Drinker Encounters Christ Through Prophet Jeremiah
Release No: 09-07
By Noel Hwande
Jan. 23— NAIROBI, Kenya: Peter Kimani, a 40 year-old resident of a rural village in central Kenya had a reputation for drinking. One evening as he sat bored at home, he decided to take a walk. Outside Kimani heard the echo of sounds from a loudspeaker and decided to investigate. Little did he know that life-changing events would be set off that night.
The sounds led him to Githuani Lutheran Church where he found a crowd of approximately 500 people gathered to watch an open air film show as part of Lutheran Hour Ministries-Kenya outreach ministry. The film was based on the story of the prophet Jeremiah.
Kimani watched, intently, the story of a preacher who was warning his generation to return to God and predicting extremely harsh punishments. Kimani thought it was far fetched. In return the preacher was ridiculed, ignored, severely flogged, and eventually imprisoned. Kimani was shocked by the way the people treated him. He was, however, surprised by the persistence of the man of God despite these challenges. The story took a turn when the things that had been predicted started to happen one after another. Kimani realized that everything that the prophet had forewarned the people about eventually came to pass.
As much as he hated the idea, Kimani found that his own life reflected the attitude of the persecutors of Jeremiah's times. He had constantly ignored sermons and was known for ridiculing preachers and religious people in the village. That whole night, he was troubled as he saw his life for what it was.
The next day, which was a Sunday, members of the local Lutheran church were surprised to see the "village drunk" humbly walk into the church and sit in the back row. They were even surprised when they realized that Kimani was sober. After the service the church pastor approached Kimani. They had a talk and Kimani poured out his heart and expressed his desire to know Christ. Before they parted ways, the pastor invited Kimani to join the baptismal class.
The following Sunday Kimani was back at church but, this time he brought his entire family. Today he is awaiting baptism, an event he looks forward to with great anticipation.
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