The Chris Voss Show - The Chris Voss Show Podcast – Why I Have Chosen Jesus over My Father’s Voodoo by Adolph Dagan

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

Why I Have Chosen Jesus over My Father's Voodoo by Adolph Dagan https://www.amazon.com/Have-Chosen-Jesus-Fathers-Voodoo/dp/B0DSGPLZWP Adolphdagan.com Do you think your situation cannot change? Come closer to God; He is able to do something for you that you never imagined. Adolph Dagan was born in a little village called Daganhoé in Togo, West Africa, where his father was a voodoo priest. Almost every day he would go to the voodoo temple/shrine to worship, and Adolph was always with him. As the youngest boy, his father decided Adolph would replace him someday, but God had other plans. Instead, God brought Adolph to the United States, where he went through financial issues and sicknesses, but because of his unshakable belief in God and his faithfulness, God brought him through it all and gave him a powerful testimony.About the author Adolph A. Dagan was born in Daganhoé, Moyen-Mono Prefecture, in Togo, West Africa on July 20, 1974. He was raised in Daganhoé and went to elementary school in Ahassomé; middle school in Kpékpléme and Nyékonakpoè Atakpamé; and high school in Aplahoué in the Republic of Bénin, Atakpamé (LYATA), and Notsé (LYNO) in Togo. Adolph graduated with a bachelor's degree at American Military University (AMU) and a master's degree at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in the United States of America.

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Some guests of the show may be advertising on the podcast, but it is not an endorsement or review of any kind. Today's featured author comes to us from books to lifemarketing.co.com. With expert publishing to strategic marketing, they help authors reach their audience and maximize their book success. Today we've got a wonderful young man on the show. We're talking about his book that came out March 4th, 2025. It is entitled, Why I Have Chosen Jesus Over My Father's Voodoo. I kind of like that title. It sounds like a song.

What was the song Voodoo by Black Sabbath? And I think God Smack had one. It was kind of interesting. So we're going to find out all about this voodoo. And we have Adolf Dagon on the show. Did I get it? I hit it right, Adolf? Yes.

You've got to hit the punch on it. That's the key to it. And we're going to be talking to him about his life and times, some of the things that he survived in his experience and how maybe you can help survive some of the things you experience as well. He was born in Togo, West Africa, in 1974. He was raised and went to elementary school, middle school, and high school in the area. And in Togo, I'm going to say that because I can't pronounce any of the cities he's listed here.

I flunk second grade. He graduated a bachelor's degree at the American Military University and a master's degree at Austin, PA, State University in the United States of America. Welcome to show, Adam. How are you? Good, Chris. I'm doing well. Thank you for having me here. Thanks for coming. Give us dot-coms. Where do you want people to find you and get to know you better on the interwebs? Oh, yeah. We have two websites. One is double.

www. Adolf Dagan.com, A D-O-L-P-H-D-A-N, my first and last name, dot com. And second one is W-W-Dagan, International Market. So D-A-G-N, International Market.com. You can find me over there easily. We're on YouTube, Adolf Dagan, or Dagan African Market. We're on TikTok, Adolf Dagan, or Adolf in African Market. You want me to say this? Whatever you want, plug away.

I know that you're running for office. We are there on TikTok, on YouTube. We come on Lickenden, we come on X and Instagram. So we are everywhere. We are everywhere. So we're going to talk about your book today, but what state do you represent in the house that you're running for, a seat you're running for?

Yes, I'm running for U.S. Congress, a house of a representative in Tennessee, District 7. Oh, well, we need... Yeah, I'm sorry. Cover Nashville, big part of Nashville, Franklin, Moffreysboro, Claudeville, people who went for Campbell, Kentucky military, but they live in Tennessee side.

Yes, it's 14 counties, 14 counties. Memphis, Tennessee, home of Elvis, I think, technically, right? Still? Yes, Memphis is not part of it, but we need support from everywhere. the world. Everywhere. We need support. Share this. Show everywhere. It's a support. Yeah. And plus great barbecue down there. So give us a 30,000 overview. Tell us about what's in your book. Why have I chosen, why I have chosen Jesus over my father's voodoo?

Yes. Yes. Interesting. This book, why have I chosen Jesus Christ over my father's voodoo? Okay, we're not here to describe what vojo is, but my story is this. When I was born in Lero Village, called Dagan Hui, Dagan City or Dagga Town, it's in the Canton of Ahasome, Prefecture of Moimono, and Kingdom of Tado, T-A-D-O, in Togo, West Africa. So you know where I'm from. Now, when I was born, because we were 10 for my father, five boys. five girls five boys and yeah and then i was the last boy and so since he sent my brothers to school two of him he said me you know it was kind of tradition you stay home and take care of uh whatever we have

like a voodoo and then all the things i say okay uh so i'm not going to school he said no me i love to go to school because i hear people coming back from school and say, Coma sava, bien, because we speak French. And then some English, they say,

good. How are you? Good. And me, I love to go to school to become a medical doctor or lawyer or whatever. Half a year old,

I took shower to go because we didn't have elementary school in my village. Oh, really? Yeah. You know, when we have the one, the first one, 2007,

it's because I came to America. Wow. military and I was able to start 1 in 2007. So let me go back and tell you this. I got to walk to go to another village called Ahasomi.

And that was the biggest village and we worked like two miles. It was not easy. And he said no, when I was five. He said no, when I was six. And suddenly he got killed by wizard and

witches. You're just. Dad? Yeah, he was killed. Even though he had a big voodoo to protect himself. Huh? Yeah, because witches, they have different powers, you know? Different powers.

They connected with different, different powers. And they were able to kill, finally, my father. I know they tried many times. But when he was killed, I was six. So because he said, I won't go to school. Because of that voodoo, when he got killed, I asked my mom, I missed him. And my father's name is Ayena or Yenna Daga. I have to mention that. I miss them. So and my mom said, oh, those witches took the power from the voodoo.

Okay, voodoo is a big spirit. And how someone can take their power, that means somebody has a power more than someone. Or more than someone. So that's why I say, I'm not going to worship that voju. and I started going to church, Presbyterian Church in my village. Oh, really? And they started going to school.

There was tough. It was tough. So was the motivation your, was the motivation your fear of it happening to you? Or was it, did it pull back the curtain in that experience where you're like, maybe there's something about this voodoo that isn't quite right?

Which was? No, actually, you know, let me say something. If God has chosen you chosen you since the womb of your mother, your thinking will be different. The spirit

of God will be drawing you toward him. So me, because I loved my father, everywhere he went, I was there. He was a chief of the village. But since I heard that he was killed by witches, that's what

I say, okay, if a man can have devilish power to take the power from voodoo and kill the honor. So I prefer going to Jesus because Jesus will be the most powerful God ever. That's what came in my mind. And what made you, how old were you at this time? Six years old. So you're six years old. So you're six years old, you lose your father, important person in your life. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm still missing him today.

Yeah. Now, did you, did you ever find out what the, what really happened to him? I mean, I mean, usually people die of some sort of failure of some type, whether it's an accident or whether it's a health issue. No, he was sick. Okay. And we didn't know what was wrong. Uh-huh. He was going to, uh, but I won't say, uh, how we call the clinic.

clinic we called dispensary. And also he was using herbs. But it's like it will be up and down, little bit better. And then little bit down, a little bit better. So we didn't really know, even when he was dead, he was feeling better that time. And he's a guy, he was a guy who love giving too much. That's, that's, I took that from him. I love giving too much. Okay, even those people who killed him before, like at the eve of his, the day of his death, they came to him again. He took them to the farm and give them yam. You know yam? Yum, we make a fool-full out of it.

Yeah. And then because my father was not poor according to where we live. He was a great farmer. He had a lot of things like food, food, food, giving to people. clean water. But because human beings, they want to destroy you. Whatever you do, go to them, they will destroy you. So it was clear that he was killed spiritually.

That's why, may I say, I don't want to deal with that kind of would you. And we go to church. Yeah. Now, was that the only church? I'm looking to build out your story. So was that the only church in the area? the Presbyterian Church? Yeah, actually, in my village, we had a Presbyterian church and led by my cousin and my brothers

that were going there. But we have some cousin who were going to, we called that Pentecost, like Church of Pentecost. Started from Ghana and then got into Togo. And they were going there. So, you know, Pentecostal, you know, is speaking tongue and pray like this. And then we play drum, we dance and dance and dance, and dance. And sometimes I followed them to go to another village, because where that church of Pentecost was.

So we had only, like I would say, only Presbyter Church in my village. So I started going there, playing drums. and I created a choir, children choir, when I was 13, and then myself, I joined the adult choir when I was 12. And yeah, so that was the only church, but I read the Bible, and my understanding of the Bible is more close to Pentecostal practice. Oh, okay. Yeah, because the way the Bible says, you pray a lot, you fast, I love those, pray in town. I didn't pray in other towns until I came to America because, you know, I will explain that later. But I love that, and it's like I'm kind of doing both little bit.

See, in 2000, I would say, 1987, I got my high school diploma, and I got my high school diploma. came to Loma in the Capiro, kept going to Presbyterian Church in 2000, in 2000, yeah, bless you, in 2000, I switched church from Presbyterian Church to go to Assembly of God, Assemblies of God Church. So since 2000, I am a member of Assembly of God Church till now. And so when did you get turned on to America? When did you decide you wanted to come to America. What was that journey like? A great, great question. You know, since I was little like you asked me, I was six, but I was so smart. I love being with adult people. When I talk, they say,

huh? Where did you get this from? It's God. So my dream was, okay, I will go to school, go to university, get a great job, and help others. That's why I was kind of like, let me go to school, to medical or lawyer or whatever. Now, when I was growing up, start going through things. Let me share this with you. When I was in middle school and then I went to Atapami, and I had a dream that I saw myself back in my village. Excuse me, as a little boy, like 10 years old boy, and then the big python or another.

accorded, long, so long. The head is the head of the dog, the big town. And then he was following me to touch him and devour me. You see the Bible in John 1010, devil is there to devour, to kill, to destroy. But the name of Jesus was coming up from my mouth. In my language, I'm ajar. Yesu. Jesus. Jesus are just spoken in. Togo, Benin, and Diaspora. So, and God saved me. This is where I push a heart and loving more God. I went through sicknesses. I went through all those. But when I got to university, I was taking law school. And first year, good. Second year, I passed everything, but unfortunately, that time we have some classes for reading, and you have to pass that and take other

exam in other classes for oral, yeah, exam. And I don't know how come, you know, devil will go through people to destroy you. The teacher asks a question that we never learned. You know how school is tough in some countries? In America, we take everything for granted. We were six, no, no, eight, four boys and four girls in the room. And he asked questions, we said, sir, we didn't learn this, we didn't know anything. He got mad.

And then he gave, we fought boys, bad grades, and we all, we failed. I cried, darn nights. I cried, I pray, I say, God, I am the first person to have high school diploma in my family, my village. So I got brothers and sisters and their children waiting on me to help them. So what I can do? And when I slept, I got a dream that I came to America. She came to a place called America. I said, huh?

Me? I thought I had the faith, but that time, that faith, I didn't get there. Because I said, no, even though you give me visa for free, I cannot come. I cannot buy airplane tickets. So, but God said, yes, everything is possible with him. So that's the first time I dreamed that I came to America and I saw Jeep, no, Ford, Explorer. And then people that drove that and stopped. And I saw women and men some white and black.

And they got out from the car and they said, they came back from church. And then I woke up. I said, huh? You see the plane of God? So now, before then, you know what we call Latoury Visa, DVA program? Where America brings 55,000 immigrants to America every year, the best program ever, good for poor and rich.

So when I was a first year of law school, one of my friends, he told me about the program And I say, okay, if I want or if I win, they will give me money to buy a plane ticket. They say, no. I said, okay, okay, I don't want to try that thing. You see, you see what I'm belief? Yes, you know what can I try? And this can hear when they failed me and God, push me to what, to apply for?

That time I say paper, you fill out the paperwork. and sent to America. And they just choose you from Tennessee here, Williams, Williamsburg, I think. Okay. If your name came out, they sent back to you in Togo or wherever. You go to embassy, criteria like that, high school diploma, or you got special skill. So, you see what God did? And I won.

When I won, Jesus. Hallelujah. I the answer they sent to me went to another bus like P.O. Bax for 13 months. Yes. Oh no. You see, for 13 months instead of seven, I don't know how happened. They put to fall. That's what the devil does. Yeah. Disrine people every day. Twisting the plan of God every day. I was praying, praying, pray and praying fast.

And one night I got the dream. And I walked on the water, on the river, and I went to other sides. When I woke up, I said, oh, something is going on because I dreamed. I've been dreaming. I came to Illinois. I saw the clinic because I was sick, sick, sick back home. I saw the clinic. I saw myself in the military.

I saw myself doing business. I saw myself teaching. God showed me all back at home. But how are we getting there? I didn't know I won Larry visa. So I keep applying. But after I walk on the water and go to other side, like you know, Moses and he's like,

you see what happened with Red Sea? Because that was the verses I was using and praying. You hear me right now? you might be going through things because devil can block people easily. Start praying so God will take a mountain out of your face. God will take rivers, but may I walk on that river in the dream. And then suddenly I saw the paper. It came.

But you know what? It expired. Everything expired except one paper it says, it said, supplementary and registraments. when they show me today, Sunday, tomorrow, 31st, I think, or 30th of August, everything will aspire, how I can get to America, how I can file the paperwork tomorrow and we get to America, but I had a faith. And you were able to come here then?

Yeah, miraculously, I got here. Oh, there you go. I got my diplomas. Go. Business. I'm running for Congress today. And now you've run for Congress. And miracles, yes. So now you've been very entrepreneurial.

You've started your own companies. I think you distribute food there. You have, tell us what you do there for work as they're in the community. Yes. Yeah, actually, when I came to Fort Campbell in 2007, and we love eating our own food. I love pizza. I love American food.

But we love eating full, full. We love eating our food. So to find those was so hard. So it was so hard. That's where my wife, Café, I love her so much, and my children, we say, okay, we have to start African market here one day. So it's not easy.

We were pushing, pushing. when I got out from military in 2009 but finally we started in 2019 so we have D-A-G-A-N African market is a grocery store

we're selling meat like goat meat or beef we're selling fish smoked and fresh a race napper we have them we can ship to people so we have seasons African and Caribbean seasons

and even things American, they're coming to buy black or white, everybody's coming here to buy. So, yeah, we have clothing, we have clothes, and dashikis and all those. We ship all over. We're selling

beauty products. Sheaboters and all those. We're selling also herbal products. Have supplements, yes, really, really good. Like you're talking about sour soup beaers.

It's a trend in America today because it helps a lot against your immune system, boost your immune system. It can help against like cancer or tumors or stroke. They help, they help a lot and strengthening your body. You know, Seymus, right? Seymus is a really great herb. Yeah. We're selling those, we sell them beer, we sell herbs, we sell the leaves. Moringa, a lot of things. But now, Chris, you know what happened?

I went through a lot of things, like I said, mistakes. Because I never done any business in my life. I never even sell anything like a station or Walmart. Never. But by courage, I jumped in it. So I made mistakes, yes. Where to find money, finance is not easy. Bank won't give you easily.

and then where to find the product is a problem where to find like trucking things to bring food problem because we are the first to start in Classville in Falcambore area so all those event prayers spiritually things you know a lot of things going on so now I start that international market where I start coaching people connecting people to others

so they won't go through what I've been going through. I have a lot of data here. So anybody who, when they join me, help me or partner with me, I have great ideas for the whole America. Now I master a lot. And I start helping people to say, okay, you want to start African or Caribbean or international market or anything you want to do, even hair salon or

Everybody needs money. You are African, you're American. I will guide you. The little I have, I'm not saying I'm professional, but I have a great heart yesterday, or the day before yesterday, we started with a lady in Texas. You see? So here in November, I helped her to have it.

She just called me, we're going to work on the rest today. Secretary of State of what we call that Department of Revenue with Texas paperwork week we did the one already in Charlotte so I'm helping them

prepare them so they don't suffer a lot. We don't have anybody there so I want to be there for someone I know I'll be doing it for a long time but I will keep doing it. So now you do the coaching and consulting on your website. Tell us about those

services you offer and how people can enlist your help there okay so you want to start african market you want to start any international market you want to start any business or you are in it i will guide you through any question you have first of all we're going to build we're going to help you build your credit your credit uh business credit score it's a very very important Because you jump in a business, it's easy that your personal credit score will go down. It's not easy. I know it's not easy, the business. We're going to guide you from the beginning how to boost your business credit score, personal credit score,

and we're going to guide you on the paperwork, even a EI number, Secretary of States, paperwork, all those. Now, we know people. we can connect you with who can take care of this part this part for example your tax we we can help you now for the loan i team out with some big companies that if you want right now i can send you link you want a personal loan you want a business loan you want how we're going to call that you want to buy a property okay i bought quickly i bought land to say we bid my own place okay you can do it because someone will give you information or we team up or we team out with someone all those because especially we need more each other you see what i'm talking about

yeah to get more each other economy is a greater thing ever before after god it's money family there yes but a lot of devote today because of lack of money definitely so let's help each other that's what do we do you need the money even one million two millions we're going to work on it i team out with different different financial companies to help you where you want to find african food i'm right here we're going to help you sounds great one we're right here you have your business already yes call the number will be on screen we're going to help you well uh As we round out the show, you're running for Congress.

Is that for the 2006 Congress? No, this one is a special election. Oh, a special election, okay. Yes, in Tennessee, G7, because the incumbent, oh, but he's no longer in Cuba, he, Dr. Green, agreement, he resigned. He resigned. So we have to go to this.

special election and we have primary on october 7th oh wow okay so if you want to vote for primary today is the last day to register unless you you resisted before i'm going for republican you want to vote for me go and change whatever and then be sure you vote for adolf dagan this great accident so yeah and then the general it will be december 2nd I'm glad to see people getting involved in civics and caring about their communities and stuff. And we need more good people like you that stand up. Thank you. You know, we've got a little too many billionaires and millionaires around in these congressional things.

And, well, I think that's kind of okay. It seems like, you know, we need more people from just the average walks of life, I think. and stuff and the thing. And people that kind of represent their communities better. Yes. Do you know we speak, right? We are a great speaker. And we preach also.

So if we want to invite us to come to your church, your event, anywhere to share our testimony and inspire people and even pray with people, because, you know, God is good. So, yeah, I know you're going to put the contact there. I don't know how you want we do it and people it'll be on the there'll be a link on the Chris Foss show and people can click on that link and then of course we have that at the beginning and end of every show that we get from you so as we round out give people your final pitch out to come on the show or reach out to you find out more about you or at the book

etc etc yes Chris Voss is a great honor to to be with you today you as well Thank you for having me. It's not easy to get here. I know you're busy, man. Really famous, man. I am Adolf Dagan, born in Little Village. I don't forget about my village. Dagan Hui, I speak Ajah. My language is Ajah. A-Fa. If I say A-F-1, that means how are you? So you got to know my language. We're going to go to Togo one day. And I went through a lot, a lot of trials, sickness, financial problem. I lost my father. when I was six. My mother stayed there help us till she passed away in 2001, I think. Unfortunately, but I didn't finish my law school back in Togo, and God brought me to America

where I got my bachelor's and my master's, have the business, taught to French at the Rossville High School. We preach, we speak, I will sing with my children, and I won't forget to show you. you my children. Yes, right there. And my wife, Café, we love God. So I am running for Congress. And people look at you, huh? I say yes. Because nothing is impossible to God. So voting for me is a great thing. Supporting me with a financial or advice, whatever you can do. We are here. And my website is W-W-W-W-W-Dolf Dagan.com, A-D-O-L-P-H-D-A-N.com.

And as the honor of Dagan, African Market and Dagan International Market, where we're coaching and helping people. We're selling our goods here. We ship everywhere in the world. We ship. So you can find us easily at Dagan International Market.com. or myself, Adolf Dagan.com. The book, we wrote this book,

Why Have I Chosen Jesus Christ over my father's voodoo? That means, read it. You're going to see faith, resilience, love of God. You're going to see what sanctification is it is about. It's very important. So the devil tried to destroy me, to kill me, but God has me. God puts me under his umbrella.

I went through a lot. I cannot say, oh, here, but we're going to push it to get to White House, to get to Congress, to help a president of there. I want to represent, how is it, to be bridged. I want to be bridged between African countries and USA, because China is taking over African.

Africa. Russia is taking over Africa because one African countries are getting tired. They're getting tired of Western countries policies. Let me tell the truth. Because what people are telling presidents here is not necessarily true. That's why I want to be there to bring the confidence of African countries with America. I want to be there. to bring black, African-American and African-American together, to bring white people and black people together. And all the races, I need we be together. It's a very important. So Republican, they're calling Democrat by names. Democrat calling Republican by names, but we need to sit down and understand each other.

Yeah, I love that message. We really need to do that. So let's run out the show. Give me your dot coms as we go out to all the websites you want people to check you out on. W.W.W. that Adolf Dagan.com. Well, thank you very much for coming to the show. We really appreciate it.

Thank you. Thank you for having me. God bless you. Thank you. It's not the last one, not the first one, the last one. So you're going to call me back. Well, thank you for coming on the show. Folks, order up his book.

I love this story. I love stories about where people come to America and find the American dream and give back and contribute and do so many wonderful things as many immigrants do with this country. This is a country's melting pot. My great-grandfather was an immigrant

from Germany in the 1900s. So thank you. Order up his book wherever fine books are sold, folks. It is called Why I Have Chosen Jesus over my father's voodoo. You can pick it out where our fine books are sold. He's on Amazon, eBay,

everywhere. TBN has published this. It's from TBN, so it's everywhere you can order. Out March 4th, 2025. Be sure for the show to your family, friends and relatives, folks. Go to Goodrease.com, Fortress, Chris Foss. LinkedIn.com, Fortess, Chris Foss, 1 on the TikTokany and all those crazy places of the internet.

Be good to each other. Stay safe, and we'll see you guys next time. Thank you, God.