Love Sincerely – Sunday Ikpang
My dad, Pastor Mambo Simeon is a clergy in a Pentecostal church. He is a dedicated man of God who believes in what he preaches. He taught us the way of God and reminded us also of his words; from the bible, everyday as his family and as a church. I will tell you this has encouraged me to love God with the whole of my heart.
There was a church he had pastored, which was located in a neighbourhood where hostility towards Christians or the church was so severe. Before we were transferred there, the church had undergone series of persecutions. Some members were killed, some deprived of working in some designated places, some beaten and tortured. The then pastor took the case to court with the help of a lawyer friend; based on the constitutional rights of every citizen of the country on freedom of worship. The church won the case and was given its freedom of worship.
Christians then got their freedom of worship, but the humiliation was still there. One event had always remain stagnate in me; this event took place when we came into this church. Just like I had earlier stated, even though freedom was granted to the church, there was still an excruciating hatred from the community against members of the church.
I remember one of the sermon my dad delivered during a Sunday service from the book of Luke 6:27-28 “but I tell you who hear me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you (persecute) you’ ”. My dad reads.
“I will want to tell you here as a church” he said, “that whether you are a best friend of God you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with God everyday”
“Be rest assured you will be hated by people, everywhere especially in the community” he continued, “especially by those that do not love God. But remember, love your neighbours, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
“That’s what the word of God says” he concluded.
Kiriku, was the son of the high chief in the community my dad was pastoring. We attended the same school, infact, he was the labour prefect in that high school. And to make things worse and despicable for me, we were classmates and he was the class captain. He unleashes his venom of hatred towards me every day in school and even in the neighbourhood sometimes, but, I never told anybody at home. Some of my friends couldn’t withstand his inhuman act and were prompted to retaliate; but I always prevented them from retaliating.
His dad was at forefront of the battle against Christians in the community; he gave orders as a high chief that no Christian should visit the streams within the community. So, every Christian goes to fetch water in public taps belonging to the government; even though there were onlt a handful of them still standing.
Chief Amanda, Kiriku’s father was very cruel to the Christians especially members belonging to our church. He was a traditionalist who worships idols. He brought up his family in worshipping and praying to the idols, failure to do so attracted severe punishment, Kiriku was also a gangster causing havoc in the community.
Something happened one Monday morning. I was up for school already late with my backpack. My dad had a conference to attend and he was one of the speakers. We walked out of the house after saying goodbye to my mum; Precious Mambo. She is a gentle and very kind hearted soul, who was also the choir mistress of the church. To our bewilderment, my dad’s car tires were all punctured by Kiriku and his gang that morning.
I was furious, bitter and vowed never to forgive him. We had to board public transport. I got to school late and got punished, my dad missed his flight because he arrived the airport late too. My Mum couldn’t run some domestic errands because of the situation.
The next morning, my dad gathered us together and told us never to hold a grudge against anyone, “Christ expect us to live like him and that’s to love because God is love” he said “Apostle Paul said in Roman 12: 8,14 “love must be sincere, hate what is evil, cling to what is good”
“In verse 14” my dad traces the verse with his fingers “bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse”
“Sharon! Bless those who curse and persecute you, pray for them. Love must be sincere-you must love sincerely, if you want to go to heaven”
“Because, heaven welcome those who love sincerely” my dad concluded and we prayed and we finish up our morning devotion-but these verses and dad last words on them; went with me all through life. I share this with my friends in school and even in our school fellowship. Its amazing to see the impact; these verses had on those who heard and practiced it.
It was one of the most powerful words in that book of Romans 12:8, 14 that changed me, it illuminated agape love in and out of me and made me love sincerely.
One day Kiriku was covered with chicken pox that was emanating excruciating pains on him. His father-the chief, consulted his idols but they failed this time. Kiriku’s life was at the verge of death. The medical personnel came in to intervene, but, everything proved abortive. He was dying gradually and decaying. You could tell from a distance the fate of his life. One of this morning he begged his father-chief Amanda to call in Sharon, to come and pray for him; if not he will die and they will lose him as their only child.
The chief reasoned and swallowed his pride and called my dad and myself to his palace. We drove that morning to the palace and saw Kiriku laying helplessly on the floor whimping and crying in pains. He begged my father to forgive him and every member of his family especially his father, for all they had done to the church; before and even now.
My father assured him that they had been forgiven longtime ago, and that there is no way God can forgive us our own sins, if we don’t forgive those who offend us. My dad preached to the household of Chief Amanda. Kiriku pleaded to be prayed for, I looked at my dad who was standing with his bible to his chest praying silently, while others were crying and confessing their sins including Kiriku’s father. The love of Christ got into the family of Chief Amanda that morning. We prayed for Kiriku and departed.
The next day, the chicken pox disappeared completely from Kiriku’s body and he was totally healed. That brought revival to the entire community and many came to Jesus. Guess what? The chief and his family got converted and his idols destroyed. They became genuinely born again and started worshipping God. The whole family of Chief Amanda became committed members of the church, until we were transferred from that local assembly. I tell you, sincere love wins many battles.