Treasure Hunt: Faith, Integrity, and God's Reward
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On JustGospel's Faith at Work with Malefa Siou, filmmaker Chim Onyebelama shared his journey from engineering to missions to cinema, culminating in his new film Treasure Hunt—a story challenging viewers to choose God's approval over immediate wealth.
From Engineer to Missionary
"I met Jesus 40 years ago as an 18-year-old on campus," Chim recalled. "Everything about my future changed." Excelling at math and technical drawing, he pursued building/structural engineering, designing skyscrapers and major buildings. But by age 21, the call to full-time ministry became clear. In 1995, he resigned to become a missionary among Muslims in unreached places.
"It still wrecks my heart that over two billion people haven't heard the gospel once explained correctly so they can make a solid choice," he said. For 30 years, he's planted churches where people face persecution—West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Indian Ocean islands.
The need is urgent: "The church in Joburg alone could spare 10 people, pay for them for four years, and churches would be planted. Many churches can sustain 10 laborers. Some can do one, some half." Currently only one South African missionary serves the Comoros, with fewer than five African missionaries total on that Indian Ocean island.
The Cost of Obedience
Chim quoted Acts 13, where God called Paul and Barnabas—pillars of Antioch church—to leave for unreached regions. "Some local churches would say: 'If we lose these two, this church is done.' But God takes the very best. That church was happy to let them go. You don't lose by giving to God."
Yet self-preservation dominates: "There's a tendency—I know it myself—for human nature to fight to save our lives. Jesus said, 'He that wants to save his life will lose it.' Local churches ask: 'How will this hurt us? What will it cost?' The question should be: 'What does God want me to do?'"
The Film's Genesis
Living in Hillcrest near Durban, Chim observed Thursday trash scavengers—"the poorest of the poor" searching for treasures to repair, sell, or use. WhatsApp groups warned: "Watch out, these guys are here"—equating poverty with criminality while assuming wealthy neighborhoods possess moral soundness. "This story twists that around and asks: Who really has treasure in terms of character?"
The Plot
A former con man, radically saved in prison, loses his job during COVID when he refuses to lie on UIF forms for his boss. Falling through cracks, he becomes a trash scavenger. Finding jewelry while sorting refuse at home, he discovers it's valuable—but his wife's rejoicing meets his conviction: "This doesn't belong to me. If I hold onto this, it's not integrity."
He decides to take it to police. "Thinking his trouble was over, but that's where trouble starts." The jewelry was stolen by thieves whose domestic worker mistakenly threw it away. Unable to claim it (they don't own it), they pressure him to lie and return it to them.
"He's intent on not displeasing God," Chim explained. "He faces tremendous pressure—gangsters demanding he lie, his wife angry he threw away their opportunity to escape poverty. All that forces him to God, asking: 'Lord, where are you? Do you see me?'"
The Deeper Questions
At the Oscar-qualifying film festival in Miami (June world premiere), an audience member asked if Chim would make the same choice. "Christ in you doesn't make you act for self-preservation. It makes you want to please God. This guy had to choose: Am I going to please God and lose quick wealth from something dodgy, saying 'God understands'? Or will I not compromise, even if I suffer loss?"
The film asks: "Why, when I do right, does God not reward me immediately? Why suffer when trying to do right?" As pressure mounts, "it's a story encouraging believers that God sees you. It's not over when you're following Him and things aren't lighting up. He hasn't gone on holiday. He still has a plan."
From Engineer to Missionary
"I met Jesus 40 years ago as an 18-year-old on campus," Chim recalled. "Everything about my future changed." Excelling at math and technical drawing, he pursued building/structural engineering, designing skyscrapers and major buildings. But by age 21, the call to full-time ministry became clear. In 1995, he resigned to become a missionary among Muslims in unreached places.
"It still wrecks my heart that over two billion people haven't heard the gospel once explained correctly so they can make a solid choice," he said. For 30 years, he's planted churches where people face persecution—West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Indian Ocean islands.
The need is urgent: "The church in Joburg alone could spare 10 people, pay for them for four years, and churches would be planted. Many churches can sustain 10 laborers. Some can do one, some half." Currently only one South African missionary serves the Comoros, with fewer than five African missionaries total on that Indian Ocean island.
The Cost of Obedience
Chim quoted Acts 13, where God called Paul and Barnabas—pillars of Antioch church—to leave for unreached regions. "Some local churches would say: 'If we lose these two, this church is done.' But God takes the very best. That church was happy to let them go. You don't lose by giving to God."
Yet self-preservation dominates: "There's a tendency—I know it myself—for human nature to fight to save our lives. Jesus said, 'He that wants to save his life will lose it.' Local churches ask: 'How will this hurt us? What will it cost?' The question should be: 'What does God want me to do?'"
The Film's Genesis
Living in Hillcrest near Durban, Chim observed Thursday trash scavengers—"the poorest of the poor" searching for treasures to repair, sell, or use. WhatsApp groups warned: "Watch out, these guys are here"—equating poverty with criminality while assuming wealthy neighborhoods possess moral soundness. "This story twists that around and asks: Who really has treasure in terms of character?"
The Plot
A former con man, radically saved in prison, loses his job during COVID when he refuses to lie on UIF forms for his boss. Falling through cracks, he becomes a trash scavenger. Finding jewelry while sorting refuse at home, he discovers it's valuable—but his wife's rejoicing meets his conviction: "This doesn't belong to me. If I hold onto this, it's not integrity."
He decides to take it to police. "Thinking his trouble was over, but that's where trouble starts." The jewelry was stolen by thieves whose domestic worker mistakenly threw it away. Unable to claim it (they don't own it), they pressure him to lie and return it to them.
"He's intent on not displeasing God," Chim explained. "He faces tremendous pressure—gangsters demanding he lie, his wife angry he threw away their opportunity to escape poverty. All that forces him to God, asking: 'Lord, where are you? Do you see me?'"
The Deeper Questions
At the Oscar-qualifying film festival in Miami (June world premiere), an audience member asked if Chim would make the same choice. "Christ in you doesn't make you act for self-preservation. It makes you want to please God. This guy had to choose: Am I going to please God and lose quick wealth from something dodgy, saying 'God understands'? Or will I not compromise, even if I suffer loss?"
The film asks: "Why, when I do right, does God not reward me immediately? Why suffer when trying to do right?" As pressure mounts, "it's a story encouraging believers that God sees you. It's not over when you're following Him and things aren't lighting up. He hasn't gone on holiday. He still has a plan."
