Do people really still get possessed by demons?

In the back of this picture, the first building is the Admin Office and in the far off distance are classrooms!

So living in America, I have never seen anyone or heard of anyone personally that has been demon possessed. I have read about people in the Bible who were possessed but that is where it stops for me. One thing that the Lord has shown us here is that God uses/allows all types of different things in our lives that will get our attention. He uses/allows things that will draw people to an intimate relationship with Him.


I have mentioned before, we are blessed and I am so thankful to be an American. In the same breath, I believe that it also makes our need for Jesus much lower on the totem pole. I think there is a very sly silent deception that is taking place in our county and to me this is very scary.

More of the LAC Campus

Jumping ahead in my thoughts for a moment… Why Investing in the LAC is Important = Why we need help here!!!

We have been here 3 months now. We have seen and heard things that have blown our minds. With so much need here, how do you decide where to start? They all need help and they all need Jesus. We are so glad that West Ridge chose to give back and wants to be part of the ministry at the LAC.

I was able to spend time with one of the Assistant Director’s at the LAC. He began to share with me a more detailed history about the school and things that he has personally experienced here. He said that even though the school is an openly said Christian school, the intent is to have such a high success rate in education that it draws those that do not know Jesus. Once they are here, they pray with intense force asking God to begin working in the lives of these children. These students come from all different religious backgrounds. Some that are heavy in practicing their faith and some not.

He began to share story after story of conversions that have taken place. The students are required to be in bible class once a week no matter what their faith. This is agreed upon by the parents before they enter the school… it is obligated that they attend this class. Again due to the success rate devout Mvslims will send their children and agree to this.

Soccer Field at the LAC Campus

So, to give you a specific story…… He had a student that came in to his office. This student had been having nightmares and began to share the things going on in his mind. He could not rest and it was obvious to this director that this was a complete spiritual issue. This student comes from a devout Mvslim family. When the director spoke and talked about God and his need to be filled with his Spirit, the student began to majorly shiver. Being that Africa is as hot as Hades I was surprised that he asked him if he was cold. Students response was no. The Lord spoke and the director knew that this student was being attacked by evil spirits within. As the director began to pray, the student began to respond just like those that are mentioned in the Word. His body seemed to become uncontrollable. The director prayed louder and stronger calling on the name of Jesus and demanding these evil spirits to depart from his body. Finally the student’s body came to a calm. The director was able to share that this student now had an opportunity to be indwelled with the Holy Spirit if he would call upon the name of Jesus for salvation. At that moment… He DID!! The director then began to share with him that he was a new creation. They then asked God for a new name for this student.

Jumping forward, this student was able to share with his mom what had happened. She too came to know the Lord. I was already speechless at the first part of this story as demon possession is something that really freaks me out and because it is not something that is seen in my neck of the woods. My speechless now has turned to complete shock when he told me that this child is related to one of the most powerful men in the Mvslim faith. That right now, the student and his mother have to be silent about their conversion because it could mean death. Right now, they are praying earnestly for this person with the intense hope that he too will come to know the Lord. WOW- a relative of one of the most powerful Mvslim leaders has come to know Jesus and his mom as well and this happened as a result of this child attending the LAC.

So, speechless turned to shock and has now turned to I think I am going to stop breathing. He told me this student’s new name and encouraged me to pray. My response was wait a minute… This student is the same student that I came to you about and asked your permission for him to enter our yard? This student that is very close friends with my boys? This student that my husband is taking to the pool to try and teach him to swim? This student that I just exchanged numbers with his mom so that we could have their family over for dinner? First thoughts were- I am totally freaked out. We have asked that God bring people into our lives that we can minister to. We want to make a difference here. We want to see lives changed. But, I am not sure that I ever expected to be in such a close relationship with family of one of the most powerful Mvslim leaders in Burkina Faso.

My next thoughts were complete fear. This director expressed that for this student and his mom, their salvation could come at a very high cost and put them in much danger. We are openly known as Christian missionaries. YIKES! My next thoughts… WOW- we have a responsibility to them. I am not sure how God wants to use us in this situation, but he did not bring us into this relationship by accident. Comments we have made about this child before we knew this information… He had told our children that he and his mom were Christians and the rest of his family was not. But we still were just drawn to the fact that He has the sweetest Spirit. He has this quiet joy about him. We are thankful he and the boys are such good friends. We still feel this way, yet now knowing his story we are amazed at the power in his testimony!

Please pray for them. Please pray for us. Please pray for our protection. Please pray that we would be lead by the Spirit in every step of this relationship. Please pray that many Mvslims will come to know Jesus through this student. Please pray about how you can invest in the lives of these students. Is God calling you to be in regular prayer for them? Is god calling you to come and for a week just build relationships through playing sports together yet ministering to their lives by living the love of Jesus? Is God asking you to pay for a classroom so they will be able to accept the many students who would love to be here; yet, there is no space?

Just a thought…. What has your salvation cost you?