There was a revival or awakening among the nationals in Bosgoi. It was remarkable, in that it was no respecter of persons. Pagan priests like Dangdang and Fokna, old men like Frumsia and old women like Pata; young boys like Ole and Haune, Semdi and Ware; wild warriors like Pirsu; bright and intelligent boys and girls who learn to read and write in a few months; unintelligent men who felt it was impossible to learn – all these were accepted equally in God’s great salvation. This is undoubtedly what Paul meant when he wrote to the Romans, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
This awakening in Bosgoi illustrates this truth that it isn’t by knowledge or intelligence, but whosoever believeth on Jesus is saved and transformed from the children of wrath unto new creatures in Christ Jesus. This awakening wasn’t confined to the village of Bosgoi only; it spread from home to home, village to village; it spread westward to the villages of Hoyang and Dachega where scores of people were converted. The gospel took hold especially in Dachega and soon there were 100 members added to the church, many of them young people.
It was a real joy to come and visit them when they had their meetings – Sundays as well as prayer meetings. There was wonderful fellowship among the children of God. Later, the gospel spread across the lake and through the woods and brush country until eventually it reached Gounou Gaya. From there it later could spread to the surrounding areas…
Grandpa’s words remind me of the power of God’s Spirit working in people’s hearts, preparing them and calling them to hear the truth and accept it. Grandpa did the physical work of going and speaking, but as cool as I think his going and speaking was – it was his God who changed people’s hearts. It was God who brought people the joy of being free from the power of sin and death. Grandpa went to share the good news, and trusted God to use His truth to change hearts.
And how does one know this heart changing is real? For me, the last paragraph says it all – “there was wonderful fellowship among the children of God.” Unless you’ve experienced that fellowship - brought by the Spirit of God - first-hand, you can’t imagine how great it is.
I had that fellowship with the pastor on the plane to Denver (previous post); I had it at the Portland conference with women from Branson and Phoenix, who I met for the first time; I have it with a man from Cameroon that I’ve never met except by email and phone (he’s in the states getting his PhD so he can go back and teach in a Cameroon seminary). I could go on and on…
It’s both fun, and reassuring, to read that Grandpa witnessed that fellowship immediately among the new believers in a 1920s Cameroon. This is not something that can be manufactured; it’s the real thing.
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