The Funeral of a Witchdoctor

TANZANIA – Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya traveled to the district of Mang’ola in mid-June to plant a church. Mang’ola is where these two missionaries stay while ministering to the Hadzabe and the Datoga tribes. Johnson and Amos found themselves praying over villagers and talking to many about the saving grace of Christ. So, a new passion was ignited, and the two men decided to make a trip to Mang’ola to plant a church. As Johnson said, “God will not give me peace until I plant a church in Mang’ola.” On Sunday, June 22, this small church held its first worship service.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve shared news from Mang’ola about the new church being planted, and the encounter with a local witchdoctor. Upon his first encounter with the faithful servants of God, the witchdoctor was rendered mute and paralyzed. When he did not recover, he sent for Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya, asking for them to come and pray for him. They laid their hands on him in prayer and his tongue was loosened. He then acknowledged to his eight wives and others that Jesus Christ was more powerful than he, and that all should listen to the message brought by God’s two servants. Soon after this, he died. 

Some were celebrating a miraculous “Thief on the Cross” salvation, as the death and testimony of one man directed the eyes of many more to Jesus Christ.

Johnson and Amos stayed in Mang’ola an additional week so that they could preach at the funeral of the witchdoctor. Johnson reported that many different families came to the village of Mbuga Nyekundu to mourn the death of the witchdoctor Ng’wengweche. The time of mourning includes two full days of grief prior to the burial. Some traveled a great distance and came with cows, sheep and goats to be slaughtered and shared. The pagan friends of the witchdoctor who traveled to the burial did truly mourn, but many in the village were secretly celebrating their freedom from the witchdoctor’s power. 

At the funeral of the witchdoctor Ng’wengweche, Pastors Johnson and Amos delivered the message of salvation for all who believe and confess the Lord Jesus. Forty-eight new names were added to the Book of Life that day, and on Sunday, July 6, this growing new church celebrated their new life found in Christ.