who had met Jesus, who healed the
sick and had even raised the dead, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He
just had to get some answers, so he approached the white teacher and she was
willing to answer his questions. With amazement Simeon listened. There was
actually a way to know God! Not only could you talk to Him, He would also
answer. And God loved Simeon, and had a great plan for his life. Could it be
true?
The white teacher even gave him a gift of a Bible. How awesome! Hadn’t he
just had a dream, where a radiant person gave him a book made of gold, and as
he took it, he was filled with joy like never before. There was no more
turning back. He just had to know this God, and learn more about Him. If only
the day of the Friday meeting would come more quickly. And while waiting,
Simeon just dove into the Bible, reading all those treasures it contains. Thankfully
the white teacher had given him some material to help him understand.
The weekend came, and the white teacher took Simeon to a weekend conference
organized by YWAM. Simeon enjoyed the opportunity to ask many more of his
burning questions while walking to that church. He wasn’t sure what to expect
from this weekend, but as long as the white teacher was with him it would be
okay. They arrived at the church, yet few people were there on time. Finally
they started worshipping. Simeon had never heard anything like it, except the
little he had heard on the tapes the white teacher had given him. They sang
in French and Bambara, clapped their hands, and were full of joy. Amazing.
And as the weekend progressed, Simeon got more comfortable and started
clapping, swaying and singing himself. This was actually fun! Especially this
one song would keep going round and round in Simeon’s head. He just loved it.
And he loved the teaching by the white American preacher. He taught on the
Holy Spirit. Simeon had never heard anything like it, but he took everything
in like a dry sponge the water. After the sermon, the preacher would invite
people to receive prayer ministry, and people went forward. Simeon really
wanted to receive prayer and experience God, yet he didn’t understand what he
was seeing and was a little afraid, though the white teacher explained him
everything that was going on. He could actually see the power of God on her
since she would want to get prayed for every time. And how full of joy she
would come back. Simeon really wanted that, yet the fear…
The weekend drew to a close, yet Simeon had not received prayer. However, the
teacher told him it was okay since they could always pray at the Friday
meetings. There was so much Simeon had learned, and he had to process it. He
so much wanted to know and follow God. And he had more dreams, some he
understood, others he didn’t, but he knew God was speaking to him.
Friday came and in expectation Simeon went to the meeting at the teacher’s
apartment. She had her guitar and had prepared a few songs in French. Simeon
didn’t know the songs, but he enjoyed them anyway. Then the white teacher sat
down, opened her Bible and started talking. She showed Simeon who Jesus was,
that He had left His glory to come to earth (Phil 2), and went to the cross
because He loved Simeon so much, and that He was offering him now forgiveness
and a relationship with God, which was more glorious than anything else in
this world, and would be eternal. That was exactly what Simeon needed! He
asked a few more questions, though suddenly he understood why Jesus had to
come and die, and He did it just for him. Wow! The white teacher talked about
giving your life to this Jesus – yes, he wanted to live for God, to know Him
and love Him, and make Him known. Simeon asked whether he could kneel down on
the teacher’s prayer mat for that prayer of dedication, and she had no
objections. So Simeon knelt down, with the teacher kneeling at his side. Then
the teacher prayed line after line, and Simeon prayed after her, dedicating
his life to God. After that, the teacher prayed for Simeon and blessed him
and spoke God’s words over him. She gave him also an opportunity to pray, and
so he did, expressing his hear to the One True God. While he did, the teacher
had her face to the ground, overwhelmed by the miracle just taking place. Unseen
to them, angels surrounded them, amazed yet again at the mystery of
salvation, yet filled with joy that another human had surrendered to the
Creator. They started singing praises to the Almighty God, full of joy, and
their praises as well as Simeon’s and the teacher’s ascended to the Father on
the throne who smiled, His eyes full of love and joy as he looked upon his
two children kneeling on the floor in Bamako. He signed with his hand, and
hurriedly angels left to start putting into place what the Father had
designed for Simeon before the creation of the world. Yes, the Father had a
wonderful plan for Simeon’s life, and His eyes happened to catch the latest
entry in the book of life – Simeon, His son. Jesus, at the Father’s right
hand, had tears in eyes as he looked upon Simeon, and then His pierced hands.
Once again it had been worth it. The seven spirits of God before the throne
God shone brightly, full of excitement and refuelled with new oil. Holy
Spirit was already down there with Simeon and the teacher, having whispered
into Simeon’s ears and heart all those weeks about the beauty of the
bridegroom. Now he had taken residence in Simeon, and He would never leave
him, but guide him, comfort him, counsel him, have fellowship with him, speak
to him and show him what the Father was doing. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
looked at each other and smiled with excitement, knowing the beginning and
the end and thinking of all that was going to happen next. Yes, the Son would
have a glorious Bride, and it was time for the chosen ones in Mali to take
their place in His body.
(I have written this in story-form, and do not claim in any way that it is an
accurate account, though I tried my best to stick to the facts. I do not feel
it is appropriate for me at this time to write any more, but will do so soon.
The picture shows Simeon a week ago.)
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Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance. (Ps 2:8)
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Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch
s/c Ecole Biya
BPE 2165
Bamako
Mali
Tel. (+223) 220 0311
claudia@healing2thenations.net
www.healing2thenations.net
www.glorywebservices.com
Talk to me online with msn messenger - I'm "healing2thenations"
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