A Story… Zawedde began to falter from the strain. Daudi stepped closer. The church audibly gasped. I heard it! Prayer for spiritual awakening collided with the AIDS pandemic. We sought a person to openly speak of their HIV status to stir Kampala Baptist a highly educated, English-speaking, urban church. We knew members who had AIDS, but they wouldn’t reveal it, publicly. We prayed for the right person to propel the church into action, for the right face to convince its members to embrace those suffering, and for the right story to compel them to demonstrate the love of Christ. We asked many. They refused.
One young woman, an illiterate, non-English speaking, destitute, single mom, with a face gaunt from the disease and the tell-tale purple spots on her skin—so unappealing in her poverty—repeatedly asked to share with the church the impact of Christ on her life. We repeatedly said, “No, not here, not yet.” The Lord prevailed and convinced us that Zawedde was the one, the right one. Sunday morning, Zawedde, visibly shaking in apprehension, stood before the congregation of three hundred. Daudi the pastor stood by to translate. Daudi, tall and energetic in his sharp suit and highly polished shoes, presented quite a contrast. Her testimony, clear and compelling, held attention. Christ rescued her and transformed her life. She told of amazement and joy beyond comprehension because God chose her, in her pathetic state of sin and HIV, to receive his love. “You think there is nothing good about me, but I now have Christ. The only good in me is Christ.”
Toward the end of her story, she began to falter from the strain. Daudi stepped closer, placing his arm around her shoulders to steady her. The church quietly but audibly gasped. I heard it. You did not touch someone with AIDS. In that moment of the gasp, God did his work. The reach and touch of Christ’s love stretching across the abhorrence of our unworthiness became visible as Daudi and Zawedde stood before the congregation. The church body recognized their assignment. From that day, they moved compelled by the love of Christ to embrace these untouchables with the love of Christ.
And we, the prayers, recognized our blindness. We counted as unworthy, a precious young lady made in the image of Christ, called to serve her Master. We repented. Story from: Catch Your Breath
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Work on it: God loves those we hate. We-versus-Them attitudes must go. Show generous kindness, extravagant love to all. Allow the love of Christ to compel—impel, drive, push—you. 2 Cor. 5:14-15
Note: Partners in this activity enhance progress.
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Xtras! God places His image and a hunger for Himself in everyone. He lavishes His love upon every person, Rom. 2:4, 5:8. For more help, click here.
* Tell someone of God’s Gospel Goodness.
* Ask someone to share their God Story.
* Join one or two in prayer for Revival.