In central Liberia is a small, remote village called Duoplay, where witchcraft has a strong grip on the people of the village.
Unfortunately, the practices of witchcraft and of traditional African religions have made their way into some of the churches in that area.
One day, Mr. Barleah, a native of Duoplay, was listening to the radio and heard the speaker talk about something different: holiness. He was so impressed by what he heard that he wrote down where he could get in touch with the producers of the program. God had initiated the radio message that day for the ears of Mr. Barleah.
After walking four hours in the heat of the West African sun, Mr. Barleah found what he was looking for: the Church of the Nazarene in Karnplay, Liberia, a town on the border between Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire.
Barleah had many questions for Pastor Tee T Latahn of the Karnplay church. “I have joined many churches in the past. I can read the Krahn, Gio and Mano language Bibles. About 30 years now I have been in churches and in leadership. I heard you say that being a member of a church for many years does not mean salvation. What is salvation? What does the Nazarene church teach about salvation? How can one be saved?”
Pastor Tee told him what the Bible teaches: that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal through Christ Jesus; only Jesus Christ can save, not our denominations. He talked about how holiness can change our lives as we consecrate our lives 100% to God and trust Him to purify our hearts so that we can live a life that is holy and pleasing to God. He said every Christian is called to be holy, and that no one can make oneself or anyone else holy, only God can through the presence of His Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit convicted Mr. Barleah. He recognized that he was lost in sin and separated from God; he realized his need for a savior. Mr. Barleah repented and accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior for the first time that day!
Mr. Barleah returned to his village and shared his new faith in Jesus Christ with his family and friends. The following week, he walked four hours to church, but this time he walked with two others from Duoplay.
Pastor Tee’s program is recorded at the Karnplay Community Radio Station. The ultimate goal of the radio ministry is to take and/or plant Christ in the hearts of the community dwellers, just as Christ was planted in the heart and life of Mr. Barleah.
-- This story was originally featured in World Mission Broadcast's "Transmission" e-mail newsletter. To subscribe for more World Mission Broadcast news, visit www.worldmissionbroadcast.org.