Jean François Fassou Honomou is a 64-year-old man from an ethnic minority group called the Gerzé located primarily in an area of central Liberia extending into Guinea. They primarily practice animism as their religion. However, with influences of Christianity and Islam in their area, many of them practice Christianity, Islam or syncretism.

Jean François was born and raised Muslim, but when he came of age, he refused to practice his parents’ religion. His reason, he says, is because Muslims are not honest. Growing up in a typical Muslim home, his eyes were opened to the injustices that follow when a man marries multiple wives. His mother was not his father’s favorite, so neither were her children.

In rebellion, Jean François became a Catholic and changed his name from Ahmed to Jean François. In addition to Catholicism, he endeavored to manipulate God through fetishism.

Jean François is a maternal uncle of Guinea’s ex-president, Musa Dadis Camara. When his nephew got shot and was flown out of the country, Jean François took action by retaining a Malian marabou (witchdoctor) who told him he would be able to use mystical powers to reinstate his nephew to the presidency. Lots of people came to Jean François’ house to ask this marabou to solve their problems, too.

One day, Jean François’ niece, Théa, one of our schoolteachers and a former Muslim herself, came over to visit. Finding a lot of people in Jean François’ courtyard, she asked, “What’s going on here? Did somebody die?”

“No! May God forbid that,” her aunt replied. “Your uncle brought a marabou from Mali to bring back ex-President Dadis. He is a very powerful man, and you should use him, too.”

“Not for me,” said Théa. “I have One who is greater than any marabou. His name is Jesus Christ.”

Hearing the conversation, Jean François came out of the house to greet his niece. “You know, Théa, I became a Christian before you were born. I was the first in our family to rebel, remember? You see many of our Christian brothers [by this he meant some of his Catholic and Protestant friends] have come to see this great marabou I brought from Mali. God helps those who help themselves.”

“Uncle,” said Théa, “I know you have been a Catholic for a long time. But that doesn’t mean you are a Christian. Christians study their Bibles daily and try to apply its valuable truth in every circumstance of their lives by faith.” Then she opened her Bible to Daniel chapter two and told Jean François the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and how his magicians (marabous) could not explain it. She concluded by saying, “Only God can give us everything we are seeking in life. He has everything in his hands. Uncle, He is the only one who can really help any of us.” But Jean François ignored Théa’s appeal.

Eventually the day arrived that the marabou had fixed for the ex-president’s return to Guinea. Jean François and the marabou went to the airport accompanied by some family members and supporters of the ex-president. They waited at the airport from eight in the morning until ten that night, but they waited in vain. People got angry and wanted to stone the marabou to death, but the police came to his rescue and took him away. Jean François went home disappointed, his faith in marabous shattered.

A few days later, Jean François got sick and was taken to the hospital. It just so happened that our Adventist church group had a hospital visitation program that very week. There they met Jean François, sick and humbled in his hospital bed. The group leader, George Tooray, asked Jean François what he was suffering from. He replied, “I am sick, but these doctors here can’t tell me what my sickness is, so I am just lying here suffering.”

George said, “I have a Doctor who knows what your problem is, and He will heal you.”

“Take me to him right now!” Jean François exclaimed. “I will do anything to see this doctor!”

“His name is Jesus,” George replied. “If you don’t mind, the group and I will pray for you right now, and we would like to visit you at home when you return there.”

“Why don’t you come tomorrow? I will be going home today,” said Jean François.

The next day, early in the morning, he called George on the phone. “Your doctor has done something miraculous to me!” he exclaimed. “I hadn’t slept in four days, but after your prayers at the hospital, my son brought me home and I fell asleep and didn’t wake up till this morning. I also feel a little better. Please come as you have promised.”

George and Théa continued to visit, pray and have Bible studies with Jean François. A thirteenth-Sabbath program was organized, and Théa invited her uncle to our church for the first time. He accepted the invitation and attended. He was very interested in the health message given before the sermon. Ever since then, he has been attending church faithfully.

When the mission president visited our church group, he made a call for those who felt impressed to be baptized. To everyone’s amazement that day, Jean François stood up, confessed his faith before the church and asked for baptism. On the day of his baptism, he brought all of his voodoo charms to the church yard and set them on fire as he sang, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” As he was baptized, he encouraged his wife and children to follow his example.

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We are thankful to God for our teammates in Guinea who are carrying on the work in our absence. We are also thankful to you, our teammates here, for your generosity and prayers for the Susu Project.

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