Deliverance Ministry
The
evangelical pastor replied that the woman said no and advises seeking
help for Kristin from a deliverance ministry
in USA. When I asked from which deliverance ministry in USA, he replied that she
didn't say and was speaking in general terms.
By this time, I had spent an enormous amount of time online researching deliverance ministries and had found most of them to be unbiblical and many of them to be freak shows runs by hirelings or wolves in sheep's clothing who were out to fleece the most hurting members of the flock. One prominent deliverance ministry, for example, offered to cast out demons via Skype for $295, which I wasn't sure was per demon or per hour.
The reply from the evangelical pastor prompted another round of online search, which turned up a small deliverance ministry run by a husband and wife in rural Bible belt. The content on their website checked all of the Biblical boxes, and the wife, who seemed to be the ministry's driving force, even looked and dressed like the quintessential church lady, not the flamboyant charlatans of so many other deliverance ministries.
After several email exchanges, Kristin and I had a long call with her in which she asked Kristin lots of questions about her symptoms and background, and then said that if I were to send Kristin to her, she will take care of her and cast the demons out of her. When I asked her if she was talking about casting out some or all of the demons, she replied that she will cast "all" of the demons out of Kristin as she already has for the others who had come to her for help. Moreover, since this is her "ministry," there will be no cost to us for the ministry, room or board, all of which she will cover.
We thanked her and told her that we will get back to her shortly after processing our conversation, praying about it, and possibly looking into flights. After the call, Kristin and I looked at each other with hope. It looked like this deliverance ministry was the answer to our prayers, so after praying to thank the Lord, I took Kristin out to dinner to chat further and to also celebrate a bit.
We had mixed emotions. Kristin agreed that this deliverance ministry seemed to check all of the Biblical boxes and said that she will go, but seemed more subdued about it than she had been about going to the Togolese evangelist. We had been through a lot together and had learned to be cautious. She also remained apprehensive about returning to USA, which she called "the land of my abuse."
To encourage her, I asked her what was the first thing she wanted to do when she is fully delivered from all demons, but the question was premature, as she hadn't thought that far ahead. So I told her that I was excited for her and her future. She will soon feel a freedom that she hasn't known before and be free to go, be and do whatever she wanted.
Because she is so sensitive about being rejected, I also reassured her that I was excited for her going because of the benefits that awaited her, not because she is leaving me. Over the past months, I had gained tremendous respect for her. She is a true warrior in Christ and a woman of God who clings to Jesus like no one else I had ever met. Young men who are truly Christian will be lining up for her. In fact, I was so impressed with her that had I been her age, I would have been in that line as well. She seemed to appreciate my words but remained silent.