Church Sunday
The younger members of our team headed to Chocolate City to visit Joshua and his church while our elders Dave and Rodney went to Robert Cuppah’s church. For Cuppah’s church Dave was asked to lead a lesson for Sunday school while Rodney preached the sermon for the congregation. I wish we all could have been there, but our experience with Joshua was one that I will never forget.
Joshua Milton Blahyi is known as General Butt Naked by most of Liberia, because of his previous life during the war. He was a traditional tribal priest from the same tribe as the late President Samuel K. Doe, and he was a man of major influence during the war. His priesthood was under a demonic deity and human sacrifice was a common practice of worship within his tribe. When war broke out between his tribe and Charles Taylor he became known as General Butt Naked, because he and his men would fight naked. Coming from this lifestyle or deity worship, war, and human sacrifice Joshua has a redemptive story of how Jesus Christ lead him to repentance and salvation in him.
Hearing the story of Joshua Blahyi (former General Butt Naked) prior to going to Liberia, he was a man my team had to meet. I had to see with my own eyes if he was the real deal. The team had to see how Jesus Christ can change a man previously known as a murderer and a rapist to an evangelist in the name of Jesus Christ. With the history of the war in mind and Joshua’s past, we headed to his church.
Meeting Joshua Milton Blahyi
We arrived in Chocolate City Sunday morning and received a huge welcoming from Joshua and his congregation. To my surprise Joshua had the exact same clothes on. Our shirt and tie were exactly the same, and as I stood there I knew it was God confirming his presence and sovereignty in our visit. The service opened with some beautiful singing which truly ministered to everyone in attendance. Next Joshua called all the children to the front and congratulated all of the children who had passed and would be moving on to the next grade in school. His own daughter was graduating from elementary school to junior high school, and he could not be more proud.
Joshua spoke on raising up the next generation and how for Liberia it was the children that were most important. He called it “effective generational transfer” and how the parents and the church should be intentional in transferring faith in Jesus Christ to its next generation. He used the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 as his example, which was a very different interpretation than most of us Americans were used to hearing. I saw it as only fitting that the members of our trip were young-adults that will be leading the next generation of 12Stone, most of our trip was focused on the next generation of Liberia, and that Joshua preached on raising the next generation in faith in Jesus Christ as we concluded our trip. To close the service our team was invited up front to pray for the church and for Liberia, so invited all the children to come up to the front and pray along with us. One of the young girls lead us in prayer and I closed.
Lunch with Joshua
After service we had time to sit down for lunch with Joshua so we all decided to go back to the Lebanese restaurant to eat. On the way to the restaurant we traveled along the road that Joshua and his me n where in control of during the war. He then took us to the spot where he had his revelation and first heard from Jesus Christ. The entire team was compelled by his honesty, and intrigued by his testimony.
Arriving at the restaurant I had several questions for Joshua. I had to know if he was the real deal and a true follower of Jesus or if he was just claiming the name of Jesus in order to have the people of Liberia forgive him for what he did during the war. He was completely open and honest about his life and he did not shy away from a single question that I or the team had. The food at Sajj was awesome again, but hearing Joshua tell his story made it even better.
Concluding lunch with Joshua our team prayed for him and his ministry, and thanked him for spending time with us. He left us with some books and cds of his testimony. I was able to read his book over our trip home, and I must say that he is the real deal. Jesus Christ has truly brought him out of darkness and into the life of light that he is living now. I am so thankful for God allowing me and the team to meet with a man that he has transformed in such a drastic way. Joshua is not a war hero nor a celebrity, but a repentant sinner that has been forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Going Home
Leaving Joshua at Sajj, Victor our driver took us to the airport. It was bitter sweet knowing that we would be leaving Liberia, but we were all thankful to be coming home. We said our goodbyes to Victor and William while Rodney and Dave met us at the airport and we checked in to go home. I personally did not want to leave after seeing all God was doing in Liberia, but I know he has more in-store for all of us as we return home.
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