Nigerian Pastor condemns Kenya cult death
A cleric and lead pastor of Gospel House, the Home of the Gospel Deliverance Ministry International located at plot 14 Ntufam Donatus Etim Street in Calabar, Pastor James John has kicked against the use of tricks from the pit of hell by hirelings who call themselves ministers of the gospel to lead their unsuspecting and ignorant followers to their untimely death in the guise of catapulting them to heaven.
Report on the incidence which has made global headlines say congregants were asked to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus with their hands and legs tied with ropes until they pass. The recent exhuming of 26 bodies brings to 47 the number of corpses removed from shallow graves in the forest.
Pastor John while fielding questions from newsmen in Calabar on Sunday April 23, expressed disgust over the calamity in Kenya where 47 bodies have been exhumed from a forest suspected to be members of a Christian cult group named “The Good news International church.” He said lack of knowledge has destroyed God’s people referencing “Hosea 4:6” my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
He lamented that many Christians have fallen prey to the antics of the anti-Christ in this end-time as even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” to lead many to their early death. Again, buttressing his point he cited 2nd Corinthians 11:15 “therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works. He warned Christians to beware of these masquerades and hirelings in the Christendom.
Meanwhile, Kenyan police officers in the East Africa country are investigating the root-cause of the incidence employing the services of forensic experts and homicide detectives to examine the exhumed bodies of suspected members of the weird religious sect who were cajoled into believing they would go to heaven if they starve themselves to death in Shakahola forest of Kilifi country in Kenya.
The leader of the church, Paul Mackenzie, also identified in reports as Paul Nthenge was arrested.
Mackenzie’s lawyer who could not be immediately reached for comments, but NTV report has staged a hunger strike in his cell since his arrest last week. Police said the 15 rescued worshippers have been told to starve themselves to death as they could meet their creator. Four of them died before they could reach the hospital.
A former member of the ill-fated group, Titus Kafana helped the police in identify the graves. Also, Mattew Shipeta from Haki Africa a human rights group said he had seen at least 15 shallow graves in the forest.
Helen Mikali, the manager of children’s home who was also helping investigations said she had visited several nearby villages where parents and children had disappeared. According to her, she has visited about 18 children graves but did not say how she knew the graves contain the remains of the children in the report of citizen TV.
Recall last month police in Kenya arrested and later released Mackenzie for encouraging the parents of two boys to starve and suffocate their children to death.
During the court appearance, Mackenzie said he was unaware of the events that led to the deaths of the two boys, adding that he was the target of hostile propaganda from some of his former colleges, the Standard Newspaper reported.
Local Media reported that six of Mackenzie’s associates were also arrested as investigation to unravel the motive behind the horror continues.
Pastor James John using the episode of the 39-year old Mozambique Pastor who died while attempting to emulate the 40 day fast by Jesus, said minister’s of the gospel should desist from doing things outside the laid-down Bible principle like late pastor Francisco Barajah and Paul Mackenzie did which is a misnomer while calling for the proper study and interpretation of the word of God to navigate the right path in the ministry citing 2nd Timothy 2:15 “study to show thyself approved unto God, a work-man that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
