It was our last day on the NYSC camp in Delta state. The camp had been filled with fun and full of unforgettable experiences.
One I can remember vividly was the case of Jason – my roommate. He was a staunch Christian.
I consider myself a spiritual Christian, but he was on another level – more like spiritual raised to the power of two.
Quickly, he was known all over the camp as a no-nonsense Christian. He was called Pastor Small Stout.
This was because of his height – barely 5 feet. In his voice, “don’t call me Pastor Small Stout! What has light got to do with darkness? Pastor and small stout in the same sentence? E jor o. E no make sense.”
We’d all laugh it off. Low-key, I wished I had the kind of boldness he had.
I decided to start following him out for evangelism – probably the boldness would rub off on me.
On our last day on the camp, we went out for our usual evening evangelism outreaches on the camp.
That day, we encountered some guys. These guys were atheists, and they engaged Jason in a debate, asking us questions like, “Is God real?”
Throughout the debate, I was as mute as a fish. What would I say?
Jason debated well, crushing all their well-sounding points. He reminded me of Paul, the apostle. Jason was so eloquent and well-versed in the scriptures.
The guys were not having it. Jason turned over all their points into nothing, yet they were unwilling to agree that God is real.
At that point, I knew that they had intentionally decided to believe against God.
“Jason! Let us go. It is already getting late.” I gently pulled Jason out of the room.
“Leave me, guy. These guys think they are stubborn.” He said.
“Jason, calm down. These ones have decided against God in their hearts.” I said as I walked away.
“Wait, now. Ah.” He ran to catch up with me.
It was already 8 PM, and Jason was silent as he stared at the ceiling.
Jason was so passionate about the Gospel. He was conscious of the importance of the Gospel, and I knew he was feeling bad about our encounter with the atheists.
Unexpectedly, we heard a knock on our door. “Who is that?” I replied as I stood behind the door.
“No be here Jason dey? Abeg open door! Make he come out,” he hissed.
Immediately I heard their voices, I knew they were the guys who debated with Jason. I did not want to open the door for them, but Jason insisted. He went out to meet them.
They brought a young boy with unkempt hair and tattered clothes. I first wondered what we had to do with the boy that they brought him.
“See this boy here. He is blind, but you’d have to heal him! You were the one who said God is able to do anything, right? Okay, so show us.” They said mockingly.
I swallowed hard, my heart was beating so fast and hard, and I whispered to Jason’s ears.
“Have you ever healed anyone before?”
“Besides myself, none.” He whispered back into my ears with a shaky tone. I could see fear in his eyeballs.
“You guys are funny! God is more than able.” Jason blurted and started praying for the boy. I joined him.
We prayed till 12 AM, while the guys mocked us all throughout, saying all sorts of nonsense. This gathered the attention of other youth corpers around.
Jason would not stop praying if something would not happen, but the young boy said, “abeg, my mama go dey wait for me, I wan dey go.”
In shame, Jason lifted his hands off the boy. We managed to get ourselves into our room amidst all the mockery.
I had read the story of the prophets of Baal, who Elijah disgraced. In our case, we felt like we were the prophets of Baal. I was utterly discouraged, but I still had a ray of strength.
“Probably, the boy is going to regain his sight later, not just today.” I said gently, reaching out to Jason, who was already packing his loads to leave the camp.
“Please, I don’t want to talk about it. Abeg!” He left as soon as he finished packing his bags. It was about 2 AM. I wondered where he’d go, but I could not ask him.
Later that morning, the repeated bangs on the door and the noise from the camp woke me up.
“Jason, come out o!” Corpers kept shouting.
“Jason no dey. Him don comot camp, abeg.” I hissed as I reluctantly stood up from my bed.
“You too! Come out. You were with him yesterday na, abi.” They kept banging the door, and I heard the screams too.
At that point, I was already getting scared. I didn’t know what was happening, but I opened the door.
Immediately I did, they pulled me out, and I saw the young boy who had been brought to us and her mother screaming.
“Make una help me beg the brother. Abeg o! Na those brother talk say make I come lie say I dey blind. I no blind before. Na this morning I wake up, come see say I no fit see again oooo. Abeg.” He kept begging profusely.
The corpers kept begging me to do something about it, but I didn’t know what to do, and I was scared to the bone to try praying again.
The guys who caused all the issues stood aloof, trying to avoid being seen, and I could see that they wanted to see if the boy would get healed this time.
I had no choice. I moved towards the young boy, held his hands, and I began to pray.
A few minutes into the prayers, the boy started screaming that his eyes were itching. I let go of his hands, and he was rubbing the eye so hard.
My heart kept beating so hard as I wondered what would happen if it failed.
“Eh. E be like say I dey see small.” He said as he opened as eyes wide.
I waved my fingers at him. “Na your hand. I fit see o!” He shouted. The whole camp cheered and shouted, jumping up. His mother knelt down, thanked me, and said, “no vex abeg. Thank you ehn” profusely.
The corpers looked at me in awe, many were asking questions, and many started saying they needed help too. I managed to get away from the scene.
Immediately, I called Jason, but his phone was not going through.
A few days after the incident, I saw his post on Facebook, “A few days ago, I started to doubt everything I have come to believe about God. He might as well not exist.”
My heart ached, and I cried when I saw the Facebook post. I sent him a message, “Jason. I wish you had witnessed what happened that morning you left. God knew what we did not know and had other plans. Please, send me your number. Let me tell you the full details.” He blocked me immediately he received the message.
This happened a decade ago, and I have been praying for Jason. I don’t know how and what he is doing now, but I hope he is doing well.
NOTE: This story is totally fictional.
Comment your experience reading the story.
This is a very good story. Well-done sir. Jason was so consumed with healing that he forgot to ask God anything. If he had asked God, he would have known the boy was not blind. The power of God is not showmanship, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to do it, when it is God that does the work.
🔥🔥🔥
Yes, there’s power of God, and there is wisdom of God! God help us express both effectively!