Deviled Ham

After several days of traveling from the United States back to our home in the jungle city of Ilebo, we were grateful to arrive. The familiar sandy roads and sounds of village life reminded us this was where God had called us. Friends welcomed us with a meal of pork, rice, and greens.

Before long, troubling reports reached me about the church we had planted. When we left for furlough, nearly two hundred people attended faithfully. Now only about thirty remained. Some had fallen into immorality, while others were making and selling palm wine. Even more disturbing, the pastor I had left in charge had promised the people that I would return with solar panels, fuel, clothing, and other gifts. I had never made those promises.

The first Sunday after our return, the pastor preached for more than an hour, explaining why I had not brought the promised items. When he finished, the Lord gave me complete clarity. I stood and simply said, "I leave this church... forever." My family quietly stood with me, and we walked away.

Soon we joined a small group of believers meeting under a shelter made of palm fronds. There were no impressive buildings or false promises—only people who sincerely wanted to follow Christ. God richly blessed that little church. It grew steadily, lives were changed, and another church was eventually planted from it.

Years later I learned the rest of the story. During our furlough, the pastor had traveled by dugout canoe to a witch doctor, paying him to perform a ritual over a pig. He believed that if my family ate the meat upon our return, he would gain power over us and we would fulfill the promises he had falsely made.

His plan failed completely because God had already protected us.

The church he managed on deception eventually disappeared, and the pastor lived the rest of his life under the weight of shame. The experience reminded me that no hidden scheme escapes God's notice. Darkness may seem successful for a time, but God's truth always prevails.

• God exposes deception in His perfect time. No work of darkness can overturn His purposes or overcome those who belong to Christ.

• I did not understand why the church collapsed until years later. God had been protecting us all along, revealing that His plans cannot be defeated by deception.

• Never build God's work through manipulation or false promises. Walk in truth, trust God's timing, and leave hidden motives in His hands.

"For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad." — Luke 8:17

Excerpt from a true story in my upcoming book, “Beyond the Edge of the Map.”

Thank you all for your faithful support, both in your generosity and prayers.

Gale G. Dawson, Founder/Director