INTERVIEW 29
OFTEN THOSE LIVING IN THE HARDEST SITUATIONS ARE NOT THE ONES DEMANDING PHYSICAL PROTECTION, THEY KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE THAT ALL WHO FOLLOW CHRIST JESUS CAN EXPECT PERSECUTION. THEY EXPECT IT. AND THEY HAVE A GREAT HOPE IN HEAVEN.
Kurmuk on the Sudanese – Ethiopian border. Half of the town is in Sudan and half in Ethiopia.’
‘ The first thing that happened was we were taken into a church where I was expected to preach the word of God because I’ m a pastor. So I had an incredible time. First of all, they put into my hands a New English Bible. I don’ t generally like that translation but that was what was there. They asked me to read Jeremiah 38, and it’ s a favourite passage of mine. It tells about a man from the land of Kush, Ebed Melech. The land of Cush included Sudan, Egypt and parts of Ethiopia. But in the New English Bible it says Ebed Melech, whose name means Servant of the King, the Sudanese. He could have been a Dinka. He had a faith and trusted God. Three things about him – first of all, he was informed. Jeremiah prophesied that there was going to be an invasion and the land was going to be taken. They put him in a pit and Ebed Melech heard. He was informed. There was no CNN, no round the clock news, internet and so on, but he knew. There are thousands of Christians in prison today and no reason for us to be uninformed. Secondly, not only was he informed but he did something. He went to the king, as an advocate. The book of James says‘ don’ t only be hearers of the word but doers also.’ Ebed Melech went to the king and said,“ The man of God is going to die in prison unless we get him out.” Thirdly, he was not alone. The king said,“ You can’ t do this on your own. Take thirteen men with you.” I said to the people I was preaching to,“ We can’ t do this work on our own. We need you to help us and be part of our work.” That was the sermon I preached that day. When I opened the New English Bible and read,‘ Ebed Melech the Sudanese’ there were riots, dancing, clapping. All of them were so happy! It was amazing.’
Jeremiah 38 also includes God’ s promise to Ebed Melech that he will be protected and suffer no physical harm. I ask Stuart what he thinks Christians in extreme danger like the church in Kurmuk make of that, when they are often victims of violence and injustice. He said it was a good question and thought for a moment.
‘ Often those living in the hardest situations are not the ones demanding physical protection,’ he said finally.‘ They know from Scripture that all who follow Christ Jesus can expect persecution. They expect it. And they have a great hope in heaven. They hang on to the thought that these troubles are not going to last forever – we have an eternal hope that one day this is all going to end. They are far happier than we are in all our comfort. They worship with great joy, they dance and they sing.’