‘Witchcraft is not harmless entertainment in Haiti,’ says Ingvild Snow, as she shares the realities of the power of darkness, but reminds of us our authority and victory in Jesus.
Today Halloween is celebrated, a day where children dress up as witches and where ghouls and goblins are seen as ‘entertainment’, a day where it is tempting to think the spiritual realm is all make-believe.
As a missionary to Haiti for over 30 years, I have seen, experienced and heard many stories of the powers of darkness. However, I have also seen and experienced the overcoming power of Jesus.
The island of Haiti in the Caribbean is and has always been a battlefield both physically and spiritually. I have learnt that as Christians it is pivotal that we view situations and circumstances from a spiritual perspective in order to pray, intercede and walk confidently in authority.
I have learnt that as Christians it is pivotal that we view situations and circumstances from a spiritual perspective in order to pray, intercede and walk confidently in authority.
The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 6:10-12: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The amazing fact is that the Cross provided us with much more than just forgiveness from sins. We have been given power in the blood of Jesus Christ to defeat principalities of darkness in the spiritual realm with which we deploy into the seen world around us through action.
As a nation, Haiti was birthed out of a slave revolt in the early 1800’s.
As a nation, Haiti was birthed out of a slave revolt in the early 1800’s. The French brought slaves over from Benin, Africa to work their sugar cane fields. These Africans carried with them their form of witchcraft called voodoo. In the process of their revolt, they drank pigs blood and made a pact with the devil; if they won, they would dedicate their new born nation to him for 200 years. Those 200 years were up in 2004. I believe that Haiti became a gateway of powers of darkness into the western hemisphere still active today and the enemy is furiously working at holding on to his strongholds in the spiritual realm.
I have learned that what you see with your physical eyes is a reflection of what is happening in the heavenlies, the spiritual realm. The physical manifestation of the spiritual darkness in Haiti is the ongoing poverty, corruption, and violence Haiti has always been under. Haiti is a thoroughfare for all kinds of wickedness. Interestingly, it shares the island of Hispaniola with the lush and prosperous Dominican Republic. Where the Dominican Republic is a tourist destination, Haiti has been the poorest country in the western hemisphere and at war within itself through power plays and greed by those in positions of influence.
Witchcraft is not harmless entertainment in Haiti. I have stories of witchdoctors turning into cats. Spirits manifesting as little kids, fires igniting on tables, and books being burnt. But voodoo was not able to burn the Bible! Witchdoctors who are unable to work curses on Christians say to us, “it won’t work on them; they walk under a higher protection.”
Many incidents in my life attest to this supernatural protection. For example, during the civil war of 2004, I was instructed one day by the Lord to move my children and myself to another location as things were heating up around us. One day later, the war zone moved into where we had been staying. We would have been trapped there for days if we had not moved on.
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Our ministry is primarily among children and youth. Through discipleship, these youth learn to walk in the footsteps of Jesus instead of falling to the world and the powers of darkness all around them. As we lift up the name of Jesus through praise and worship, demons will often manifest. Teenagers fall down, scream and otherwise make a scene as we carry them to another place out of sight and sound. There we minister to them and if they want*, we will set them free in the name and power of Jesus Christ. I pray over and tell those still unwilling, “Wait till one day you experience the love, light and freedom found in Christ.”
We feed and minister practically to the poor. People out in the countryside where witchcraft is part of daily life tell us, “the devil takes from us; we are required to sacrifice our animals and possessions. You come in the name and love of Jesus and give us food, clothes and medical help. We would rather worship Jesus.” That’s the power of light and love of Jesus in action.
Walking in the power of Jesus to affect the world around us is, most of the time, very practical. Coming against the powers of darkness in the opposite spirit, is an act that brings supernatural change into the atmosphere around us. So this Halloween, when the culture celebrates darkness, remember your authority in Jesus, and the power he gives you to overcome.
*Sometimes they don’t want to be free, because they like to entertain the darkness within and in turn, through their behaviour, it gives them power over people through fear and intimidation.
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