the power of forgiveness by Clint Morgan Find out more about the ministry of Free Will Baptist International Missions at www.fwbgo.com.   Read more about missions efforts in the war-torn nation of Côte d'Ivoire including the relief efforts of The Hanna Project.

Côte d’Ivoire was torn in two by an attempted military coup in September 2002. Our missionaries were evacuated for a short time, but have returned and are at the task with renewed vigor. I have made several extended stays to teach in the Bible institute located in rebel-held territory.

During one of these trips, Mike Cousineau and I visited Marc Nounfé, a pastor friend led to the Lord by Dr. Laverne Miley. Marc lives in Bouaké, a city of about 500,000 and the central headquarters for the rebel forces.

Marc was the only Protestant pastor who did not leave Bouaké when the war broke out. At one point, more than 40 rebel soldiers took over the church and parsonage property and freely took of the meager supplies of Marc’s family. This did not deter Marc from witnessing to the rebels and ministering to the people of his church and community.

Photo (Sean Warren): a machine gun looms ominously from a rebel position.

Mike and I were moved as Pastor Marc recounted story after story about life with the rebels. In spite of the struggles and horror of war, God provided encouraging victories. The following account is a clear demonstration of God’s power, presence, and protection.

Stopped by Rebels

One afternoon, Marc received news of a sick believer in a town 15 miles away. He knew rebel and government forces were fighting all along the main road. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to go encourage his suffering friend. Hoping to avoid the crossfire, he followed the narrow walking trails winding through the bush. 

Only a few miles from home, however, he was stopped by three rebel soldiers. The trio believed their AK-47s gave them complete authority to stop anyone they chose, and the power to take whatever they desired. They yelled at Marc, ordering him to get off the motorcycle. He knew he had no choice but to submit to their commands. Recognizing the control they had, they mocked Marc, slapped him around, and accused him of being a spy for the government forces. He repeatedly asserted that he was a pastor and had nothing to do with the war.

          
They became inflamed when he spoke of God, demanding that he remove all his clothes. When the gun-toting soldiers told him to strip, Marc knew they intended to rob him of his motorcycle and take his life.*

As he stripped, he expected the rebels to kill him at any moment. Although he couldn’t explain why later, Marc indicated that, as he removed his clothes, he folded them and placed them carefully on the ground.

Marc pled for his life, but these men had no respect for the life of another human—especially for a possible government informant and pastor.

They ordered him to walk away, declaring their intention to “rain bullets on him.”  Marc believed death was imminent whether he walked or not. In frightened obedience he leaned over, retrieved his neatly folded clothing, cradled the bundle in his arms, and slowly walked away. Shots rang out behind him. Marc tensed, waiting for the burning sting of bullets to enter his body.

Voice of God

Pastor Marc recalls that he heard a voice saying, “Remember my servant Job. He lost all his possessions, but he did not lose his life.” Marc knew God was telling him he would not die. Bullets were flying, yet he found songs of praise flowing from his soul and began singing out loud.

Suddenly, the machine guns became silent. The thieves called out to him, ordering him to come back. He obeyed again, this time full of the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. The rebels said, “Because of your God, we are not going to kill you.”

I prefer to say, “Because of Marc’s God, they could not kill him.”

The bandits commandeered the motorcycle and rode away, leaving a naked man singing praises to the true and living God.

False Accusation

When Marc returned to Bouaké on foot and fully clothed, he recounted his story. Some of the church people accused him of selling the motorcycle, which belonged to the church, and keeping the money to buy food for his family. While his family certainly could have used the money, Marc assured them that had not happened. In spite of his discouragement, he declared with great confidence that God would clear his name.

Two weeks later rebel troops patrolling a town 50 miles distant spotted Marc’s motorcycle. One of the soldiers, a mechanic from Bouaké who had worked on the motorcycle, stopped the rider and asked where he got it. The rider said he bought it, and the rebel took his word for it. However, after returning to Bouaké, the mechanic/soldier went to Marc’s house and checked out the man’s story.

Marc recounted how he was stopped, beaten, fired at, and robbed by three rebel bandits. The rebel soldier promised Marc the motorcycle would be returned. Shortly thereafter, the motorcycle was found and brought to Marc. God worked in a miraculous way to clear the name of His servant.

The Jesus Moment

Several days later, Marc received word the commander of the rebel forces wanted to see him. He went immediately to rebel headquarters and entered the courtyard. There in the middle of the compound stood three naked men. The three thieves! God had brought them to justice.

When the rebel commander heard that his men had robbed a pastor, he told the soldiers to find the thieves. The investigation was successful, and all three men were apprehended. Now they stood before their commanding officer, their judge, and executor of justice.

The commander turned to Pastor Marc and said, “There is just one thing standing between these men and death, and that is you. If you forgive them, I will not have them killed. However, if you do not forgive them, they will be killed today.”

Photo (Sean Warren): Bullet holes riddle the wall where military executions were carried out.

Pastor Marc walked before the men who had ambushed, mocked, beaten, robbed, and shot at him. He looked them in the eyes and with great assurance and peace said, “In the name of the living God who spared my life, I now spare yours. I forgive you.”

We left Marc’s family that day truly rejoicing in the Lord. In spite of the evil intentions of wicked men, God intervened, sparing the life of His servant. And in turn, His servant Marc Nounfé clearly demonstrated the power of forgiveness.

* In Cote d’Ivoire, if people plan to just beat a person, they generally make him undress to his underwear. If they plan to kill him, they make him remove all clothing.

About the Writer: Clint Morgan serves as regional director for Africa and Creative Access Countries for FWBIM. He is currently in Côte d’Ivoire teaching at the Bouaké Bible Institute.