FREE AT LAST: Mariétou (right) stands with Pastor Kwasi Gameti (middle) after being freed from the power of Satan.
In part 1 of this story, a satanic force called the “night man” begins visiting Mariétou.
Her family tries various ways to heal Mariétou from the curse of demonic possession—all to no avail.
The family turns to a Gospel Outreach worker for help. Pastors and elders from the area, along with Glen Wintermeyer, Gospel Outreach regional director for West Africa, head to a chapel where they will meet with Mariétou and pray for her deliverance.
About 30 minutes after we arrived, Mariétou entered the chapel. As the ceremony unfolded, it soon became apparent to me that this wasn’t the first time these men had been called on to cast out demons. In fact, Bale Jacob, a longtime pastor in West Africa, later told me that he has been called to cast out demons many times.
Pastor Kwasi Gameti, director of the Guinea Mission Station, asked onlookers to leave the chapel while the elders gathered in a circle around Mariétou.
We began with a song. After that, Pastor Gameti invited Mariétou to kneel in the center of the circle.
As he began to pray in Jesus’ name, with his hands on her head, Pastor Gameti asked Mariétou to invite Jesus into her heart. She refused. Again he asked, and again she refused. Then he commanded her to ask Jesus to come in, and again she refused.
Pastor Gameti finished his prayer. As we sat in the circle on wooden benches, Pastor Gameti asked Mariétou to remove the charm necklaces she was wearing. With great reluctance she took them off.
It struck me with interest that the pastor considered Mariétou’s nose and ear piercings to be works of the devil. He required that all be removed before continuing with the ceremony. Then he asked Mariétou to kneel, encircled by the elders and Mariétou’s family.
After another song, several of us prayed as we placed our hands on Mariétou’s head.
I sensed emotions running high. We were coming face to face with satanic forces bent on keeping control of one of God’s children.
Pastor Gameti prayed last, anointing Mariétou’s head with oil.
Gospel Outreach worker Esaii Bledro ministered to Mariétou during and after the ceremony.
As we arose, tears were coursing down Mariétou’s cheeks. She was visibly changed. One who had entered the building rebellious and enslaved was now a happy, relieved-looking lady with a quiet radiance about her.
Never having participated in an experience such as this, I didn’t know what to expect—except, perhaps, a more obvious struggle. We saw none of that.
“During the prayers I sensed the spirit leaving through the back of my neck,” Mariétou told the pastor.
I can imagine that all styles of manifestations are used by the prince of evil, and perhaps using the “quiet” departure leaves a person wondering if anything really happened. However, Jesus’ ministry shows various ways in which demons departed, from the commanding rebuke to leave with no recorded mention of unusual physical manifestations to the violent departures.
I rejoice that Mariétou is free from Satan’s grasp. But the evil one doesn’t give up easily. We must pray for Holy Spirit possession in Mariétou’s life, so that a seven-fold affliction doesn’t occur. The fight isn’t over for her or for us.
Epilogue
As I continued on my journey, I wondered what would happen to Mariétou. Within a few hours, I heard the first news. Gospel Outreach worker Esaii Bledro, who had been with us at the ceremony, called with a report. Mariétou had slept well without any night visitation. In fact, as Esaii spoke on his cell phone, he and his wife were at Mariétou’s home. Mariétou had requested Bible studies and wanted to learn how to sew.
A few weeks later, I received another update. Mariétou was doing fine. She was studying the Bible and planning to be baptized. However, her father had told her to stop going to church. He said he’d sent her to the Christians so they would pray for her healing—not so she’d change religions. But Mariétou refused to stop attending church. She told her father that she’d worship where she’d found healing.
Please pray for Mariétou and her family.