"I must burn my witch-doctor father's fetishes before receiving baptism."

Tomorrow morning, while all my Seminary buddies are celebrating their first placements as pastors on Call Day night in St. Louis, Krista and I will be traveling the four hours to Fort Portal in the west of Uganda.  To explain why, let me quote from my fellow missionary Pastor Jacob Gillard's prayer letter from last month (pdf document):

"Kevin is a woodworker. We [the Gillards] were first led to him when we saw his handiwork on the roadside—sturdy furniture made largely from raw timber. We placed several orders with him as we furnished our new home over the months. I invited him to worship and he later asked for baptism.

"We did some pre-baptism bible study but he later called me and asked to meet—there was a problem. He started by saying, 'I cannot be baptized this Sunday. My father was a witch-doctor but is now dead. My grandfather is a Christian and is happy for my baptism but he says that I sit on my father’s chair so I must first return to my village and burn my father’s fetishes before receiving baptism.'

So tomorrow we'll be traveling to Fort Portal to be with Kevin as he burns the fetishes used by his late father.  There's no rite in the Lutheran Agenda for the destruction of occultic materials, but we do have the entirety of Scripture at hand and the fervent prayers of the church here and - if you'll pray for us - the church in the States as well.  It is our prayer that God protect all of us during this dangerous task and that this important event liberate our brother Kevin.  May this be a testimony to all those who knew Kevin's father that Kevin is now being adopted by a new Heavenly Father and is becoming a new creation.

"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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." (Eph 6:12-13a)  -Shauen

Update on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 8:49PM by Shauen & Krista

At Kevin's home his family had gathered for the burning.  Almost all of his family is Catholic, so they were very supportive.  I think they expected some kind of formal rite but, of course, just as the magic is not in the fetishes, the magic is not in the rite either.  Instead, as I prayed silently for the Lord's protection, Jacob shared some Psalms with the people gathered there, said a prayer, led us in the Lord's Prayer, and then I read the Apostle's Creed.  Some paraffin had been purchased to help with the burning and it was applied to the fetishes and lit.  What did I expect to happen?  I don't know.  Maybe I expected the demonic forces these fetishes had called upon to object to their burning.  Maybe for the flames to soar and the fetishes to explode.  Maybe for the faces of demons to appear in the fire.  Maybe for the fire to rage out of control and damage people or homes.  Or maybe I expected that these worthless, meaningless objects were just that - mute and dumb idols which can do nothing, good or ill and that they would burn away without incident just like any other item. 

Or is it the case that though these items have no power of themselves, the demonic forces of Satan's minions are able to use the misplaced faith for their own purposes?  I dunno.  This wasn't exactly a situation used as a case study in Seminary. 

The task is done.  God's Word is certainly stronger than any two-bowled pipe, special gourds, or dark seed pods.  We rely upon His protection and promises.  He Is Risen!  And none of these inanimate objects can do that.  -Shauen