"Uncle Festo! Uncle Festo! called a high, shrill voice. It was Festo's niece. "Come to church with us, please," she begged. Festo's twelve-year-old sister ran up to him, too.
"Please, Festo! It's so exciting, we can't wait to go!"
Festo was amazed. "Why, little sister, you used to squirm and wiggle in church. You wanted to go home as soon as you sat down," he teased. "What has happened to you?"
Without a reply, the little girl took Festo's hand. She pulled him along the path to the church. When they got there it was full. People were even standing along the side and in the doorway. There was a light on their faces and laughter in their eyes. There was so much joy and happiness Festo couldn't believe his eyes or ears.
The girls wanted him to come right to the front of the church.
"I'll sit here on the backseat, thank you," he said.
The service began. I can leave when I want to, Festo thought. I'll wait a few minutes and then go home.
Suddenly his niece stood up and began to talk.
"Why, what is she doing? She's talking about me," Festo said out loud. He was shocked.
"The Lord has told me that all our prayers for Festo have been answered," his niece told everyone in the church. "He will come to Jesus before this day ends!"
Festo was angry. He ran out of the church. He spent the rest of the day getting drunk. His head was fuzzy when he got on his bicycle to ride home at the end of the day.
"Humans always get dizzy and do silly things when they drink too much alcohol," Hark wrote. He was sad that Festo was so angry. He thought about what Festo's niece had said, that Festo would come to Jesus before the day ended. Watching him weave unsteadily along a dusty path on his bicycle, Hark doubted it was going to happen!
Suddenly Festo's friend came running down the road after him.
"Festo! Stop, stop!" he shouted. Festo fell off his bike he was so surprised. His friend's face was shining with happiness. He looked as if he had just opened all his Christmas presents!
"Festo, I have just met Jesus Christ! I know my sins are forgiven. Please forgive me for all the bad things we did and said together. I will no longer live like that. Jesus has given me something much better."2
Hark was so excited about what was happening. "Festo is stunned," he wrote quickly. He followed Festo to his home and into his room. Then Festo fell on his knees and cried out in despair.
"God, if you are there, and if you can do anything for me, then please do it now. If I'm not too far gone . . . . help!"3
Then Festo saw Jesus clearly. The King of heaven looked at Festo with eyes full of forgiveness. Jesus told Festo how much He loved him.
And Festo's life was changed forever.
Festo was soon rushing through the streets. He stopped everyone he saw. "I've just met Jesus!" he told them. "My sins are forgiven!4
Hark looked at the notes C.D. had given him. He read that this was the message Festo would never stop telling. He would go all over Africa and around the world telling people about God's love and forgiveness.
It was a joyful message of love and hope. But in Uganda, this message had already cost many Christians their lives. And many more were soon to die.
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Jill Briscoe has an active speaking and writing ministry that has taken her to many countries. She has written more than 40 books, including study guides, devotional material, poetry, and children's books.
Jill is executive editor of Just Between Us Just Between UsJust Between Us , a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership. She serves on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc.
A native of Liverpool, England, Jill launched into youth evangelism after becoming a Christian at age 18. She married her husband, Stuart, in 1958, and since then they have ministered together through Telling the Truth Telling the TruthTelling the Truth media ministries at conferences and mission organizations around the world. They reside in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Stuart completed 30 years of ministry as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church. Both Stuart and Jill now serve Elmbrook as ministers-at-large. They have 3 children, David, Judy, and Peter, and enjoy the blessing of 13 grandchildren.
Jill and Stuart call suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin their home. When they are not traveling, they spend time with their three children, David, Judy and Peter, and thirteen grandchildren.