Book Review: The African Awakening
Wednesday, 11 December, 2024
President of Life Equip Global, Raul Reyes writes how while the world is about to experience a demographic crisis, God will use Africa, where life began, to bring the message of the culture of life and hope to the world. Reyes writes about the devastating global abortion holocaust but in the midst of this calamity as there is good news because the world looks towards Africa to bolster dwindling populations of other nations.
The book is a must read for those involved in ministry on the African continent. We have an enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and a savior who comes to give life and life abundantly.
Reyes tells the story of a pastor who used to be an abortionist. God allowed him to hear the babies he had killed crying and allowed him to see their faces years afterwards. He never returned to performing abortions and dedicated himself to the Lord. The story immediately changed the 200 pastors he told it to and the man has helped countless lives come to Christ. He was healed, forgiven and set free. It was a powerful story of the depth of God’s love for us.
In Kenya, Reyes attended a meeting with 200 Maasai pastors and their wives. They reached a time where anyone was able to repent, confess from past sins regarding abortion. The women almost immediately began praying, crying and wailing. There was unimaginable amounts of pain and emotional damage from abortion, rape, incest and sexual abuse. It was the first time any of them were allowed to express the pain they had been hiding. The crying continued for quite some time.
After the women had finished, it was the men’s turn. They made a circle around the women and prayed over them while confessing their own sins, which included not being there to protect the women. Men openly confessed secrets they had hidden for man years, including abortion, mistreating women and bearing children out of wedlock. There was a complete feeling of openness and feeling of repentance. Rejoicing broke out and the Holy Spirit touch all these hearts and they experienced the feeling of God’s forgiveness and healing. The next few hours they were singing and dancing like never before. The experience made clear what Satan means for evil, God means for good.
The Church in Africa is a sleeping giant when it comes to pro-life ministry. In a testimony in the book, an individual shares a story of how at a pastor’s prayer conference his abortion testimony in front of 65 pastors. He invited anyone who had been involved in abortion or similarly had children out of wedlock to come forward for repentance, forgiveness and healing. Half the room came forward, including a Bishop with tears in his eyes. When Church leaders embrace the truth of the sacredness of human life, they influence whole communities to become life-giving as a cultural norm.
Pat Layton, President of surrendering the secret, had an abortion which she hid the experience of and experienced profound consequences. But as God was allowed into her darkest secrets of her past, her sin and brokenness were exchanged for redemption and purpose. She asked God to use her to reach other women. She has ministered to many other women who have endured the heartbreak of abortion, and a course to help heal and restore those trapped by the abortion lie.
Reyes shares the story of how he ministered to a woman who had been raped and was considering abortion. Alisha had been raped and left half dead and now was pregnant. Reyes ministered to the woman full of empathy. He said, “I can’t begin to imagine how you feel. But you are now planning on ending the life of the baby growing inside you. That man is guilty of a horrible act of violence against you, but this baby is innocent and has committed no crime. Ending the baby’s life by abortion for a crime he or she never committed will not make the pain of your rape lessens. It will only add the pain of knowing you have ended your baby’s life by abortion and to the pain of rape. An abortion will never undo the rape you have endured. God had us here today so I can tell you He loves you and your baby. And I believe that God what allowed this baby to be created inside of you so that one day God will use your baby, if you allow the baby to live, to help take the hated you now feel out of your heart.” Two years later Alisha returned with her two year old son to say thank you. The beautiful boy had replaced her hatred with love.
Barbra Mwansa shares her testimony that despite an abusive upbringing and having two abortions, when she openly confessed her sins she was set free and the lord set on her heart a desire to start a crisis pregnancy centre in Zambia called silent voices. She now leads the association for Life of Africa (AFLA) which has over 300 crisis pregnancy centres in 23 countries under the umbrella. The Lord has blessed her with two sons and one daughter and she knows after 4 miscarriages she has six children in heaven with the Lord.
Overall the book is full of solid pro-life teaching, infused with Scripture and grace filled testimonies - a must read!
The book is a must read for those involved in ministry on the African continent. We have an enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and a savior who comes to give life and life abundantly.
Reyes tells the story of a pastor who used to be an abortionist. God allowed him to hear the babies he had killed crying and allowed him to see their faces years afterwards. He never returned to performing abortions and dedicated himself to the Lord. The story immediately changed the 200 pastors he told it to and the man has helped countless lives come to Christ. He was healed, forgiven and set free. It was a powerful story of the depth of God’s love for us.
In Kenya, Reyes attended a meeting with 200 Maasai pastors and their wives. They reached a time where anyone was able to repent, confess from past sins regarding abortion. The women almost immediately began praying, crying and wailing. There was unimaginable amounts of pain and emotional damage from abortion, rape, incest and sexual abuse. It was the first time any of them were allowed to express the pain they had been hiding. The crying continued for quite some time.
After the women had finished, it was the men’s turn. They made a circle around the women and prayed over them while confessing their own sins, which included not being there to protect the women. Men openly confessed secrets they had hidden for man years, including abortion, mistreating women and bearing children out of wedlock. There was a complete feeling of openness and feeling of repentance. Rejoicing broke out and the Holy Spirit touch all these hearts and they experienced the feeling of God’s forgiveness and healing. The next few hours they were singing and dancing like never before. The experience made clear what Satan means for evil, God means for good.
The Church in Africa is a sleeping giant when it comes to pro-life ministry. In a testimony in the book, an individual shares a story of how at a pastor’s prayer conference his abortion testimony in front of 65 pastors. He invited anyone who had been involved in abortion or similarly had children out of wedlock to come forward for repentance, forgiveness and healing. Half the room came forward, including a Bishop with tears in his eyes. When Church leaders embrace the truth of the sacredness of human life, they influence whole communities to become life-giving as a cultural norm.
Pat Layton, President of surrendering the secret, had an abortion which she hid the experience of and experienced profound consequences. But as God was allowed into her darkest secrets of her past, her sin and brokenness were exchanged for redemption and purpose. She asked God to use her to reach other women. She has ministered to many other women who have endured the heartbreak of abortion, and a course to help heal and restore those trapped by the abortion lie.
Reyes shares the story of how he ministered to a woman who had been raped and was considering abortion. Alisha had been raped and left half dead and now was pregnant. Reyes ministered to the woman full of empathy. He said, “I can’t begin to imagine how you feel. But you are now planning on ending the life of the baby growing inside you. That man is guilty of a horrible act of violence against you, but this baby is innocent and has committed no crime. Ending the baby’s life by abortion for a crime he or she never committed will not make the pain of your rape lessens. It will only add the pain of knowing you have ended your baby’s life by abortion and to the pain of rape. An abortion will never undo the rape you have endured. God had us here today so I can tell you He loves you and your baby. And I believe that God what allowed this baby to be created inside of you so that one day God will use your baby, if you allow the baby to live, to help take the hated you now feel out of your heart.” Two years later Alisha returned with her two year old son to say thank you. The beautiful boy had replaced her hatred with love.
Barbra Mwansa shares her testimony that despite an abusive upbringing and having two abortions, when she openly confessed her sins she was set free and the lord set on her heart a desire to start a crisis pregnancy centre in Zambia called silent voices. She now leads the association for Life of Africa (AFLA) which has over 300 crisis pregnancy centres in 23 countries under the umbrella. The Lord has blessed her with two sons and one daughter and she knows after 4 miscarriages she has six children in heaven with the Lord.
Overall the book is full of solid pro-life teaching, infused with Scripture and grace filled testimonies - a must read!
