Mother Wakes Up Naked Every Day in Zimbabwe

The Global Mission pioneer knew what to do. He had heard similar stories.

By Andrew McChesney, adventistmission.org

A 35-year-old single mother approached the Global Mission pioneer with an unusual dilemma: Every morning she woke up naked, and she was scared.

“Every day I go to sleep, but I wake up naked in the morning,” said the woman, who had a 3-year-old son.

“Why is that?” asked Mordecai Msimanga, a Global Mission pioneer since 2006, who was leading a two-week evangelistic series in Nkai, Zimbabwe.

“I don’t know,” the woman said.

Mordecai had a hunch about the strange occurrence. He had heard similar stories, and all involved evil spirits. He knew what to do.

“Do you accept Christ?” he asked. “If you do, we can pray, and Christ will provide understanding about why you wake up naked.”

The woman said she accepted Christ into her life, and Mordecai gathered church members to pray. For three days, they prayed. On the third day, Mordecai asked the woman for an update.

“I’ve been fine for the past three days,” she said. “In the morning, my clothes have not been taken off.”

The woman was later baptized, and she has never been disturbed by evil spirits again.

Read Mordecai Msimanga’s conversion story

Trouble With Evil Spirits

Evil spirits are a common issue in Zimbabwe, an African country where many people are superstitious and practice traditional beliefs. Mordecai, a Global Mission pioneer who works in areas without any Adventist presence, has had several experiences with those spirits.

At his current posting, in the southern Matopo district, he was invited to speak at a Sunday church, and a woman with a knee problem asked for prayer. When he mentioned the name of Jesus in the prayer, the woman abruptly fell to the ground.

“When this happens, it means a demon has departed,” said Mordecai, 68. “I prayed for her and raised her up. Today, she is a member of the Adventist Church because of what she saw.”

Not all of Mordecai’s stories involve demons. He is especially thrilled about his time in Zezana, where he was sent in 2007, a year after becoming a Global Mission pioneer. He went from house to house, teaching people about the Sabbath truth and Jesus’ soon coming. As a result, all 16 members of one church, including its pastor, were baptized, and they established the first Adventist church in the area.

Sometime after that, Mordecai had a direct encounter with eight evil spirits while leading an evangelistic series in a public elementary school in Beitbridge, a town near Zimbabwe’s border with South Africa. As he flashed up a picture of the crucified Christ on the screen, a 48-year-old woman leaped to her feet and ran from the room.

After the meeting, Mordecai found the woman lying in the schoolyard. She was motionless and appeared to be dead. Several people carried her back into the school and placed her on the floor.

Story continues below

Six-Hour Prayer Session

Mordecai gathered 10 church members around the woman and led them singing and praying. As they spoke the name of Jesus, the woman suddenly sat up, shook violently, and collapsed back onto the floor. Her actions indicated that an evil spirit had fled her body. Now he wanted to know whether she was free.

“Will you pray to Christ?” he asked. 

The woman remained motionless on the floor. It was a sign that she was still possessed, Mordecai said.

The church members sang and prayed again. Hearing the name of Jesus, the woman again sat up, shook, and collapsed onto the floor. Another demon had left.

“Will you pray to Christ?” Mordecai asked.

The woman didn’t move.

The scenario repeated itself over and over. The group sang and prayed from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Finally, after the eighth time, the woman responded to Mordecai’s invitation to pray. She sat up and with a clear voice prayed, “Dear Jesus, thank you for releasing me from the demons. I ask you to come to my assistance so I may become a church member and as strong as the others in this room.”

The woman is now a Seventh-day Adventist and serves as a deaconess.

“God is good all the time,” Mordecai said.

Thank you for your mission offerings that help Global Mission pioneers like Mordecai Msimanga proclaim Jesus’ soon coming. You can contribute directly to Global Mission pioneers online or in your church offering envelope.