Miracle Under a Mango Tree
Oita *, an OMS Village Church Planting( VCP) worker in Ethiopia, discovered a village known for its strong Islamic roots and resistance to Christianity. So, Oita followed his OMS training and began praying as he walked around the village. For two weeks, he walked and prayed.
At the right moment, Oita approached the village elders to request permission to enter and share his message. The elders challenged him:“ How do we know your God is greater than our gods?” One elder proposed a test: healing his deaf ear. By this time, many in the village had gathered to listen to the conversation. Rather than arguing or claiming he could prove anything, Oita simply said,“ I will pray.”
Oita removed the headband from the elder’ s head and prayed a simple prayer, like Peter’ s in Acts 3:6.“ In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask that this hearing come back to this ear so these people can believe you are the real God.”
After praying, Oita covered the elder’ s good ear so he couldn’ t hear and asked someone to call from a distance. A man shouted.“ I hear him!” the elder shouted. Someone called out again from farther away.“ I hear him!” the elder shouted again.
Spontaneous worship and praise broke out to God, who healed the village elder. The elder surrendered his life to Christ, and some who witnessed the miracle followed as well. Today, a growing church meets under a mango tree in that very village, once closed to the Gospel and now open because of God’ s power at work.
* Name changed for security.
Restoring Hope
OMS’ VCP ministry is expanding across Africa, now active in 37 nations with more than 900 training centers. Its impact is especially evident in Uganda’ s refugee camps.
In Boroli, where many South Sudanese widows and orphans arrived traumatized, one woman shared that VCP’ s evangelism efforts and the planting of new churches restored her hope and helped children return to school.
In Nakivale, Congolese refugees fleeing M23 and ADF violence— as well as Christian persecution— are eager to be trained as church planters despite severe hunger and harsh living conditions. Even so, they give generously, offering meals and gifts to others. VCP’ s vision— a church in every African village by 2050— is driving transformation and reminding refugees that Christ has not forgotten them.
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