While we prayed...
Three Sundays ago, while I was in a Sunday school class praying for persecuted Christians, Muslim soldiers were torturing Michel Loua, an imprisoned pastor in Conarkry, Guinea. As my friend Jacob opened the service with a hymn, Michel was laying in his own blood, shot through the heart. By the time seminary student David started preaching, the soldiers had already dragged the pastor’s mangled corpse to a hospital and dumped it there.
Sunday, November 14. U.S.A.
4396.7 miles
Sunday, November 14. West Africa.
I came across Michel’s story this morning, and the date leapt off the page at me. It’s still marked in my calendar: “The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.”
Oh how the battle rages…
Michel had been arrested on Tuesday, October 26 - without warrant or trial. No evidence had been filed against him, and authorities had announced they would release him on Monday, November 15...but his murderers did not allow that to happen. He was imprisoned and killed only a 9 hour, 8 minute plane ride from D.C.! Michel's youngest son was born in Texas four years ago—I can only imagine how desperately his family needs comfort from Jehovah God.
I've seen very little news coverage of the incarceration, torture, and death of Pastor Michel Loua, but I want the Body of Christ to hear about this hero. One of his friends says Michel's only crime was that “he was a faithful pastor and church builder, and that he could not be bought or bribed or silenced,”– may that be true of us, too! I can’t get over it: three weeks ago, chained in a filthy prison cell, a mere man imitated Jesus Christ and remained steadfast even in the face of death???!!! Surely the Holy Spirit was supplying his endurance!
His story isn’t getting much media attention now, but I have no doubt we’ll hear a lot about him in heaven, and Michel will be honored throughout eternity by our Almighty God for his tremendous faithfulness!
Keep the faith; pray for the persecuted.
"...As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also." - 2 Corinthians 6:3-13
