August 15, 2008
Although complications from surgery have caused Marcel, a national pastor in Sirasso, Burkina Faso, some health problems, the curse that was cast on him by villagers proved ineffective in its mission to harm the dedicated minister. The malevolent appeal by locals, who believe Pastor Marcel and Christianity are a threat to their way of life, manifested as an infestation of poisonous snakes on the pastor’s property.
“When the snakes brought no harm to the family and started to diminish, the villagers told Marcel they were surprised that he survived,” says an Alliance international worker, who has worked alongside Pastor Marcel on numerous evangelistic outreaches.
A number of villagers are against Pastor Marcel’s ministry, and it is surmised that other curses may have been placed on him as well. “Even if this [current] illness is not directly caused by the curses and is simply a natural cause of living life in a fallen world,” the worker adds, “the enemy would like to use it for his benefit. Those who have placed the curses on him will see it as a victory. Please pray for healing for Pastor Marcel. Pray that God will be the One who receives the glory and that the spiritual darkness in this village would be broken.”