A New Name

A police officer’s wife had fallen ill. Aidini was summoned to pray over her. He did but with no results.

“Bring your witchcraft charms and symbols”, the preacher challenged the woman. “Burn them in Jesus’ name! Turn from these dark things and get God’s freedom.” She agreed. With the sorcery items destroyed, more prayer followed. The woman recovered.

Claiming a preaching spot near a traffic round-about the evangelist showed up at 4 p.m. each day.

Little seemed to come of the meetings until one day Mary, a deranged woman passing by naked, came in earshot of his preaching. Aidini directed his words to her, rebuking evil spirits tormenting the woman. A calm came over her. Ladies came forward with garments and covered her.

Brought to freedom from that day, the joyful woman testified often at Aidini’s round-about gathering. Many people of the neighborhood long aware of her miserable past came to listen. New believers were added.

***

“I will play you my machine!”, he shouted, hoisting an old typewriter over his head.

This second possessed person – a bare-bottomed man named Ronald – happened by Evangelist Aidini’s location. Again, evil spirits were called out. His vigorous testimony spoke of wandering the city streets tormented, ever parading the beat-up typewriter, and of finally getting freed here at the roadway intersection. Week by week the crowd swelled, eventually numbering hundreds.

With the help of sympathetic followers the preacher rented the Congo Bar Sunday mornings for meetings. But area prostitutes began losing business as more people converted and a municipal governor was summoned to confront Aidini.

“You must stop your meetings in the bar.”

The preacher turned to the official. His reply came with a boldness the onlookers had grown accustomed to.

“In three days you, sir, will no longer be governor”.

Shortly afterward the official’s servant accidently spilled boiling water on him. Badly injured, he was forced to vacate his post.

As the work expanded, funds came available through a visiting Swissman stirred by things he had witnessed. Soon afterward the gathered band of believers took ownership of the longstanding beer joint.

As a tribute to the transforming nature of the gospel, the place was renamed – The Congo Bar Church.

©2018 Jerry Lout

 

 

 

 

 

 

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