Written by: FEBA Radio
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Hamakhan is a farmer in Mali, and for years, he was a very unlucky one. Whenever the rainy season came, it brought misfortune – illness, floods, or roving herds destroying his crops. Then he discovered the solution.
“Being a regular listener of KanuYah FM (FEBA Mali), I discovered that prayer was the only way out. However, since I was not a Christian, I asked the pastor in our village to do so on my behalf, because many people nowadays go to Christians for prayer. My harvests had never been as good as they were when God answered their prayers. I was so happy that I decided, then and there, to become a faithful disciple of Jesus.”
The need for Christianity
Given that Mali’s population is approximately 95% Muslim, Hamakhan’s testimony is amazing – yet in KanuYah FM’s ministry, it is not unique. Since its establishment in 2016, FEBA Mali’s radio station has gained a reputation for excellence in its programming and power in its prayer. Like Hamakhan, many listeners come to the station as non-Christians, and through KanuYah FM’s evangelical programmes they learn about Jesus, His miracles, and the testimonies of listeners whose problems were resolved through prayer.
It’s all about prayer
KanuYah FM has no special prayer programmes, but every programme opens and closes with prayer. M’Bimba Dembélé, FEBA Mali’s director, says that all his staff members are real prayer warriors. “When on outreach (preaching, teaching, and showing videos), our team can register up to a dozen prayer requests a week,” he says. “Those staying behind to operate the station receive even more. On Sundays, we usually hold church services on KanuYah FM premises, together with visiting listeners who come with more prayer requests. When faced with urgent situations, some listeners call us so that we can pray for them, and when we do, they call back to say that the matter has been resolved.”
Prayer for every need
Urgent situations can range from illness to demon possession to family conflict. With about 80% of the population engaged in commercial or subsistence farming, prayer requests also frequently involve the weather. “At KanuYah FM, we pray for rain and the Almighty sends it to us,” says Dembélé. “At the beginning of every rainy season, even Muslims ask us to pray…”
Seeds of faith in every heart
When people request prayer, even non-believers recognise that all things are possible in Jesus’ Name, and the seeds of that faith have been sown by KanuYah FM over many years. The team works tirelessly to point their listeners to Christ as the only source of salvation. “When we get feedback, we ask those who are thanking us to join us in thanking our Lord instead, for answering our prayers. If the person we prayed for is not a Christian, then this is an opportunity for us to do our best so that he or she can come to the Lord.”
Turning from ‘marabouts’ to Christ
Pastor Thomas, who partners with FEBA Mali, says, “The broadcasters spread the Good News night and day and call upon listeners to put their faith in Christ instead of going to marabouts and fortune tellers who recommend all sorts of sacrifice… even human.” Marabouts are Islamic holy men, believed to possess supernatural powers. It is common practice to consult them when someone is ill or in need of protection. In addition to advice, they also sell protective amulets called gris-gris. Many spend so much that they fall into financial ruin, without ever receiving help.
Healing that leads to salvation
When Mr Traoré became gravely ill, his family sought help from as many marabouts as they could afford, but none could heal him. On the contrary, he says, “The more products I used or consumed, the worse my sickness became.” Despite being Muslims, the Traoré family were regular listeners of KanuYah FM, through which they heard of the power of Christian prayer. “Although a Muslim is usually reluctant to accept any assistance related to Christianity, my family had little problem accepting Christian prayer of healing for me.” A group of Christians came to the Traoré house to pray for him and he was completely healed. “I had never witnessed such a miracle in anybody’s life in Islam. Each member of my family, along with myself, decided of our own accord to come to the Lord, the only true God.” This kind of transformation touches not only the clients of magic practitioners, but also the practitioners themselves.
From divination to divine intervention
Sakhalé was a divinator for 19 years. Despite wielding power in his community, his life was plagued by financial, family, and health troubles, and he suffered terrible nightmares. He sought help from marabouts, juju (folk magic) practitioners, and other divinators – to no avail.
While listening to music on KanuYah FM, he heard a pastor say, “Divination is a sin and will take you to hell unless you stop it and repent before you die.” A short while later, another preacher gave a similar warning. Sakhalé was so desperate to end his predicament that he sought the help of a pastor, who told him to destroy all his divination tools and other occult items, and to give his life to Christ. Sakhalé did everything the pastor suggested and his life turned around. “As a Christian, I’m no longer careworn,” he says. “I am now one of the happiest people in the world. Jesus has taken tons of weight off my shoulders, so that I now feel as light as a leaf, no longer laden as a donkey.”
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This article is featured in the November issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 28/10/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from www.pexels.com
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