East-West Blog

Field Story: Father Figure Leads Family to the Heavenly Father

Written by East-West Staff | Nov 4, 2024 11:00:00 AM

Andwele is a quiet, middle-aged man from East Africa. After attending an East-West training to learn how to share his faith, he has not been quiet about Jesus. Andwele boldly shares his faith, even though doing so in his community can lead to persecution.

Andwele developed a friendship with a young shopkeeper named John. John’s family had practiced witchcraft for generations and sold charms and powders meant to ward off evil spirits in the shop. Whenever Andwele would talk about his faith, John was resistant and even avoided conversations about Jesus. But Andwele’s kindness led John to view him as a father figure, and his heart eventually softened to the gospel. One day, John decided to accept Jesus as his Savior, and Andwele began to disciple him.

As part of his newfound faith, John stopped wearing charms and practicing the secret rituals his family performed. Soon, his family shunned him, believing that his faith in Jesus would hinder the success of the shop. But as John’s family rejected him, Andwele embraced him and provided for his physical needs as he discipled him.

With time, Andwele worked to reconcile John with his family and shared the gospel with his household. Eventually, John’s entire family believed in Jesus. The witchcraft the family had practiced for generations had come to an end.

John has since moved to a different country for work, but he hopes to follow in Andwele’s footsteps by sharing his faith with the lost around him and discipling new believers.

 

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