During the Civil War, two Union soldiers stumbled upon cigars wrapped in paper under a locust tree. The South’s secret battle plans were written on that cigar wrapping paper. When Abe Lincoln heard he had the South’s secret plans, he took that as a sign that God wanted him to set the slaves free. God often engineers some events that surprise us. In Acts Chapter 8, we read about the Ethiopian eunuch. He was riding in his carriage pondering the meaning of a text from the book of Isaiah. Unbeknown to him, God had told Philip to leave Samaria, go toward Gaza, and walk alongside the eunuch’s carriage. Philip obeyed and heard the Ethiopian reading what he did not understand. Philip accepted the eunuch’s invitation to join him in his carriage. After learning that the text he was reading was all about Jesus, the promised Savior of the world, the eunuch accepted Jesus Christ. Philip baptized him and he went on his way rejoicing. Ethiopians today say the eunuch brought the Good News to their country. God’s people frequently see His hand at work in many unusual situations.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
