Awezaye’s story

Awezaye Kasanya was the second wife of a polygamist with two wives. Though she was raised Catholic, Awezaye did not like listening to the Gospel when it was preached and reacted angrily toward anyone proclaiming it. One day, her husband’s first wife decided to murder their husband and she hired bandits to execute him and Awezaye.

That night, four armed men arrived at their home and took everything from the house. Finally, the men took Awezaye to a cemetery where the first wife ordered them to burn Awezaye alive. The bandits tried to burn Awezaye with kerosene and matches but the wind kept blowing out the flames. They kept trying until they ran out of matches. One of the bandits proclaimed that he had never failed in his mission to kill someone and proclaimed that Awezaye’s God had protected her. Because they were unable to kill her, the bandits let her go and told her to serve and pray to the God who protected her. From that day on, Awezaye dedicated her life to Jesus and later became a church planter. Her church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has 120 members and is continuing to grow today.

As of 5/19/2024, Awezaye reports that she has introduced the Gospel to 31 people and 16 said, “Yes!” She has started four small groups and identified four people to go through the same church planter training she attended.

Awezaye’s story illustrates Genesis 50:20, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Women around the world have transformational stories to share. Imagine how the people in her community would have responded when Awezaye shared her Gospel story about how God delivered her from evil men trying to kill her, and into the life-saving arms of her Savior, Jesus.