Testimonies

Another listener from Wycliffe’s radio program:

“My name is Julius Alumasa. The radio program has changed my life and my family. There is a difference in the truth taught over the radio and the heresy that we get in church. I can now confidently say that I have believed in Christ because of the teachings over the radio.

I now understand what sin is, and how it came to the world. I now know that God loves me and that He wants my family and me to be His friends.

I have been a very bad husband. I have beaten my wife several times because I would come home drunk. I had even stopped her from going to church. Then, one Sunday, I heard Pastor Asigi teaching about the bad tribe and the good tribe–those of the tribe of Satan and those of the tribe of God.

The previous night, I had come home drunk, beaten my wife, and she had a swollen face. I looked at her as she served me tea, and I knew I was of the tribe of Satan. The pastor said that all evil and bad habits are from Satan while humility and love come from God. I hated myself that morning, and I begged my wife for forgiveness.

I haven’t met Pastor Asigi. I have met him only over the radio. When the pastor asked if any listener wanted to be of tribe of God, I raised my hand. I knew the pastor wouldn’t see me, but I wanted God, my wife, and my children to witness my surrender to God.

I now have peace. I can now see the beauty in my wife. Before my children used to run away from me, but now they hug me. The radio is now our teacher. I desire to meet and hug Pastor Asigi for showing me the way to true life.”

Wycliffe is using the chronological lessons, interpreting them into the Luhya language over the radio every Sunday morning:

“I am Imbayi from Vihiga county. I am a construction worker and a fan of radio. I listen to music, news, and many other programs. One day, when I was home with my radio, a new program was introduced about Bible stories. I got interested and wanted to listen.

I don’t go to church so this was a good opportunity for me to listen to the Word of God. My desire has always been to know more about creation and that was the beginning of the program. I listened to it in my mother tongue, Luhya-Maragoli, and I felt so good.

Through the program, I have learned a lot. I haven’t met the teacher yet, but he is teaching us the truth which many pastors do not do. I am close to giving in to Christ as I now know who the Creator is, that man has fallen, and that we have sinned against God. On Sunday mornings, 8 am – 9 am, I am always with my radio learning about God.”

“I am from the Angolo tribe of the Nuba Mountains. I was married to my husband Yusuf, but we divorced because of all of the warring in our family.
In our tribe, I was one of the most renown women, engaging in warring, especially with other women at the place where we drew our water. Whenever we started warring, it would lead to death which would be followed by big celebration having killed anyone who was a rival.

Even when I was brought to a camp as a refugee, this did not end. I would still be fighting at the place where we would draw water. To be clear, warring was the only way for me to obtain anything that I wanted as this is the culture of our Angolo tribe. In the camp, I continued my warring ways and even was practicing witchcraft.

A while ago, however, I ran into the chronological booklets. I kept asking myself one question, ‘Why did God allow me to remain in spite of all of the warring, and just not die?’

These teachings have changed my life. Now I am a child of God. I am sharing about my Lord who provides peace instead of war. We only need to trust Him even if we don’t have water” (there is currently a shortage of water in the camp).

“I used to go to church, but I was not a believer in Jesus Christ. I loved listening to the teachings. The last time I went, I was drunk. This made the pastor chase me out.

From there, I went to worldly living. No one could convince me to return to church. I hated it so much, and never understood my own problem. Then, I was struggling so much that I started going to the witch doctor. For Nubians, this is very normal to do so.

My heart was so far from God. I was abusing my children, drinking and fighting.

Last year, my son’s friend came in, and started sharing with us stories from the booklets. When I heard about Abraham wanting to sacrifice his own son as a commandment from God, but then, God providing a sheep, I was greatly touched.

Most of the time we Nubians have sacrificed our sons to a different god. The one true God does not want us to die, and sent Jesus to die on our behalf, just as the sheep died on Isaac’s behalf. God provided the sheep. God provided the Savior Jesus Christ. This way is the one and only way, through the Savior.

Today, I have left all of this, and it is now two months since my life started transforming. I love listening to these teachings, and if they could be on audio, I would love to share them a lot.”

From a student in school in South Sudan:

“ I am from the Daloka tribe. I am the second child from my mother. My father has six wives.

Every morning, my father would beat my mother and abuse her with all kinds of abuse. I do not know much English, but I love to read these booklets in the morning and in the evening after we have had food. My brother who knows English better than me interprets that which I am reading into our Daloka language.

Having a drinking father and many different step mothers has caused me to think that the best way for peace is to marry many wives.

As I said, my brother would help me to understand what the booklets were talking about. One day, I went to my father and shared with him one of the stories. He became very bitter and chased me away. Later, however, he called me and asked me, ‘Who told you that the devil lied to our fathers, that they should beat their wives, divorce them, and then even kill their own children? How did you know this is what took place in our family?’

That evening, my dad was so sad around the table that he could not eat. He was so much filled with guilt as he was thinking about this.

After two days, he called us together and asked, ‘What should we do now that the devil has lied to us? Even to me, your father, that I beat your mother this much?’ I told him to believe in God who is loving and to ask Mummy for forgiveness.

For a man to ask for forgiveness is a sign of weakness, and I knew that I had touched on a bad word, but I saw him full of tears, going to my mum, and asking for forgiveness, and then embracing one another.

From that point on, my dad wants to listen to these stories even more, and we are sharing the booklets every night after supper is finished.

Our family is happy. My father is no longer drinking, and now, it has been two months that my father shows us love. He has never again mistreated my mother or any of us.

Pray with our family to grow more strong, and pray with me to share these booklets to many other families even as I study at school.”

From Wycliffe in Kenya:

“My name is Jane. I am a third-born in a family and have five siblings.

Ever since our childhood, my sister was loved by everybody. She was favored among us, and she could get anything she needed from our parents. My sister was a good person, very kind, and hard working too. In school, she was the best in her class, and all of the teachers and students loved her.

She was never punished–unlike me who was always on the wrong side. This developed hatred in my heart toward my sister. At home, she was given first priority, and this increased my hatred of her. We went to the same high school, and it was the same.

My sister loved me so much. Despite my hatred, she treated me well. Worse came when we were to get married. My sister got a very nice and handsome guy. God blessed them and they had money.

My sister would send money to me even when she knew I hated her. She invited me to live with her in Nakuru town. I went there and admired her marriage that was full of love. Her loving husband was so kind to me and showered me with gifts as a sister-in-law.

This made me fall in love with him, and I wanted him to be mine. Because of the hate I had of my sister, I decided to eliminate her so that I could have her husband and people would love me too.

I bought rat poison, put it in her food, and my sister died. The love that her husband had for me also died. I was arrested and spent ten years in jail, but this has never left my mind. I have never had peace.

I fell into drugs and prostitution after jail as my heart was in pain. A killer I was!

One day, I went to church to look for something else in my life. When I walked in, the pastor was teaching some Bible stories. These stories attracted me, and I would always want to know what would happen next.

I started to think about myself. I am that Cain who killed Abel. Am I also cursed like Cain? I found myself crying as my life proved that I was cursed just like Cain as no one wanted to associate with me.

The Pastor noticed me and came to me after the teachings and asked me why I was crying. As I was new in the area, nobody knew me as I had moved there just few months ago. I opened my heart to the pastor, and he encouraged me to continue with the lessons.

This is when I discovered something that changed me. GOD LOVED ME! He sent a Savior to bring us back to Him. I wanted this Jesus in my life.

The pastor gave me 68 lessons to study and get back to him. Through the lessons, I understood that I was a sinner and deserved to die, but Jesus paid for my sins with his death. I also learnt that we only have two ways in this life–evil or good, light or darkness, God or Satan, heaven or hell.

I had to choose. I have chosen light. I have chosen forgiveness. I want to be a good person so I gave my life to Jesus.

The pastor took me home, and I begged my family for forgiveness. They forgave me–even my sister’s husband. I believe God forgave me too. I am now a child of God.

Thanks to the booklets that the pastor gave me. Thanks to whoever wrote them and sent them. They made me get the light. Thank you. God saves!”

The AIC Makueni Bishop at the Meru conference said this: “If we do not get to the root of the Gospel, then what we are sharing is just dry leaves. If we need the plant to grow well, it depends on the roots. These booklets are taking us back to the roots, starting from creation to now. It is time that we focus on establishing the true foundation of the Gospel to this generation and then, our future will be safe.”

At the conference in Meru land, another pastor asked this: “Why are we not taught this in theological schools? It seems as if the schools are just after money and not changing souls. This is the truth, simple and very profound.”