Responding to witchcraft
For the past twenty-five years, Timothy Leadership Training (TLT) has provided learning materials for church leaders around the world.
“My father had a dream that someone was doing witchcraft against my sister who had a young baby,” recalls Pastor Pierre speaking from his own experience. “He sought the advice of a diviner, who advised that I must carry out a traditional religious ritual for my sister’s protection. The ritual was not such a big thing. I respected my father, but I could not do as he directed, because I was a Christian.”
Instead Pierre prayed. He assured his sister that nothing would happen to her, but she ended up dying and left her baby without a mother.
“I was sad and confused,” Pierre concluded. “I had prayed and trusted God. Should I have obeyed my father? How can I tell others not to fear witchcraft after this happened in my family?”
For the past twenty-five years, Timothy Leadership Training (TLT) has provided learning materials for church leaders around the world – especially in places where training opportunities are limited. Thousands have benefited from courses in pastoral care, stewardship and preaching, but frequently participants would inquire if TLT had any materials about a Christian attitude toward spiritual powers.
TLT did not – until last month! During the previous two years, a team of theologians, missionaries and writers from the US, the Netherlands, Mali, Zambia, Cambodia and Bolivia developed a 10-lesson manual entitled Fear Not: A Christian Attitude about Spiritual Powers.
In interactive small groups, participants study Scripture and share their insights and experiences. Near the end of each lesson, participants reflect on a case study – like the one of Pastor Pierre above – and consider pastoral application with questions like, “How would you comfort and encourage Pierre concerning witchcraft and the death of his sister?”
Written using a basic vocabulary, the manual will likely be translated into forty languages.
The words of Jesus in John 14:27 serve as an encouragement and goal for those studying this manual: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
This page is made possible through a partnership with CRC Ministries within Canada.
