Beware of Wolves

KINDLY accord me opportunity to respond to the “Disclaimer Press Release” by Christ’s Love Ministries International (CLMI) published on page 24 of The Namibian of 24 April 2007.

The said disclaimer relates to a coverage on NBC’s Good Morning Namibia programme of Friday 23 February 2007 in which it was alleged that CLMI declared a week of prayer and fasting under the tutelage of a certain Isaac Onwordi in which he allegedly cut off people’s hair and burned it together with other items like their TVs, Hi-Fis, DVDs etc. CLMI Central Executive Council’s (CEC) distancing itself from the activities of “Pastor” Isaac Onwordi is clumsy, to say the least, and leaves much to be desired.It took the CEC two months to declare their innocence.This shows lack of control and accountability by the CEC over the activities of its faithfull and the fact that the said activities were conducted at the church premises raises further questions.Where was the leadership of the church when these human rights abuses or atrocities were committed in their church building? The church must stand up and take full responsibility for these actions and publicly apologise to those that were affected rather than excusing themselves.The mere fact that “Pastor” Onwordi had a “tenure in which spiritual and material harm might have been caused to certain brothers and sisters” further testifies to its failure in sticking to its vision and teaching and is tantamount to religious extremism and exploitation.To the faithful: Please test all “spirits”, be careful of false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing.Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life.All others before and after Him are “thieves and liars” and came only to kill, to steal and to destroy, but He came to give life and life in abundance.Concerned Member Via e-mail Note: Name and address provided – EdCLMI Central Executive Council’s (CEC) distancing itself from the activities of “Pastor” Isaac Onwordi is clumsy, to say the least, and leaves much to be desired.It took the CEC two months to declare their innocence.This shows lack of control and accountability by the CEC over the activities of its faithfull and the fact that the said activities were conducted at the church premises raises further questions.Where was the leadership of the church when these human rights abuses or atrocities were committed in their church building? The church must stand up and take full responsibility for these actions and publicly apologise to those that were affected rather than excusing themselves.The mere fact that “Pastor” Onwordi had a “tenure in which spiritual and material harm might have been caused to certain brothers and sisters” further testifies to its failure in sticking to its vision and teaching and is tantamount to religious extremism and exploitation.To the faithful: Please test all “spirits”, be careful of false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing.Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life.All others before and after Him are “thieves and liars” and came only to kill, to steal and to destroy, but He came to give life and life in abundance.Concerned Member Via e-mail Note: Name and address provided – Ed