A TESTIMONY OF DELIVERANCE, TRANSFORMATION, AND FREEDOM

My name is RAYMOND CHIBALE.

"My beloved youth in Christ, believers and nonbelievers,"

I stand before you today not as someone who has always had it together, but as a living testimony of God's miraculous power and transforming grace. My story begins in a place of darkness, rebellion, and bondage—but it ends in freedom, peace, and the overwhelming love of Jesus Christ. I pray that as I share my journey with you, you will be encouraged to pursue God with all your heart, no matter where you are right now.

THE REBELLIOUS CHILD

When I was very young, I was what you would call a "bad child." I was full of bad character, disobedient, and constantly getting into trouble. My parents used to beat me every day because of my behavior. I remember how they would force me to go to church. My mother would say, "If you don't go to church, you will not eat food in this house." So I started going to church—not because I loved God, not because I understood faith—but simply because I wanted to eat.

My parents never really explained to me "why" I needed to go to church. To me, it was just punishment, just rules, just something I had to endure. I had no relationship with God. Church was boring. God seemed distant and irrelevant to my life.

But everything changed the day my mother sat me down and told me a story—a story I had never heard before. A story about how God had already saved my life once, even before I knew Him.

THE MIRACLE I DIDN'T REMEMBER

My mother told me that when I was five years old, I used to play on the street with my friends. There was a woman nearby who would fry fritters and sell them. We were just children—mischievous, foolish children—and we used to steal her fritters. Day after day, we would take them and run away laughing.

But one day, she noticed. And this woman was not an ordinary woman—she was a witch.

She decided to punish me. She chose to make me a cripple.

Suddenly, my mother noticed that I wasn't able to walk anymore. My legs just stopped working. She was terrified. She took me to several hospitals, but my condition didn't change. The doctors had no answers. They couldn't explain what was wrong with me. Nothing they did made any difference.

Finally, my mother made a decision that would change everything. She decided to pray.

She prayed for over five months. Five months! Can you imagine? Day after day, week after week, month after month—she prayed and prayed, but nothing changed. I still couldn't walk. But my mother didn't stop. She didn't give up. She continued to pray.

One day, while she was praying with me on the mountain, a prophet came to her. He said, "God has heard your prayers. Why have you been wasting your time going to hospitals? Your son stole fritters with his friends, and that witch decided to paralyze your son's legs because she saw his future. But because you have been disturbing her with your prayers, I have seen her coming with your son's legs. God is giving them back."

And just like that—by the grace of God—I was healed.

My mother told me this story, and for the first time, I understood. God had fought for me when I didn't even know Him. God had answered my mother's prayers when I was helpless. God had broken the curse of a witch and restored my legs.

From that day forward, I started going to church without anyone forcing me. I went because I wanted to. I went because I knew God was real.

THE STRUGGLE WITH SIN

But let me be honest with you, my young and big brothers and sisters—just because I started going to church willingly didn't mean my bad character disappeared overnight. I wish I could tell you that everything changed instantly, but it didn't.

I was still stealing people's things. I was still living in sin. I began to struggle with masturbation—every single day. I started sleeping with girls, thinking it was normal, thinking it was just part of growing up. My life looked religious on the outside, but on the inside, I was still bound by sin.

Then, ten years ago, I made a decision that would mark the true beginning of my transformation. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior, and I got baptized. That was the moment God truly entered my life through Jesus Christ.

I began to stop sinning—little by little. But I want you to understand something important: deliverance is a process. Even after I gave my life to Christ, I was still tied up in some bondages. Masturbation and sexual sin still had a grip on me. I started sleeping with a lot of women, thinking it was normal. I was addicted to pornography. I masturbated every day. I really suffered with those bondages.

I know some of you are struggling with the same things right now. You love God, but you're still fighting secret battles. You go to church, but when you're alone, you fall into the same sins over and over again. I want you to know—I've been there. And I want you to know—there is hope. There is freedom.

THE BREAKTHROUGH

In 2022, everything began to shift. I joined Viens et Vois Church Lusaka through a true God-sent friend, PHILIP MWELA, and God began to teach me about holiness. Not just religion. Not just church attendance. But true holiness—living a life set apart for God.

And let me tell you, it wasn't easy. God took away everything I had. I started suffering. Life became harder on me. I had to stop everything I used to do—all the sinful things I did to get money, all the shortcuts, all the compromises. God was refining me, purifying me, teaching me to depend completely on Him.

It was painful. It was difficult. There were moments I wanted to give up. But God was faithful.

He began to break the chains. He began to set me free from the addiction to pornography. He gave me the strength to stop masturbating. He delivered me from the bondage of sexual sin.

And today, I stand before you as a testimony: It has been four years since I stopped sleeping around with women. Four years of freedom. Four years of victory.

THE PEACE I HAVE NOW

Now, I have a peaceful life. I fear God. I am hoping for a better tomorrow. Jesus saved my life from the addiction of pornography and masturbation. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

I'm not telling you that life is perfect now. I'm not telling you that I don't face challenges. But I am telling you that the peace I have in Christ is real. The freedom I have is real. The joy I have is real.

When you live in holiness, when you surrender everything to God, when you choose obedience over pleasure—God gives you something the world cannot give: eternal peace.

MY CALL TO YOU

So today, I want to encourage you, my beloved youth, brothers and sisters. Some of you are where I was. You're struggling with secret sins. You're battling with pornography, with masturbation, with sexual immorality. You feel trapped. You feel ashamed. You feel like you can never be free.

But I'm here to tell you: Jesus can set you free.

It doesn't matter how long you've been bound. It doesn't matter how many times you've tried and failed. It doesn't matter how deep the addiction goes. Jesus is stronger. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in your weakness.

Stop making excuses. Stop saying, "I'll change tomorrow." Stop thinking that sin is normal just because everyone else is doing it. God is calling you to holiness. God is calling you to purity. God is calling you to freedom.

Surrender everything to Him today. Confess your sins. Ask Him for help. Join a community of believers who will hold you accountable. Cut off every access to temptation. Delete those apps. Block those websites. End those relationships that are pulling you away from God.

It won't be easy. You might suffer for a season like I did. But I promise you—the peace, the freedom, the joy that comes from living in obedience to God is worth it all.

You will have eternal peace and life.

The same God who healed my legs when I was five years old is the same God who broke the chains of sexual bondage in my life. And He can do the same for you.

Don't wait. Don't delay. Surrender to Jesus today.

Draw near to God, he will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

May God bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace.

Amen.