In anticipation of our website update we are posting a series of stories on the beginnings of this ministry. Last week Brad Graber wrote about how his parents, Harold and Gladys Graber, were called as missionaries in 1950 to what was then the Belgian Congo. Today we continue the story of Hope4Congo.

Then Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
~Matthew 28:18-20

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Grab the Hand of God
by Brad (Baditu) Graber

Our father, Harold formed a friendship with Chief Baditu, chief of a tribe of fishermen near the Ndjoko Punda mission station.

Over time Harold shared the Good News of the Gospel with Chief Baditu. The chief listened to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and the message gripped his heart and mind.

One morning, Chief Baditu, with his entourage, walked from his village to the Ndjoko Punda mission station and knocked on the door of our home.

Our father answered the knock and there stood his friend, Chief Baditu.

“I have come this morning to grab the hand of God,” Chief Baditu said.

In that moment, the chief became part of the family of God. He became a “fisher of men” along with my father.

Baditu invited my father to a burning ceremony. He heaped all the idols and paraphernalia associated with idol worship and witchcraft into a pile. Then set all of it on fire. This signified an end to Baditu’s walk in the darkness and the beginning of his new walk in the light.

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Thank you for telling this story, Brad. Your namesake, “Baditu,” chose well for himself. What a gift you have to be named after this man of God, this courageous new believer.

I am grateful all of your hearts were gripped by God’s message and that in return, each of you grabbed God’s hand.

To Our Readers:
Our prayer for each of you is the same Good News — salvation is available to all who believe on the name of Jesus Christ. We hope that your hearts have been gripped by God’s message and that in return, you have grabbed God’s hand just like Chief Baditu.

We ask our readers to continue your faithful prayers for this ministry and the Congolese people.
Check back with us next week for the next installment of Hope4Congo’s story.

Blessings!
~SuZan

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