First off, this isn't mine. I worked on a post written by my junior brother, and it came out like this. I hope it blesses you and makes you think. Here goes.
2014, May 3.
11:47 am. Nigeria, Kano.
" The pastor stood before his congregation of 47 children, speaking of the goodness of the Lord, as that day was his only daughter's 9th birthday. A few biscuits and drinks were arranged on the small side table, which was also serving as the pulpit for his short message.
'We will like to thank God for keeping us alive to see today...'
His words were interrupted by a small knock on the door. As he walked closer to open it, an explosion took the door off its hinges, throwing him back to the opposite wall like a ragdoll. Wood splinters showered the room, and as the smoke subsided,three men clad in black entered into the room shouting in an unknown language.
The leader stepped forward and pointed his gun right at the pastor, speaking in a thick northern accent.
'Denounce your god and accept Allah, or you die! '
The pastor edged back. He was extremely worried, not for himself, but for all the children in the room. He would never denounce Christ, but he was afraid for the children and was trying to find a way to save them.
Suddenly, Hafiz, his daughter's 8 year old best friend, stepped out, his voice clear in that room.
'For whoever is ashamed of Jesus in this world that has sin, Jesus will be ashamed of him when he comes back with his holy angels.'
The man was taken aback by the sudden outburst, bt he recovered quickly, swinging his gun towards Hafiz's head.
'Are you willing to die for this so called belief that you have?'
He looked around the room, swinging his gun and talking to no one in particular.
'You and your people will all die! You and this belief of yours will all...'
'Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God', another child said loudly, as loud as a seven year old could be. That was the last thing he said before a bullet went through his skull, dropping him to the ground.
A scream went round the room as the man shot twice more- one into Hafiz's head and another into the pastor's leg.
As the pastor screamed in pain, the leader looked at him. Seeing the look in the man's eyes, he made his decision. This one would not change. Another bullet dropped him to the ground.
There was dead silence in the room, being broken by only a few children sobbing.
The man's face twisted in a dry throaty laughter as he swung the gun around, then put another bullet in the pastor's head.
'You see? Your god and pastor are not watching any more. Deny your god, and will let you go home safe to your families'
A little 10 year old child got up and stepped forward hesitantly, tears streaming down her face. She looked up as she said
'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live is lived by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me...'
The man went wild with anger and started firing wildly into the crowd of children, his men following suit. Bullets struck flesh as the children continued speaking, not flinching despite the gunfire."
The man telling the narrative stopped for a while to gather his breath.
"He... I stared at the last child for what seemed like an hour, as she sat on the ground, saying he same message over and over, burning it into my mind forever.
'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. '
After a while, she turned and looked me straight in the eyes, and smiling weakly, she said one thing I will never forget.
'I forgive you. '
I pulled the trigger. Then I threw up."
I took a deep breath and bowed my head as the tears finally came. I had gotten born again five years after that incidence. I had considered my self, I had known, that I was hopeless, lost, dead and doomed to condemnation; but by the act of those children I had been saved, and I would save, yes, save as many as I could, even until my own death.
2014, May 3.
11:47 am. Nigeria, Kano.
" The pastor stood before his congregation of 47 children, speaking of the goodness of the Lord, as that day was his only daughter's 9th birthday. A few biscuits and drinks were arranged on the small side table, which was also serving as the pulpit for his short message.
'We will like to thank God for keeping us alive to see today...'
His words were interrupted by a small knock on the door. As he walked closer to open it, an explosion took the door off its hinges, throwing him back to the opposite wall like a ragdoll. Wood splinters showered the room, and as the smoke subsided,three men clad in black entered into the room shouting in an unknown language.
The leader stepped forward and pointed his gun right at the pastor, speaking in a thick northern accent.
'Denounce your god and accept Allah, or you die! '
The pastor edged back. He was extremely worried, not for himself, but for all the children in the room. He would never denounce Christ, but he was afraid for the children and was trying to find a way to save them.
Suddenly, Hafiz, his daughter's 8 year old best friend, stepped out, his voice clear in that room.
'For whoever is ashamed of Jesus in this world that has sin, Jesus will be ashamed of him when he comes back with his holy angels.'
The man was taken aback by the sudden outburst, bt he recovered quickly, swinging his gun towards Hafiz's head.
'Are you willing to die for this so called belief that you have?'
He looked around the room, swinging his gun and talking to no one in particular.
'You and your people will all die! You and this belief of yours will all...'
'Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God', another child said loudly, as loud as a seven year old could be. That was the last thing he said before a bullet went through his skull, dropping him to the ground.
A scream went round the room as the man shot twice more- one into Hafiz's head and another into the pastor's leg.
As the pastor screamed in pain, the leader looked at him. Seeing the look in the man's eyes, he made his decision. This one would not change. Another bullet dropped him to the ground.
There was dead silence in the room, being broken by only a few children sobbing.
The man's face twisted in a dry throaty laughter as he swung the gun around, then put another bullet in the pastor's head.
'You see? Your god and pastor are not watching any more. Deny your god, and will let you go home safe to your families'
A little 10 year old child got up and stepped forward hesitantly, tears streaming down her face. She looked up as she said
'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live is lived by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me...'
The man went wild with anger and started firing wildly into the crowd of children, his men following suit. Bullets struck flesh as the children continued speaking, not flinching despite the gunfire."
The man telling the narrative stopped for a while to gather his breath.
"He... I stared at the last child for what seemed like an hour, as she sat on the ground, saying he same message over and over, burning it into my mind forever.
'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. '
After a while, she turned and looked me straight in the eyes, and smiling weakly, she said one thing I will never forget.
'I forgive you. '
I pulled the trigger. Then I threw up."
I took a deep breath and bowed my head as the tears finally came. I had gotten born again five years after that incidence. I had considered my self, I had known, that I was hopeless, lost, dead and doomed to condemnation; but by the act of those children I had been saved, and I would save, yes, save as many as I could, even until my own death.
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