In the heart of Tanzania, a young boy’s life took an extraordinary turn, leading him from the shadows of a witch doctor’s village to the light of Christian faith. This is the compelling story of Jose, a narrative that resonates with themes of spiritual awakening and the powerful reach of hope, even in places where you might least expect to find it – perhaps even in the vicinity of a “Witch Doctor Near Me,” if you were searching for answers in the most unexpected corners of the world.
Growing Up in the Shadow of Tradition
Jose’s story begins near Mwanza, Tanzania, within the Sukuma tribe, the nation’s largest. Born into a family identified as Christian, Jose’s early life was nevertheless untouched by the Gospel’s teachings. In Tanzania, religious identity is often inherited; Christian names meant Christian affiliation, regardless of deeper understanding or practice.
Everything shifted dramatically when Jose was seven. His father divorced his mother, embraced Islam, and married a Muslim woman. This pivotal moment redefined Jose’s world and identity. While initially staying with his mother and siblings, a sense of unease grew within him. Eventually, he found himself living with his paternal grandmother in a village – a move that plunged him into a vastly different environment. The memories Jose shared of his time in the village were far from idyllic; they were filled with darkness and fear, a period he doesn’t recall with fondness.
His grandmother held a significant role in the village: she was the witch doctor.
Despite the change, Jose’s father remained present, promising him a path out of the village. Jose attended school, demonstrating a keen intellect, learning to read, write, and even speak some English, all within the village setting. For several formative years, Jose became intimately acquainted with the practices of traditional healing and spirituality, serving as the witch doctor’s helper.
Finding a New Path
Eventually, Jose was able to leave the village and return to Mwanza, to his mother’s home. It was here that fate intervened. He encountered a man who spoke to him about Jesus. Jose remembers this individual as a positive influence, a seed of truth planted in his heart, perhaps the first glimmer of the Gospel he had ever encountered. This encounter allowed him to resume his education for a couple of years.
Later, Jose joined his father in Dar es Salaam, the city offering the promise of a new beginning, a chance “to find my life,” as Tanzanians often say. By this time, Jose’s father had fully embraced the mantle of witch doctor.
Living together in precarious conditions – squatting on college-owned land with his father, his father’s new wife, uncle, and step-mother’s children – they farmed to survive. Despite the challenges, Jose managed to attend school for another year before financial constraints halted his education.
During this period, another Christian entered Jose’s life, proving to be a significant guiding force. This man challenged Jose’s involvement in practices associated with witchcraft, urging him to abandon his father’s path. While Jose had never adopted Islam like his father, he was deeply entrenched in the traditional spiritual practices of his family.
From Apprentice to Advocate
My own encounter with Jose began when he appeared at our rented house. The previous occupants, a missionary family, had returned to the US, and Jose, a friend of their son, came to visit. I saw an opportunity and enlisted his help to learn Swahili. For six months, as I grappled with the language, Jose shared his life story.
Remarkably, he never explicitly mentioned his direct involvement with witchcraft or his father’s role as a Mganga, the Swahili term for witch doctor. He kept hidden the fact that he was being groomed to succeed his father.
Our Swahili lessons often intertwined with Bible studies. I was learning how to share the Gospel and practice discipleship in a Tanzanian context. As we explored the Scriptures and the doctrine of grace, Jose experienced a profound awakening. He grasped the essence of the Gospel and accepted Christ into his life.
Confronting the Legacy
Jose’s journey continued as he began assisting others in our mission organization with their Swahili learning. However, this new path was not welcomed by his father, who had counted on Jose to inherit his position as the village witch doctor.
One day, visiting Jose at their family farm, I found his father in the company of two other witch doctors from Mwanza. As I inquired more about his father’s “business,” Jose began to reveal the depths of his family’s beliefs. His father was, in his view, deceived by malevolent spirits masquerading as benevolent entities. He crafted spells and potions, genuinely believing he was helping people. His father was convinced of the righteousness of his practices.
I felt a strong prompting to speak with Jose’s father. Fearful yet compelled, I approached him. We engaged in a lengthy conversation. I shared the biblical stance against involvement with evil spirits, emphasizing Jose’s new identity as a Child of God.
To his credit, his father’s primary concern was Jose’s well-being. I reassured him of God’s protection and affirmed that Jose was now under God’s care.
I then posed a direct question to Jose’s father: “If you were to die today and stand before God, would He grant you entry into heaven?” His confident reply was that he was “100 percent sure.”
His certainty surprised me. I then shared my own assurance of entering heaven, but based on a different path. When I asked if he was willing to hear about my belief, he agreed.
Beginning with Genesis, I recounted the narrative of sacrifice from the beginning to end, culminating in Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. At the story’s conclusion, he somberly acknowledged, “If what you say is true, many, many people are going to hell.” I affirmed his statement and gently included him in that assessment, unless he placed his faith in God’s sacrifice through Jesus.
Despite this encounter, Jose’s father continues his practice as a witch doctor to this day.
A Faith Unwavering
Jose teaches on accountability during a recent disciple-making movement training.
Jose teaches on accountability during a recent disciple-making movement training.
Despite his father’s opposition and the spiritual battles he has faced, Jose’s commitment to Jesus remains steadfast. He has endured spiritual attacks, yet God has faithfully sustained him through every challenge.
We continue to study God’s Word together regularly, and Jose now leads Bible studies independently. He is enrolled in a year-long training program led by fellow missionaries, focusing on entrepreneurship, financial management, Bible study leadership, English language, and deeper biblical understanding.
Jose embodies true service and is a constant inspiration.
He has been baptized, and I am privileged to call him my brother in Christ. Jose’s heartfelt prayer is for his family to encounter the Lord. He desires to return to Mwanza and share the Gospel with the older generation, recognizing them as key figures in perpetuating traditional beliefs that bind younger generations. We pray that the Lord Jesus will be glorified through Jose’s life and ministry.
The Movement Begins
Pray for Tanzania. Jose’s story is not isolated. Numerous young believers are rising up, passionately and obediently following Christ. They are forming groups and making new disciples, signifying the start of a spiritual movement.
At Team Expansion, we call this a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM). Our earnest prayer is to see 24 new DMMs emerge globally by 2024, each defined as reaching four streams to the fourth generation of disciples. Tanzania holds the potential for one or more of these movements to take root.
Do you feel called to participate in launching 24 DMMs by 2024? We need individuals to go, pray, and give. We need churches to send. If you’re interested in exploring partnership, please start a conversation with us. Jose’s story is just the beginning of a larger narrative of faith and transformation unfolding in Tanzania and beyond.
