It was just a day like any other during those seasons of Bible School in May 2008. We had two classes every evening. They were always full of fun, drama, jokes and sometimes hash confrontations.
A student once asked, “Uche, the Bible says the word of God is milk, is it fresh milk or yogurt?” He was very serious and sincere and wondered why I was so cracked up, laughing uncontrollably.
On this fateful day, a few first timers arrived and where warmly welcomed. But as you can guess, they all came without Bibles.
Since I always came to class with a few new copies, ready for those that come without one, I asked, “Who doesn’t have a Bible?” A few hands go up. I counted five of them.
As politely as I could, I asked; “Do you have 2 pounds? All the hands go down with lightening speed.
I paused, gathered myself together and then continued marketing.
“I have Bibles here for you, we buy them for 5 pounds and we give you at 2 pounds. That’s good business sense isn’t it?” I asked with a measured smile, hoping to provoke enough interest, lighten their moods and mine too.
“It’s just 2pounds, I’m sure you spend more than that everyday don’t you?” I gestured to the guy sitting before me. His face was blank, totally expressionless.
I went on the offensive, this time, staring directly at Anuar, one of the new comers. “You know you can sell your shoe and buy a Bible with the money and have some change?” The silence in class was deafening.
Anuar was wearing a good looking pair of sneakers. When he noticed I was still admiring them, he pulled his legs back under the chair as if hiding them from my view, or was he? Unknown to me, he was actually removing them and before I could say another word, he lifted the pair of sneakers in the air and said; “Who wants to buy?”
“How much?” I asked.
“5 pounds!” He replied, with a rather cynical smile. I guess he thought like I did- no one here will spend that on this. But then, Kuku, another beloved disciple, grabs the shoes and instantly pays 5 pounds. Anuar gives the money to me and gets his Bible.
As I walked around the class looking for his 3 pounds change, the class was in rapturous laughter and applause. “We are trading now…” someone hollered.
It was a day to remember as I recalled with nostalgia my encounter with John in the same room few years back. What made Anuar different? I guess hunger.
One of my favorite lines is- you can’t teach hunger. It just happens and when it’s absent, it can’t be faked or forced. “When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.” Proverbs 27:7 The Message Bible
There’s something about genuine conversion that propels growth, which progresses according to the sacrifices a disciple makes in his quest for intimacy with His Creator. It never happens by accident.
We all choose where to channel our passions, what to spend our time and money on and all these ultimately point to where we’ll end up, doesn’t it?.
More in Part 3. [Another student, Peter Mazidi has a special testimony. He was in that class of July-September 2005 with John. The progress of this pilgrim will excite you.]
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 