On Wednesday, July 27, 2016, we launched a prayer walk to a community that was held captive to spiritual witchcraft and idolatry. After successfully maneuvering through mountainous slopes, we released the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Directly across from the voodoo temple, our Father began to bless lost souls by touching people with His tangible and peaceful Presence. Healing miracles and deliverances broke out in the midst of darkness and hopelessness. Under the guidance of the Spirit, many were encouraged and comforted. However, a few resisted the free gift of salvation. In addition, we were not able to witness to the voodoo leadership because they were not in town. After listening to these testimonies, Mike approached me late at night and stated that we needed to go back to this community for further work.
On Thursday, July 28, 2016, our schedule was completely rearranged by the Holy Spirit. Originally, the intent was to take the entire short-term missions group to the local orphanage in order to love on the children. That was until Marty, our leader, received the impression that we were to dispatch a few small teams on prayer walks. In agreement, three elements were re-tasked to fulfill the Lord’s plan. One crew; in particular, received the assignment to go back to the voodoo village. The team consisted of six personnel: Samuel (translator), Alice, Ivan, Paulina, Mike, and Addie. Prior to departure, I told the Lord that I wanted the voodoo high priest to be present. For his redemption was a strategic and divine assignment, designed by God, to tear down territorial strongholds and to restore desperate and broken vessels.
Upon arrival, the children, women, and elders rejoiced. As we entered through the gates of the voodoo temple, our attention was immediately captured by unusual surroundings. To our right, there was a small room filled with idols, statues, voodoo dolls, skulls, alcohol, moldy bread, and other rare objects. Along the walls, the temple was painted with Freemasonry, Catholic, and a variety of religious symbols. Within the courtyard, there was a concrete alter with a cross on the edge and a Psalms 123 encryption. From our understanding, this altar was utilized for demonic rituals and animal sacrifices. By the grace of God, we walked through this compound with a heart of boldness and compassion. More importantly, Frank (the voodoo high priest) was present. He was accompanied with two other men who were listening to voodoo music and drinking alcohol. Without wasting any time, Samuel, Alice, and I engaged this man. The rest of the team interceded while they simultaneously played with the children.
Plagued by fear, Frank explained that he was sovereignly chosen by wicked spiritual forces and his family to fulfill the call and cultural heritage of the voodoo priesthood. To overcome the torment and deception, I chose to demonstrate the reality that we serve a living and loving God. Willing to encounter His Presence, I told Frank that he was about to experience the difference between the Spirit of God and the spirit of oppression. Within seconds, the Holy Spirit flooded the compound and began to meet face to face with this man. After communing with the joy, peace, and love of the Spirit of Truth and further dialoguing about the Kingdom of God, Frank declared that he wanted to be set free. Accordingly, we guided this man through the process of deliverance. After the prayers of repentance and renunciation, we uprooted unclean spirits. When asked how he felt, Frank declared that his inner being was burning on fire.
Following the deliverance, Samuel prayed with Frank to receive Christ. Next, I prophesied to him the following statement: “the Lord has delivered you from darkness into Light so that you could become a deliverer… therefore, advance the Kingdom of God with power and authority. Heal the sick, bring liberty to the captives, and preach the good news…” To our amazement, Frank confirmed the word by stating that God told him that he was going to be a pastor. This message came to him a few days prior through a dream. Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, I anointed the man of God with oil and asked the Holy Ghost to stir up the gifts within him and to empower him with His Fire. Subsequently, Alice took time to minister to his inner wounds from childhood trauma. In conclusion, Samuel aggressively entered into the realm of spiritual warfare to scatter every agent of darkness. At last, he interchanged his contact information with Frank, recommended a local church for further discipleship, and assured him that God was with him.
Running out of time, we walked around the compound with anointed oil and decreed a perimeter of fire in accordance with Zechariah 2:5. We pleaded the precious Blood of Christ Jesus over the ground and consecrated it as holy land for the glory of our King and for the expansion of His Kingdom. Consequently, Mike and I walked through the small rooms that were cluttered with voodoo dolls and anointed the walls with oil. By faith, we broke the power, the hold, and the assignment of the demons resting in these idols. By faith, we paralyzed their devices, their entrapments, and their legal jurisdiction over the community. At last, we released them into the hands of Christ as prisoners of war for further judgment. As we were leaving, we recognized that Frank had removed the voodoo jewelry off his body. With Samuel’s help and the protection of the Lord, he planned a date to burn all of the paraphernalia. God is awesome!
On Friday, July 29, 2016, several team members came to my wife (Paulina) and I for prayers. They were discerning, seeing, and feeling strange manifestations within our sleeping quarters. At that moment, the Lord reminded me of what I had experienced in my military deployments. Because of complacency, we tend to lose more Marines in combat throughout the last month of transition than during any other period in battle. Likewise, in this scenario, we limited our prayers, intercessions, and praises with the mindset that we were going home and that we were done. As watchmen, we came together in agreement and as one, we prayed over the children, the villages, and the country of Haiti. As the peace of God hovered over us, the atmosphere changed. After wrestling in prayer, we were finally able to rest. Glory to God!
