PIERCING THE DARKNESS

“When Abdi*, a farmer in North East Africa, came across a radio programme produced by FEBA's local partners, his life, and entire community, was transformed… Abdi grins broadly. The changes in his life have shocked him more than anyone else. “I understood that Jesus Christ was a good prophet - but I was not a Christian,” he explains. “Then one day, I heard a spiritual programme on the radio. It told me more about Jesus. I was curious and I began listening regularly.” Abdi and his brother Abel* tuned in to the programmes together. The more they listened, the more questions they had and the more they wanted to know. Arrested and jailed “My brother believed the Gospel message on the radio and wanted to share it with others,” says Abdi. “My heart was melting too. I was learning a lot about Christ. But I began to fear and I hesitated. There were no Christians in our community and so I advised my brother against these beliefs, but he didn't really listen to me. He said he could not hide it. So he told the community leader that he had chosen to follow Christ.” Abel was banished from the community for his newfound faith. Abdi stayed quiet, but his neigh-bours began suspecting he had also turned to Christ. He was arrested and jailed. “While I was in prison, I had a dream,” he says. “Someone came and told me not to be afraid, and that I would be released. In the morning, the prison officers told me to go home - I was free.” But as he neared his house, he saw that a crowd had gathered to meet him. “The community called me forward and asked me about my faith,” he recalls. “I told them that I have started following Christ. My wife was scared, but she had also come to the Lord. We knew that Jesus was with us”. “They said they would kill us.” Abdi's community cut all ties with him at the news. “They said my faith dishonoured them. They began throwing stones at me, and they destroyed my home,” he says. “They devastated my crops, the only source of my family's income. My children were forbidden to go to school. We were not permitted to collect water from the community source. Then they said they would kill us.” One night, community members gathered outside Abdi's home to decide his fate. “Many wanted to kill me,” he says. “But they were divided. They began quarrelling among themselves and started fighting. They killed one person in the group - we heard about this a week later. I was sure they would kill me next.” “But then something so amazing happened,” he smiles. “My mother had been in bed for eight years. She could not move at all. An evangelist came to my home and prayed for her. I was praying. We were all praying. And she started to walk! She was healed! It was a miracle and a huge testimony for the whole community. Everyone was talking about it.” “Now we listen together.” Since then, life has changed tangibly for Abdi and his family. “Now we have some friends in the community again,” he says happily. “Sometimes even the other faith leaders come to visit. I am no longer persecuted. When God helps us, we can do many things. In our community now, I share openly with all without fear.” “These days, some people come to worship at my home. There are many who want to follow Christ now and the community is debating it. We pray God's Hand will be on this.” He pauses. “The community witnessed a change in me when I came to Jesus. Earlier, I was a man who persecuted others. I would quarrel with neighbours and I had a very bad temper. Now I am joyful. I am peace-filled.” Abdi still listens to the radio programme that introduced him to Christ. “Now my whole family follows Christ and we listen to the programme together,” he says. “I can't wait until it airs, and it still teaches me so much. There is a lot of hope in my community now. I think we are ready to build a church.” When Jesus made room in His heart for a Samaritan woman (John 4), an entire village came to faith! Listeners such as Abdi, his wife and brother, and ultimately an entire community were changed because they responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by radio. Behind every life-changing broad-cast to hardened hearts in the hard-to-reach places of the world stands a supporter who, through their prayers and gifts, empower the least reached people of the Earth to hear. May we ask you to please make room for the Abdi's of this world in your heart today? - Adri Mellet, Northwest Coordi-nator of FEBA Radio South Africa, is ready to take your calls for more information about the mighty work God does through our broadcasts in 130 languages, in more than 50 less-reached countries worldwide. 084 757 9749 / 014 574 3430. Please read more about FEBA Radio's work on our website at www.febaradio.co.za