He stood on the bank of a river in western Ethiopia whose color was that of chocolate. His friends stood beside him, and many implored him not to do it. They told him that the river was full of crocodiles, and several have died trying to cross it. He told them he had to do it. He had to go. He told them there were whole villages of people on the other side of that river that needed to hear about Jesus. He told them that he had traveled a long way, and was compelled by God’s spirit to cross that river and spread the good word of Jesus.
This man was not wealthy, but dirt poor. He had no financial supporters. He had no training, and no real plan. He had only the courage of conviction that comes with knowing that God has something for him to do, and the knowledge that the Holy Spirit is moving. He stripped off his clothes, and carrying them over his head, waded across that muddy, chest deep river full of crocodiles.
