When accidentally killing someone could do you good
I was recently in Surabaya, Indonesia at the invitation of my friends to speak on discipleship. My book The LEGO Principle was recently translated into Bahasa. When I landed in Surabaya I was told that Pastor Alex wanted to meet me. I was hesitant at first owing to an early morning flight and a busy evening of speaking. In the end I agreed to the two hour visit.
I arrived at the offices of Pastor Alex Abraham, senior pastor of one of the largest churches in Indonesia. Apparently the 72 year old was a legend of sorts in his nation. A short tour of the church's facilities included a hospital, executive offices and a 35,000 seat sanctuary. Yup, you read it right 35k. This church after all is the largest one in the country.
I have learned through the years that the Lord has a way of leading us to people and places we never knew even existed. I have always enjoyed the privilege of asking older men about their life experiences hoping to glean from their years of wisdom and experience. I must admit I brought home some really good ones.
This post is about the story of how the Lord called Pastor Alex into full-time ministry. Alex was a young entrepreneur who loved the Lord. Whenever possible he reached out to those who did not know the Lord. But it was a strange incident in his life that finally brought him into full-time ministry. Here was his story.
The year was 1965, Alex was 24 years old taking a drive in his province. The time was about 4:00 pm. Out of nowhere a young boy ran in front of his speeding car there was no way he could avoid him. The boy slammed into the fromt part of the car and flew to top of his three times bounced back in front of the car. Picture of the car below was taken from Alex's book The Sower.
Startled he stopped and went over to check on the child. Blood was everywhere and the eleven year boy's mangled body did not show signs of hope. He quickly picked up the child and drove to the nearest hospital. By now people have gathered and the relatives of the child were threatening Alex.
Advised by the doctors to hide for the time being because of the tension from the family members until the police arrive. They told him the situation of the boy was hopeless. Alex left the hospital and took refuge in a secluded church. There he hid and sought the Lord. He described the moment as one of intense desperation. It was to become one of the major turning points in his life.
Convinced that the boy had died Alex could hear the spirit of condemnation accusing him of the child's death. And yet on the other hand he could hear the Lord speak to him saying, "My blood is sufficient for you. Alex I will use you reach many." Alex took hold of the word of the Lord and trusted His grace.
Later in the evening the police arrived at the church and found Alex. He willingly gave himself up to them. During the investigation Alex explained that the boy ran out of nowhere there was no time to avoid him. The police said, "that's what the boy told us too. He said he was chasing his kite and was not looking at the road." Alex was perplexed, "how could the boy have told you, he is dead??"
The police told Alex that the boy was alive and had spoken to them. Alex went back to the hospital only to find the boy sitting upright tire marks on his chest but healed as if nothing had happened. It was then that Alex felt in his heart that the Lord had the power to turn our darkest situations. This would be the catalyst that would bring young Alex into full time ministry.
It was a rare moment when accidentally killing someone could be for one's own good.
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