A TESTIMONY FROM THE CROSS ISSUE

BY MAZINO IKIME
IBADAN , NIGERIA

WHEN THE GREAT CROSS DEBATE WAS RAGING,I WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING:I WENT TO THE MOSQUE AREA AND LOOKED AT THE MOSQUE.IT STRUCK ME RATHER FORCIBLY THAT ALL THE CRITALL HOPE FITTINGS UPON WHICH THE LOUVRES WERE FIXED,WERE IN THE EXACT SAME SHAPE AS THE CROSS THAT THEY (MOSLEMS) WERE BICKERING ABOUT. THE MESSAGE THIS TRANSMITTED TO ME WAS THAT ISLAM IS SO FULL OF SYMBOLS AND VERY LITTLE(IF ANY)SUBSTANCE.THERE WERE AT LEAST TEN SMALLER CROSSES WITHIN THE MOSQUE ITSELF,YET HERE THEY WERE GRIPING ABOUT ONE THAT EXISTED LONG BEFORE THE THOUGHT OF A MOSQUE WAS CONCEIVED.

I POINTED THIS OUT TO A MOSLEM CLASSMATE OF MINE AND HE WAS DUMBSTRUCK.I ASKED HIM IF WHAT I POINTED OUT TO HIM WOULD DETER HIM FROM WORSHIPPING IN THE MOSQUE.OF COURSE HE RESPONDED IN THE NEGATIVE. BUT HE KEPT ON COMING BACK TO ME ASKING ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CROSS. HE WANTED TO KNOW IN ALL EXACTITUDE WHAT IT ALL MEANT. UNFORTUNATELY,I WAS IN THOSE YEARS, MORE INTERESTED IN BEER AND THE"GOOD LIFE" AND COULD NOT ANSWER HIM IN THE WAY IN WHICH I KNEW HE WANTED. FORTUNATELY,I REMEMBERED AN "S.U."GIRL IN MY CLASS AND DIRECTED HIM TO HER.

AFTER GRADUATION,WE LOST TOUCH AND AS I BEGAN TO GROW IN THINGS OF THE SPIRIT THE MEMORY OF THAT GUY BUGGED ME.I DID NOT KNOW IF THE SISTER DID A GOOD ENOUGH JOB,IF SHE LED HIM TO THE LORD,AND IF SHE DID ,WHETHER SHE FOLLOWED UP.YOU CAN IMAGINE MY JOY WHEN I MET THIS SAME GUY IN WARRI ABOUT 15YEARS LATER. NOT ONLY BORN AGAIN BUT PASTORING A BRANCH OF THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

AT LEAST THATS ONE GOOD STORY THAT CAME OUT OF THE CROSS BROUHAHA