Chuck's E-Newsletter
Apple iPod Helps Save Lives
February 2007
Dear Friends & Partners,
Christian missionaries and leaders were attacked by machetes while taking this picture of an animist holy site. Local animistic people bring their sacrifices to this tree as they worship the spirits that control their lives.
This is a photo of an area where local men rape their women. It is believed by these animistic people that, if the local men living in this holy place rape the women, they then return to their homes bringing great blessing to their families. Satan had total control of this place until Jesus arrived on the scene.
Ten former idol worshippers are baptized |
I received this amazing report from Missionary Howie Shute of how God is still alive and protecting His servants.
May you be blessed and challenged as you read his account.
Apple iPod
Helps Save Lives
by Missionary Howie Shute
Synopsis: A team of Christian missionaries and leaders took the Gospel to the High Places of Southern Ethiopia in January 2007, where false idols are worshipped by animists. Six families, including the local chief gave their hearts to Christ. Ten former idol worshippers were baptized in the nearby river, but when the Christians entered the most holy place and took pictures of this sacred site, local animists attacked with machetes. Please read on for my personal account of how God moved into this dark place and miraculously saved us from certain death.
Details: We were setting up our video equipment to interview our zone leader who brought the Gospel to these people, when suddenly we saw men with machetes rushing toward us.
Worku, our assistant district superintendent, was in the midst of the crowd begging the men to leave the Americans alone. The men were enraged at our presence in their animistic worship center and screamed that they were going to attack us. They locked Worku outside of the worship compound and rushed toward us.
Worku desperately climbed over the wall and quickly pulled out his iPod (used for showing the JESUS Film to Gospel-resistant people in another geographical area) and yelled into their faces: "This is not a simple cell phone and this is not a simple matter. These men are Americans and I'm responsible to guard them. I'm calling the Federal Police and they will fly in with helicopters to rescue these Americans."
He pushed frantically at the iPod controls. Images flashed on the screen and the men noticed the action on this mysterious device. They became confused and slowed their attack.
In the meantime, we pushed our way through the crowd while a great argument took place between our local leaders and these men who attacked us. Ermias, our Ethiopian Mission Coordinator, urged us into my 4-wheel drive truck (not that urging was really necessary). He cried out to our local leaders to walk out to the other side of the mountain and meet us there, while the three of us (Missionary Terry Barker, Ermias and myself) escaped in the vehicle.
A short distance from our escape, local community leaders stopped us and detained us for two hours. We almost ended up in prison for the night, but again the Lord intervened. Our local pastor was put into prison that night, but eventually we were set free to continue down the mountain to safety.
On the way down we found two men that were cut up and left for dead by four other men who carried machetes, just like those who had attacked us. Yes. God is alive, building His Kingdom and protecting His servants.
Please pray for Horn of Africa Christians!
(Used by permission of Howie Shute)
Rev. Terry Barker, Regional JESUS Film Coordinator for the Africa Region prior to his assignment to the Horn of Africa Field, added this comment.
"A couple of years ago when I was developing iPods for underground evangelism, I had no idea that the Lord would use an iPod to save my life and the lives of my brothers. God is always working well in advance of us. The church planting movement that is happening on the Horn of Africa Field has disturbed the territory of the enemy of our souls. Many of our pastors and evangelists risk their lives on a daily basis to bring Christ to their world. Please pray for them as they reach these precious people."
Wow! God is at work through those dedicated to making disciples of all nations. His promise of "...surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" is an especially comforting thought. Thank you for being a partner who supports our ministry and prays for our Missionaries, local Pastors and Evangelists which help make up some of our JESUS Film Teams. Again, I pray that this story was both a blessing and a challenge to you.
Blessings,
Chuck Watson
chuckwatson@JFHP.org
817-427-4900
