Skip to main content

How the Bible moved this young man from witchcraft to Christ

Author: Bible Society, 2 February 2017

Share this:

Emmanuel escaped from a life of crime in a witchcraft gang to a relationship with Jesus thanks to the Good Samaritan programme.

Holding a venomous snake, chanting strange prayers while the gang cuts his arms to make him strong – this was Emmanuel’s initiation into a witchcraft gang.

Aged just nine years-old his mother sent him to live in an orphanage after she became too sick from AIDS to look after him.

Vulnerable and alone Emmanuel looked for a place to belong. He was lured into a witchcraft gang with the promise of magic powers and super strength through mantras and spells.

Soon after his initiation learning these mantras turned into learning to pickpocket and steal from street stalls. He began drinking and fighting - he’d beat up anyone if they had a disagreement.

Emmanuel was being groomed to be a criminal.

But then our team arrived at the orphanage to run our Good Samaritan programme. The programme teaches young people social values and how to be a loving caring citizen through a series of interactive workshops all based on the Biblical parable.  

Sceptical and wary Emmanuel sat at the back listening but not participating in the activities. Gradually, as the weeks went by, he heard more about Jesus and slowly started joining in until his life was profoundly changed.

Living differently

‘Now my life is very different,’ says 16 year-old Emmanuel.

'The Good Samaritan showed me how to live differently'

'I went to a pastor and talked to him about the things I had been doing. I started praying and reading my Bible.’

Emmanuel is no longer violent, he cut his ties with the gang choosing instead to pray for them. He’s the first to help out with chores around the orphanage and is now studying hard at his school work so he can become an accountant.

He even spends time with the young people in the orphanage, teaching them football skills and mentoring them.

‘I want to tell young people like me to avoid bad things and to accept Jesus Christ. I have done bad things. I have stolen from people and hurt people. But now I respect people because of Jesus.’


Find out more about how you can support children, like Emmanuel, in Congo Brazzaville.


Share this:

What else we're up to

The Bible on the streets of Camden

How is your church reaching out this Easter? For Hope and Anchor Community Church in London, Easter is the time to hit the streets in full force. ‘There is no better time to be in the streets of Camden Town than at Easter...

‘I offered prayers to idols’

Bao Bao’ai was born into a Christian family in China, but the Cultural Revolution, when Bibles were destroyed, left him disconnected from his faith. And when his wife fell ill, he resorted to superstitious healing rituals...

Change a child's life with the Bible

Abused girls in Guatemala need your help. Will you share God’s word and give hope to a girl today?
Read the Bible icon Read the Bible
Open the full Bible