Tormented by Demons
God intervenes to deliver a family from demonic agencies.
Life was hard for my family in Sankuru—a province in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We were so poor that we could scarcely live, much less save any money. My father and my older brother were unemployed, and it was very difficult for them to obtain any income. Because my mother managed to sell a few things during the month, we had a little money to buy food, but it never seemed like enough. Meanwhile, the relationship between my parents deteriorated, and the atmosphere in our home became volatile. The threat of divorce seemed to loom over the family. As a result of the trouble in our home, my older brother turned to drugs and alcohol for their numbing effects. To let off steam and to distract myself, I focused on sports, yet I suffered from a profound feeling of sadness and guilt that I had somehow been responsible for my family’s problems.
Then one day, one of my mother’s customers said that she recognized the gift of divination in my mother. She encouraged her to participate in a course on spiritualism and to make this skill an additional source of income. My mother returned home that evening, delighted and planning for her future. She felt sure that she had just discovered a practice that would bring us a lot of money.
I too became mesmerized by the prospect of fame and fortune. I believed my mother when she said that she could contact the dead and foretell future events. And while it is true that her clientele and cash flow increased rapidly, the problems in our home continued to escalate. Although my mother made more money, the money seemed cursed, we still could not afford to save any of it.
Then, strange things began to occur in our home. Objects in the house appeared in places where we never put them. The furniture moved without being touched. We started hearing mysterious noises, such as banging on the walls and people talking, yet no one was there. Shadows of people appeared on the walls with no one to cast them. Then demonic powers began to torment me. At night, invisible hands slapped me in the face and touched me, hit me, and shook me.
After a few months of this paranormal activity, I felt powerless against this unseen hand. Violent terrors seized me on some nights, while insomnia and restlessness kept me awake on others. My little sister, Félonne, aged 9, also suffered terribly. Once she woke up at night and found herself in the middle of a cemetery near our house. As I started to reason from cause to effect, I could see that all this trouble began when my mother took instructions in spiritualism. I knew that my family needed help if we could ever be free from the demons.
One evening, a Seventh-day Adventist approached me and asked if I would like prayer. I told him what was happening in my life and in my home, and we prayed together and petitioned the great God of heaven for help. My new friend explained that a group of missionaries were coming from Kinshasa to hold meetings about Bible teachings, including spiritualism. What does the Bible have to say about the things happening to me? I wondered. I planned to attend the meetings.
On the day of the first meeting, I was waiting at home when a voice called me to the nearby window. With compelling force, it urged me to leap from the window frame and thereby end my life. At the same time, there was another voice—a quiet, calming one—urging me to stay away from the window. I resisted the voice of the demon. Without even realizing what I was doing, I shouted “Jesus” three times. My parents ran into the room, sensing that I was in a desperate situation. I could see the feeling of helplessness in their eyes.
Then I decided to leave. I swore to myself that I would never return to this house of the devil. As I walked through our large village and wondered what to do next, I came across a group of young Seventh-day Adventists distributing brochures. I introduced myself to them and explained what was happening in my parents’ house. They prayed for me—and they said that my family had done an abominable thing by practicing the occult. One of them opened the Bible and read verses to me about spiritualism, then explained that Jesus came to give us a new life of freedom from evil.
They invited me to a prayer meeting at their church that evening, and I went. As soon as I entered the humble building of thatch and branches, I felt the presence of Jesus. I felt His wonderful love and grace! A spiritual struggle manifested itself, and my body trembled, but as soon as the pastor prayed for me in the name of Jesus, I experienced deliverance and peace. I knew that my life would never be the same again: I had just received Jesus as my Lord.
I returned home to announce this good news to my parents, and the pastor accompanied me. He sat down with my family and carefully explained what the Bible teaches about witchcraft. He prayed for us, and everyone decided to follow Jesus. The relationship between my parents was restored, my big brother broke free from tobacco and alcohol, and my little sister was no longer tormented. We studied the Bible every evening, and learned about the state of the dead, the Sabbath, and more. Jesus saved us. I praise my God and feel thankful for the missionary work of Joël among the souls in Sankuru. May our Lord be praised.
Location
Democratic Republic of Congo
Author
Joel Mapamu is a gospel worker based in Kinshasa, Congo.
How You Can Help
Pray for Gesca’s recovery and those who will be impacted by this miracle from the Lord!
Give to take the gospel work into Congo’s dark regions by sending your donation marked “Congo Evangelism” or “Congo Bible Workers” and send to:
Mission Projects International
PO Box 237
Kirksville, MO 63501
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