In our missionary training, we learned about the three encounters in Christian witness—truth encounters, allegiance encounters and power encounters. For many years, Western Christians have focused on the first two types of encounters, reaching out with gospel truth and witnessing through relationships. However, the concept of the power encounter is getting more attention today than ever before because so many unreached people groups around the world are power-oriented. Fundamentally, a power encounter is spiritual warfare.

We use all three approaches in our ministry, as the Lord did when He was on earth. (For example, see Luke 4, 5 and 6.)

In our study of the Dendi people, we have found that they are very involved with spiritual power. That is why we so often write about the signs, wonders and spiritual battles in our work. In our evangelism strategy, we have decided to emphasize spiritual warfare. Beneath their Muslim exterior, the Dendi have deep involvement with voodoo. They believe strongly in the existence of spiritual powers and beings who seek to control and possess man. As a matter of fact, many people in our village are routinely possessed by all kinds of spirits. This is common in Africa, but in Benin, the world epicenter of the voodoo religion, it is most visible.

Recently, a Muslim exorcist (called a raqi) visited our town. I met with him and his wife and witnessed his teachings and deliverance sessions. Every evening for the twelve days of his stay, many sick and demon-possessed people came to see him. He told me that demon possession is called sara al-jinn in Arabic. In his exorcisms, he addresses the jinnee (possessing demon) saying, “Fear Allah!” He also recites certain Quranic verses over the possessed. I also learn that the raqi holds some elements of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal contact with God.

As I watched this raqi and all the people who came to him, I felt convicted that the time is near for us to introduce the Dendi to Isa al messiah (Jesus Christ, the Messiah). We are eager to tell our people that our Lord is more powerful than the spirits and false gods they worship in fear. In our pastoral and mission experience, we have witnessed power confrontations between God and Satan, and we can testify to Gods authority and power over all demons and diseases.

We believe our Dendi people will respond to Christianity most readily when they witness God’s holy power. We must overcome Satan’s counterfeit power with God’s sovereign supremacy. May God fully equip us to witness with the freedom-bringing, truth-revealing power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for joining our prayer-warrior team.

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