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THIS IS WHY YOU MUST NOT JOKE WITH HAVING A SECRET PLACE – Apostle Joshua Selman Nimmak

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THIS IS WHY YOU MUST NOT JOKE WITH HAVING A SECRET PLACE – Apostle Joshua Selman Nimmak

To have a secret place, that’s where God comes to meet with you. That’s where he tells you things he cannot tell any other person. The reason why you don’t hear God is because you are not used to his voice in the secret place. He has not trained you to hear him. So you hear everything and you call it him(God).

I was counseling a couple,… last week and, the mother was outside and the father came in with the daughters, they were listening to me and they held their little baby. As soon as the baby shouted from outside the mother identified the voice and came to check what was happening with the baby.

And I said, koinonia that’s intimacy because there is a union, that baby is sucking from the same mother there is interaction. The mother did not train herself to hear the voice. She was implicated by that koinonia. So anywhere, that day there were many people, even families with their children, but when she heard her own(child) she came for the child. He(Jesus) said my sheep, hear my voice, my sheep, hear my voice.

Meaning if you cannot hear his voice, find out whether you are his sheep or not. Don’t assume you are his sheep. Assumption is costly in the school of intimacy. You must verify that there is contact between you and God.

There are Pastors that don’t pray, so they get angry. They think the manifestation of the power of God is magic. There are dimensions impartation will not give you. You must dig your well by yourself. You must create an altar, a system. You must gain mastery in the realm of the spirit. You must be used to the spiritual communication that has been activated, it’s like a tailor-made system of God reaching you.

Franklin Graham: The Voice Of God Can Never Be Canceled – Part 2

God must know how to reach you on serious information. God must know how to reach you on trivial information. He must train your organs of interaction with the realm of the spirit. That place of training is the secret place. I will never trade anything for my time with him(God). That’s where men are built.

That’s where there is an exchange.

Nabal Died Because He Did Not Remember “OTHERS”

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Nabal Died Because He Did Not Remember “OTHERS”

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, WHO IS DAVID? AND WHO IS THE SON OF JESSE? THERE BE MANY SERVANTS NOW A DAYS THAT BREAK AWAY EVERY MAN FROM HIS MASTER. SHALL I THEN TAKE MY BREAD, AND MY WATER, AND MY FLESH THAT I HAVE KILLED FOR MY SHEARERS, AND GIVE IT UNTO MEN, WHOM I KNOW NOT WHENCE THEY BE? So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

1 Samuel 25:4-12

Some people have a proud attitude towards “others”. It is important not to look down on anyone. Prisoners, handicapped people, the blind, the deaf, the maimed, the sick, the homeless, the hungry, foreigners, widows, orphans and the unfortunate are all precious to God.

The church, God’s people, Christians, pastors and God’s servants are also precious to God. You must be careful when dealing with these groups of people.

Nabal’s attitude towards David’s servants reveals an unfortunate attitude towards “others”.

David simply asked Nabal to remember him and his men in the day of his prosperity. He reminded Nabal that he had come in a time when everything was wonderful and working well. “Please give us a very small percentage of your wealth so that the men who have helped you so much over the last few months can have a little meal.”

But Nabal’s answer was laced with a harsh, unfeeling and arrogant attitude.

“Who is David?” he asked.

There are many rebellious and worthless fellows out there!

How can I take my bread, water and meat and give it to a group of stupid and irrelevant people.

To Nabal, “others” were stupid and unimportant people. But Nabal was wrong! Nabal was the fool! Nabal was the worthless and rebellious man of Belial. That was his wife’s testimony about him. His wife called him a fool. It is important for wives to make an accurate diagnosis about the man they are married to. Indeed, it is important for all spouses to come to a proper and accurate assessment of the person they are married to. This will help you to deal wisely and appropriately with the person you are married to.

And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, REGARD THIS MAN OF BELIAL, EVEN NABAL: FOR AS HIS NAME IS, SO IS HE; NABAL IS HIS NAME, AND FOLLY IS WITH HIM: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

1 Samuel 25:23-25

Nabal died because he failed to help “others”. God struck him down and gave his wife to someone else. It is important not to see others as worthless and stupid people.

It is important to see others as important people God has sent you to. It was Nabal who was a drunkard and who destroyed his life through drinking. He had the arrogance to call others worthless and rebellious people. Nabal was shocked when he discovered that he was the big fool.

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that HIS HEART DIED WITHIN HIM, and he became as a stone.

1 Samuel 25:36-37

There is no need to die because you forget “others”! “Others” are important to God. You will live because you honour others. You will be blessed because you remember “others”. You will prosper because you remember “others”. You will become a “darling boy” because you remember “others”. You will become a national hero because you remember “others”.

This book is God’s revelation to you about “others”. God is showing you what is important to Him! God is showing you how your life will be transformed just by thinking about “others”. God is showing you that the way to greatness, fame and honour is by remembering, helping and caring for “others”!

by Dag Heward-Mills

Why God Does Not Heal Everyone – Dag Heward-Mills

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Why God Does Not Heal Everyone – Dag Heward-Mills

1. God does not heal everyone because some people believe when they see miracles.

Then many (not all) of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

John 11:45

2.  God does not heal everyone because only a few people believe in God when they see miracles.

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

John 12:37

It would be nice if there were many more miracles but the fact is that miracles are only going to add a few more people to the faith.  Some people do not believe no matter what they see.  You can raise the dead in front of them and they will still not believe.

Abraham told the rich man:  “…If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

In fact, some people will hate you because of the miracles they see.

Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:   But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.  

These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

John 9:15-25

The miracle Jesus did brought about a surprising division.  You would have thought that the healing of a man born blind would make everybody believe.

If God was trying to make everybody believe by miracles then He failed.  No matter what God does, certain people will never believe.  God is therefore not in a hurry to heal everyone.  

I know a man of God who had a halo appear over his head when he was preaching.  Do you think that everybody believed in his ministry?  Certainly not!  We must understand then that miracles or no miracles, the work of God still goes on.  Only some people will believe because of the miracles.

This explains why one of the greatest evangelists of our time, Billy Graham, could preach the gospel without praying for miracles.  People are saved by the foolishness of preaching and not by the power of miracles.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

3.  God does not heal everyone because some people even hate you after they see miracles.

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

John 15:24

4.  God does not heal everyone because people require different catalysts to help them believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:22

5. God does not heal everyone because God has determined that people should be saved by preaching and not by miracles.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

There are some common misconceptions that exist about the healing ministry.  Without understanding these, they will linger in our minds and influence our thinking.

Dear minister of God, keep on preaching; just keep on preaching!  Evangelise and tell the truth because it is the method by which God has determined that people should be saved.

We may see the power of God but we must understand that God is not trying to take away our common sense.  We know that He is not trying to eradicate medicine.  We know that He is not trying to outdo doctors.  Above all we know that He is not replacing the need for powerful preaching of the gospel.  

God has His reasons for healing.  Decide today to allow preaching to affect you.  Decide to believe in the simplicity of the preaching of the Word.

…  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:20-21

As you can see, the people in this Scripture refused to repent in spite of all that happened to them.  God knows that people will not repent even when they see certain things. We need to believe the preaching of the Word when we hear it.  We do not have to look for signs before we believe.

6. God does not heal everyone because many people believe in the Word of God even without seeing miracles.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:29

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

John 11:45-46

It is true that God heals so that people will believe.  But on the other hand, there are people who believe the Word of God without seeing anything.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:29

There are many people who don’t see any miracle but believe in God.  But there are some people who have to see a sign before they believe.  Maybe there are people who have to be on their deathbeds before they believe in God.  Some people have to lose everything before they succumb to God’s love.

There are people who only get saved in prison.  But you don’t have to wait for that.   Blessed are those who have not seen any of these things but yet believe.

The reality is that not everyone who sees miracles believes in God.

7. God does not heal everyone because He is not trying to eradicate sicknesses from the world.

Some people think that God is trying to eradicate sickness from the world through preachers.  God is not trying to remove the diseases of this world through anointed ministers.  His anointed apostles and prophets are not agents for the eradication of all known illnesses.  If that were so, then God has failed in his quest to do so.  I want you to read this passage:

And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

Acts 3:9-11

You will notice that this man had been laid at this Beautiful Gate of the temple for many years.  The Bible says he had been lame from his mother’s womb.  His family and relatives had carried him there many times to ask for alms from those who entered the temple.

A few weeks earlier, Jesus Himself had been walking through this Beautiful Gate of the temple.  He had preached in this temple many times.  Why didn’t Jesus heal this man Himself?  Why didn’t Jesus eradicate all diseases from Jerusalem?  If God is trying to eradicate illnesses from the world, why did Jesus not heal this cripple when He was here?  Obviously, God does not seem to have that goal.

I have watched as many people go back from miracle services still sick. There have been documentaries that are highly critical of evangelists.  One of the chief criticisms is about the many people who remain unhealed at their services.

In London, there was even a demonstration by cripples against a famous healing evangelist.  How come cripples would demonstrate against a man of God?

This confusion comes about because we do not understand what God is doing and what He is not trying to do.  Jesus Christ Himself explained why He healed only one man at the Pool of Bethesda.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19-20

Do not be disappointed when God does not heal everyone.  Do not be angry with God when only one out of several sick people is healed.  Jesus said, “I and my Father are one, and He that has seen me has seen the Father.”

…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…

John 14:9

Jesus is not trying to heal everybody.  But He is trying to save every soul.  Jesus gave His life for the whole world.  He invited everyone to Heaven.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).   Everlasting life does not depend on the healing of your kidney, your liver, your blood, your skin or your eyes.

When Jesus walked on this Earth, He knew there were many reasons why people were sick.  He knew there were many reasons why God healed and equally many reasons why God didn’t heal.

Understand God’s plan.  God is trying to give you everlasting life.  Jesus came to give you everlasting life.  He loves us very much and He does not want any of us to perish.

God Is Not against Medicine

Unfortunately, extreme faith teachings have given the impression that God is against medicine.  They have left us with the impression that God would like to replace all medical personnel with pastors.  They left us with a feeling that to take medicine was sinful or unspiritual.

There was a time when many people were being healed through the faith revival.  At that time, many ministers would not touch medicine.  It was unheard of for a truly spiritual person to use medicine.

I heard of a church in which over forty-five people died because they refused to take medicine.  There were little children who needed medication, but because of their parents’ belief in faith healing, they rejected all medicine for their children.  Eventually, the pastor himself became ill but refused medication.  By and by, he was brought to church in a wheel chair, still refusing medical help until he died.

This kind of thing throws the healing ministry into confusion. This is why many have turned away from the healing ministry.  In spite of the confusion, you cannot discount the reality of God’s healing power.

We Don’t Understand Everything!

God is not trying to replace hospitals and doctors with pastors and evangelists.  God gave the wisdom for medical science.  The two streams of healing are ordained of God and are not contrary to each other.  The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the power and the wisdom of God.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1: 24

Jesus comes to help you by being the power and the wisdom of God in your life.   Christians become unbalanced when they just take the power of God and leave out the wisdom.  You need both the power and the wisdom.  Medical science can transplant hearts today and solve many problems.  Many children would be dead from various diseases like malaria, convulsions, and measles if there were no medicines.

God has given us the wisdom to think and to have common sense.  One time, Jesus told His disciples to go aside and rest awhile.

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Mark 6:31

Why did Jesus tell His disciples to rest?  Because there are many diseases that come from not resting.  It is common sense to rest when you need to.   Jesus ministered to the sick but He did sensible and practical things too.

Accept that God Is Mysterious

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29

I cannot explain why divine healing takes place the way it does.  The Bible says the secret things belong to the Lord but those that are revealed belong to us.  

Again the Scriptures tell us that we look through a glass dimly.  This means that when you look through a glass, you cannot see things clearly.  It is not everything we know and we shouldn’t pretend to know everything because we do not.  We definitely do not understand everything because we are looking through a glass.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

by Dag Heward-Mills

Franklin Graham: The Voice Of God Can Never Be Canceled – Part 2

William Wagner
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Franklin Graham: The Voice Of God Can Never Be Canceled – Part 2

In the U.K., a doctor who had served three decades as a medical assessor recently lost his government job because he believes that gender is determined before birth. Dr. David Mackereth was fired by the Department for Works and Pensions because he refused to use a transgender pronoun to describe a bearded man. “The Bible teaches us that God made humans male or female,” the doctor said. But a judge at an employment tribunal in England ruled that the doctor’s religious beliefs were “incompatible with human dignity.”

The threat of the cancel culture has gotten worse as social media giants like Twitter and Facebook have started censoring free speech and banning some users from their platforms. Recently, they shut down former President Donald Trump, and they have also targeted numerous private and public individuals, many of whom simply espouse traditional moral values.

Just a few weeks ago, Lifetime TV canceled “Truths That Transform,” the program of D. James Kennedy Ministries. Lifetime TV had demanded that the ministry eliminate “controversial” topics from the program, which would have meant eliminating programs that addressed issues like abortion. The ministry refused to do that, so the program was canceled. 

Even our country’s treasured and storied history is not safe. The San Francisco Board of Education in January issued an edict asking that the names of some of our nation’s greatest presidents—Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln—be removed from all of their schools. Can you imagine!

Last year, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association scheduled an evangelistic tour across Great Britain, only to be literally canceled as a result of pressure on the venues by groups with a bias against Christians who hold traditional, historical Biblical views and believe in the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Savior. 

Here we were, seeking to tell people how they can have peace with God through repentance and faith, yet these groups sought to shut down our events because they disagree with what the Bible teaches. 

Try as they might, however, we know that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus can’t be stopped. 

Jesus said that He would build His church and that the “gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). As Paul spent his final days in a Roman prison, he wrote his final letter to his young disciple, Timothy. Despite being incarcerated by the Romans, Paul called himself the Lord’s prisoner (see 2 Timothy 1:8) and assured him that “the Word of God is not bound!” (2 Timothy 2:9). 

Spiritual Warfare: How To Enforce Your God Given Supernatural Authority To Neutralise Demonic Activity & Overcome Demonic Strategies

William Wagner
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Spiritual Warfare: How To Enforce Your God Given Supernatural Authority To Neutralise Demonic Activity & Overcome Demonic Strategies

In this book, world renowned prophet, exceptional teacher and bestselling author, Uebert Angel, exposes the lies perpetrated by many teachers on the subject of spiritual warfare and brings clarity to this seemingly complex topic. drawing from his years of teaching on this subject, experience with the devil and demonic forces, and also undeniable visitations from the Lord Jesus Christ, Prophet Uebert Angel demystifies spiritual warfare and provides answers to the many pertinent questions concerning our God given power over the devil and his cohorts.

The book teaches precise techniques on how to enforce supernatural authority to neutralise the devil and demonic forces, overcome demonic strategies, and pull down strongholds. It also exposes the lies and trickery of the devil and locates the source of his power.

Spiritual warfare is a book that transcends theory. It gives you practical application so that you, as a Christian, can enforce Satan’s position of defeat and win every battle he wages against you. this is a must read for everyone serious about being an undefeated champion in spiritual warfare.

Bible Reading Has Boosted Mental Health of Christians During Pandemic, New Poll Says

William Wagner
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Bible Reading Has Boosted Mental Health of Christians During Pandemic, New Poll Says

Reading the Bible during the pandemic has improved the mental health of a large segment of Christians and also eased their anxiety about the future, according to a new United Kingdom survey.

The poll of 1,123 practicing Christians who attend church and read the Bible at least monthly found that 33 percent say reading the Bible has improved their mental health during the pandemic, while 28 percent say it has increased their confidence in the future. Another 42 percent say it has boosted their hope in God. Most in the survey say reading the Bible has allowed their mental health and their beliefs about the future and God to remain the same, rather than decreasing.

The survey was conducted by Christian Research for the Bible Society.

“It’s encouraging to see that the Bible is giving people hope and confidence,” said Andrew Ollerton, author of The Bible Course, a publication and course by the Bible Society.

“The Bible has the ability to stand over our circumstances as something solid, a reference point in uncertain times,” Ollerton added. “It’s like having felt all at sea, and then having a rock to stand on.”

Among other findings:

  • 84 percent of practicing Christians have regular Bible reading sessions.
  • 35 percent say they have engaged with the Bible more frequently since the pandemic started.
  • 16 percent say they read the Bible when lonely or sad.
  • 33 percent of Christians ages 16 to 24 say reading the Bible had helped them feel less lonely.

Naomi Campbell, a mother of two in the United Kingdom, told the Bible Society she has drawn strength during the pandemic from Isaiah 61:3.

“‘You have given me a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair,’” she said, paraphrasing the verse. “My life has had a lot of challenges, but all the way along, God has given us the opportunity to see his goodness, his creativity in our lives. That verse has stayed with me during lockdown. This verse has been amazing, actually.”

Franklin Graham: The Voice Of God Can Never Be Canceled – Part 1

William Wagner
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Franklin Graham: The Voice Of God Can Never Be Canceled – Part 1

Madness is sweeping across our country. 

I am referring to the ever-widening spread of what has been dubbed cancel culture, the suppression and intolerance of people whose viewpoints differ from what our godless society has deemed fitting and appropriate. 

Not surprisingly, the overwhelmingly left-wing cancel culture has aimed its most vicious verbal darts squarely at Christians who hold a Biblical worldview founded on the authority of God’s uncompromising Word. 

Let me give you just a few examples, though there are many. 

In the city of Boston, a Chick-fil-A food truck serving the campus of Boston University has been targeted by editors of the student newspaper who are offended by what they say is the company’s “deep-seated homophobia.” What that means is that the company, founded on Christian principles by Truett Cathy and now run by my friend Dan Cathy, has been attacked simply because Cathy has affirmed the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. Chick-fil-A’s charitable giving program, which in the past has donated to Christian organizations such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army, also came under fire for their “discriminatory and homophobic practices.”

It’s no coincidence that a number of college campuses have banned Chick-fil-A because school leaders disagree with the corporation’s deeply held Biblical values. At Rider University, a private school in New Jersey, school administrators excluded the restaurant from campus, and a Christian who served as a dean at Rider and voiced support for Biblical values resigned because she said the school was not tolerant of her beliefs. This is the cancel culture at work.

In the U.K., a doctor who had served three decades as a medical assessor recently lost his government job because he believes that gender is determined before birth. Dr. David Mackereth was fired by the Department for Works and Pensions because he refused to use a transgender pronoun to describe a bearded man. “The Bible teaches us that God made humans male or female,” the doctor said. But a judge at an employment tribunal in England ruled that the doctor’s religious beliefs were “incompatible with human dignity.”

The threat of the cancel culture has gotten worse as social media giants like Twitter and Facebook have started censoring free speech and banning some users from their platforms. Recently, they shut down former President Donald Trump, and they have also targeted numerous private and public individuals, many of whom simply espouse traditional moral values.

BGEA

Pastor Arrested For Holding Church Service Against COVID-19 Restrictions Will Stay In Jail Until May Trial

William Wagner
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Pastor Arrested For Holding Church Service Against COVID-19 Restrictions Will Stay In Jail Until May Trial

A Canadian pastor who was jailed for holding in-person worship services in violation of COVID-19 restrictions will stay in jail until his May trial.

According to ChurchLeaders, Pastor James Coates, of GraceLife Church in Canada, will stay in jail until the May 3 trial, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Peter Michalyshyn ruled.

Coates turned himself into police after his church held an in-person worship service on Feb. 14. The church had been ordered to close in January for previously violating COVID-19 health restrictions. The church did not cap attendance at 15 percent occupancy and did not enforce social distancing or masks. Coates was also ordered to pay a $1,200 fine.

Coates turned himself in on Feb. 16.

“The law that Mr. Coates clearly intends not to be bound by remains valid and enforceable against him,” the judge said. “Mr. Coates’ strongly held religious beliefs and convictions do not overcome those valid and enforceable laws.”

Coates’ lawyer, however, said the pastor felt he had to choose between God and the government.

“Obedience is to his Lord, is to his God,” said James Kitchen of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. “And normally, obeying Jesus and obeying the government go right in hand … but the government’s forcing him into a position where he has to choose between disobeying God and obeying government, or obeying God and disobeying government.”

Previously, Coates had said he would not stop holding in-person services if he was granted bail.

Kitchen said the church believes the restrictions are “an evil that has to stop.”

“(Pastor Coates) is prepared to incur the consequences, up to and including imprisonment, to continue to do what he believes is the right thing to do for his people,” Kitchen said.

Amanda Casanova ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor

Venezuelan Christians forced to eat pages of the Bible, have ‘crosses’ etched into their bodies

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Venezuelan Christians forced to eat pages of the Bible, have ‘crosses’ etched into their bodies

At least four Christian men recently suffered serious injuries after they were stabbed, forced to eat pages of the Bible, and had “crosses” etched into their skin by eight hooded men, according to a persecution watchdog organization.

The attack by men suspected to be criminals from a drug gang took place at Restoration House in the city of Libertador on Feb. 16, Open Doors reported Friday. Restoration House is a church-led drug rehabilitation center in Venezuela’s Mérida State. 

The charity, which works with persecuted churches in over 60 nations, explained that Christians, who deter people from criminal lifestyles, are often seen as a threat to the illegal activities of drug gangs in Latin America.

“The criminals covered our faces and started to beat and stab us,” a victim was quoted as saying. “They drew ‘X’ on our bodies and forced us to eat the Bible.”

While the four Christians have been discharged from the hospital, one of them remains in poor health due to two broken ribs and injuries to his lungs and head. Two others had casts put on their legs and arms. 

“Weeks before the attack, in the middle of a meeting discussing neighborhood issues, two men said they were going to end the Restoration House because they did not agree with this type of program,” Pastor Dugarte, who founded the center with his wife, told Open Doors.

Pastor Dugarte remains strong in his faith, and he will carry on with the ministry in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.

Calling for an investigation, the Evangelical Council of Venezuela attributed the attack to “hatred towards religion,” according to Premier Christian News.

“The cutting of crosses into the bodies of these young Christians, and the forced eating of pages of the Bible is deeply disturbing,” Dr. David Landrum, Open Doors UK’s director of advocacy and public affairs, was quoted as saying. 

“This premeditated attack has all the hallmarks of the local ‘collectives’ of the Maduro regime. This shows how Venezuela has become a dictatorial narco-state which is violently opposed to the drugs rehabilitation work of the church.” 

Open Doors noted that while Venezuela is not in its 2021 World Watch List of the top-50 countries where Christians are persecuted, Christian persecution in other parts of Latin America is increasing.

President Nicolás Maduro has been in office since 2013. In 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions against Venezuelan government officials and others accused of “undermining democracy in Venezuela.”

“Under Maduro, the Venezuelan government has deliberately and repeatedly abused the rights of citizens through the use of violence, repression, and criminalization of demonstrations,” the department said in a statement at the time. “At his direction, the regime’s security forces have systematically repressed and criminalized opposition parties through arbitrary detention, military prosecution of civilians, and the excessive use of force against demonstrators. Any member of the opposition or critic of the regime risks being detained, imprisoned, assaulted, tortured, and assassinated.”

Maduro’s victory in the 2018 election was denounced as fraudulent by several countries, including the United States. 

Source : The Christian Post

By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor

Brian Houston Announces Transition From Hillsong Church Leadership

William Wagner
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Brian Houston Announces Transition From Hillsong Church Leadership

Citing the denomination’s rapid growth and a desire to make way for younger leadership and a more effective organizational structure, Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston announced Sunday that he and his wife, Bobbie, have decided to transition away from their leadership role.

Gary and Cathy Clarke, lead pastors of Hillsong Church London, who are also responsible for much of the denomination’s growth in Europe, were announced as the leaders who will take over the global management of the church over the next two years.

“I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching and praying and thinking about the future and the way ahead, what life looks like for a church moving forward. For Bobbie and I, moving forward and I guess globally we’ve grown so rapidly and it’s been really a time when what has become clear is we need to put a whole lot more structure into what we’re doing globally,” Houston explained during the church’s annual Vision Sunday service at the Hills Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia.

Gary and Cathy Clarke, lead pastors of Hillsong Church London, will transition into a more global role at the church.

Houston, who founded the church with his wife 38 years ago, said the denomination — which has pastoral staff in 24 nations, representing some 123 campuses and locations — is “virtually impossible, unsustainable” for them to manage the work alone.

“It’s really at a point where it’s virtually impossible, unsustainable for us to be able to lead everything that we’re leading right now and so I want to look at ways that we can share that load and over these next couple of years heading up to that church being 40 here,” Houston said. “I would like to really put in place younger leaders. Younger leaders here in Australia and younger leaders around the globe.”

While they are looking to transition away from church leadership, Houston said he and his wife “aren’t going anywhere” or “retiring” but they want to do more things in the next season of their life.

“We’re heading towards our 70s. I’m 67 this week and in our 70s there’s a whole lot of things … in our hearts in terms of what we would like to be doing, what we want to be doing and so that’s kind of how I see the future looking so I’m not putting any time on this or anything like that. We’re definitely not retiring,” he said. “We’ll be around but I do think it’s the right season to just look at a whole new season.”

Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Reporter

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