Stories from the Field

February 2005

Witchdoctor becomes a disciple of Jesus

By the IMB Turkana Team
Published in IMB CompassionNet Daily Prayer

Please pray for the villages of Nakoriangora, Loekipe and Natir. Initially men were walking two hours from Nakoriangora to hear chronological Bible stories; later these men requested that the Word of God be brought to their village.

The area witchdoctor, E, accepted Christ and encouraged all the men to attend church (in the Turkana culture, the men have a significant leadership role in society)! Since that time, E has learned a lot of the Bible. He has visited some other villages and has plans to visit others to tell men about Jesus Christ. Many of the men (as well as the women and children) have become Christians and have learned a lot of Bible stories in a short time.

The men from Loekipe walked a little more than an hour to visit the church at Nakoriangora. Loekipe, meaning "the land of Satan" in the Turkana language, now has a Baptist church that meets underneath a tree twice a week and promotes Jesus Christ. We were told that sometimes 400 people come to church! When we were there, the men delayed going to a wedding (a significant three-day event in the Turkana culture) in order to go to church. Some people came the night before in order to be there when church began in the morning.

Some of the men in attendance regularly come from the next village out, Natir. There are plans now to begin a storytelling point at Natir. Praise God for His movement among the Turkana. Keep the prayers coming!