Me:  Prodigal, are you at a hockey game?

Prodigal:  Yep, hockey is fun to watch!

Me:  Before the next period starts why don’t I share a story for you.

 

This comes from the book Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore

 

Civil war pummeled Ivory Cost, West Africa.  When the fighting began, doctors fled.  That was how one Toura village found itself without modern medicine.  An epidemic swept through killing dozens of children.

Among the victims was 4 year old Rebecca, the daughter of Clarice and Zo, two of only three Christians there.  “If your God is so powerful, why did Rebecca die?”  the villagers asked Clarice, taunting.

“If your fetishes are so powerful, why did your children die?  Clarice answered. “The Bible says it rains on the righteous and the unrighteous alike.”

Months later, illness struck Clarice, and she fell into a coma.  Zo’s father, Lee, summoned the medicine men to work magic over his daughter-in-law.  Zo refused witchcraft.  Lee was furious and told the medicine men, “Just leave.  We’ll let my son and his Christians pray and we’ll see how powerful their God is!”

Zo and Christians from another village prayed.  They knelt on the dusty floor of the two-room home, laid their hands on Clarice’s motionless body and cried out to God.  As they prayed, Clarice opened her eyes!

The next day, there was another miracle.  After hearing about Clarice’s recovery, Lee put on his nicest robe, picked up his crane and walked six miles to the other village.  There, he thanked each Christian who prayed.  This man who had persecuted Christians was now honoring them.

Today, Clarice is back working in her fields.  Her life has been a testimony to many of the power of prayer to the true God.

 

–Susan, West Africa

 

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

James 5:16

 

Jennifer Van Allen,

 

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org