Man’s Mind Freed, Leaves Islam for Jesus

Pastors Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya returned safely from a mission trip to the Datoga bush people. As always, they spent their time there teaching and facilitating worship and prayer for anyone who needed it. Many brought people who were sick, and the Spirit of God healed them. Each day there were testimonies of how God had healed ailments and illnesses. Faith in God’s power was increased rapidly among the Datoga and the word soon spread to nearby villages.

People came from those villages begging for these men of God to come back with them to pray over the sick. Pastors of churches also came asking for ministry to their membership. They even offered money, which was kindly refused. The explanation they were given, “We will ask the Lord about this. Right now, we cannot come. We do not force the Lord to heal anyone. He is the Lord of perfect timing. He may heal some immediately while others are healed over time. Still others may not be healed at all. He is the Lord. We do not force him.”

One man who walked out into the bush to see them is named O’Malley. O’Malley comes from a Muslim background with a syncretized occult influence (occult beliefs or practices that have been blended with another religion or belief system). His family has long been sold out to witchdoctors and their spells that have placed O’Malley in long-term bondage. He habitually paced back and forth while kicking dirt into the air while uttering nonsense. The sacks of food the missionaries brought attracted him, as did the joy exhibited in the musical worship celebration. In the past he would run whenever Johnson and Amos came too closely to him.

This time, however, he entered the church building, listened to the words being sung, and was drawn by the Spirit-inspired happiness and gentleness. His actions still showed that he was disturbed but he was not too disruptive. When the speaker had given a message and invited people forward to pray, O’Malley went forward and reverently knelt. His speech was not understandable, but his heart must have pleased the Lord, for demons came out from him. He was set free and sat on a bench in his right mind. 

During their last two weeks of ministry, the missionaries prayed over O’Malley each day, laying hands upon him and inviting the Spirit of God to minister to him. Each day his mind grew clearer until he formulated intelligible sentences. Word reached his parents and family members in his home village, who travelled 60 kilometers to see him.

After two days of observation, they were convinced of O’Malley’s healing and asked him to come home with them. To the surprise of many he turned down the offer, choosing to separate himself from Islam and the occult and to remain with his new family of God; the Datoga.

O’Malley has chosen to give himself a new name. He is now known as John – he’s now waiting with others for the rains to come so he may be baptized.