Guns and God

I’d heard that South Sudan could be a dangerous place, but I knew I was on God’s mission.

I’d heard that South Sudan could be a dangerous place, but I knew I was on God’s mission and that it was important to visit our Adventist brothers and sisters there.

Arriving in the capitol city of Juba, I soon met up with Earley (YAR-lee) Simon, our video producer for Mission Spotlight, and television program, Mission 360.

We spent the next few days interviewing people from across South Sudan, listening to amazing stories of how God had intervened in their lives. Because of safety concerns, all interviews were conducted on the enclosed mission compound of the South Sudan Attached Territory.

A Brief Tour

On our final day, we asked if we could have a brief tour around Juba for picture-taking. Arrangements were made for a driver and a local pastor to accompany us. Dr. Fesaha Tsegaye, the Health Ministries director for the East-Central Africa Division was also with us.

We were told to be discreet, using only our cell phones for taking pictures. Driving around Juba, we noticed many U.N. vehicles. Barricades and tall fences with razor wire surrounded the government buildings.

Approaching the Nile river, we continued snapping pictures as we crossed the only bridge in Juba. Arriving on the other side, our driver drove a little farther before turning around.

Waiting Soldiers

This time as we crossed the Nile a soldier was waiting for us. We were forced to turn back and cross the bridge again, where several soldiers armed with assault rifles were waiting. We were told to get out of the car and walk down a steep embankment to a two-room makeshift building.

Leading us into the inner room, the soldiers motioned for us to sit down as they took our cell phones. Then they began yelling at our hosts in Arabic. Earley and I silently prayed.

Aware that kidnappings happen, I wondered if that was where we were headed. “Tell my family that I love them” were the first words that came to mind.

The Interrogation

As some of the soldiers continued interrogating our South Sudanese hosts, the leader turned to Earley and me and started asking us questions: “Who are you? Why are you here? Why are you taking pictures? Are you journalists? Where are your credentials?!”

We pulled out our Missionary Credentials issued by the General Conference. Throwing them on his desk, the man yelled, “These are totally meaningless! Give me your passports.”

We handed him our passports. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed soldiers bringing two assault rifles into the next room.

“Are they going to shoot us?” I wondered.

“Lord, I’m Yours”

Immediately I sent up a quick prayer— “Lord, I’m Yours.” Instantly I felt God’s peace completely surround me and I knew that no matter what happened—whether I would live or die—everything was going to be all right. I had perfect peace.

But then God whispered, “You need to pray with that man [the leader].”

“Okay, Lord, but show me how,” I silently answered.

The Divine voice continued. “If you don’t share the truth with him, who will?”

“That’s true!” I thought. “What chance does this man have of hearing the truth as it is in Jesus if I don’t share it with him?”

I looked around. What a miserable situation this man and his soldiers were in—lives full of fighting, killing, uncertainty. What hope would they have if I didn’t share?

“Okay, Lord, show me how.”

“This Is Good”

In my bag I always carry some small gifts and GLOW tracts. Quickly and discreetly I counted out five Adventist Mission pens, and grabbed a GLOW tract titled, “When Freedom Dies.”

Then miraculously, the soldiers handed our phones back to us. Standing up, I set the five pens on the leader’s desk.

“Oh, this is good,” he said.

Giving him the GLOW tract about end-time events, I said, “You’re going to want to read this because it will tell you what’s going to happen in the very near future.”

He accepted the tract. Then I asked, “May I pray with you?”

“Yes,” he responded.

“What’s your name?”

“Wilson.”

“Wilson?” I asked.

“Yes, Wilson.”

So I prayed for Wilson, his family, his soldiers and their families, and for their country, that peace would come.

After the prayer there were tears in his eyes as he shook my hand. We were free to go.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25, NKJV).