Pastor Chuwang from Nigeria met Pastor Tim, Love Life Fayetteville City Director, through a chaplain at nearby Fort Bragg. This began a five-year journey of Pastor Tim’s church supporting orphans and widows in east and west Africa, along with supporting the training of national pastors all over the continent of Africa.
The relationship came full circle when a Nigerian mother showed up at the Fayetteville Planned Parenthood to abort. Pastor Tim and his team were there… and helped the mom, Esther, choose life. Miraculously, Pastor Chuwang had just arrived from Nigeria for a visit to Pastor Tim the night before. He hurried over to meet and encourage the Nigerian mom.
“Only God could weave this amazing story together,” said Pastor Tim.
Esther was easily persuaded not to abort. She was in tears as soon as she met the Fayetteville team. She did not really want to abort, but she was married to a Muslim man. She, a Christian, did not know how she could raise a child in that split-religion household.
Pastors Tim and Chuwang assured her that God would take care of her and guide her. They reminded Esther of the story of her biblical namesake. The Esther of the Bible was called by God to save her people from those who sought to kill them. Now Esther of Nigeria was being called to save her baby from the enemy that sought to kill and destroy.
Over the next many weeks, Pastor Tim invited both Esther and her husband to church. Neither came… until just a couple of weeks ago. As Pastor Tim was preaching, the church door opened and in walked Esther. He and his congregation rejoiced. She has continued to come to church and even agreed to present her testimony at the Celebration of Life Prayer Walk in November. She decided it was time to share her story.
Her husband has not (yet) decided to attend church. But he is willing to let Esther continue to do so. And she understands the power of God to work miracles.
“When I was driving to the abortion center, I prayed that God would help me,” she later told Pastor Tim.
“And look what He did! He sent us,” said Pastor Tim, “with the shirts that say Hope and Help is here.”
God is still writing stories like this through ordinary people who simply say “yes.” He uses pastors, chaplains, volunteers, and prayer walkers—each one playing a part in His greater plan to rescue lives and reveal His heart. You don’t have to be a missionary or pastor to be used by God; you just have to show up. When the Church shows up, God moves. Join us in being part of His story at www.lovelife.org/connect.