To the rescue

Thanks to fgbc-world.blogspot.com for the photo

Our church hosted a courageous man today. Dr. Francois Ngoumape is Dean of the Grace Brethren Seminary in Bangui, Central African Republic (C.A.R.). He is the Director of Leadership Training in the C.A.R.

His wife Claire and he are parents of seven children. They also are parents of 12 other kids, orphaned when Dr. Ngoumape's brothers passed away. So his household is full--19 kids!

In the last year, he faced death.

As he testified before our church in our Adult Bible Fellowships, he sees three significant dates in his life: his birthday, his wedding day, and his death day.

[This is my recollection of his testimony. Any discrepancies are mine alone.]

On his "death" day, he started it with the normal routine for a Sunday morning. He got up. Got dressed. Informed the family that he was going to check on someone down the road before church started.

His wife, Claire, was in Bangui (500 miles away) for a doctor's appointment. She was unable to return for church services.

He put on his helmet, mounted his motorcycle, and left the village of Bata. As he started to pick up speed outside the village. A band of men appeared out of the bushes. They made him stop. They were armed with machine guns.

Having no choice but to pull over, he put it in neutral and awaited their instructions. They made him turn off the motorcycle. They forced him to dismount, take off his helmet, and to lay prostrate on the ground.

He was beginning a two-and-a-half hour ordeal.

They gathered around him. One bandit kicked him in the chest. Prior to the assault, Dr. Ngoumape prayed, "If there is something left for me to do for you, God, then let me give you glory."

When the bandit tried to kick him again, something happened. The bandit did not kick him. He seemed to have wanted to thrust his boot into the ribs of Dr. Ngoumape, but something, or someone stopped him.

They made him get up to return to the village for a ransom. They did not recognize him as the Dean of the Seminary. So for now, he was incognito.

Forcing him back into the village they made him push his motorcycle back into town. As they proceeded into the village, the villagers noticed who was kidnapped. It was their spiritual leader. Normally, people flee from the bandits fearing that they would be kidnapped and killed if no ransom was given. But this time they stayed in proximity with the parade of bandits and Dr. Ngoumape.

The crowd started swelling. First, tens. Then fifty. Then over a hundred, two hundred, and on to about a thousand people watched from a distant and moved in a large semi-circle around the party of kidnappers and the kidnapped.

The bandits would fire machine gun rounds into the air to intimidate and to cause fear among the crowd. Typically, this action would disperse the crowd.

But not this time.

The crowd would hit the ground for cover then wait as the bandit band move ahead. Then they would get up and follow behind and around the group.

The bandits made Dr. Ngoumape stop and get on his face near his motorcycle. One bandit unsheathed his sword. He wanted to beat the doctor, but for some reason the blows were deflected away from him towards his motorcycle.

Another bandit fired three rounds at the doctor, but the bullets hit the motorcycle instead. At this sound the crowd wailed and cried out in prayer to God. They thought their pastor was killed.

Dr. Ngoumape realizing that the people were distraught. He got on his knees, then stood up to show the people that he was okay. But the bandits made him lay down again.

They conferred. Quietly talking in serious tones. The bandits commissioned two to finish their duty. The other four departed.

Dr. Ngoumape once again wanted to reassure the people that he was alright. So he began to stand up. When a bandit pointed the weapon towards him, something pushed him down from above at the exact moment that two bullets were fired.

Boom! Boom!

Both shots rang out across the village street, but he was not hit. Both missed him.

The remaining bandits bugged out. The people swarmed to help Dr. Ngoumape. The first aid responders were called. They rushed in to take care of his wounds. But he had no wounds! "I have no wounds!" he said.

Unbeknownest to the doctor, someone got on a satellite phone when they saw the troop enter the village. They spread the word to pray. People were praying in Bangui, the capital city. Churches were gathering for prayer. God's people were on their knees pleading for God to intervene and to protect God's man.

He quieted the crowd. Instructed them to follow him to the church to give praise to God. So the village celebrated God's protection and God became famous that day. He takes care of us. This is not an isolated incident, read here.

He takes care of me. He can take care of you. No matter how difficult a life you may live. God cares for you. Dont' give up hope. Trust God. He will come to your rescue.

I am confident that God protects me. He said so in John 10:11-18, "I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." If you have not trusted in God, then you need to give your life to Him. He promises to care for you. He will take care of you. I know! He takes care of me. Ask Him to come to your rescue. He will save. Just trust Him. Trust Him now.