War Never Changes
Ulysses S. Grant, American Civil War general and later president is quoted as saying: “I have never advocated war except as means of peace, so seek peace, but prepare for war. Because war . . . war never changes. War is like winter, and winter is coming.” (This may have been attributed to Grant’s Personal Memoirs which I have read numerous times, but I do not ever recall seeing it there).
I am not in a position to judge war. My family has been in America since the 1680s, and at least one member of my ancestral line has fought in almost every American war from the colonial era, the founding of the United States, two world wars, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Five Spradlins fought in the Union’s 30th Kentucky Mounted Infantry in the American Civil War. Many more of us have served in the military in peacetime.
Like many countries in Africa (and around the world, for that matter), Cameroon has seen its share of conflict. Over the last decade, a struggle has emerged between the minority English speaking parts of the country and the majority French speaking parts of the country. The government forces are fighting intermittently against the separatists. The separatists are generally English speaking and want to secede from the majority French government. Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities. When traveling around the country, people are fairly open about expressing their opinions of the matter.
Last year, one of our local pastor friends was robbed at a checkpoint, and the pastor in the car behind him was shot and killed on the spot. That pastor left behind a wife and new baby. As is typical in these internicene conflicts, the women and children suffer the most.
Alas, this conflict seems to have come to our Peace Rally on the last night. With well over a thousand people at our outdoor rally, we had had a great time celebrating for over two hours with no problems. Because Americans can be targets overseas, we had local security with us personally during the day and at the nighttime rally for the three days of the event.
What I tell you next is my memory of the evening, and in these situations, it can be difficult to ascertain what is happening. What is unusual for me is that during the afternoon, as I was preparing my sermon, I thought about what I would do if gunfire broke out at the rally that night. When the moment came, I did not have to think about what my part would be.
Maybe ten minutes into the sermon on the Book of Revelation sustained gunfire broke at the rally. As rounds were being fired, they seemed to be going away from us by the sound of the rifle fire. Also, a number of vehicles sped by us on the street at high speed. The people sitting up on the road poured down the hill like a rolling wave of water. It was dark, and at that moment I was the only person on the stage, which was well lit.
I asked people not to panic and run. As the crowd stabilized, I tried to speak in as calm a voice as possible and still be heard. Once people had taken what shelter they could in nearby buildings and below street level, I led us in prayer for a period of time.
As a second round of gunfire broke out, several of the local pastors came and pulled me off the platform, cut the lights, and told me to take shelter. We knelt next to the street between the shooting and the majority of the crowd.
We stayed there for some time, and we were able to move among the people and pray for many and give out hugs and encouragement. Since the police did not want anyone moving for a time, the local pastors decided that I could conclude the service by giving a Gospel invitation (but not asking people to come forward).
The people of Cameroon were incredibly brave and gave such attention to the Gospel as the service concluded. We will never know the number of decisions made, but several people did give their lives to Christ. I was so honored to be numbered among such a brave and fine group of people.
I must say something about our team. They never ran, but protected the people near them from the start. When we discussed going back out from shelter to finish the service, everyone was immediately ready to move out.
We do live in a city in the USA with a lot of violence so we understand what it means, but our team showed real courage. This is especially true considering, for many, it was their first time under fire.
I know this moment will overshadow the rest of our story, but it cannot erase all the good things we experienced for the week and how we will all be bonded together because of this night. The local police commissioner and other officials checked on our safety and made sure we securely left the area the next morning (as we were originally scheduled to do). The biggest difference for me is that I get to go home to the USA, but they live here. I was reliably informed that a few people were injured, but all were released from the hospital the next day.
I will let the host pastor (who is one of our Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary online master’s degree students) have the last word. This is the text he sent me later that night.
“Good evening, Dr. Spradlin! You are a rare gem, and I mean this from the depth of my heart. What you have taught me today by your display of courage in the face of danger has given me and my family a commitment to the gospel of Christ that years of class work would have never given me. My wife is still struggling to understand how you were the one encouraging her, whereas she thought she should be the one encouraging you. Joshua, Candice and Cody did the same. I can say without doubt that MABTS is completely surrendered to Christ and His course. Thank you. Never think this is flattery. There is something about you and the team from MABTS that is uncommon to find, namely dedication to the gospel of Christ and unmatched love and kindness towards others. Dr., thank you for your kindness.
We are at peace, confident that nothing transpires except by the Lord’s permission. These days that I have spent with you and the other team members, in terms of learning, are worth more than years of class work. My family and I are most grateful.
May the Lord keep you in his eternal love.”
Pastor E
Somehow Missing Africa,
M
Michael R Spradlin 