From Witchdoctor to Friendship Evangelist
A witchdoctor-in-training experiences a life transformation.
Paca was training to become a powerful witchdoctor. His goal was to be respected, feared and influential in his village for his knowledge of the spirit world. But one day, everything changed.
A Seventh-day Adventist evangelist arrived in the village. He began to connect with the villagers, and in the evenings preached on various topics. The villagers were very curious, and many began to attend the meetings.
Another powerful witchdoctor in the area became concerned and decided to cast his strongest curses on the evangelist. Paca heard of the witchdoctor’s intentions and decided to observe carefully so that he could learn from the experience. He watched the witchdoctor make the necessary preparations and say the correct incantation. Paca stood quietly and watched the evangelist from a distance, expecting something terrible to happen. But nothing did. The evangelist continued preaching calmly, untouched. Paca stared in disbelief. This power is supposed to work, he thought.
That moment was a turning point—Paca was completely transformed. He left witchcraft behind and embraced the gospel, which he had discovered was the greatest power of all. Today, he serves as a Bible worker with Pastor Agamah, sharing the message of Jesus through friendship and Bible study.
One afternoon as Paca and Pastor Agamah distributed literature in their village, they met a man who welcomed them warmly.
“I am Pastor Simliwa,” he said. “I lead a Baptist church nearby.”
They began visiting regularly. Pastor Simliwa showed a deep interest in Bible prophecy. They prayed together, studied together and left Bible-based materials for him and his family. Over time, a friendship grew naturally.
One evening, Pastor Simliwa shared from his heart. “I have been studying,” he said. “I am convinced about the Sabbath and the state of the dead.” Then came a startling revelation: he was not just a local pastor, but the senior leader overseeing Baptist churches across northern Togo. He had carefully weighed his position and understood the consequences. Accepting Seventh-day Adventist teachings would mean losing income, influence and long-standing relationships. After much prayer and study, he chose obedience over security.
Church leaders acted swiftly. They removed him from his role and cut his salary, hoping to discourage others. Instead, curiosity spread. Members noticed the new joy that filled Pastor Simliwa’s heart and began to visit his home. “What changed?” they asked. They asked about his new beliefs and why he had been cut off from his church.
Pastor Simliwa opened the Bible and invited them to study the materials that he had. One by one, many became convinced that he was following God’s leading.
Do you desire to be a better soul winner? Proverbs 18:24 instructs, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly. . . .” Every one of us can make friends, and this story reminds us that soul-winning often begins with friendship. Jesus Himself connected with people from every walk of life. Through simple conversations, kindness and courage, God is transforming lives in places where the gospel was once unknown.
Location
Togo
Author
Mike Bauler is the director of Mission Projects International.
How You Can Help
Pray for Paca, Pastor Agamah, Pastor Simliwa and others as they minister to remote villages where the gospel has never been heard.
Pray for the eight Bible workers as they seek out those who are searching for the truth.
Donate to the evangelistic work in Togo by sending your gift marked “Togo Bible Workers” or “Togo Evangelism” to:
Mission Projects International
PO Box 237
Kirksville, MO 63501
To give securely online, visit:
www.missionspro.org/donate
Thank you. Your gifts sustain eight full-time Bible workers and one full-time evangelist who are bringing God’s last warning to Togo. Thank you so much for your support of these workers!