Workers in Asia share these thoughts about the fears that plague the people they serve.

Did you know that…?

• The caw of a crow is a bad omen. If you hear one before setting out on a task, you will not be successful. The chirping sound of a gecko, on the other hand, bodes success.
• The evil eye can cause harm to young children. If a childless woman simply looks at another woman’s baby, that baby may fall sick and die. Her envy, even if unintentional, has tremendous power to harm. One common antidote is to paint a black dot on the baby’s forehead. This blemish will make the baby less attractive to the spirits, and thus its chances of survival are higher.
• You should never travel on a Saturday or Tuesday. Such journeys are much more likely to end in accident or harm.
• A pregnant woman must never cut anything resembling a womb (like a watermelon or pumpkin). Doing so may cause a miscarriage. A pregnant woman should never go near a bamboo grove at sunset.
• Banyan trees are inhabited by ghosts.

In thinking of our Muslim friends, there is danger everywhere. But of course there are remedies. Fakirs or Kobiraj can provide you with various types of protective charms. These consist of a small metal canister into which a verse from the Qur’an known for its protective powers is inserted. The canister is then worn around the neck, waist, or forearm.

Based simply on the number of protective charms worn, most of the people of this country fear bad omens and believe in such protective prophylactics. Recently I taught on this subject at a local Bible college. Pray that followers of Christ in this nation would know the power of God that frees one from the fear of evil spirits, magic, and bad omens.

What fears do the people you minister to have? How could you use that to tell them about the good news that there is freedom, security and peace in Jesus Christ? How about letting us know about the special people around you who have trusted the Lord and become free from this evil bondage?