Homer E. Dowdy

I really enjoyed Christ's Witchdoctor: From Savage Sorcerer to Jungle Missionary by Homer E. Dowdy. This book pleased me because (1) its a good story and I love stories, (2) it magnifies the grace of God in saving sinners, (3) it reminded me that no one is any more unlikely a candidate for salvation than another, and (4) it illustrates many missiological principles (indigenous missions, translation, cultural adaptation, etc).

The story focuses on Elka of the Wai Way (pronounce Y Y) tribe in British Guiana. Elka was interested from his youth in spiritual things. He became a witchdoctor in his teen years and decided that he wanted to do good for his people. As Elka grew older, he grew to be one of the most respected witchdoctors of his people. Then the "white killers" came. Missionary brothers (Neill, Rader, and Bob Hawkins) went to the Wai Wai people with the gospel.

Elka distanced himself from the missionaries at first, but "God's Papers" gradually drew him to the missionaries. Prior to the coming, Elka's faith in witchcraft had been shaken by failures. He wondered why his god did not always listen. He began to wonder if he was hearing the gods right. The fact that the missionaries had God's Word written on paper seemed wonderful to him. He helped them learn the Wai Wai language and then began helping them translate.

The entrance of God's Word caused Elka some serious internal conflict, but it was not long before he converted to Christ. His conversion prayer is beautiful. He publicly displayed his conversion by casting away his basket of witchdoctor accoutrements--an act that every Wai Wai believed would lead to his agonizing death. But he lived. He began holding classes for his people, teaching the Bible and urging them to become followers of Christ. The Lord blessed his efforts and many of his own clan began to follow him.

As they grew in grace, Elka and his fellow believers began to reach out to other tribes. At first they reached out to tribes similar to themselves, but eventually they sent mission teams to tribes they feared and had hated in the past.

I recommend this book as an easy but inspiring read. It is inexpensive on the internet (my hardback copy cost around $5 including shipping). It's 241 pages long, but the type is large. I think you enjoy reading about how God used US missionaries to reach the Wai Wai and how he raised the Wai Wai up to reach their neighboring tribes. You may disagree with some aspects of the missionary work. For instance, the missionaries did not address polygamy for the most part (but by the next generation family lines had straightened out). Also they did not insist that the women immediately clothe themselves (native dress was a loin cloth or apron). But I don't think any reader will be disappointed with the book. Christ's Witchdoctor tells a wonderful story of how missionaries focusing on the gospel reached a people for Christ. Perhaps even more heart-warming is the story of how God used these novice Christians to take the gospel to others.

One caveat: There are a few photos in the middle of the book that show half-dressed men and women, so parents should monitor their kids when reading the book.… (altro)

Armed with a tape recorder, Michigan journalist Homer E. Dowdy flew to the Congo only hours after receiving a telephone tip that rescue of missionary hostages was about to be attempted. He talked with survivors, recorded vital impressions and conversations, reconstructed suspenseful scenes of the long nightmare of Simba rule. Besides penetrating into the heart of the jungle he also tracked down witnesses throughout Europe, the British Isles, and the United States. The more he learned about the heroism of the Congo martyrs, the more determined he became to tell the world the full and factual story.… (altro)