Imagine living in a land of darkness and not even knowing that you’re there. A doctor and his wife have been fighting for the life of their son for years, only recently coming to the understanding that his illness is not physical, but spiritual. They have woken up to the unseen reality of light and dark, and as they struggle to find the way, this Buddhist family is discovering that there is hope in God the victor.

Ken* has had epilepsy since he was five years old. His parents, Dr. Jones* and Barbara*, have taken him to every doctor, every spirtist, and every lama possible to try to get treatment for his condition. A missionary friend was visiting with the family one day, and after seeing Ken go into a seizure, she was certain that this was not just a medical case. Ken was disturbed by spirits.

The missionary and her husband felt God increasing their love for this family. God put it on their hearts to have the whole missionary team pray for Ken together with his family. They began their time together by reading the story from Mark 5:25-32 when Jesus heals the woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. Like Ken, this woman had suffered under the care of various doctors yet only grew worse. Only the power of Jesus could heal her.

At the mention of the name Jesus, Barbara began to weep. The missionaries said, “We would like to pray that the same Jesus would touch your son and heal him from this disease. Would you allow us to do that?” They said yes. The team of missionaries began to pray for Ken, and after 15 minutes they felt led to ask if he had been exposed to a religious ritual as a child. The father’s face fell, his expression illustrating the question, “How did you know?”

When Ken was five years old, Dr. Jones and Barbara invited a lama into their home to perform a ceremony with white rocks. Ken had his very first seizure that day, and it was so powerful that it almost killed him. They thought that he was dead and immediately took him to another monastery to try to get him help. Since that time, every month on the 15th and 30th – significant days on the Buddhist lunar calendar – Ken has intense seizures without fail.

The missionaries told the family that what their son is manifesting is not unusual. Jesus encountered all kinds of people who manifested the same way as Ken because they belonged to the world of darkness. They shared that Jesus can free people and bring them into a world of light. Dr. Jones and Barbara fully understood and believed what the missionaries were saying. With unveiled eyes they recognized the dominion of darkness in this world, and its power over their son.

The team moved into a whole new level of intercession for Ken. It was the first time that they ever stepped out in this way to see someone delivered. For 45 minutes they prayed, and for 45 minutes, this dark, active, normally aggressive child, sat completely still. His parents were astounded.

Though they called upon God with faith that he would deliver, they didn’t see the victory and the power that they were asking God for that day. They continue to pray - God has set these missionaries on a path where they are recognizing that there are kingdom resources that they don’t have yet, but they are journeying together into the heart of God to find them.

Imagine if someone tells you that your child is demon possessed, that you yourself are a worshipper of demons, and that you belong to this kingdom of darkness. But Jesus can set you free! After prayer, there are no visible, tangible results. Would you be offended? Amazingly, through this experience the Jones family loves the missionaries even more, and their relationship went to an entirely new level. They trust them implicitly, call them regularly, and give them updates on their son. God is not done with this family nor is he done with the missionaries. He has proven that they are not up to this challenge in and of themselves. This is way beyond them, but God is inviting them into a deeper experience with himself.

Pray for Dr. Jones, Barbara, and Ken, that the great light they have seen would illuminate a path before them and drive out the darkness for good!

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” – Isaiah 9:2

*Names have been changed