“I was tired of being responsible for so much evil around me,” said 17-year-old Ornelia. “Close friends and relatives suffered severe illnesses and serious accidents because they prayed for my deliverance.”

For the past four years, Ornelia has had a dramatic encounter with evil spirits. She was possessed by powerful demons that gave her foreknowledge of future events and enabled her to hurt people spiritually. The spirits would punish her anytime she disobeyed them. Often they forced her to travel to distant places and participate in terrible spiritual attacks on friends and relatives.

Ornelia yearned to be free, and her parents were desperate and confused. Many people prayed for her release, and the family tried other traditional methods of exorcism, but all were in vain. The demons fought back, attacking those who prayed for Ornelia. Some died under spiritual attack leaving others too scared for their own safety to pray. The spirits were determined to hold onto Ornelia, but God had a plan to deliver his daughter from bondage and misery.

In October 2010, Ornelia came to Kandi to stay with her mother, who works as a secretary for a development agency. We met this Christian lady in 2007, and we opened our computer center right beside her home. We frequently saw Ornelia walking to school in the morning and returning in the afternoon. Her school is very close to Eliora’s, so about a week ago I gave her a ride home when I picked up Eliora. She was quiet and polite and seemed fine, and we became better acquainted.

Last Tuesday morning, however, Ornelia was not fine. Her school sent her home because she had suddenly become violent and was undressing herself. Spirits were taking control of her body, and soon it took many strong hands to restrain her raging. The whole neighborhood became aware of her condition. Members from her mother’s church came to pray for Ornelia. Muslim friends brought their imams to pray. Eight hours later, Ornelia’s condition was still the same. She was very violent, talking with unseen beings and pronouncing startling revelations.

In despair, Ornelia’s mother remembered me and called me. On arriving, I saw that Ornelia’s case would be challenging. As I joined the other Christians in prayer, evil spirits laughed at us through Ornelia and mocked us, asking if we were done yet. It was very frustrating.

Tuesday turned into Wednesday, and Ornelia remained firmly in the grip of the demons. Since the group prayers seemed not to be having any effect, I asked Ornelia’s mother to give me and some friends time for a special prayer alone with her and Ornelia on Friday evening. She replied that her church had already planned to have a prayer service for Ornelia that night. I told her we would be on standby.

As we were having Friday vespers, Ornelia’s mother called to tell us that her priests had postponed their prayer time until Sunday night. We thanked God and prepared ourselves and our home for Ornelia and her mother. There were four of us—Elmire, myself and Narcisse and Fousena, a brother and sister who have been praying with us for about six weeks. For three hours we prayed over Ornelia. It was exhausting, and our friends almost gave up, but God did not allow our little group to be tested beyond our limit. It was a challenging struggle, but God was so good, and He answered our prayers. The Holy Spirit fought for us, and two spirits came out of Ornelia with violence and loud screaming. Ornelia went home delivered. Over the following days, we all rejoiced every time we saw her—free and happy at last. We are sure some of you prayed for us that Friday, November 11, 2010 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thanks for your teamwork.

Ornelia is now like a daughter to us. If you could meet her, you would want to adopt her, too. She wants to be a medical doctor someday with a specialty in pediatric care. You will hear more of her in future articles, God willing.

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