They’d heard of Kobe, but not of Christ

By Caroline Anderson ( http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/theyd-heard-of-kobe-but-not-of-christ )

“Have any of you heard of Jesus?” Christian Bell* asked the group of children who formed a tight circle around him.

Confused looks were his only answer.

“Have you ever heard of Jesus, He’s God’s Son,” Bell rephrased his question.

The name didn’t ring a bell.

Bell had traveled all day, crossing a river on a raft and walking the rest of the way to reach this remote village in East Asia. Bell and his family moved to East Asia to share the Gospel among an unreached people group. He’d come to this village to share the message of the cross.

Bell was the first foreigner any of the villagers had ever seen outside of their television sets. He had their rapt attention.

“Do you guys like to play basketball?” Bell tried. All of the children nodded enthusiastically. “Do you like Yao Ming?”

“Kobe, Kobe,” a boy repeated.

What Bell found is that boys and girls in remote villages like this one had heard of the man who can save the L.A. Lakers from home court losses, but they hadn’t heard of the One who can take their sins away.

“I got angry, because they had heard of Kobe, but they didn’t know the One who can save them from their sins,” Bell said. “Kobe’s name is exalted above Jesus’.”

Bell told the children who Jesus is and how He can take their sins away.

Basketball is still king and Kobe’s name is exalted above Jesus’ in many remote villages like this one. Pray for Bell as he continues to share the Truth. Please pray for open hearts and minds.