King's News 26

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Different struggles
- same God!

Tavistock Community church elder Dave Palmer (seen above addressing a congregation in the Rwandan countryside this summer) reports on God healing and restoring in Africa and asks - why not here?

So many of us suffer traumas and long term pain and difficulties, coping the best we can and without ever seriously thinking that there is a God who cares for us, helps us and sets us free. That is because of the sceptical world we live in here in the West, but I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Rwanda in Central Africa again this summer. I discovered afresh how God sets people free, and gives a new start and a new life to those in need and despair. And He wants to do the same for us in England!

Let me tell you of two things that happened to me during my visit in August. One day I was asked to preach at an outdoor church service at a village called Rubona in the heart of the Rwandan countryside. It was already hot by the time we arrived in the car and there were well over 200 people sitting under the trees and eager to meet us. Everyone from the village seemed to be there: grans and granddads, mums and dads, teenagers, young children, babies all with happy faces and content to be together, looking forward to what the day may bring.

When we finished the service I asked "Who wants prayer? Who needs God to do something for you? Come out and we will pray for you". That was a silly question! They all got up and leapt forward and I was lost in a sea of black bodies! With the help of some of the pastors we began to bring the people’s needs before God and suddenly I became aware of a woman standing nearby. She held out to me a kilo bag of groundnuts as a gift to God. I didn’t really want to take it but I knew I had to - and as I turned to thank her she began to weep. I discovered that she was a widow with two children, one of whom (a young boy of about ten) was always sick. Nobody could heal him and there was no money for medical help. So I got everyone to cry out to God that he might be healed. She seemed so relieved and happy and fully expecting God to act, and I wondered if I would hear any more about him.

A few minutes later there was a commotion nearby and I saw some men carrying a child into a mud house in some distress. "What’s going on?" I asked. The pastor to the church told me that it was this same woman’s son fallen down ill again. I asked how often this happened - two or three times a day, I was told, he gets terrible fits or convulsions and he falls over in agony. It had been happening a long time.

I ran to see the poor boy who was being held up in an empty room by some people who were praying. He seemed terribly convulsed, his eyes were rolling and froth appeared at the side of his mouth. And we had just prayed together for his healing.

As I looked I remembered from the stories of Jesus’ day that demons can take up residence in people and that Jesus dismissed them with a word! And this seemed to be the root of the problem. With some of the pastors I prayed quietly but with the authority of Jesus to command the demon out of the boy. Immediately the convulsions ceased; peace flooded the room and the little boy lay down on a mat and curled up asleep. The mother came in so delighted and thankful to God - our prayers had been answered and he would not be troubled again.

God is near - is there anything too hard for him?

Just before the end of my visit to Africa I had the privilege of visiting a lady called Annie Mbabazi. She is a Christian social worker who regularly goes to the poor parts of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to bring the good news of Jesus to the needy youth and young adults of the city. Many teenage girls have turned to prostitution to eke out a living in this desperately poor nation; many are homeless and vulnerable and HIV positive. Annie told me that she had preached about Jesus to seventeen prostitutes who had all given their lives to Jesus for a new start and had seen wonderful transformation in their lives. Annie was now caring for them by setting up a home called ’Green Pastures’ for their rehabilitation. The girls work in basketry and making mats and other ornaments to help them live. It was a privilege to go and see them, with their smiling faces, happiness and hope for the future and to recognise what God had done for them. Jesus has taken away their shame and fear and opened a fresh new life ahead for them. Annie still goes to bring the same message of hope to others who are trapped and living lives of quiet despair.

I tell you I came back changed. You know the same God is here in our country too, to help with whatever you are facing: sickness, a feeling of hopelessness, or just an inner emptiness. Our problems may be different but they can still be just as deep. The good news is that the same God is near, and through Jesus helps us and cares about what we care about and wants to give you a fresh start too. Please let me know if we can pray for you and help you. Is there anything too hard for God?

Dave

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