A crowd seated on benches watches the Luke film in centre of a Bambalang village in Cameroon. The Luke film has been shown many times in the the village and surrounding area, and it has been instrumental in sharing the gospel with people. Photo: Natasha Ramirez
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. —2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV)
Where does the Bible present the gospel in a nutshell? For that, many Christians turn to John 3:16. What about a summary of what God’s Word says about itself? The passage above does this perfectly. To begin with, the Scriptures make us wise for salvation. Paul tells us that God’s Word can open our minds or make us knowledgeable about the most important thing in the world. The Bible informs us how we can be saved by God from our sins and live a new life in Christ—through faith in Him. Paul reminded Timothy that he knew God’s Word from infancy; no doubt at his mother’s knee.
For many elderly people in minority language groups around the world, God’s Word is only now coming to them in a language they can understand. They are learning about faith in Christ in their sunset years.
A good example is an African man in his 80s named Taapro, living on the Ndop Plain of Cameroon. He was known as a liar and a thief, and he feared traditional spirits.
Taapro was given a private screening of the four-hour Luke film (translated into his mother tongue of Bambalang) by neighbours Dan and Melody Grove, Canadians with Wycliffe who work in the Ndop Cluster. As Taapro watched the film, he realized Christ was calling him to change his ways and turn to Him for peace and for salvation.
A few weeks later, after much contemplation and evaluation of his own life, Taapro put his hand on his chest and declared in faith: “I want to make Jesus my King.”
Taapro died just a few months later, ushered into heaven with the peace of salvation in Christ.
That’s the power of God’s Word. It speaks clearly to people everywhere, so they can understand Christ’s call on their lives.
Taapro watched the Luke film privately, but in this Bambalang village it’s been shown to hundreds in settings like this one.
Photo: Natasha Ramirez