Why Most Christians Pray From Home These Days

[einstein]

Politicians now hijacking God’s houses

By GABRIEL DOLAN


I am constantly asked how I would react if a gang of politicians and a heavy duty media team arrived unannounced in our parish church some Sunday morning.

I suspect that my reputation would prevent this from ever occurring as I would be expected to reach for the whip like Jesus and drive them out unmercifully.

Politicians have once more turned God’s houses into market places for money launderers and land grabbers.

Three decades ago each Sunday news bulletin began with Daniel arap Moi’s homily in church.

Nowadays his political heirs and orphans continue his nyayo by invading churches and disrupting services with an entourage of media houses capturing every page turned in their Bibles.

I was particularly incensed at William Ruto appearing in Burnt Forest Catholic Church on the eve of the ICC announcement.

Mr Ruto is not a Catholic and Burnt Forest is not his home turf. Rather it is the area that has most severely and frequently suffered from politically motivated land clashes.

The Catholic Church in Burnt Forest has hosted IDPs almost continuously for the last two decades and now it is playing host to Mr Ruto.

Jesus warned his followers that if they were bringing their gift to the altar and then remembered they had some unfinished business with their brother, then they should leave their gift aside and go and be reconciled with their brother first, then come and present their offerings.

Mr Ruto and Mr Uhuru Kenyatta have clearly made up but their respective communities are far from reconciled.

That is why Mr Ruto’s appearance in the Catholic Church was so distasteful and inappropriate, if not totally hypocritical.

Jesus took sides — the side of the poor, the victims of discrimination, violence, poverty and deprivation, because these people particularly needed his support, love and encouragement.

He resisted evil of every shape but he especially opposed the arrogance and corruption of the powerful religious and political elites.

When Okullu, Njoya and Ndingi preached this Gospel of social justice, the political elites of the day challenged them to leave the pulpit and join competitive politics.
In 2012, the ICC Four have launched nationwide prayer meetings and helicopter crusades. Any religious leader worth their salt should tell them to give up politics and join the pulpit if they want to preach.

Regretfully, most pastors and priests will gladly welcome any politician with the prospect of an improved sadaka and the chance of appearing on the evening news.

Churches have not so much lost their way as retreated into silence and sanctuaries. Have you heard any denomination speak consistently and prophetically on the ICC, IDPs, election date, poverty, growing ethnic tension and the war in Somalia since 2012 began?

Is it any wonder that so many thinking, committed Christians now pray at home on a Sunday? Confusion in leadership and vision has led to politicians hijacking services and whole denominations.

Ordained ministers now lay hands on current and retired political ministers from their own community but never lift a hand to settle the displaced, heal the wounded or protect the stranger.

Maybe we need a one-year moratorium for organised religion!

[e-mail]




www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Politicians+now+hijacking+Gods+houses+/-/440808/1319518/-/myy249z/-/index.html

[einstein]

NO WOMAN NO CRY RIDDIM (TWALA MIX)

[foresight]

Sir, As Church leaders we are instructed through Gods word that we refrain from "Laying of hands" hastily on any Man. What that means is we do not hastily appoint any persons to leadership roles. A person who desires the position of leadership must be well proved before he receives the imposition of hands. 

We are also warned not to be partakers of other men's sins, meaning.. It is a against Gods will for any improper person to thrust himself into a position of leadership knowing very well that he is not standing well in matters that qualify him for leadership. Those in the presbytery  who helps such a person forward, or sanctions him are warned that they become collaborators of that mans sins. 

Not too long ago I was invited to Christian workshop organized to inspire young men and women to consider taking leadership roles within their local churches, one morning I watched in shock as advertisement after advertisement on the local TV stations, paid for I guess by the congregants of these churches, advocated for the use of anointing oil in all sorts of inappropriate ways.. 

O, what an account will rash, undiscerning, and prejudiced bishops, presbyters, and others, have to render to God for their partisan ordinations! 

Those laying rash or careless hands/anointing "skulls of men and women who probably cannot lead Gods highly priced creation (man) will not pass without judgement. That you can take to the bank!

Did you know that Gods word does not permit or admit any person into the sacred work of the ministry, or constitute him an elder, or pastor, over a church of Christ unless he be first proved? 

The standard is this, it must plainly appear, that he has the grace of God in him, and has gifts for public service bestowed on him; that he is sound in faith, and of a good life and conversation; and a man of uprightness and fidelity.

Pastors/clergy in Kenya are lowering the standards of leadership, yet they are supposed to be the custodians of Leadership and authority, they should know or are they conveniently forgetting that they represent, call them "ambassadors" of one whom absolute power and authority belongs.

The practice of discipline and reverence in the house of God has been thrown out of the window by these compromised Kenya church leaders, sadly at the expense of their calling, they have retracted back to their tribal cocoons shamelessly wielding the mantle that symbolizes partiality, integrity, love and hope  in their right hand, the bible..

God news is this though.. God is not sleeping, in the end H/she whom HE favors will lead this nation and I see this dispensation bringing forth that person, one who will hearken to HIs voice and passionately follow after His heart. Don't give up!


 

[euonyi]

Pray, tell me, which Churches are we talking about? Is it all of them? I highly doubt.

[einstein]

Feb 4, 2012 15:02:51 GMT 3 euonyi said:

Pray, tell me, which Churches are we talking about? Is it all of them? I highly doubt.

What exactly is your question? I don't seem to get you.

[kipfirimbi]

Feb 4, 2012 4:20:59 GMT 3 einstein said:

NO WOMAN NO CRY RIDDIM (TWALA MIX)

Man Einstein, you killed me with this remix...can you inbox me with more of this...

damn how about: Luciano & Louie Culture - Wasted My Time...off the chain



i cant have enough ...
there was this riddim with this on ...can you figure?

(come on little girl come on)

[kamalet]

Feb 3, 2012 22:29:43 GMT 3 einstein said:

Politicians now hijacking God’s houses

By GABRIEL DOLAN


I am constantly asked how I would react if a gang of politicians and a heavy duty media team arrived unannounced in our parish church some Sunday morning.

I suspect that my reputation would prevent this from ever occurring as I would be expected to reach for the whip like Jesus and drive them out unmercifully.

Politicians have once more turned God’s houses into market places for money launderers and land grabbers.

Three decades ago each Sunday news bulletin began with Daniel arap Moi’s homily in church.

Nowadays his political heirs and orphans continue his nyayo by invading churches and disrupting services with an entourage of media houses capturing every page turned in their Bibles.

I was particularly incensed at William Ruto appearing in Burnt Forest Catholic Church on the eve of the ICC announcement.

Mr Ruto is not a Catholic and Burnt Forest is not his home turf. Rather it is the area that has most severely and frequently suffered from politically motivated land clashes.

The Catholic Church in Burnt Forest has hosted IDPs almost continuously for the last two decades and now it is playing host to Mr Ruto.

Jesus warned his followers that if they were bringing their gift to the altar and then remembered they had some unfinished business with their brother, then they should leave their gift aside and go and be reconciled with their brother first, then come and present their offerings.

Mr Ruto and Mr Uhuru Kenyatta have clearly made up but their respective communities are far from reconciled.

That is why Mr Ruto’s appearance in the Catholic Church was so distasteful and inappropriate, if not totally hypocritical.

Jesus took sides — the side of the poor, the victims of discrimination, violence, poverty and deprivation, because these people particularly needed his support, love and encouragement.

He resisted evil of every shape but he especially opposed the arrogance and corruption of the powerful religious and political elites.

When Okullu, Njoya and Ndingi preached this Gospel of social justice, the political elites of the day challenged them to leave the pulpit and join competitive politics.
In 2012, the ICC Four have launched nationwide prayer meetings and helicopter crusades. Any religious leader worth their salt should tell them to give up politics and join the pulpit if they want to preach.

Regretfully, most pastors and priests will gladly welcome any politician with the prospect of an improved sadaka and the chance of appearing on the evening news.

Churches have not so much lost their way as retreated into silence and sanctuaries. Have you heard any denomination speak consistently and prophetically on the ICC, IDPs, election date, poverty, growing ethnic tension and the war in Somalia since 2012 began?

Is it any wonder that so many thinking, committed Christians now pray at home on a Sunday? Confusion in leadership and vision has led to politicians hijacking services and whole denominations.

Ordained ministers now lay hands on current and retired political ministers from their own community but never lift a hand to settle the displaced, heal the wounded or protect the stranger.

Maybe we need a one-year moratorium for organised religion!

[e-mail]




www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Politicians+now+hijacking+Gods+houses+/-/440808/1319518/-/myy249z/-/index.html

I read such articles from Father Dolan suggesting possible reasons why christians no longer go to church preferring to pray at home on sundays and I am mortified by the hypocrisy!

Does he know that it is the behaviour of such catholic priests who defile young boys, sleep with congregants' spouses that keeps people out of the church rather than the bleating of politicians who are invited by the same church leaders to raise money for the church's benefit?

[mugabe]

Kamalet

You my friend are an expert at not addressing real issues. Rarely if ever do you address what is posted but rather chose to drive the debate elsewhere. The most important observation made by Father Dolan is at the bottom of the article it reads; "Ordained ministers now lay hands on current and retired political ministers from their own community but never lift a hand to settle the displaced, heal the wounded or protect the stranger". If sections of the the clergy is going the way of the clergy in Rwanda ans setting the stage for conflict then it must be condemned in the strongest terms possible by all. However with you there is rarely an attempt to engage without resort to obfuscation. This is not an ODM vs PNU matter. This is about an institution that is supposed to be above the fray, an institution that is supposed to help people unite. But for you everything is about politics. You really are sadly predictable.

[justfacts]

Religion has been known to stand for the weak and oppressed against among others, an overstepping elite , but when it reduces itself to laundering reputations of those accused of subverting the rights of little people then in is in effect negating its role in society.

Jesus respected political institutions (give unto Caesar....) but preferred to do his work among the 'outcasts' not kings and land owners, but his latter day representatives regal us with tales of wealth and pal around with elite regardless of their standing, and publicly betray the warped direction of their moral compass.

Yes, they are obliged to welcome all into their congregation, but when they try to publicly lend credence that God has sanctioned the hate speech rallies where fellow humans are addressed as mashetani and avoid the IDP issue with the same gusto then there is something fundamentally wrong.

Religious institutions are ideally a solace and an unbiased arbiter for all but is of late turning into just another propaganda tool for the political elite, that an insider is trying to highlight the malady is most welcome not withstanding the speck in their own eye....

Dismissing the fathers' concern wholesale is a petty diversion.

[Dumekenya]

Sometimes people forget so easily. God in His holy book says that if we allow the devil to blind our eyes then he will double or tripple the blindness and cut us off from his protection and care. This is what i see happening today in Kenya. Priests have ignored the truth about the word of God and i suppose God is angered by this and he has left them to stand on their own no wonder lack of leadership and direction from many theologians today in Kenya.

Repentance is vital to fixing this problem. Let the truth be told. The clergy needs to go back to the basics or else they are leading this country in a wrong direction.

[danieldotwaweru]

Feb 16, 2012 17:18:01 GMT 3 kamalet said:

I read such articles from Father Dolan suggesting possible reasons why christians no longer go to church preferring to pray at home on sundays and I am mortified by the hypocrisy!

Does he know that it is the behaviour of such catholic priests who defile young boys, sleep with congregants' spouses that keeps people out of the church rather than the bleating of politicians who are invited by the same church leaders to raise money for the church's benefit?

I haven't seen any evidence of a decline in (Catholic) church attendance in Kenya as a consequence of the scandals.

[kamalet]

Feb 16, 2012 21:08:59 GMT 3 mugabe said:

Kamalet

You my friend are an expert at not addressing real issues. Rarely if ever do you address what is posted but rather chose to drive the debate elsewhere. The most important observation made by Father Dolan is at the bottom of the article it reads; "Ordained ministers now lay hands on current and retired political ministers from their own community but never lift a hand to settle the displaced, heal the wounded or protect the stranger". If sections of the the clergy is going the way of the clergy in Rwanda ans setting the stage for conflict then it must be condemned in the strongest terms possible by all. However with you there is rarely an attempt to engage without resort to obfuscation. This is not an ODM vs PNU matter. This is about an institution that is supposed to be above the fray, an institution that is supposed to help people unite. But for you everything is about politics. You really are sadly predictable.

Robert

Just where did the ODM/PNU stupidity get into this? Did you even bother to find out why I do not go to church?

[einstein]

Pastor pays on earth for his sins



Photo/KITAVI MUTUA Pastor Daniel Nzoka of Voice of God to His People addresses his followers in Kitui town

A Kitui preacher has lost an appeal against charges of issuing death threats and hurling insults while delivering his sermons.

Pastor Daniel Mutunga Nzoka of God’s Voice to His People Ministry lost a six-year-old defamation battle waged by a prominent Kitui businessman arising from his offensive sermons.

The court ordered the pastor to pay the businessman Sh500,000.

The High Court in Machakos upheld the earlier ruling by a magistrate’s court that Pastor Nzoka acted with malice in repeatedly uttering the defamatory words, causing the trader to suffer damage to his reputation.

According to a 21-page ruling delivered last week by Justice Prof Joel Ngugi, the pastor was guilty of publicly accusing Duncan Kisilu Singi of being a wizard and steadfastly refusing to offer any apology or proof.

Withdraw daughters

The court was told how the pastor publicly urged Mr Singi’s parents-in-law to withdraw their daughters married to the trader and his brothers before the hand of God killed them.

The pastor uttered the offensive words on diverse dates in May and July 2004 while presiding over open air crusades close to Mr Singi’s Zombe Supermarket in Kitui town.

He was also accused of telling the crusades amid wild cheers from his followers, that people should not buy items from the man’s shops because he is evil.

Justice Prof Ngugi said evidence adduced showed the pastor acted with malice and persistently did so until he was convicted of a criminal offence. The judge further noted that Pastor Nzoka also advertently aimed to reach the largest number of people possible.

He ruled that the pastor’s appeal must be dismissed with costs, because he repeated the offending words many times without apology or proof.

“The appellant acted with malice and his claims were proven to be untrue. The respondent suffered damage to his reputation which led to his being shunned by right thinking members of the society.”

Mr Singi, through his lawyer Mr Makundi, told the court he had suffered irreparable damage to his character and also losses to his businesses since people shunned him on the basis of the pastor’s false allegations.

The pastor was in 2005 sentenced to four months imprisonment by a Kitui court, but with an option of a fine, after being found guilty of threatening the same businessman and using abusive language while preaching.

Resident magistrate Elijah Gichagi, ruled then that the pastor’s conduct was offensive and was likely to provoke a breach of the peace.

The businessman moved to court seeking compensation and sued the pastor for defamation on the basis of the 2005 magistrate’s ruling.

He won the defamation case and was awarded Sh500,000 as damages which the pastor contested, but High court dismissed his appeal and ordered him to pay the costs of suit.

The first case arose from another dispute pitting the church and Mr Singi over a piece of plot within Kitui town, adjacent to the church, and which both parties wanted to buy.

After Mr Singi bought the plot, the pastor started going public during his sermons with the claim that “the rich were robbing God of His property”.

The church started holding its crusades at an open place outside the supermarket owned by Mr Singi where he routinely referred to the trader by name using loud speakers, and saying he was a wizard who kept devilish spirits.

Mr Singi went to court after the pastor went public that the businessman’s family was set to perish in a year. This was also in violation of High Court orders that restrained the pastor from preaching outside his supermarket.

The pastor in his defence however, told the court that the case against him was part of wider efforts to “frustrate God’s work by people opposed to his ministry”.

He added that “he acted according to the Bible and that his church would continue fasting and praying against the evil spirits in the area”.

Witnesses, including a security guard and two CID detectives said how the pastor sprinkled oil on the ground saying he had cursed the entire Singi family, and that they would all perish within one year.

The policemen investigating the case said they also received death threats from the pastor that they would die one by one for opposing God’s work and siding with a wizard.

www.nation.co.ke/News/Pastor+pays+on+earth+for+his+sins+/-/1056/1366628/-/adibn/-/index.html

[quitepotato]

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
- Webster's Bible

[einstein]

Wanjiru was allocated two NHC houses, audit shows

Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru during a press conference in her Nairobi office on 18tt March, 2012. PHOTO / ANTHONY OMUYA

Housing assistant minister Bishop Margaret Wanjiru is among individuals allocated more than one house by the National Housing Corporation (NHC), according to an audit report.

An investigation by the corporation’s board said Bishop Wanjiru was allocated two houses in her own name and one in the name of Jesus is Alive ministries, which she heads.

The report, titled “Distortions in House Allocation: Report of House Allocation Process at the National Housing Corporation”, was prepared by the audit committee of the NHC following claims that employees and were irregularly allocating themselves and their relatives houses at the expense of the public.

Bishop Wanjiru, who is also the Starehe MP, was allocated houses in Kileleshwa, Madaraka and Langata II, according to the report.

Asked for comment on Sunday, the MP said: “I have been quiet on this report because it is not genuine. It is malicious even on the staff and management but we are dealing with it.”

NHC is funded from taxpayers’ money and is intended to help Kenyans own decent homes.

In its Customer Charter, it says it operates on values of integrity — accountability, transparency and avoidance of corruption.

The investigation reveals the corporation is using public funds to build houses for its staff and senior, well-connected individuals rather than helping Kenyans own their first home.

The Efficiency Monitoring Unit (Emu) has launched investigations.

Housing permanent secretary Tirop Kosgey has confirmed they had engaged the unit to conduct further “professional” examination of the claims before action is taken.

“To some extent, they (Board Audit Committee members) have done a good job, but we believe that we need some professionals who would go deeper and find out the cause,” he said.

Reports also indicate that the Ethics and anti-Corruption detectives had launched investigations into the matter. (READ: Audit exposes NHC houses scam)

The audit shows that 78 staff members have multiple allocations totalling 209 units, with one senior member of staff having seven houses in her name and 14 others allocated to relatives.

Three people have been allocated between five and six houses each, the report says.

“This assignment has also revealed that, going by sampling of eight housing schemes, over 50 per cent of all allocations on NHC schemes are likely to go to persons who never met the minimum requirements and that nearly a quarter of applicants will miss being allocated a house though they meet the requirements,” the audit adds.

The report says that in every scheme, 10 to 20 per cent of the housing units are reserved for NHC staff, though these do not always go to them.

“This exercise has also shown an entrenched practice in which about 10 per cent of units in every scheme will be reserved as “special cases” at the discretion of the managing director, purportedly to be allocated to high level personalities making requests for allocation,” it says.

The findings show that the house allocation process is flawed and has loopholes resulting in significant distortions.

Names of some individuals, who did not even apply for the houses, are introduced during the House Allocation Committee meetings and end up as beneficiaries of the units despite the fact that they had not even paid deposits.

“The practice of introducing non-applicants makes the whole process of setting minimum requirements and criteria mere public relations exercise,” the audit reveals.

The report recommends that the House Allocation Committee be disbanded and reconstituted and that it should be chaired by a general manager nominated by the managing director and approved by the board.

On Thursday, Mr Kosgey said Housing Minister Soita Shitanda had instructed the board to suspend its meetings pending Emu investigations.

Mr Kosgey said senior estate officer Lilian Muinde, company secretary Elizabeth Mbugua and senior legal officer William Keitany were all sent home on Wednesday as a matter of “due process”, he added.

www.nation.co.ke/News/Minister+was+allocated+NHC+houses+/-/1056/1368992/-/15q6yi5z/-/index.html

[einstein]

Thanks to brother TNK in a different thread, I just had to post this here.


Moi criticises political prayer rallies

By Beauttah Omanga

Retired President Moi has scoffed at open-air prayers for politicians terming the tendency a big joke to God.

The former President said meaningful and worthy prayers must be said in churches but not in political rallies or meet-the-people tours.

"Prayers to the Almighty God for anything are said inside churches. You cannot go by the roadside and pretend to be praying with a crowd of people. Amidst such crowds, chances are high that witches are also taking part and God cannot hear such prayers," said Moi.

He said any leader, including himself, should ask the clergy to pray for them inside churches.

"I also want the clergy to pray for me. I will ask them to do so but in church, not elsewhere. We must respect God our creator and stop mentioning His name in vain or simply for the sake of it," he said.

Moi told Christians to observe God’s desire in all their activities adding "it is such good behaviour in society that will attract more people to your churches."

Even if the former Head of State did not mention any politician, he was apparently referring to the recent controversial prayers rallies for the Ocampo four, especially for Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto.

The retired President was speaking at the weekend at AIC Soibei Church in Ravine Constituency. Cabinet Minister Musa Sirma and area MP Moses Lessonet accompanied him.

Sirma cautioned the clergy against participating in the prayers

www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000054981&cid=159&story=Moi%20criticises%20political%20prayer%20rallies

[einstein]

Priests have become commodities for hire

By GABRIEL DOLAN
Posted Friday, March 30 2012 at 18:11


The debate over the prayer rallies for The Hague Four rages on.

Let’s face it, these men don’t just need prayers at this stage, they require miracles to prevent them from sharing gyms and meal tables with Thomas Lubanga, Charles Taylor and Laurent Ggagbo in faraway Holland.

Let them seek any divine assistance available but bear in mind that Jesus taught that the humble prayers of the tax collector were more likely to be heard than that of the proud Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14).

The tax collector had not even the temerity to raise his head, but beat his breast from afar and prayed, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner’.

The rallies have, however, emphasised the Pharisaic model, full of self-righteousness, self-indulgence, publicity and condemnation of opponents.

Anyhow, the parable concludes that the tax collector went home at righteousness with God, the other did not.

Priests, pastors and jua kali preachers have become co-conspirators in these prayer rallies and perversion of true religion.

Friday last week saw Lawi Imathiu and Peter Njenga attempt to give theological credence to an ethnic chauvinistic show of arrogance in Limuru.

It reminded me of the Dutch Reformed Church’s role in justifying apartheid in South Africa.

There is very little difference between Gema and the Mombasa Republican Council; both are separatist groups.

The only difference is that the Central Province bloc is legal and represents the interests of a small, privileged, powerful elite, while the coastal group is proscribed and claims to speak for those disempowered, forgotten and impoverished by the likes of Gema.

Yes, the sight of retired churchmen giving credibility to ethnic jingoism reminded me of what the prophet Jeremiah said: ‘both prophet and priest ply their trade and have no knowledge’ (Jeremiah 14:18).

Religion has become just another commodity for sale, not any better than the night vendors of Koinange Street. Jeremiah says that these ‘religious’ people feel no shame; they have forgotten how to blush’.

They have no knowledge, give no leadership and are unable to shine light on the pervasive darkness.

I felt relieved that no Catholic prelate attended the Limuru event. However, the Episcopal Conference’s silence amidst growing political tension and ethnic polarisation has dismayed the faithful.

Ezekiel cautioned that if shepherds do not warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but they will be held responsible for his death (Ezekiel 33).

For religious leaders, omission is just as grave a transgression as any other sin. You could be forgiven for thinking that their silence suggests that the bishops are just as ethnically divided as the politicians.

What else might explain their inability to provide enlightenment with a common language and vision that cuts across the ethnic vernaculars and political treachery of the day?

Shepherds who feel some sense of shame about their negligence, ignorance and lack of leadership could perhaps salvage some little sense of dignity by constructing a Charter for Churches in Election Year.

Give your input and we could prepare one together.

[e-mail]



www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Priests+have+become+commodities+for+hire+/-/440808/1376832/-/ehbnqx/-/index.html

[tnk]

this just moves from captivating, to mildly amusing, then comes fanaticism and ultimately sheer horror of the whatever it is that these cultists do

www.nation.co.ke/Features/DN2/Prayer+temper+and+big+business+Bishop+Oyedepos+style/-/957860/1397290/-/ocltii/-/index.html
==
Oyedepo accuses the girl of being a witch and the young woman rejects the charge, saying: “I am not a winch (witch); I am a winch (witch) for Jesus”.

Apparently expecting the girl to tremble and submit to his authority, Oyedepo repeats “you are a witch”.

The young woman sticks to her guns. Shocked by her gumption, Oyedepo transfers the microphone to his left hand and smacks the girl on the cheek so viciously that her head snaps back. But he is not through with her.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” he thunders.

“Foul demon! You are a foul demon… You are not set for deliverance and you are free to go to hell.”

A wave of public outrage followed, opening a floodgate of claims of abuse, quackery, and tyranny by a man who, in 1987, claimed that he got a call from God to “Get back home (from the United States) and make my people rich”.
==

somebody needs re-introduce God back to these theatres/reality shows of insanity

and sure 'nuff here is the evidence



unbelievable

eti a church service

[joblesscorner]

A few years ago, I heard Bishop Wanjiru in some crusade, she was preaching on how she doesnt eat Avocado, because God has blessed so much from the days when she is use to eat alot of Avocado in Industrial Area, but now "am wearing Gold earings, bangles etc, I just switched Diamond that I bought in South Africa that I had this morning"

Made me think why we have so many Preachers.

[morimax]

But again why would I go to church if/when I'm not certain of my security as a Christian?

www.nation.co.ke/News/Make+public+reports+on+blasts+says+cleric+/-/1056/1397654/-/136tis6/-/index.html

[einstein]

Church seeks self-regulation to rein in errant pastors

The Church could be headed for a shakeup if a bid by mainstream and top Pentecostal churches to rein in rogue preachers succeeds.

At the heart of the move is the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, which is worried that deceitful individuals have turned numerous houses of worship into commercial entities.
With pastors, including leading televangelists, also increasingly making headlines for involvement in crimes such as extortion, murder, human trafficking, rape and defilement, the umbrella body is equally concerned that this is critically hurting the image of the Church.

It is on this ground that the Evangelical Alliance, the Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC), and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) are engaging the Government as they seek powers to self-regulate, recommend deregistration of sham preachers, and lock out questionable individuals who want to join the ministry.
Penal offences

They groups are said to have already held consultations with the Attorney General, the Registrar General, the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Kenya Integrity Forum with regard to the need for a vetting process that would lock out fraudulent gospel ministers.

Reverend Wellington Mutiso, the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya secretary general, says the first round of consultations took place last August followed by another in January, with another meeting now on the cards.

He says the Ministry of Education has also been closely involved since some preachers are increasingly opening schools with curriculums based on misleading doctrines.

Although the meetings are yet to yield much fruit, Mutiso laments the Church has been invaded by an unprecedented number of impostors, a situation he says is mortifying the institution.

“There are quacks in every profession and the Church has not been left out; we are having many wolves in sheep’s clothing. Currently, some of them have very big churches and congregations but are selling prayers, miracles and health to people who have followed them out of despair.

“This is not biblical but merely business and is the best way to know a rogue preacher,” he told The Standard On Saturday, lamenting that some of the pastors are even involved in penal offences.

He says there is also growing concern about the titles some pastors are curving out for themselves.

Extremely skeptical

“In the mainstream churches and established Pentecostals, we have benchmarks that stipulate what theology school one should have attended and level one should reach to become a pastor and so on. But people who do not even understand the Bible are becoming pastors and even crowned apostles in months when they do not quality as such biblically, and when theirs are not even churches. People should be wary of this,” he cautions.

It is for this reason that Mutiso says the Church wants to be given powers to vet its own as opposed to the current set up where only Government agencies scrutinise potential clergymen.

Until the late 1990s, applications for those who wished to start gospel ministries used to be referred to the three umbrella bodies for recommendation before the then Registrar General could approve them.

“There was a backlog of so many churches that did secure registration, with so many groups that were occultist being kept away,” Mutiso explains. But a myriad of churches are now operating without registration, while those that seek registration only need the approval of the Registrar General and the NSIS.

“The NSIS and the registrar are not well equipped to do this and are not consulting those who do. These institutions have no idea as to what they are registering,” he states.

He says if allowed to vet itself, the Church would have the chance to interrogate both existing and aspiring pastors on their spiritual stands and doctrines to ascertain if they are Bible-based and lock out those who do not meet the cut.

“Although it is hard to vet people’s spirituality, we are the ones who can competently scrutinise and would recommend deregistration of so many churches. That is why we want to regulate ourselves,” he affirms.

Oliver Kisaka, NCCK deputy secretary general, calls on anyone who is not trained or called to be a Christian minister to desist from using Christianity to perpetrate evil.

He insists that one cannot qualify as a cleric unless he has theological training and admits many people are doing business and committing crimes from within the Church. But Rev Kisaka says they should be dealt with according to the law.

Misusing gift

“These are individuals who just wake up one day and think they can start ministries and make money through religion. If accused of criminal activities such as extortion, the justice system in Kenya does not discriminate offences and they should be taken to court and dealt with accordingly,” he says.

The clergyman nonetheless calls on Kenyans to desist from blanket condemnation of gospel ministers.
Pastor Justine Birichi of the International Christian Church readily acknowledges the Church has been turned into a money-spinner but not without explaining the unfortunate state of affairs.

He opines that most people have lost a sense of purpose in life, something he says has amplified the need for spiritual inspiration. The cleric says some pastors have deviously capitalised on this spiritual hunger.

Birichi gives the example of church ministers who sell annointing oil, a move he terms unbiblical. “We pray for the oil before anointing people, but it is just symbolic and not special in any way. It’s never supposed to be sold,” he explains. “We have made the gospel a business. If you look at most pastors on television today, it is all about money and a lot of fake miracles.

“As ministers of the gospel, we have become so greedy. We have the power to convince people that black is indeed white but we are misusing this gift. This is unfortunate and is really hurting the word of God,” the pastor says.

As a result, he says people have become extremely skeptical about the work of the Church. “The devil has taken advantage and is tormenting people who do not know who to trust and who to believe.

www.standardmedia.co.ke/standarddigitalworld/?articleID=2000057636

[Deleted]

Welcome back einstein and sorry for your brother's death.

Did you see this?

jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=6905&page=1#96246

[einstein]

May 5, 2012 22:00:30 GMT 3 @kathurekebaara41 said:

Welcome back einstein and sorry for your brother's death.

Did you see this?

jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=6905&page=1#96246

Hi Kathure,

Thanks so much for condoling with me. And yes, I read that thread. I always remained abreast of the mighty Jukwaa's daily posts and threads even during my sorrows.

God/Jah is great and lovely and that is why I'm sad that some quack pastors use His holy House for commercial purposes. But with His help, we shall kick all these religious exploiters out into the wilderness.

Help me oh Lord The Almighty!!

[einstein]

The Gospel Ltd: Fire Ministries comes under fire

[tnk]

Jul 21, 2012 1:52:44 GMT 3 einstein said:

The Gospel Ltd: Fire Ministries comes under fire

thanks man, had a good laugh on that one. ;D ;D

can't believe there are still people that fall for those gimmicks,

but the amazing thing is the greed of the pastor, even after getting such superb performance, he reneges on his part. sleaze bag