Kayumba was a little African boy in the country now called Zaire. His father was chief of the village.
All day Kayumba had watched the forest path waiting for the old crippled diviner who had made a trip to the next village, where the missionary and his wife had come to live.
At last, just at sundown, the old man came shuffling along. “There he is, he is coming,” shouted Kayumba, and soon every man and woman, boy and girl, crowded around the old diviner to hear his story.
And what a story he had to tell of the white missionaries! But it was the BOOK that really filled him with wonder. The white man had said that the Book was the Voice of God, and its words had pierced his heart. His face shone as he told all that he had been able to learn of the story of Jesus and His love for sinful men.
When Kayumba’s father, the chief, saw the people eagerly listening to the story of Jesus, he was very angry and shouted; “I shall kill with my own hands anyone who believes these words.”
That night the people sat around the fire and talked and talked. Never had anything like this been heard in all the history of their tribe.
Then suddenly Kayumba rose to his feet and slowly and deliberately said, “I believe these good words. I believe in Jesus.”
A great silence fell on all, and the stillness of the night was undisturbed till a wild shout rang out, and the chief came dashing down the village path, his war spear held high. “Where is this my son who believes these words?” he shouted. He lunged forward to thrust the spear into Kayumba’s breast, but even as he did so, the diviner tipped his arm, and the spear went wide.
The women and children fled to their huts while the men ran to get their war weapons. The village was in an uproar.
“Run!” said the diviner to Kamba. “Run to the white man; he will protect you!”
Out into the darkness of the tropical forest fled young Kayumba. Fearless of the lions and leopards, hyenas and snakes that abound among the trees and jungles, on and on he ran for seven miles till he reached the white man’s camp. There he was safe!
Many years passed before he could venture near his father’s village. He was an outcast and hated; but he grew up to be a true soldier of the Lord Jesus, and is spending his life telling African boys and girls of the wonderful Saviour who won his heart that dark night away back in his forest home.
Many of our readers have often heard the wonderful story of the Saviour’s dying love. Have you ever like Kayumba, sought courage from the Lord Jesus to stand up and publicly take Him as your Saviour? If you haven’t, there is no better time to do it than right now.
ML-11/27/1977