Hadzabe: God's Power Prevails
By Bryce Whiting, Africa/Europe Area Director
It all began with, “Praise the Lord brother Bryce! Thanks for your prayers! May you be informed that we arrived safely. We thank God for everything he has done for us in our lives.”
Our Pastors Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya have reached new settlements of the Hadzabe with the gospel, and the Holy Spirit has changed many hearts, but some remain unbelievers. As they seek open doors to spread the Word of Life to other unreached settlements, they are finding that God will often take an extreme situation and use it as a door-opener.
Johnson and Amos arrived to visit their Hadzabe friends to discover that government officials were deeply concerned and called to action. A hostile spirit had entered the Hazabe children who were away at boarding school, resulting in frequent fighting with injuries to teachers and others who were not part of their tribe. They resorted even to poisonous weapons that they use in the bush, reportedly resulting in the death of three instructors with injuries to others.
Women also from yet-to-be reached villages were engaged in growing conflict within their families, causing separations and even divorces.
The response of the governing officials was to hold a conference of peace for the women while at the same time to organize a conference for the youth. The officials asked Johnson and Amos to address both conferences, teaching about God’s peace. Johnson writes, “We didn’t plan for it, but God planned it for us. We were so glad to have a chance for teaching the Word of God and to pray for them.”
The youth turned over their weapons to Johnson and Amos; those that they carried and those that they had hidden. The authorities asked the peacemakers what special weapon they used to scare the youth into surrendering their own weapons. The answer was the peace of God! The officials clapped their hands in appreciation of God’s peace. Praise the Lord!
For the moment, there exists a time of peace as well among the women as (reportedly) several have given their lives to Jesus Christ.
If this wasn’t enough, another challenge confronted the missionaries almost immediately. There is an agro-pastoral tribe of semi-nomadic people living near the Hadzabe called the Datooga (alternate spelling is Datoga). Pastor Johnson Odoyo shares that their god is a large tree. They believe that the tree provides life and sustenance for them and their animals; among which are sheep, goats, donkeys and cattle. More than one study has suggested that the Datooga tribe is largely animistic in their beliefs.
One study says the following:
They are resistant to cultural change, including belief in Christianity, maintaining a strong adherence to traditional animist beliefs and practices. The Datooga are animists who respect and fear their ancestors. They practice divination, rain-making, witchcraft and sorcery. Most believe in one creator god, whom they call Aseeta. But they think of him as distant and impersonal. Spiritual help is found through communication with ancestors.
The Joshua Project finds the Datooga to be “a proud people, with a reputation as fierce warriors. Traditionally, young men had to prove themselves by killing an ‘enemy of the people,’ defined as any human being not a Datooga, or one of the dangerous wild animals, such as elephant, lion or buffalo.”
Ten men from this tribe came to worship their false god at the Hadzabe Advent Christian Church that was built in August – they were met with resistance by the Hadzabe tribe. Both are proud and independent people groups, ready to defend their honor. Before the violence could begin, government officials stepped in to say this land had been given to the Hadzabe and directed the Datooga to go back to their land. Once again, seeing this great opposition as a great opportunity, Johnson and Amos (at great risk to themselves) met with the Datooga, bringing them the good news. One of the Datooga was very ill, prompting Johnson and Amos to lay their hands on him. Immediately, the sick man was healed and rose to his feet! The onlookers were amazed at the power of the true God. It is reported that all 10 men bowed their heads in prayer and repentance, choosing to follow Jesus. In response to this move of the Holy Spirit, three of the more mature Hadzabe have gone to the Datooga with Johnson and Amos. They have claimed them as brothers-in-the-Lord and have extended the olive branch of peace to them. (These reports are so wonderful they are almost beyond belief!)
These two major conflicts took place within a week. But wait! There is more! Four witchdoctors living in the bushland had been traveling to different Hadzabe settlements to demonstrate their power in the spells and rituals they bring. They heard of a new church built in August and determined to go there to show the deluded Christian worshipers their power. On the journey from their home, three of the men were suddenly paralyzed and struck with blindness! They returned to their home, never completing the evil mission to the Hadzabe church, but they did send a messenger to Johnson and Amos with words of repentance. “Please come and pray for us,” they said.
The Hadzabe have counseled the missionaries against this for several reasons:
- It is far, far into the bush.
- It is a powerful land that none of the Hadzabe are willing to enter.
- Finally, this may be a trap. If they want prayer, then insist that they come here.
I said to Johnson, “There may be some wisdom in that direction. What do you think, Johnson?”
“We will wait to hear from God,” Johnson responded.
“Lord, speak clearly for them, and glorify your name.”
