Jacques had been sick for several years. The doctors said it was stomach cancer. Several times, he had life-threatening bouts of internal bleeding that required many blood transfusions, but he survived. He didn’t want anything to do with Christianity, choosing instead to visit all the traditional healers that work with demons. They gave him many powders and teas that did nothing for his sickness.
But God was calling Jacques. In August of last year, Jacques attended the evangelistic program hosted by our former pastor. He attended all the meetings faithfully, and in the end he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized. He became a regular at all the meetings in our church, and he brought his wife and children, too.
In early October, Jacques’ sister, a friend of mine, told me Jacques wanted to get rid of every possession tied to Satan. We made an appointment, and some members and I went to his house. I began with a short Bible study about the fall of Satan, the great controversy, God’s plan for us and how He is our protector. I also told Jacques what to do when he comes under satanic attack. I warned him that he needed to make sure he gets rid of everything connected to demonic power or he would be leaving the door open for Satan. Then we prayed.
Jacques’ sister got his fetish jar and took it outside. Jacques opened a locked cupboard and started pulling things out. There were teas, powders, rings, bracelets, coins, colored strings, gourds, stones, pieces of paper and various other items belonging to one spirit fetish or another. When he finally finished sorting everything and hauled it all outside, I prayed again, asking God to break the chains that bound him by the power of Jesus Christ. After the prayer, we set the pile of spirit stuff on fire and smashed the clay fetish jar. Then we dug a hole and buried the remains. Jacques was very happy.
About a month later, I heard that Jacques was in the hospital again. Before I could make it there to visit him, his sister called me to say that he had died. She asked if I would transport his body back to the village.
At the hospital, I met Jacques’ extended family and went into his room. He looked so peaceful that I touched his hand to assure myself he was really dead. There was a lot of discussion about how to get Jacques’ body out to my truck. He was a big man, muscular and heavy. Finally, we were able to use a wheelchair.
When we arrived at the village, the older men of the family came out and transferred the body to a traditional stretcher. Following the stretcher in single file, everyone walked to the burial site. Near the cemetery, the women and non-family members had to wait while the men of the family continued on. I watched from a distance as they cleared away the brush from an old tomb and removed the covering stones. After situating the body, they replaced the stones.
God kept our brother Jacques alive long enough for him to surrender his heart, and then he allowed him to rest. Someday in heaven, you can meet Jacques.
