PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 16, 2014 sameyoboka@yahoo.com
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BEWARE ...of false prophets By SAM EYOBOKA
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ENERAL Overseer of Lord Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka has contended that there were signs of growing indifference towards God’s Word because of worsening economic conditions in the country. He further contends that the worsening economic conditions had also given rise to false prophets who are devising various unorthodox means of surviving in the midst of squalor. Apparently disburbed by growing activities of false prophets as captured by several depictions including; Nigerian churches and the rising influence of marine spirits (Parts 1&2); My hero pastor is a false prophet (Parts 1&2); New style prophets and their visions of phone numbers, bank details and ladies
underwear; Backslidden pastors and the patronage of a Port Harcourt-based occult woman among others, Pastor Muoka warned Nigerians to be wary of fake pastors who now masquerade in different garbs to lure innocent people into their fold and attract filthy lucre. Addressing a mammoth crowd of worshippers at the closing ceremony of the just concluded 2-day annual revival crusade tagged "From sorrow to joy," at the national headquarters, the pastor said "what the devil uses to capture people these days is false prophecy. "Beware of prophecies and false prophets. Some will tell you even your bank details and your phone numbers and how much you have in your pockets. But, I say to you, beware of false prophets, so that it will be well with you." According to Pastor Muoka,
who drew inspiration from several Bible scriptures, "not every voice is recognised in Heaven. At the time of revival such as this, do nothing but just allow the Holy Spirit to operate and you just follow." The pastor who mounted the altar at about 4.09 p.m. to preach the only sermon of the day to an expectant crowd of worshippers who had defied the mid-morning torrential rain, maintained that a sinner cannot be a Christian, just a Christian cannot be a sinner, stressing that whosoever is born of God does not commit sin. The sermon which lasted for one hour and about 10 minutes was interspaced with songs of victory in line with the theme of the programme; 'From sorrow to joy' especially the special theme song; Sorrow bye bye, Bye bye; Sorrow bye bye; I belong to God." Typical of Lord Chosen's
*Pastor Lazarus Muoka services, the crusade began with a long session of testimonies by persons who claimed to have received one breakthrough or the other during previous services and testifiers came from various nations of the world including Malaysia, Canada and many other nations. Lord Chosen which is just 11 years old is said to have presence in 138 nations of the world. During the ministration, another set of persons who received instant healings as the pastor prayed were given an-
other opportunity to testify of the goodness of God. "Pastor, for the past nine years this Mama could not walk but at your prayer the affliction was roled away." And immediately, the crowd would roar in ecstacy in acknowledgement of the wonders of God. Eight year stroke; 10-year stroke; 12-year deaf and dumb; 21-year deaf and dumb; endless calls of diverse divine interventions were announced as the pastor often broke in to lead the congregation in singing; "Sorrow bye bye....I belong to God".
Northern CAN denies report of backing Atiku's defection By SAM EYOBOKA
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HRISTIAN Associa tion of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 Northern states and Abuja has disassociated itself from a report endorsing the erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar's defection to All Progressives Congress, APC, saying that the publication is the figment of the imagination of certain evil minded impostors. In a telephone interview with our reporter, Public Relations Officer of Northern CAN, Elder Sunny Oibe said CAN is an umbrella association of Christians in the country and not a political party and therefore has no business endorsing people who abandon their political
party for others in search of political fortunes. Said he: "Our attention has been drawn to a publication in some media houses purportedly with the caption; 'Northern CAN backs Atiku', and we say that Northern CAN does not back any politician or political party. As a religious organisation we have the responsibility of praying to God to institute God-fearing leaders who will reduce the suffering of the masses in the country." According to the Northern CAN spokesman, the publication was embarrassing and in bad taste "as the author, Mr. Jonathan Sambo is not an executive member of the North East chapter of CAN, and cannot therefore speak on behalf of the chapter. He
claimed to be the PRO of the chapter but after consultation with the leadership, it was revealed that there is not such position in the chapter." Elder Oibe therefore warned politicians to stay clear of impostors who are out to extort money from them on behalf of different organisations ahead of the 2015 elections. He also cautioned journalists to cross check information made available to them by unscrupulous persons who are desperate to plant stories in different houses, either for their pecuniary benefits or to satisfy their dubious political pay masters, stressing that the Northern CAN has totally disassociated itself from the publication in its entirety.
Speaking in a similar vein, chairman of North East CAN, Rev. Ryal M. Shauibu described the publication as "most absurd for anybody to claim that a Christian body like CAN will endorse the defection of Atiku to APC. In 2011, Atiku met us at the CAN executive council and we confronted him with the plight of Christians in the North East zone and we asked him what all the past political leaders had done about the religious persecution in the region." According to him, Jonathan Sambo is speaking for himself and not on behalf of the chapter, noting that "the report is false, falsely fabricated and we deny it in its entirety. Its evil for anybody to say CAN North East backs
Atiku's defection, because we are not a political organisation. Politicians owe this nation good governance and must rule with the fear of God, not forgetting that every citizen is equal before the law." "Why should the North East CAN celebrate the advantage of APC giving its religious coloration which tinted towards one direction," Rev. Shauibu said, noting that as the nation approaches another election year many politicians would deploy all manner of impostors to act their clandestine scripts. He therefore warned politicians and journalists to beware of such deviants in the society in order to avoid such embarrassing publications.