A story by Tunmike Umarudeen of her late father and how the prayer of intercession saved his soul was an inspiring moment on The Praise O’Clock Show. Narrated by TOLA Omoniyi
By Tunmike Umarudeen — Today makes it 6 years since my dad died but every December comes with a rush of memories of his last moments on earth. Last weekend at a hangout, during a session on witnessing to Muslims, I told the people of how he was fond of saying “If you take my corpse to church when I die, I will wake up” and chuckled. He hated everything about being a Christian until he turned 43. Follow me as I share the whole story.
There was a government primary school behind the estate where we lived in a town in Akoko where I was born. My mum was a teacher there. Every Sunday evening, some of the teachers met together for a fellowship hosted by Scripture Union. For me who grew up as a Muslim girl, the rhythms of their songs, claps, together with the sounds of the tambourines made me excited about attending the meetings. One of the couples preached to my mum and she got saved. Married to a hardened Muslim like my father, she had to face persecution from him and his relatives, with many attempts to marry a second wife, but none was successful. I was 8 years when all these began.
Dad worked in another state and visited us periodically, so his absence allowed my mum to continue in her fellowship with the brethen, and soon, she joined a church. We were punished each time my dad found out from spies around that we followed her to church. But for over a year, during morning devotions, she made sure we point at my dad’s picture and pray for his salvation. “God hears the prayer of children quickly because of your innocence, point at this picture and pray for the salvation of your father” I remember her say.
The following year was when he had a stroke with total paralysis twice at the age of 43. On the bed where he laid, he heard the audible voice of God which said to him “Dear brother, stand up and open the door”. After two attempts, he walked towards the door and opened it. Like Paul of Tarsus, this encounter led him to confess Jesus as his Savior. He survived stroke for many years until 6 years ago when he had the third attack and died in a coma.
In my early twenties, I had to take it up myself to intercede for the salvation of my younger Sister like my mother led us to do for my dad. One day, she saw her name in the middle of my bible where I had written her salvation as part of my prayer points for the year. She confronted me and I said, “I’m praying for you. You need to stop being religious and have a personal relationship with Jesus”. I kept talking to her but prayed more. She got saved the next year.
I’ve shared these stories to remind you that you have a role to play in the salvation of your unsaved family members. God needs you to agree with Him over their lives as you live an exemplary life too. He doesn’t give up on anyone, why should you? Pray more than you talk to them. Let God do the convicting, you do the praying and keep talking to them too.
Tunmike Umarudeen
