As we traveled in Africa many years ago, we came upon a small village far from the mission station. It was about noon, and we heard sweet singing from the center of the village. The villagers were singing hymns praising the Lord and honoring His precious name. We waited as the young man who was leading the singing spoke about the Lord Jesus from the book of Mark. At that time this was the only part of the Bible translated into the language of that part of Africa.
Afterward we talked with the young man who had spoken so nicely. His name was Sokonyi. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and often traveled to other villages to tell them about the Saviour. He told us the following story.
One day he had gone to a nearby village and had gathered the people together to read from the Gospel of Mark. In the crowd was a young woman who could not speak. The Lord touched her heart. She raised her hand showing she wanted to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Scarcely had she done this when there was a strange feeling in her mouth. The Lord had loosened her tongue. After the meeting she realized she could talk. How amazed the people were, as well as herself. She could speak!
Sokonyi returned home. But it wasn’t long before the young woman and her friends went to his village to tell what had taken place.
She not only could talk, but joined in singing hymns at the usual noon-day meeting.
Sokonyi made a trip to the mission station to relate what the Lord had done to the young woman. He wanted it known that all he did was read God’s Word. The Lord had performed the miracle!
ML-02/01/1981