girl feeding the snake.
She
is known as “Nagamma” which means snake mother. She was a well known sorcerer
of her native in South Asia. People in the community used to worship her as a
snake goddess, brought her offerings, and prostrated themselves before her. But
a powerful encounter with Jesus in a dream turned her away from black magic to
follow the living, true God. Now her
name is Maria (Mary).
Here
is her own words, "My father was a wizard of leadership among our people.
He practiced black magic. My family is part of the Hindu Dalit class on the
lowest rung of the society, sometimes known as untouchables.
I
loved many idols and practiced witchcraft under the direction of my
father. The Snakes were my favorite gods. As a child I fed the local
snakes, carrying milk to the edge of their snake holes.
We
had many idols of serpents in a special temple dedicated to snakes in my
community. They were located under a fig tree.
When
I was 12 years old, a snake raised its head and bit me as I tried to feed it
with milk. My parents took me to the local doctor (not a medical
practitioner), but he was not fully able to remove the poison of the serpent
from my body.
After
three days my condition has improved, but the unusual side effects
remained. I had a total change in my body and mind. My color has also
changed as blue. I started acting like a snake. I always wanted to
stay and sit in the temple of snakes. Then my people regarded me as the
goddess snake. My father was the one who first announced that I was the
snake goddess.
People
in the surrounding area began to bring milk, fruits and flowers for me as
offerings and fell down before me on the floor. They wanted to get a touch
with my pretense of being blessed. They even gave their money offers.
.
women worshiping snake.
As
word spread about the goddess snake became famous throughout the region.
I
asked if I could visit their homes. They asked their black magic spells to
bring blessings on them and destroying their enemies. My parents made
money with it.
Some
missionaries of Bibles for Mideast (http://bibles4mideast.com)
have biblical brochures for our family and talked about Jesus Christ, but my
father confronted the men telling them that I was a goddess and they should
follow me, instead of Jesus.
In
the year 2013 I perform black magic in the house of a family with a small
child, when something unusual happened. Satan instructed me that there was
a golden treasure in that house and I should sacrifice the child of less than
three months old to find the treasure.
However,
there followed a spiritual battle for the life of that child. As the
supernatural war raged around her, suddenly it became troubled and I was very
perturbed. I could not complete the black magic then out of that house.
When
I sleep at night I had a remarkable dream.
A
white and handsome man came to me and sat beside me. I noticed my room
filled with full of light and no darkness at all. The man showed me his
hands. His hands were with brands as if they were injured by nails,
bearing the marks of crucifixion.
He
told me: “My daughter, you are dear to me. I am your Lord and God. I
give the treasure of peace and eternal life. I am the door”. He
continued, “Those who come to me will be saved; they will go in and
out and will find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I have come that you might have life -. Life in all its
fullness”.
Nagamma, now named a Maria (left) receiving Bible.
Nagamma
recognized the man in her dream as Jesus Christ! Overwhelmed with emotion,
she knelt before Him and accepted Him as her personal Savior and Lord.
In
the days that followed, I changed my heart led to bold actions. I myself broke
all the idols and temple of snakes. My parents and those who believed in me did
not like it. They told me I was mad. They tied me to a tree and beat me. Many
other persecutions I faced. But I did not lose my faith in Jesus and wanted to
enter into the fold of Jesus Christ through baptism”..
Nagamma
personally requested Pastor Paul of Bibles for Mideast and his
gospel team for the baptism. She herself
chosen a new name “Maria” as her baptismal name. The Lord has anointed her by
the Holy Spirit. Her family, her parents and brothers now believing Jesus
Christ and they made a prayer tent for worshiping Jesus Christ at the same
place where they were having serpent’s temple.
He is using her as a good weapon for the salvation of many people in their
region through “Bibles for Mideast”. .
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