Born into pagan families in the Ivory Coast, Emmanuel and Eunice Gueu followed their parents’ example of fetishism, the worship of objects believed to have magical or spiritual powers. The Gueus’ emptiness multiplied in 1997 when they lost a son. Death was now a cold reality, and they wanted to prepare themselves for it mystically. Spending a large sum of money on a special sacrifice, they were left with nothing but hopelessness. They began to panic. The love of his wife was the only thing that kept Emmanuel going during that time.
The next year, a student at BMM’s Baptist Theological Institute invited Emmanuel and Eunice to his church, which was led by missionaries Steve and Gayle King. At first hesitant, Emmanuel asked his wife to try it out. But three weeks later, he followed. The Gueus accepted the Lord in 2001. Gradually, they separated themselves from their old ways of sorcery and fetishes. Emmanuel’s desire now was to know the true God, and studying His Word was his burden.
He faced a trial early on in his Christian walk—the loss of his job. This passage from Isaiah 41:10 strengthened him:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The job loss proved to be the catalyst for God’s new direction for Emmanuel. He enrolled in the Bible institute and, encouraged by pastors and his brothers in Christ, completed the course. Since September 2005, he has served the Lord full-time as a professor at the Bible institute in addition to ministering wherever needed in his family’s church. Emmanuel rejoices in how the Lord continues to work marvelously within his family. The peace that was so absent during their years in fetishism is now completely theirs in Christ.