by Africa/Europe Area Director Bryce Whiting

I love to hear about people receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior, being fed up with the crud of their lives and asking God to deliver them from it. When they do so, he faithfully makes his presence known as they are freed from bondage and brought into the family of God.

In a call to Pastor Johnson Odoyo on November 18, I learned about some new followers of Jesus Christ who were only hours old in their new lives in Christ.

The story began with local witchdoctors. Those who practice animism receive money to bring spells against many while blessing others. They have killed babies and adults alike in their respective quests for power. When a family of God brings opposition to their income and influence they rise up against that family. In Johnson’s words, “They came to our church and stood before us with curses. They cursed us to death in two weeks. After two weeks we were still here, so they came again and cursed us again, this time adding a month to our destruction. After a month we were still here, so they have run far away.”

I asked Johnson to clarify what running far away could mean. His response, “They have taken their families and have migrated.”

Johnson added as I furiously typed, “Tonight three men came to the church. They had heard about the lack of success the witchdoctors had had against God’s people and wanted to see for themselves what was mightier than their witchdoctors. When they came face-to-face with the power of God they asked him to be their Lord and Savior. Then the battle began. Each of these three men were shaking and even slithering like snakes. There was a great battle as we prayed and the demons resisted until finally with loud screams the demons came out and the men were set free.

“Now we have babies in the faith to take care of. Their habits need changing. Their ways are still rough and sometimes crude, but they are falling in love with the Lord Jesus, and he is changing them.”

Oh, America. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

Amen.