“And then there was a mess to clean up…”
TANZANIA – Pastors Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya embarked in April on another trip to visit our friends in the Great Rift Valley of Tanzania, the Hadzabe. Great success came from different settlements of this nomadic tribe of hunters and gatherers as many had turned from their worship of the sun to “the God who created the sun.” With each welcomed visit these newborn believers grew stronger in their faith. Prayer brought them more success when hunting, and Sundays saw several encampments join in singing and dancing circles of worship to the Lord. Despite their fear of water, many were emboldened to “go under the earth” with Jesus in baptism and to be lifted again in newness of life. Their marriage commitments were challenged and strengthened, and the good news of life in Jesus Christ continued to spread to other settlements. So much was going right, which begged the question, “What could go wrong?”.
Then the wolves came, and there was a mess to clean up. One week before our pastors made the journey, the Hadzabe were invited to meet with three strange men who identified themselves as “ministers.” A bribe was given to the park service, who in turn contacted the Hadzabe with promises of gifts and money if they were to meet with these “ministers.” Four of the Hadzabe came to meet these supposed men of God, but all was not as expected. The “ministers” coerced them to engage in immoral and sinful acts for payment. They returned to their villages not the same as when they had left. The great difference was soon noticed. Marriages and families were in discord, which brought the involvement of the camp’s leaders. The four wayward Hadzabe men were ordered out of the camp(s), away from their wives and children.
Johnson and Amos arrived to find their newborn family members amid this great turmoil. Once they were caught up on the news, they began the ministry of healing. Forgiveness is a wonderful balm when given. The angry camps of Hadzabe soon learned that God’s great love caused him to offer forgiveness to us despite his anger toward our sin. One of the fallen returned with a penitent attitude. He was taken aside and instructed in the ways of the Lord. When Amos and Johnson deemed him ready to face his family he came forward, knelt, and begged forgiveness. The door opened to greater reconciliation. Someone went many miles looking for the excommunicated brothers and invited them to return. They repented of their sin and renounced the deception of the “ministers.” Those who were once divided came together again and worshiped the God of forgiveness.
The evangelists/pastors returned home after two weeks with the words of the apostle in their ears: “I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things … And now I commend you to God … who can build you up” (Acts 20:29-30, 32).
Amen.