A scream pierced through the stillness of the dark African night-the scream of a prowling leopard. Shivers went up and down the backs of the dark figures about their campfire, and they drew closer to its glow.
The natives feared the leopards, but there was something that they feared even more-the "Leopard-men"! Who knew when one might come bounding out of the darkness beyond the circle of the campfire's light to sink his iron claw-shaped prong into a victim's neck as he dragged him away to a fearful death?
In the earlier days in northeastern Belgian Congo there were frequent reports of the "Leopard-men," who were members of a cannibal secret society called, "Banyota." But even today it is a feared name, and there are wicked deeds one occasionally hears about which are blamed upon the "Leopard-men."
No one knew who might be a "Leopard-man"-perhaps the man in the next hut was one! When they crept upon their unsuspecting victim they were covered with a leopard skin, carrying for a weapon a stick with sharp iron prongs, shaped and spaced to leave claw marks upon the neck like those of a real leopard.
Members were bound to secrecy, and they practiced their wicked deeds partly in heathen religious frenzy, partly in revengeful hate, and often because of their lust for human flesh, for their victim was always eaten!
The moon was shining brightly, but it could not pierce the dark shadows of the jungle night. Boys and girls drew close to their mothers, but their mothers were afraid, too! Defenseless older people looked over their shoulders fearfully.
One day a missionary was having gospel meetings in the village of Mulele, and a number of Africans trusted the the Lord Jesus. Among them was an old man, Okalufu by name.
"Are all my sins forgiven when I trust Christ?" he asked.
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin!" the missionary replied.
The man's face was beaming with the joy of new-found salvation. "I have been a great sinner," he said, "for you see, I am a 'Leopard-man'!"
The missionary could scarcely believe he was hearing a Munyota, in his leopard skin he had attacked and killed defenseless people, and then feasted upon them with his companions in wild heathen celebrations!
"Will the Lord forgive me?"
The missionary rejoiced that he could answer that for even so great a sinner, Christ had died; and in the assurance that his sins were forgiven, Okalufu found peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The following morning Okalufu was back again.
"Missionary, God has been good, He has forgiven me. But last night I knew in my heart that I must go to the government man to tell him that I am a `Leopard-man'-a murderer and a cannibal."
"May God bless you as you do that which you know is right," answered the missionary. "We will be praying for you, Okalufu."
So the old man packed up a few belongings, and started out on his three-day journey through the forest to the government post. Arriving there he appeared before an astonished official and declared, "I am a cannibal, a Munyota!"
The surprised Administrator could not believe what he heard, and demanded proof.
"You are a 'Leopard-man'? Where is your leopard skin, and where is the claw weapon? Go and get these, and bring them to me if you expect me to believe you."
So back home over the long three-day forest trail the old man trudged to get his leopard skin and claw weapon. Then back to the post he came to lay them before the amazed official.
"But why do you confess this," he asked Okalufu. "Do you not know that the penalty for cannibalism is death?"
"I know," the old man sadly admitted. "But something has happened to me. Through the words of a missionary I have learned of God's love for me, and I have received His Son as my Savior! God has put a new heart within me. I have joy and peace in the Lord Jesus. The ways of the 'Leopard-men' which I once loved I now hate. I have sinned against God," Okalufu went on to say, "and God has forgiven me. But I have sinned against the laws of the government, too, and I confess that to you now."
Touched by the old man's sincerity and testimony, the kindly Administrator imprisoned Okalufu on a minor charge for only three months. In the prison ragged Okalufu, who could neither read nor write, became a shining witness for the Lord Jesus. Several were saved through his testimony. In fact, he fairly turned the prison upside down in his zeal, and some were even glad when his three-month term was ended, and he was set free.
Back over the forest trail again went Okalufu, rejoicing in his freedom that he might spread the good news of salvation far and wide. In his village Okalufu became a tireless witness in his efforts to win his friends and all whom he met to Inc Lord. He would earnestly plead with his people to accept God's Savior, and know the wonderful peace he himself had found.
But Okalufu had done something no one had ever known a "Leopard-man" to do, he had exposed himself as being a member of that dark secret society, and he had departed from it. The sinful men could not stand the rebuking, heart-searching witness for long.
One day Okalufu sat down to eat a simple meal. Before long he felt great pain-and soon he was in the presence of the Lord Jesus whom he had trusted as his Savior!
Someone, perhaps one of his former cannibal companions, had put poison in his food, and Okalufu died, a martyr for his faith!
Today in Africa there are bright-faced, happy Christians, who were brought to the Lord through the witness of this converted "Leopard-man." Many recall his testimony with great wonder and joy.
Okalufu, the "Leopard-man," destroyed life. Okalufu, a new man in Christ Jesus, through God's wonderful grace, became an instrument unto life for many!