Opening Our Eyes to the Battle

The Fall ’25 Witness magazine has dropped!

If you’ve read any of the recent stories coming out of Tanzania, you’ve likely seen glimpses of God’s miraculous work. Pastors Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya continue to inspire with their courage, vision and unwavering commitment to bringing the gospel to villages around Mwanza. What stands out most is how often they witness visible, undeniable displays of God’s power over demonic forces. In this issue, you’ll hear directly from Johnson as he recounts his encounters with the demonic and the victory that is his in Jesus.

At times, their stories almost read like science fiction yet they are very real. Their experiences raise an uncomfortable question: Are we, here in America, blind to the spiritual warfare happening around us? Scripture reminds us that Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Just because we don’t see it the same way doesn’t mean the enemy isn’t at work.

This issue of the magazine explores spiritual warfare through several different lenses. Justin Nash’s article, “Dark Invitations,” offers a sobering look at how New Age beliefs, witchcraft and alternative spiritualities are quietly influencing a growing number of Americans. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are shaping spiritual imagination in ways that often go unnoticed even among Christians. For further study, we recommend the book Strange Rites, an unsettling secular analysis of how Americans are searching for meaning and spirituality apart from the church.

Luke Copeland’s article, “Mind Over Matter,” calls our attention to the battlefield of the mind. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 10 and Ephesians 6, he reminds us that the enemy’s most effective attacks often begin in our thoughts, where lies take root and distort truth. Thankfully, in Christ, we’ve been given spiritual weapons powerful enough to tear down strongholds and take every thought captive.

Finally, our interview on church hospitality offers practical ways to open wide our church doors — inviting nonbelievers to come and meet the author of truth that they so desperately need. 

As you read, I pray you’ll be reminded that spiritual warfare isn’t just a distant reality — it’s here. But so is Christ. And in him, we have both power and peace.