I was born on March 19, 1964, in Enugu, Nigeria, into an Anglican Church family. My father, a knight of St Christopher, Lay Reader, and dedicated choir master at St. Bartlomew's Church, Asata, Enugu, for 22 years, instilled in me a sense of spirituality from a young age. I became a chorister in 1974.
The war for my soul raged fiercely in the spiritual realms, and I was oblivious to the battle. It began in 1980, when a mysterious affliction seized me, defying medical explanation. I collapsed, struck down as if by a stroke, half my body paralyzed, my life hanging in the balance. My parents, gripped by panic and anxiety, sought answers from a renowned traditional diviner at Awkuzu, who consulted the ancient spirits of the great beyond. The verdict was damning: my family's house in Awgbu, our ancestral village, was built on a spiritual crossroads, obstructing the movement of powerful elemental spirits. Their wrath had been provoked, and I was the unfortunate victim. The diviner's words sent a shiver down my spine: "A sacrifice must be made to appease them, lest the affliction worsen." In desperation, my father agreed to offer the required sacrifice, even as we set out for Abagana. Miraculously, as we arrived, the symptoms vanished, leaving me bewildered and confused. The ritual was performed, and for a time, the storm subsided. But the reprieve was short-lived. By 1986, the dreams began – dark, unsettling visions of a mysterious being leading me into the depths of the forest, teaching me the secrets of roots and herbs. Little did I know, the battle for my soul had only just begun...
As I grew older, these dreams became more frequent and intense, and I became confused. I turned to native doctors, seeking answers, and in 1986, I was initiated into the native doctor cult. My father, who believed in "giving to Caesar what belonged to Caesar and to God what belonged to God," had actually introduced me to consulting native doctors. I rose through the ranks, acquiring charms and abilities that gave me power and control over others.
# I had "Obia-le-gbum, gbue onwe ya" - a charm that sent back deadly intentions and projectiles to my enemies .
# "Mba ana abalu agu" - a charm that silenced critics and earned me instant praise in hostile environs.
# "Igba enwo" - a protective shield that prevented opposing forces/wizards or cultists from summoning my image in a mirror, globes or basins of water
These charms gave me frightening powers, including the ability to strike my chest in annoyance and unleash evil spiritual pins with dire consequences and no medical solutions on those who provoked me - a power known as "igha pin." ..... amongst many others. Moving through these levels also came with restrictions.... some of which were.... not being able to eat certain foods with people, not being able to share some things with people, strict instructions on how to bathe for certain charms to work and abstinence from seeing dead bodies. But with each new power, I found myself wanting more. I even had a charm that would attract patronage for business goods and services. I was power-drunk, and my desire for more power led me to seek the next level of "ili amosu" ...... astral projection and the ability to hear what people were discussing about me from miles away. However, the native doctor hesitated to initiate me, citing my tender heart as potential for murderous acts and wickedness as the power there was too great.
It was 1988, and my life was about to take a dramatic turn. My late younger sister, may her soul rest in peace, had attended a crusade led by late Dr. Ibeneme and experienced a miraculous transformation in weight loss , for saying she was obese would be an understatement. I was shocked and intrigued and wanted this great power that could effect such miraculous change almost instantly. My pursuit of power led me to accept an invite from my late aunt, Prof Josephine Okoli, to late Dr. Friday Nwatu's New Life Holy Ghost ministry program. I arrived at the program, determined to answer the altar call, not for Jesus, but for power. Bro Obi Onubogu, now Bishop, ministered, and I barely concentrated on the message😂... while waiting for the power at the altar call. I went forward at the altar call but little did I know that a seed had been planted in me. I found myself going for fellowships and bible studies in places like Deeper life, Full gospel business men's fellowship, Faith clinic etc. God used these to draw me closer to Himself and I began to develop a genuine interest and hunger for Him....I subsequently surrendered to God. 2Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
My days in the devil's camp were fraught with deprivations and restrictions in the quest for power, and so when in my early days as a believer l saw Christians in some of the places l fellowshipped in doing some rigorous fasting and "tonguing," l I decided to embark on 7 days straight fasting. I was downcast and discouraged when I absentmindedly and unwittingly broke it with banana and groundnuts at IMT Abakiliki Rd, Enugu, but God corrected me: "Power is not just by fasting, but by prayer, obedience, and commitment to My Word and submission and total reliance on Me." It's not by force fasting.
I surrendered, and He transformed me. Today, I don't seek power, but His presence, and I have seen God using me to impact lives in various missions and in the outreach ministry He has given me: JAYKOBEZ INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION ministry, while worshiping with my family in The Anglican Communion. It's been a humbling and exciting journey of faith, from extreme darkness.... while in the shadows of the church... to the glorious light of CHRIST's salvation. I do not know where the next wind of the Holy Spirit will blow me to.....but I eagerly and submissively look forward to it.....saying: "Here I am, use me, Lord."
At The Master's Command
Rev Kanayo Ejikeme Madichie.
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