I received the following prayer request this afternoon: Please join in praying for the salvation of this village chief in Togo!
To the Kabiye and Tem Prayer Team:
Monday Afternoon:
My lesson was finished and I’d asked for an appointment with the village Chief.
“I can see that you are very sick, Chief. May I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“When you die do you know what is going to happen to you…where you are going next?”
“Right now I’m concerned about the roof blowing off my house two days ago.” We were outside his oblong mud brick home which, was obviously w/o a roof. Some men were trying to patch a cover on another home nearby, important since our rainy season has begun a bit early.
“That’s important, Chief, but I think your eternal security is even more so. Would you like to know how to be certain that you are going to spend eternity in the Presence of God?”
He agreed and I presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him as I had several times before to the village where he lived. Twice he’d gotten up and left, to counsel other villagers who had arrived, just before. When I finished we asked him if he’d like to commit his life to Christ. This conversation followed, in Kabiye, of course, since this Chief spoke little or no French.
“I have followed the Traditional African Religion all my life and so has my entire family. I have many people coming to me to perform ceremonies for them and to give them counsel. If I became a Christian they would stop coming. Already I have several family members who are angry at my allowing you to teach in my village. My sons have even refused to help with my roof. However, since your arrival I have begun talking to your God, at night, and my sleep is more peaceful. I will reflect on this all week and give you my answer next time you come.”
Please pray for this village chief ! He is obviously under some conviction. The Traditional African Religion is very pagan, involving sacrifices and using charms, some to ward off evil and some to bring good. It is a very negative religion and ruled by fear. We will be back in this village on Monday, April 16th. [It is now Monday in Togo]. The chief must weigh under 100 lbs. and he is almost 6 feet tall. He struggles just to walk but insists on doing so, by himself, with only the help of canes.
In His service,
Lin Pinter/Togo