“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105*
My last morning in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an older gentleman was waiting to speak to me when I arrived at the covered shelter where meals were served at the hotel. He seemed passionately intent on telling me something. I tried using my translation app but it failed miserably! Finally, my interpreter for the trip showed up. What was welling up in Paul’s heart came pouring out.
Born into a Methodist family, Paul had a vision in a dream when he was quite young. In the vision he saw a white man climbing a mountain. The man said, “Follow me to the top of the mountain and I will show where it ends.” It was a dream that he never forgot.
As the years went by Paul eventually stopped going to church. Life got busy for this farmer as he married and had four children. Yet God continued to pursue his heart in strange ways. As an adult, God came to him through the same vision in a dream that he had experienced in childhood. The same white man called to him to follow him up the mountain and promised that he would show him the end of the mountain. He had no idea what the meaning of this vision might be.
Not long ago he met the Presiding Elder of the GMC in his District. He was excited to meet a pastor who spoke in his native tongue. Rev. Kasongo invited Paul to church and this farmer, after a long absence, once again began attending worship services.
On Friday, March 27, Paul received a Bible provided by the NCGMC. I was asked to personally hand the Bibles to each person as they came forward. I honestly didn’t like the optics of a white person giving something to our Congolese brothers and sisters. I would have been more comfortable staying in the background as those who have been called to shepherd their people enjoyed that honor.
Nevertheless, it was clear that I was expected to take that role. The line moved orderly and quickly. Boxes of Bibles were distributed in a matter of minutes. I do not remember the moment I placed a Bible in Paul’s hands, but it was then that the visions which had confounded Paul since his childhood began to unfold.
On Saturday evening, March 28, the District gathered for a combined Palm Sunday celebration. Paul was there. I preached a standard Palm Sunday sermon. I concluded with a story of an elderly friend who came to faith in Jesus after living much of his life as an angry and bitter person. I shared the dramatic changes that took place in the life of my friend and how he served Jesus joyfully until the day he died.
Something about that story struck home with Paul.
That very night Paul had another dream. In this dream he had bought a new motorbike. He checked everything out and it was in perfect working condition. It was a good motorbike.
Paul continued, “I started the motorbike and began driving it. It drove well but it was very dark. In the darkness my light stopped working. I then saw the same white man on a motorcycle and his light was working. I decided I would follow him until I got to a place where there was light.
“As I followed the white man we came to a place where there was light and suddenly my light started working.” (c.f. Psalm 119:105)
When he awakened, he shared the dream with his wife. “My wife advised me to go and see the white man and have him pray. The white man who gave you the Bible will pray for you and the vision might become clear.” He then said, “I think I have met the white man I have been seeing in my dreams. Will you pray for me that I might understand what God wants me to do?” We knelt on the concrete floor, held hands, and entered the Holy of Holies. Only God.
I am the first white man Paul has ever met. But somehow, for some fifty years, God has been leading both of us to this moment. Praying for Paul was one of the most sacred moments of my life. That God would use a broken vessel such as myself was humbling beyond expression. I understood, as I never have before, the holy fear of a loving God.
I am still processing that moment. But one thing is clear. God is doing a great work through the Global Methodist Church. Thank you to the NCGMC for your faithfulness to our Global Vision.
Rev. Greg Jenks is the Conference Coordinator of Global Partnerships. The NCGMC is in partnership with the Uganda GMC and the Kasai Region of the West Congo GMC.
If you would like to offer financial support for our Global Partnerships in Uganda and The Democratic Republic of the Congo, please scan the QR code or go to our Conference website. Scroll down to “Africa Support.”
If you would like to travel with Greg to Uganda or the DRC in the future please contact him at greg@ncglobalmethodist.org. Tentative dates for this summer are:
- Uganda, June 28-July 8
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 8 – 20