Powerful Displays of Confession and Forgiveness in Tanzania
By Africa/Europe Area Director Bryce Whiting
TANZANIA – It began with a missed appointment. I had called Pastor Johnson Odoyo to inquire about his recent adventures with the Hadzabe tribe. Johnson did not answer the phone, but moments later sent a text, “Praise the Lord brother Bryce! I’m sorry we can’t talk. We are in the funeral of my neighbor’s son who committed suicide. I’ve been invited to preach at night, tomorrow will be the burial day. May we talk later? I am sorry, Brother Bryce.”
In Tanzania, as in most other African nations, burials take place within a day of one’s death, for the costs of preserving the body bring burdensome expenses that none but the wealthy can afford. I knew Pastor Johnson would have his hands full for the next couple of days, for there are several services of worship and mourning to accommodate the grieving community. One can also expect travelers who need a place to stay for a night or two. Johnson is a generous man and offers his home, food and water in a heartbeat. Knowing that Pastor Johnson would have a very full schedule for a while, I texted him a prayer and gave him some space until he texted me again, “Praise the Lord brother Bryce! Thank you for your prayers. God has saved the remaining family members. We shall talk when you’ll be free.”
Needless to say, I called him quickly and the story unfolded.
The young man who took his own life was merely 24 years old. He left behind a wife and one small child. What strikes hard is that this young man was a pastor’s kid, his father being a pastor in a community church. Of even greater impact is that this young man was one of six robbers who broke into Johnson’s home in June 2022, brutalized the baby-sitter, threatened the traumatized small children and stole precious technology. We prayed that the thieves would be apprehended and the material returned. God answered those prayers as the six thieves were arrested and all but one iPhone has been returned. The sixth and final thief to be revealed was the neighboring pastor’s son. His identity was no longer secret, for the police by this time were sufficiently informed and were coming for him. Rather than to be publicly exposed and humiliated he chose to end his own life.
Johnson went to the jailhouse and spoke personally with each thief, offering them his own forgiveness as God had forgiven him. He spoke as well with the grieving family of the deceased, sharing in their grief and assuring them of his forgiveness. It was at this point that the young man’s father asked Johnson to preach.
The message of forgiveness strikes deeply, and the effects of it were not predicted. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Johnson invited people to come forward, kneel before the Lord, confess their own sins and receive freedom in Christ Jesus and the gift of eternal life. I am told that many came forward, knelt and confessed their sins with tears. The following are snippets of what took place:
- One man discovered his wife to be in an adulterous relationship. He confessed to Johnson that in his bitterness he had been planning to take the lives of his wife, children, the adulterous man and his own life. During the confession he had to stop several times due to the brokenness of his heart. He confessed his murderous intentions and gave his life to the Lord.
- The adulterous wife confessed her sin, and if her husband would receive her back she would pledge to be faithful to him.
- The adulterous man was also present in the assembly. He fell to the floor and wept loudly, confessing privately his sin to Johnson while praying that Christ would enter his worthless life.
- Neighbors of Johnson Odoyo came forward and confessed that they had stolen chickens from him.
- Witches came forward in tears and confessed spiritual attacks against him and his family. Johnson’s daughter (named Gladness) had gone to boarding school. The witches found where she was staying and followed her there. They lingered outside her quarters and cursed her with an illness which leads to death. As Johnson heard this confession he remembered going to the school to pray over his daughter. As he prayed, unaware of the spiritual nature of the attack, the illness left her.
The witches also confessed an attack on his home, specifically directed to his wife Ilene. Johnson again recalled illness falling upon Ilene but once again prayer drove the illness away. Each witch recognized a greater power than their own at work and confessed their sins, asking Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. - Advent Christian pastors attended the various events and offered their homes to the mourners who had traveled to the funeral. They also scheduled a meeting with the grieving pastor who had lost his son to offer their condolences.
Forgiveness is the application of the Word of God. It strikes deeply and brings results that could hardly have been foretold.