BILL
KNIPE
BY
These were the first words I heard from my first
evangelistic efforts in Ravensmead, South Africa.
Earlier that day I had convinced the two young men
who had committed to start a church plant with me
to go on door-to-door evangelism. They lived in the
area but were too afraid to evangelize because of the
dangers. I told them that for safety they could stick
together, and I would evangelize on the opposite
side of the road. But when I met that gang of young
men and heard the one tell me about this injury, I
changed my mind about walking by myself.
Fast forward eight years, and Grace Baptist Church
stands as a lighthouse with around 40 people
in attendance.
It was so tempting
to make that first
encounter in Raven-
smead a reason to
avoid the area alto-
gether in hopes that
someone more coura-
geous and streetwise
than I would be called
there. I soon learned
that my first encounter
was not unusual. Since
then I have witnessed
many violent crimes,
been
caught
in
crossfire, had threats
on my life, and had
my van pounced on
and shaken by an angry mob while I was trying to
minister. The list of known “close calls” continues.
So, why stay in the midst of such dangers? Am I
being foolish? Am I being a foolish husband and
father? Are the risks worth it? Let me answer with
an illustration.
A kitten maneuvered its way through the foundation
into the wall of a home we were visiting. It had been
crying for days and was about to starve to death.
In a last-ditch effort to save its life, we pulled back
the trim by the ceiling, and my wife reached for it.
Every time my wife tried to rescue it, the kitten would
scratch and bite her hand. With a bit of pain and
injury, she persevered and saved the little kitten’s
life. If she had not, the kitten would have died.
RISKS FOR HIS KINGDOM
“WHY IS YOUR HEAD BANDAGED?”
I ASKED.
“YESTERDAY A GANGSTER COLD-
COCKED MY HEAD WITH HIS GUN
RIGHT WHERE YOU’RE STANDING.”