Source: Partners International, December 24, 2017
Among the Konkomba people group, there is a bizarre but common practice of killing infants who are believed to carry evil destinies. When a child is born into a pagan home, the parents consult mediums to know whether the new-born will bring luck or evil to the family into which he or she is born. If the medium rules that the child will bring evil, the parents are tasked to purchase an animal for sacrifice and also provide other needed items including money to aid in the ritual of taking away the life of that child.
Malalb is a mother who nearly lost her four-year-old-daughter to such a barbaric practice. Malalb is a Christian married to an unbelieving husband, Bambilla. When their baby girl was born, Bambilla decided to consult an oracle to know whether the newborn would bring a blessing or a curse on the family. The oracle divined that the baby was an evil child and so she had to be killed to prevent her ill-fate from befalling the family. Bambilla accepted this and decided to purchase the ritual items comprising a goat and money among other things needed for the murder of his daughter.
Malalb looked on helplessly as her husband prepared to take the life of their only daughter at the time. Even though she did not condone her husband’s decision, there was little she could do to make him change his mind.
Thankfully, God intervened…
» Here’s an update from another story about caring for children which we’ve been following: Compassion Has “Very Little Hope” for India, Sets Deadline to Shut Down Sponsorships (Christianity Today).