their spiritual bondage is real, and the strongholds of the evil one have been rooted in their mountain homes for over 2000 years!

To deal with the spiritual world, the Hani turn to three types of religious leaders for guidance.  A zuima directs these affairs, performs rituals for planting and harvesting ceremonies, and offers sacrifices.  A beima is a sorcerer who tries to exorcise demons, recite magical incantations and conduct other supernatural activities related to the dead.  A nima serves as a soothsayer using numerous signs to predict the future.

For the Hani, every physical event is linked to a spiritual cause.  To Westerners, they appear highly superstitious.  They view numerous events as unlucky:  a new family or wild beast coming into a village, a dog climbing onto the roof of a house, a tree knocking down the village gate, a fire in a neighboring village, and unluckiest of all, the birth of twins or a handicapped child.

Despite their elaborate religious system, they find no release from the bondage to the evil one.  Apart from hearing the name of Jesus, these dear ones are lost and heading to an eternity in hell.  In a recent visit to a Hani village, I saw an old woman wheezing in her hut.  It seemed obvious that she will not survive the year.  Her granddaughter later commented that she knew of no Christians and had never heard of any Christians among her people group.  Unless something radical happens soon, many will pass away into eternal darkness.  Only salvation through Christ will set them free from the kingdom of darkness and transfer them to the kingdom of light.

"I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."  Acts 26.18