David’s Redemption: A Life Transformed in the Face of Persecution
By Spoken Worldwide December 17, 2024
David’s* life was a wreck.
He struggled with alcoholism, abusing his wife,
neglecting his children, and living a life steeped in corruption. As a police
officer, he accepted bribes, accused the innocent, and perpetuated injustice.
His soul was broken, and his family was crumbling under the weight of his sins.
David knew he needed to be healed and wanted to change,
but he did not know how that could happen. He had never heard about Jesus.
This is where it gets dangerous. David lived among the
Hausa people in Northern Nigeria, where faith is a matter of life and possible death.
Scattered across 16 African nations and numbering 86 million, the Hausa are
predominantly Muslim. To be Hausa is to be Muslim—anything else is not just a
spiritual shift but a perilous decision. Where David lives, openly carrying a
Bible could cost you your freedom, or worse, your life. It is a region where
covert evangelism is strategically effective. Sharing the gospel here requires wisdom, courage,
and a deep understanding of the culture and risks. Knowing that anyone even exploring
Christianity faces persecution, the focus is not on printed literature. Instead,
it is about sharing God’s Word through spoken messages delivered by trusted
local leaders trained to carry the gospel discreetly, in their hearts, and on
their lips.Not only does this avoid drawing attention by
distributing written literature, but it also allows Spoken Worldwide to reach
those who cannot or do not read, which is about two to three billion people
globally. This is how David met Adam*. Adam, a member of Spoken Worldwide’s Indigenous
Leadership Team serving this Hausa community, invited David to a small
discussion group in Central Nigeria. For David, it was just another
meeting—nothing more. But God had other plans. That day, the group listened to
a story from the Gospel of Mark 2:2-16. It was the story of Jesus healing a
paralyzed man and forgiving his sins. Through Bible story telling, God’s Word filled the room
and something stirred deep within David. He listened intently as the story
unfolded, hearing for the first time about Jesus’ power to forgive and restore.
The story struck a chord in his heart. “When I heard this, I felt that the story was told just
for me. It touched my heart deeply. No matter my sins or the life I had led,
God could forgive me. At that moment, I made the decision to surrender my life
to Jesus Christ. As soon as I did, I felt His peace, and my life began to
change. I’m now living peacefully with my family.” David’s transformation is just one of many unfolding in
the Spoken Pastor Development Program for the Hausa people in Nigeria. Since
its launch in 2023, the program has established numerous discussion groups with
regular participants. These small groups are not merely about listening—they
are about changing lives, one heart at a time. Some attendees have already been
identified as emerging leaders, ready to carry the gospel to even more people. The work in Northern Nigeria is far from finished. The
danger is real, but the harvest is ripe. Leaders like Adam are equipping
others, and stories like David’s remind us of the power of the gospel that
brings hope in the most hostile of regions. You can join this mission. When you give to Spoken Worldwide, you are helping to spread the gospel to those
who might never hear it otherwise. Every gift supports this life-changing
ministry, enabling the message of salvation to be spoken in the heart languages
of those who need it most. The Scriptures that David heard made the difference. “I
learned that Jesus sacrificed His life for us so that we could be free from our
sins and our bondage. I learned that Jesus forgives us and sets us free because
of our faith in Him.” Please help Spoken Worldwide take God’s Truth in oral
form to more people who need to hear it. Every dollar brings the gospel to four people. Let us stand together in prayer for Adam, David, and the
many others working tirelessly to see redemption in the lives of people who
desperately need hope. Every gift, large or small, helps us deliver the Good
News to those who might never hear it otherwise.
*Names changed for security reasons.
