At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Two days ago, our team went out in the city of Mubende to do door-to-door ministry. Each of us was paired with a translator. I was moved by how desperate people are for Jesus here. To someone who has grown up knowing the name of Jesus, there is a tendency to take the gospel for granted. But when people who have never heard the good news of Jesus hear it for the first time, it can seem almost too good to be true as they eagerly seek His Lordship. The first two people we spoke to on street corners immediately accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!
Then the translator wanted to go into this storefront to speak to the owner. When I looked at the sign above, it read “King Jesus Children’s Centre”. I looked at the translator and asked him if he was sure he wanted to go there because our focus was evangelism and from all indications they already knew the good news of Jesus. He insisted so we continued on. When we met the sweet woman working there, likely the owner, we asked her if she knew Jesus. She immediately asked who He was. I was shocked. As we began to share the good news and answer questions, pointing her to scriptures, she went into the shop and returned with a New Testament. She wasn’t sure where any books were so we helped her find them, as she read out scripture from John and Romans. She too accepted Jesus as her personal Lord once we shared the story of the gospel with her.
While we stood outside her door waiting for her to help a customer, a group of children came along and stood on the opposite side of the doorway to her shop from me. The children here are very drawn to white people, whom they call Muzungu (white person). As I stood on the side of the door one child came near for me to touch him. As I placed my hand on his head, suddenly each of the three children came near to have me touch their heads. I touched each of them and they wanted to touch my skin. They seemed satisfied for the time being.
As we continued to wait, with the children hanging around on the right side of the doorway with me, suddenly I decided to go sit down on the left of the door. As I went to the left side of the door and sat on a ledge, I watched as one by one the young boys took indirect routes over to my side of the door, pretending as if they had some other reason to go over there as they took seats near me while looking off to other directions. Then quickly they would scoot a little closer while looking away. And then a little closer. And then they would look up at me to see if I’m looking and then when they thought I wasn’t looking, they would close that final gap so that we were side-by-side. As I continued to look off at the horizon as if I didn’t notice their efforts, I smiled to myself and threw my arms around my young companions. Immediately two more children that had been watching from the distance came running in to be a part of my affection. Now we were a crew!
The Lord gave me such a heart for these beautiful young boys. We sat there for a minute and my translator was ready to continue on. In my head I was thinking, “wait, isn’t this what we’re here for? To meet God’s children and show them the love of Jesus!” I asked my partner to wait so I could speak to the young boys. He translated as I prayed a blessing over them, claiming them for the kingdom of God and speaking love over them. I asked the translator to tell them about the crusade we were having that night, just around the corner. He gave them the details and I asked if they would be able to come. One of them spoke to the translator and said it would depend on his parents.
As we left that place, I couldn’t stop thinking of them. Particularly one of the boys who seemed very somber, yet he was the first one courageous enough to approach me. When we paused for lunch before the evening crusade I was moving pictures off my phone and I opened one and realized it was of the little boys. I again noticed that same little boy that stole my heart and continued to hope that he would show up that evening for the crusade.
As night set in and the crusade began, we danced in the darkness because the lights weren’t working. Probably over 100 or more people dancing in the dark, with only city lights, to reggae worship music is an amazing site. The lights were fixed and events continued as we performed a skit and then I shared my testimony. We performed another skit and the gospel was preached. I had my first chance to preach and call people to accept the Lord as their personal Savior! We prayed for the sick and those under torment and then as the night wound down we made our way back to the van to head home.
As I approached the van I heard the voice of a child in the darkness say “goodbye”. I said “bye”, then suddenly the Spirit stirred me. It was as if the words spoken to me were being said by a friend saying goodbye for a long time to one he loves. As my heart pounded, I squatted down to see my young friend who had captivated my heart. He made it! He was there and he wanted me to know it. I shook his hand and said goodbye as my heart stirred in the moment; knowing I may never see him again. I thought we were leaving town the next morning.
As we returned to our sleeping quarters, I recounted the story to some of my team. I was so excited that he made it there and I hoped he had been there to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. That night I continue to think about my little friend throughout the night. I couldn’t get his face out of my mind. As the next day rolled around, I learned we would be staying for the night of the crusade.
As night rolled around once more, events began and we danced under the lights. All of a sudden, there before me was my my friend in the middle of a group of children dancing.
Events continued on as Jonali shared her testimony to the crowd and we performed a couple skits. Then the big moment of sharing the good news of the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. As the message was preached, one-by-one hands were raised and people came before the stage to pray. As I watched, a number of children also went forward. Looking among them, the Lord brought to fruition the desires of my heart as I watched a young man surrender his life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Now I know I will see him again! There weren’t many people up there, but he stood courageously without looking back to see what others would think. I watched in awe and wonder as God wrecked me in every way. I couldn’t let my new little brother stand there alone any longer! I ran up there to stand with him as the newest member of my beautiful family!
“Jesus come fill my heart”
Who has prayed to Jesus to be their Lord for the first time?
I prayed with him and asked the Holy Spirit to fill his heart. I was so overjoyed! Later in the night as I was saying goodbye, I took a picture with him and as I stood up to pray a blessing over him through a translator, I told him that Jesus would be with him for the rest of his life and that he could always count on Jesus and he would always be accepted by Him as His son. I prayed a blessing over him and as I looked up I saw a woman and another child standing closely watching. I believe they were his family, which means they too witnessed God touch the life of their son and I believe they too will be redeemed. As for the rest of the children I met at that children’s clothing store; I think the same crew may have been with my little brother at the crusade that final night and came forward for salvation.
Brothers in Christ!
From this beautiful experience I learned that the children we often overlook in ministry are precious to Jesus and He never overlooks them. I have gained a wonderful new perspective of children through the eyes of Jesus and I hope I will always see the children that Jesus loves through the eyes that He saw them through and welcome them into my company the way He welcomed them into His. Then, truly I will welcome Him into my company and have the joy of sitting at His feet the way the boys of Mubende found joy in sitting at mine.
I have been changed forever; I will never be the same again!