Ebatshu served as a Global Disciples training program director with a vision to reach the Pygmy or Batwa people of Central Africa. The Batwa are hunter-gatherers who live isolated in the forests, discriminated against by the majority people, and treated as less-than-human.

However, Ebatshu included five Batwa in his discipleship-mission training. During their outreach, this team went into the forests where they met Adika.

Like most of his tribe, Adika lived without clothes, dependent on whatever the forest provided. As Ebatshu began talking about Jesus, Adika waved him off, saying, “Who is this Jesus?” Ebatshu wouldn’t give up so he took his spare shirt and trousers and gave them to Adika.

Surprised, Adika wanted to know why—why would he do this. Ebatshu said, “Because Jesus loves you, I love you and I want to give these clothes to you.”

“Then I want to know this Jesus,” Adika replied and he listened to the Gospel and gave his life to Christ, as did his wife and children. Each evening Ebatshu and his team discipled and taught Adika about his new life in Christ.

When a local witchdoctor fell sick, the team prayed for him, and he was healed immediately and chose salvation in Jesus Christ. Several women also believed in Christ, including a pregnant prostitute who wore a special charm meant to protect her. However, once she put her faith in Jesus, she removed the charm, choosing to rely only on God. She left prostitution and developed a small business to support herself.

Within several months, ninety new Batwa or Pygmy believers were meeting regularly with Adika as their pastor. And he chose a new name—Moses—the one to rescue and lead his people with the Gospel of Jesus.

Update: Since this story was first reported, God has blessed Ebatshu and his heart for the Batwa people. A growing number of Batwa communities have thriving fellowships–and they are now training and sending out their own disciple-makers. Similar outreach, church planting, and disciple-making is yielding great results in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and neighboring regions.