Joseph is a tall, slender Massai warrior. Some time ago he met a man along a dusty African road who told him the story of Christ and God's love that made forgiveness for sin possible. Joseph became a believer and rejoiced in the "Jesus story."
He became a fiery witness, to the point that he later made the long journey from Africa to Amsterdam for an Evangelist conference. His greatest hope was to meet Billy Graham, one of the speakers in person. Robert was a staff member in the conference who screened the few persons allowed to visit Dr. Graham. Joseph's story convinced him so much that he was allowed to tell his conversion experience to Billy in person. "After I met Jesus, I was so excited that I just knew everyone in my village would be happy to meet him also. So I went door-to-door telling everyone I met about the cross of Jesus and the salvation it offered. To my amazement my people not only didn't care, they became hostile. The men held me to the ground while the women began beating me with barbed wire. I was dragged from the village and left to die in the bush." Joseph somehow managed to crawl to a water hole, and there, after two days of passing in and out of consciousness, found he had the strength to get up. He was puzzled about the hostile reception from family and friends whom he had known all his life. "I decided that I must have left something important out of the story I told them about Jesus. So I practiced it over and over, then limped back to tell them the good news." "I went again, from hut-to-hut telling about Jesus who died for us so we might find forgiveness and know the living God. Again they held me down and I was beaten, opening anew the former wounds. They dragged me unconscious outside the camp and I was left for dead." "I woke up two days later, scarred and bruised, but still alive. For the third time I went back into my home village and started to witness. But they were waiting for me. I was set upon, thrown to the ground and as the beatings began I passed out. When I awakened this time I was in my own bed. The folks who had been whipping on me had now become my nurses. Everyone in my village had become a believer in Christ." After telling Billy Graham his story, Joseph lifted his colorful African shirt and showed his scars. Afterward, Billy said to his staff, "I'm not worthy to untie his shoes, and he wanted to meet me?" From: Immanuel, By Michael Card, Thomas Nelson, Inc., pp172-174, arr. ----------------------------------------------------- This mail is generated from http://www.jesusyouth.org To subscribe to this mailing list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----------------------------------------------------
