by an Alliance medical worker serving in West Africa
For a few years now, a cultic group, whose leaders claim to be pastors, has plagued the Kenedougou region where there has been a move of God in recent years. Cult leaders sell special oil said to have healing and protective powers. They confront, often violently, leaders of other religious groups and specialize in attacking idols and fetishes by showing them to have no power.
Because of the spectacle they put on in each village, these leaders have gathered a large following.
Although they claim to pray in Jesus’ name, they have little knowledge of who He is. And the fruit of their ministry is a wake of discord, disillusionment, and, at times, demon possession.
A Wildfire Cult
As the cult leaders moved from village to village, they left behind bewildered followers. In the village of “S,” cult followers were disillusioned with the violence and deception they had witnessed in the cult leaders’ lives. But they didn’t want to return to animism or to the majority religion since they had been revealed to be powerless.
A local pastor described the cult to be a wildfire that had burned through this area, consuming and destroying everything before eventually burning itself out. The people of S were looking for lasting Truth.
When these cult followers came in contact with Alliance pastors in the area who preached the full gospel of Jesus Christ, the cult followers became passionate believers and started a prayer group in their town that began to grow.
Guilt by Association
Unfortunately, because of the new Christians’ old ties with the cult and their reputation for violent behaviors, local village and government leaders persecuted them. Although the new believers made it clear that they had nothing to do with the old ways, several of them were imprisoned.
A local pastor who stood in their defense was even thrown into prison for a night.
The Alliance district leadership handled the situation wisely, eventually seeing to everyone’s release. They patiently began to work at cultivating better relationships between the new believers and government officials. And they encouraged the flock to worship discreetly in a town nearby until the village elders could see that their new beliefs would bring peace and blessing to the community.
A Peaceful Gesture
A couple of months ago, the new band of believers was allowed to begin Sunday morning worship in the courtyard of one of their leaders. The church has been growing ever since.
Attitudes in the village toward the church also seem to be changing. Recently, one of the small congregation’s greatest persecutors reached out to the leaders in a gesture of peace by inviting them to his child’s wedding.
As together we built the new open-air church on a piece of land the village leaders had given them, there was much joy among this local congregation. And they sang triumphantly as we dedicated the new building to the Lord.
“Can you turn your back on something for which you’ve gone to prison twice?” one of the church leaders asked. “I will never turn my back on Jesus. We will never turn our backs on Him!”
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Recently, I joined a small team of Alliance workers traveling to the Kenedougou region, where there has been a move of God in recent years. We went to set up open-air churches for two villages and celebrate another church building’s completion.
As we worked on the physical structures, I learned how God is building His Church in the lives of the new believers. In each case, what the enemy had intended for evil—a cult, marital conflict, and a violent wind—He used for good (see Genesis 50:20) to bring advancement. In this series, “No Wins for the Dark Side,” I’ll share several of these stories.
Learn More
In “From the Heart” (34:55) U.S. Alliance President John Stumbo shares how God has used setbacks and hardships throughout the 130-year history of The Alliance to advance His Kingdom.
Photos courtesy of an Alliance international worker