What’s true
love?
Be my
Valentine! It’s February, and love is in the air. In the Congo, we
show young people how they can tell whether someone who says “I love you!” is
telling the truth, or if he (or she) has other intentions.
In the
“True Love Waits” program, we tell the stories of two young men in the Bible,
and their attitudes toward love. The first is Amnon, first-born son of
King David, who claimed he was in love with his half sister Tamar (II Samuel
13). He faked an illness, had her fix his favorite meal, and then raped
her in spite of her screams. The “love” he felt for her changed to
hatred, and he threw her out of the house in disgrace! The other is
Joseph, fiancé of a remarkable young woman who had a mission from God to
accomplish (Matthew 1:18-25). When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant,
he first thought she had cheated on him, but cared enough for her that he
didn’t want her disgraced. He rejoiced when he received a divine message
that her Son would be the promised Messiah, and he waited until Mary’s Son was
born before celebrating his marriage to her.
Which of
the young men showed true love? The description of love in I Corinthians
13:4-7 gives us some clues in words that describe true love and its opposite
(in this case, lust). We write the words on strips of paper, and tape
them to the shirts of two young volunteers, playing the roles of Amnon and
Joseph: PATIENT, KIND, ENVIOUS, CONCEITED, PROUD, SELFISH, IRRITABLE,
REJOICES IN INJUSTICE, REJOICES IN THE TRUTH, PERSEVERES, KEEPS THE FAITH,
HOPES IN THE BEST, FORGIVES. The point is brought home when
everybody sees that the negative words apply to Amnon, and the positive ones to
Joseph.
So, if
someone says, “I love you,” now you know how to tell whether they really do, or
not. If they say, “I love you, sleep with me,” that’s not true
love. If they’re willing to wait, and not rush into things, then it just
might be true love!
In January
in Kimpese, the Responsible Living Skills team held a training session,
attended by 43 pastors and youth leaders from 15 different churches and
organizations, on how to present the “True Love Waits” program. The next
day we presented the program to over 70 young people in three churches,
scattered all over town. Fifty-three young men and women signed
commitment cards, pledging to wait until they are married to have sexual
relations. We’re working on organizing follow-up sessions, to encourage
them in their decision. Another program is planned for February 25 at a
local church.
Thank you
for making it possible for me to be here in the D.R. Congo, and to have a part
in sharing God’s Word with the Millennium Generation! Thanks, too for
your prayers for a new vehicle! I’ve bought a 1998 Rav4, fully automatic
and electronic, in collaboration with the Evangelical Cooperative Center, where
I work. They will benefit from it when I retire next October.
Please pray
for Lydie Zinu, a 25-year-old Baptist pastor’s daughter and medical student,
who was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. She’s had a
mastectomy, and is now receiving a series of chemo treatments that are even
harder on her than the surgery!
Pray also
for Clavien Manianga, a 21-year-old diabetic who doesn’t look a day over 10
years old. He’s hospitalized as I write this, and is constantly monitored
not only for glucose, but also for cataracts on his eyes, various sores on his
body, digestive problems, and occasional bouts with malaria.
Our student
pastors are taking first semester exams this week. Please pray!
I HOPE
YOU'LL BE MY VALENTINE! I LOVE YOU TRULY!
Wendy