The Area of the Gods

A true story from WIN, a ministry working in restricted access countries where the persecuted church endures hardship.

"The gods are more active down by the lake," the Africans say. This explains the twenty shrines for worship of the devil, and the many witch doctors. The area is called the "place where they eat goats," because so many sacrifices to the spirits are performed along the shore.

God sent a young African man named Peter to serve a small church near the lake where only fifteen people gathered each week. He was filled with enthusiasm and he had a plan. He organized a door-to-door visitation program and saw many "results." People came to church once or twice, but they did not stay. Peter brought in preachers who drew large crowds. Forty people professed faith in Christ. They came once or twice, but two weeks later, the congregation was back to just fifteen again.

Peter was discouraged. Something was missing. He decided to stop the big programs and start praying. People began meeting every Friday for an all night prayer meeting. And God began to work. The tiny 24' by 12' church began to fill, then overflow. A witch doctor nearby offered to sell his land to the church. God's work was gaining ground, literally, in the area of the gods. The more people prayed, the more they saw God work.
One night, not the witch doctors but the police came to a meeting where youth had gathered to pray. The young believers were beaten and told to stop praying.

The following night was the usual Friday night prayer meeting. Would anyone dare to come? Forty people arrived. This time, police officers and soldiers came. "Stop praying," they commanded. Peter stood his ground; he was ordered to report to the authorities the next morning.

After a night of prayer instead of sleep, Peter arrived before the local officials. "Who told you to pray at night?" they asked roughly.

"There is no law which refuses to allow me to pray," Peter answered calmly.
When Peter and the church would not agree to stop praying at night, he was ordered to go into the capital city to obtain a letter of permission to hold prayer meetings at night.

Peter went to the right place and asked the right people, but they could not give him a letter, they said, because there was no law against it.

Peter returned and explained this to the local authorities.

"Are you sure?" they asked. Peter was sure.

The local authorities were disappointed. "Okay, if you insist on praying, could you pray quietly?"

The little church on the shores of the lake, once a church of 15, is now a church of 500—700. Not because of programs; because of prayer. The policeman who led the persecution against them is now a believer. He preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.

Even down by the lake, where the gods are more active, God continues to work, and Peter's church continues to pray.

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