A Little History about the Chicken

As told to M. Irons by Njei Moses Timah

"I bought the chicken when she was just attaining adulthood during thanksgiving at the Presbyterian Church (Wumugi Congregation) in Batibo, Cameroon over a year ago. In the village churches, people who do not have money to offer to the church do sometimes bring their offerings in kind. The objects brought are then sold through bidding to convert them into cash.

I took the chicken to my mother to keep it. I live in the city (in Douala) about 400 kms from Batibo where my mother lives. In rural Africa, the chicken is usually allowed to roam in the yard. After mating, she lays eggs, incubates them until they hatch. She takes care of the hatched chicks until they reach a reasonable age for her to have another set of chicks.

The hen usually protects her chicks from rain, cold and predators by letting them get under her in the manner you see in the photo. She communicates with them using special sounds and they understand when she announces that danger is around the corner.

There is an interesting coincidence. The chicken was used as offering in church and you are now using it (without prior knowledge of its origin) as a church symbol."

Our thanks to Mr. Timah for sharing this information about the hen. We are glad that this little hen has now been thrice used for God: initially, in being offered to him and her price used to benefit the church in Batibo; again, in showing us how God cares for us; and yet again, in blessing us, as well as Mr. Timah, and Mr. Gana, a friend of Mr. Timah with whom I spoke to arrange the remuneration for the use of the photo, with the knowledge of God's hand in the circle of events surrounding her.

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