Ten orphans in Zambia recently experienced God’s faithfulness and Fatherly love through “butterfly kisses” and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a powerful story. A story of how God used a humble Pastor and a little white butterfly to rescue eight orphans out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Light.
You’ll be encouraged if you take a few minutes to read it. I trust God will be glorified as you do.
As a father of three girls, there’s one thing I know for sure, my three girls were sent from heaven and they’re Daddy’s little girls!
Bob Carlisle’s #1 album on the pop music charts in the summer of 1997 and his hit single “Butterfly Kisses” moved millions of fathers to tears all over the world. Eleven years later, I still choke up when I contemplate the lyrics and think of my heaven sent girls.
But as surely as I know the joy in life that comes from my heaven sent girls, my heart breaks for heaven’s daughters who’ve been orphaned by AIDS. My only comfort comes from my Father in heaven. He assures me through his Word that he is, “A Father to the fatherless…”(Psalm 68:5), who hears the cry of the oppressed, the lonely, the orphan, and answers them…and loves them.
Pastor Stacey Brohard traveled to Zambia with Every Orphan's Hope in August. He joined with other North Americans as a member of a short-term mission team. Their goal was to share the love of Jesus Christ with orphans through our Camp Hope ministry.
One memory Pastor Brohard shared with me profoundly demonstrates the love of God. It speaks of God’s love for the world. It displays his providence and sovereignty and His intimate longing to enjoy, as I do, butterfly kisses from his heaven sent children.
The story begins with a Pastor and father, longing and laboring to communicate the love of Christ to a group of orphans in Zambia. The story ends with a gentle yet powerful demonstration of God’s Fatherly love, manifest in the seemingly random flight of a white butterfly…
Pastor Stacey Brohard at Camp Hope - Zambia 2008
“A small white butterfly fluttered about and landed on the head of one of the orphans in our group. All the children took quick notice of what was happening. It seemed they couldn’t believe their eyes!” Pastor Stacey Brohard was excited. He marveled at the sight. Butterfly kisses from God. A magnificent display of God’s unconditional Fatherly love for children, orphaned and alone, who’ve lost one or both parents to AIDS.
It was the third day of Bible lessons, crafts, games and worship at Camp Hope. Pastor Stacey and his daughter had traveled from their home in Illinois to Zambia. Members of a short-term mission team, they came to serve and encourage the Zambian Church and to share the love and gospel of Christ with hundreds of orphans gathered at camp.
After two days of sharing with the 10 orphans in his small group, Pastor Stacey was concerned. He didn’t feel he was connecting. There seemed to be a communication barrier. At the end of the morning session on the third day, not one child had accepted Christ as Savior. Pastor Stacey wondered to himself, “What am I doing wrong?”
The afternoon session began with a craft, making butterflies from clothespins and colored tissue paper. The craft was meant to illustrate God’s transforming power. A reminder of how he takes us, through Christ, from our sinful self into a beautiful new creation. The caterpillar, a lowly milkweed-eating larva is transformed into a beautiful butterfly, set free to fly and dance across the sky. Makes sense as a simple illustration, right?
It makes sense, unless caterpillars are part of your food chain. It makes sense if you’ve been to school and learned of the egg-larva-chrysalis-butterfly process in your elementary or primary school science class.
But to the orphans in Pastor Stacey’s group, it didn’t make sense. They didn’t understand the illustration. They never learned of the egg-larva-chrysalis-butterfly connection. Most of them had never been to school. If they had, it’s likely they left school to care for their dying parents or to work to support their surviving siblings. They rarely if ever see a butterfly. They eat caterpillars!
Pastor Stacey shared with 15 year old Douglas, his short-term mission team member and helper, “I don’t know where to go next with this lesson. I don’t have anything. I give up.” And he sat down in his chair and watched as they completed their butterfly craft.
As Pastor Stacey surrendered, God’s transforming power moved in – butterfly kisses from God – for the orphans He loves so much, the very ones for which he gave his only begotten Son.
Pastor Stacey continued sharing the story, “The butterfly flew from one child to another finally coming to rest in the hand of one of the boys. The children watched with wonder and fascination as the butterfly opened and closed its wings.” Pastor Stacey turned to Douglas and said, “Douglas, the Holy Spirit is here, look at what’s happening!”
Justina, another Zambian teacher/interpreter working with Pastor Stacey, became very excited and was speaking to the children in their local language. The children’s eyes widened and she became more and more animated with her story. The children were sharing something with Justina, but Pastor Stacey had no idea what was being said.
After a few minutes, Justina turned to Pastor Stacey and said, “Pastor, many of the children would like to pray and accept Jesus into their heart!” For the next hour, Pastor Stacey, Pastor Movingo, Douglas and Justina counseled the children one by one. Eight of the children prayed to receive salvation from their sins and eternal life in heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.
Pastor Stacey continued, “I was so hoping, so praying that these children would understand what I was saying…but God wanted to deliver the message personally to them. There should not have been any butterflies in camp that day. I mean, if you’ve eaten all the caterpillars, there shouldn’t be any butterflies, right?”
But there before their eyes, just as Justina had explained, was a caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly. The children heard. The children saw. The children understood. “Against all odds God saved this butterfly for just this moment – that He might receive all the glory” then Pastor Stacey added, “and then I understood.”
God glorified his Son. He gave his Son the reward for his obedience, suffering and sacrifice – eight orphans in Zambia, adopted into God’s family.
One minute an orphan – alone, afraid and without hope. The next minute, adopted and heirs with Christ. Butterfly kisses from God.
Precious butterflies, you’ve been transformed and set free. Spread your wings and fly. To God be the glory!
I was a witness to the Mountain Top Experience. I had a group of teenages and an experience happened to my group on day two. The Holy Spirit took control of our group. The term things happen on the mountain top as they did with Moses.
Posted by: Anthony Holloway | November 03, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I am constantly touched and amazed at how wonderfully God works! He knows what it takes to reach people in their own personal ways. I received an email on the 17th that this was posted on your site, and I have never gotten any other emails for other posts even though I signed up for it. Which shows God's power once again!! Because I really needed to read this precious story. This story was such a blessing for me and my mom in the perfect time! it encouraged us to know God has his perfect way in perfect timing, even when we thank we have our own, and it doesn't happen. My family is adopting two children from Ethiopia, and the timing of everything has been so stressful, but this journey has also been so amazing! And has opened us up more and more to see the face of Christ. Thank you so much for sharing this story!
Posted by: Morgan | October 21, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Rick | October 17, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Awesome story about how God can reveal Himself to others and at the right time! He certainly wanted the children to understand the story and showed a great demonstration of His love.
Posted by: Jessica | October 17, 2008 at 11:02 AM