What do you know about witchdoctors?
My westernized idea of a witchdoctor has forever been altered.
Growing up in Sunday school in the U.S. my view of a witchdoctor was formed by missionary stories I heard in Sunday school and Bible clubs. The word conjured up images of a hardened and angry man of centuries past who had direct communication with Satan and access to his power to curse people.
The past few years I've learned they still exist and are still part of normal life here in Africa. The past few months I've learned that there are two types- those that work a lot with herbs and natural medicine (not sure but I think these men are still involved in witchcraft) and those who clearly deal in the things of Satan through curses and the like. I don't know much and don't want to know much, but they use animal and human parts, especially albinos in their practices. Horrible, horrible things. Here in the area where the Sukuma tribe is predominant, you can often recognize a witchdoctor's home by the round huts with pointed roofs and shells laying on the roofs.
Yesterday my view of witchdoctors radically changed. Yes, they are involved in horrible things, but they are still just men. I joined Ray Weekly, Petro and Pele, Tanzanian assistant pastors, for soul-winning out at Fumagira. A witchdoctor had just moved into the area so they wanted to stop and give him a tract. An older man and his wife and what appeared to be their two teenage daughters were working or sitting around. They invited us to sit and Pele started sharing. They were very open and willing to hear, so Pele went through the whole plan of salvation, in a mixture of Kiswahili and Kisukuma. Only after he shared did another man come out of a hut. I had thought the old man was the witchdoctor until man #2 came along. He was decked out with necklaces made of shells and a red robe/cape draped over one shoulder. Ahh...so this is the witchdoctor. But he couldn't have been older than 20 years old! Later I find out that the 2 teen girls were his wives and the elder couple were neighbors (possibly clients?)
At first he had quite the smirk, but he asked some genuine questions...
"You said there was only one way to heaven, what did you say that way was?"
Pele re-explained: Jesus Christ said He is the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. We have sinned and deserve the lake of fire, but Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin...
"So what if someone like me wanted this way, would I have to throw away all my things, the things of my profession?"
Pele's answer: Getting saved is like being born. When we are first born we can't even stand up, then slowly we learn to crawl then stand then walk then run. Change happens slowly. After you receive God's gift of salvation He will in time give you the desire and strength to grow to live more like Him. (I'm not sure how far Pele went from here, but this was the gist of his explanation.)
"So, if I come to church, I don't have to take off my necklaces?"
Pele's answer: No, come only and hear the Word of God from His book the Bible. You are most welcome.
He seemed sincere...no hardened, angry, curse-throwing man; but a searching, logical young man. It makes me wonder how witchdoctors become witchdoctors. Are they born into it? How do they get their training?
Please pray that these 5 people will come to church, will seek the truth, and be genuinely saved!
