We had quite an interesting day last week. Alejandro and Dennis were here, leading the students in street ministry. We went to visit the drug addicts who gathered nearby. We prayed for them and helped them were we could. Many were open to the gospel, in spite of their religious background.
Alejandro decided to plan an entire day to minister to the addicts at UMS. Alejandro often plans 3-day retreats for hundreds of new converts in the USA. These retreats are very intense, with a lot of teaching and deliverance. Many of the attendees are right off the streets, never having attended church before. By the end of the three days, their lives are radically changed.
Here in Ukunda, we weren't able to plan a three day conference, so we planned a one-day meeting instead. We invited all the addicts. Ali, the leader of the addicts promised to bring 20 of his friends, those who he didn't think would cause too many problems. Others heard about the meeting, and more than 70 ended up attending.
Alejandro, Dennis, and myself taught during the day. Our visitors listed attentively. When it came time for prayer, many were powerfully touched by the Lord. Ali, the gang's leader, began leading the others in heartfelt prayers and worship. It was a remarkable time.
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| Our visitors minister to each other |
As the day came to an end, some new faces showed up. These new young men came looking for money. They claimed that someone had told them they would be given something if they turned up. Of course, we had never agreed to this.
In the end, things became quite chaotic. The spokesmen of the new visitors stood up and asked for money. Alejandro refused. They stomped off angrily out of the meeting. As they reached the gate, they turned back. This time they were coming to create mayhem. They entered the building, and began grabbing whatever they could to haul off and sell. Some of the students became alarmed, telling me to call the police as things got out of hand.
I didn't think it was wise to call the police. I did take the mic and strongly confronted our visitors. I told them that we had welcomed them into our home, given them food and blessed them. I warned them about what would happen if they acted with violence against those who had treated them well.
While I was confronting our visitors, Alejandro was stretched out on the floor in prayer. Some of young men began to say to each other "Look, we have broken the old man's heart!" Others still acted aggressively, throwing stones and shouting. After my rebuke, they began to leave the building, dropping all the possessions they had grabbed.
And so the day came to an end. About a third of the addicts (including Ali, the leader) remained with us, apologizing for the behavior of the others.
In the end, things were not so bad. We met many of the more aggressive addicts on the streets during the following days. When Alejandro met the ringleader of the rioters on the streets two days later, he ran up to him, picked him up and embraced him. The guy was shocked, and ended up asking our forgiveness for his actions. Many others followed his example.
I don't always understand why Alejandro does what he does. When he was stretched out on the floor praying, the addicts thought he was crying heartbrokenly. I'm not so sure. He looked up at me for a moment and laughed while he lying there. In any case, it seemed to have quite an effect on the young men, and many repented.
We are continuing to meet wth these addicts. We are starting a cell group among them, and each day several find their way to the school God works all things for the good of those who love him, and He is working in this situation. Pray for us that we won't miss the opportunity of seeing many of these young Muslim men deeply changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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| Alejandro doing something |
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| Ali |
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