WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

190 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES
An opening came rather dramatically. The wife of a family living opposite
their home experienced demonic attacks after someone had cast a spell on her.
Many in the community dabbled in the occult. This family’s life was disrupted
by frantic visits to exorcists, the husband having to take leave from work and
their young children having to be cared for by other relatives. Tim saw this as
an opportunity to share from the holy books how Jesus was the only one with
power over demons. He did not impose his solution but made himself available
whenever they felt ready for help from Jesus.
Three months later, neighbours Pam and Abu asked for help. Tim helped
the wife in a clear deliverance from demonic oppression. This took place a few
times. Pam and Abu became very open to the Lord and began to study Luke’s
Gospel weekly. They discussed Luke 10:18-20, where it describes their new
relationship with God as more significant than their victory over demons. And
Luke 11:24-26 describes how seven demons can easily replace one demon that
left. The real challenge was for victory over occult forces to be sustained and
possible through an abiding relationship with Jesus.
Pam and Abu discovered that Jesus is also mentioned in their holy book.
They were encouraged to study their holy book more devotedly. They believed
that only Jesus could fulfil the ideals mentioned in their holy book. Their close
friends heard about their deliverance and some joined in Bible discussions.
More recently, Pam and Abu brought Tim and family to Abu’s village
seven hours drive away. Abu’s father was the village headman. Tim met Abu’s
parents, siblings and community. He was seen by all of them as a good family
friend. Pam then introduced Tim and his family to her family and relatives who
lived seven hours away in a northern state. Tim and his team of friends are
now praying for the Gospel to move among these two communities of Pam
and Abu’s friends and family.
A team member visited one of these weekly “fellowships” with Pam and
Abu. He observed there was no “Christian” singing or prayers which would
have drawn public attention. Instead, they spent a lot of time snacking, talking
over the Scriptures, praying and discussing the issues of life, including how to
take the Gospel to their family networks.
Tim was careful not to intrude into their discovery process in the
Scriptures. Their discoveries were more important than his.