“Hey David, I’m heading up to my home church in Oklahoma for some meetings they’re having next week. If you’re free, it would be great if you could come along.”

The nine-hour road trip brought us to the church doors. What followed set the stage for decades of adventure.

Vigorous hand-clapping joined robust singing as organist Ragsdale’s nimble fingers brought his instrument to life. Monday night marked the first in a string of special meetings, and the sanctuary had nearly filled. David and I found seats near the back.

Rev. G.C., a preacher hailing from the deep south, was handed the mic. He was a near giant by any standard I knew. It was preaching time.

Over the past weeks my thoughts had pivoted back and forth between two topics regarding our Africa call. A language spoken there whose tones I could not recognize. And a phrase. . . leadership training. A seemingly random visit with a new acquaintance from abroad had spawned reflections. The two themes would not let go.

Swahili. Leadership training.

Rev. G. C.’s deep, graveled voice thundered as he plunged further into his message. Rivulets of sweat glistened on his broad face as his 300 pounds of Georgia preacherman paced across the front. Up and down the center aisle. His command of the sacred text was impressive. His passion ran deep.

Twenty minutes into the sermon it happened.

G.C. strode up the center aisle. Suddenly, in mid-sentence he halted. His head tilted upward. An unusual pause. Then the preacher-man voiced a single word no one expected, certainly not me.

“Swahili!” I gawked his direction, taken by the sudden turn in his message, especially by that word. Swahili.

I felt a mist of tears form, the hint of a gathering stream. The preacher’s tone softened, repeating that word. “I’m hearing Swahili spoken.” He scanned the audience.

“God has called someone in this room to go as a missionary to east or central Africa.”

NOTE: Speaker-Writer Jerry Lout grew up in Okmulgee County. A graduate of Preston High School, he completed media training at OSUIT in Okmulgee prior to his San Antonio college years. He and his wife served 20 years as missionaries in Africa, afterwards directing a Tulsa University campus ministry. Twice visited by polio, Jerry authored “Living With A Limp.” His “Giants in the Rough” memoir highlights the Africa years. Both works are available on Amazon.com and his website, www.jerrylout.com, features his blog entries. Jerry welcomes inquiries and comments via email at: jerrylout@gmail.com.

©2019 Jerry Lout