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!
