Josephine’s Story from Simondo Village, Zambia

When I first heard about the Bible studies happening in our area, I was curious. I had heard people whisper that the Makuwa—the white missionaries—were teaching about a God who forgives sins and gives eternal life. I had spent my whole life fearing spirits, offering sacrifices, and doing what our traditions demanded. But inside, I always felt empty and afraid. So one day, I decided to go.

The first time I heard about Jesus Christ, something inside me stirred. The missionaries spoke of a God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins. They said we could know peace…not through charms or sacrifices, but through faith. That night, I could hardly sleep. I kept thinking about that love. A few days later, I accepted Christ as my Savior.

I started attending every Bible study and church service I could. It felt like I was finally alive. But soon, my joy brought anger into my home. My husband, Michael, is the headman of our village. He is respected and powerful–and deeply involved in the traditional ways. He works with the witch doctor to divine spirits and remove curses. When he learned that I had turned away from those practices, he was furious.

He called my faith “the white man’s religion” and forbade me to attend the Makuwa’s church. When I refused, he began to punish me. Some nights, he locked me outside our home, leaving me to sleep under the stars with the sound of lions in the distance. Other times, he refused to let me eat. Still, I couldn’t turn back. I had found the truth, and I would rather suffer than return to the darkness I once knew.

As the planting season came, my husband prepared his seed to take to the witch doctor for blessings. He demanded I do the same. I told him quietly, “The only blessing I want is from the One True God.” He laughed and said I would regret it.

When he left, I gathered my small bag of seed and carried it to the church. I sat with Sharon, the missionary’s wife, and said, “I think I made a mistake. I told my husband that the One True God would bless my seed. Does He really do that?” She smiled and showed me verses from Deuteronomy 28, where God promises to bless those who obey Him. The church prayed for me–for my seed, my husband, and my faith to remain strong.

That year, a terrible drought came. The ground cracked, and the crops withered. The school’s field yielded only half its usual harvest. My husband’s field was almost completely lost. But my little plot flourished. Green and full. When people asked how it was possible, I told them, “The One True God blessed my field.”

Still, life at home was difficult. My husband’s anger grew, even as he saw what had happened. I kept praying that God would touch his heart. Then one Tuesday morning, during Bible study, I saw Michael walking toward us through the bush. My heart pounded. I feared what he might do. But he said nothing. He just sat down at the back and listened.

That day, the missionary spoke about Jesus and Nicodemus in John chapter 3, how a man must be born again. When the lesson ended, the missionary went to my husband and asked, “What can I do for you?” Tears filled Michael’s eyes. “I want what my wife has,” he said.

Right there, he prayed and gave his life to Jesus Christ. I cried as I watched the man who once cursed my faith now bow before my Savior.

Afterward, we walked the long road home. When we arrived, Michael gathered all his idols, charms, and divination tools and burned them. He called our children together and told them about Jesus. They accepted Him that same day. Then he brought his mother, and she too believed.

Now, nearly two years later, my husband is a changed man. He helps prepare for services, leads others in prayer, and shares the gospel boldly. Many in our village have believed because of his testimony, and one man has even accepted the call to become a pastor. Soon, a new church will be planted in Simondo…on the very land Michael is donating from his own farm.

When I look back, I remember the nights I slept outside and the days I went hungry. But I also remember God’s faithfulness. He never left me. He heard my prayers. He blessed my seed, softened my husband’s heart, and brought life to our village. Truly, the One True God answers prayers and transforms lives.