Ed Brayton at Dispatches from the Culture Wars recently linked up to some excellent blogging by Richard Bartholomew showing the ties of US neo-charismatics and Nigerian NAR leaders who support the killing and maiming of children.
On April 14th Bishop NE Moses was scheduled to appear at Steven Strader’s Lakeland church (where the now infamous 2008 Bentley Lakeland revival was started). Strader and Moses go back a ways, and I find it difficult to believe Strader isn’t aware of what is occuring in Nigeria. But, apparently not. Brayton got chided by Strader for linking to this post.
Ed, this is Pastor Stephen Strader in Lakeland, FL
In the blog that you wrote in the above LINK about Bishop Moses — I find strongly offensive.
First – Bishop Moses was scheduled at my church but at the last minute he cancelled.
Second – He has been a LONG time friend – maybe 10 years – and he has NEVER mentioned anything about any of this witchcraft business. He has spoken in my church on several occasions and I have spoken at his church.
Third – The bible CLEARLY says, if you find your brother in a fault, you go to them in a spirit of meekness and find out what the story is… YOU NEVER contacted me though my address is CLEARLY on FB, website, etc. Just like I found yours on FB.
Fourth – I was questioned by someone who READ your public blog about this situation. At least THEY followed scriptural guidelines regarding this matter. THEY contacted me – though, however, ACCUSED me based on YOUR blog.
Fifth – I would NEVER knowingly participate or condone child-witch-hunts of ANY kind. I am repulsed by even the thought of it.
Fourth – Immediately upon hearing the accusations, I have contacted Bishop Moses, and his Bishop here in the USA and YOU. The USA Bishop had the SAME reaction as me. He has never even heard of this. YOU however appear to have set yourself up as being ABOVE scripture that you can IGNORE the command to CONTACT your BROTHER PRIVATELY. Which clearly the scripture states.
I have NOT heard back from Bishop Moses – but generally it takes weeks for him to answer emails.
Fifth – I DO want any and all information about this situation and I give you my word that I will follow up on this.
HOWEVER, I would appreciate a BLOG from you that states that as SOON as I heard of the situation, I contacted you and the Bishops involved and that I SCRIPTURALLY am pursuing the truths in this matter.
And I would EXPECT a statement from you indicating that you made a mistake in NOT contacting my first — and admonish your readers that THEY should ALWAYS check out their facts and contact people involved BEFORE they make public statements.
I am suggesting that you make this a LEARNING situation for yourself and your readers.
Sixth – I am expecting your immediate response. I am requesting that you use my personal email NOT facebook to respond because I have multiple staff who assist me with FB
The assumption that a public event (NE Moses cancelled his Ignited Church appearance) requires a ‘biblical response’ from bloggers who point out NE Moses ties to Nigerian neo-pentecostal witch hunters beggers belief. And if Strader has the staff he says he does, I also find it difficult to accept none of them know of NE Moses ties to Helen Ukpabio.
The assumption people who have worked to make these ties public need Straders approval also beggars belief and is flat out un-Christlike and arrogant. Why Strader can’t use teh google like the rest of us is a mystery.
If Mr. Strader wants information why don’t readers take a second and send the link from Richard Bartholomew’s latest post to info (at) ignitedchurch.com.
Richard Bartholomew is happy to provide Strader and Ignite church with all the evidence needed.
NE Moses and Stephen Strader are C. Peter Wagner New Apostolic Reformation ‘apostles.’ Helen Ukpabio has had exposure in the US, after Britians Channel 4 broadcast a documentary Saving Africa’s Witch Children (2008) and a follow up by Dispatches in 2009 Return to Africa’s Witch Children. (available for viewing on YouTube)
While it is now a crime to accuse children of witchcraft in the Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom (punishable up to 10 years in prison) the practice continues in Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola and Congo.
Once Stephen Strader gets up to speed about his NAR apostle buddy NE Moses support for neo-pentecostal witch hunters – what will he chose to do?
Pastor Strader is an arrogant jerk, which is indeed unfortunate. He’s an arrogant jerk who apparently lacks the ability to count, which explains oh, so much.
Let’s all say it again, 4 comes before 5, which comes before 6.
Based on his ability to do that, I do doubt his ability to search google. How unfortunate.
ar arr arrr!
I wrote Mr. Strader and sent him Bathnotes latest post. He sent Richard an email through BDBO which I’ve passed on.
I’ll hold off comment for now since Richard is the person Mr. Strader has written -blogging seems to be foreign to Mr. Strader and he is very upset people would publicly address his ties to NE Moses and by extension Mr. Moses involvement with known Nigerians who have maimed and killed children in his denomination and in God’s name.
Bishop NE Moses does not seem to be of any denomination
There is nothing confirming he’s a part of the Anglican, Roman Catholic or Methodist
There are a good amount of Anglicans and Roman Catholics is Nigeria
From where and from who does NE Moses get the title of Bishop?
And being NAR at the same time!?
A New Apostolic Revolution Bishop?
Bishop N.E. Moses is the president of the Apostolic Impact Global Outreach (AIG) comprised of persons from many denominations.
Yes, and Overcomers Church World Outreach.
The website hasn’t been developed.
I can’t find his name on the current list of Wagners apostles, but it is widely reported he is and no one has refuted it.
Strader says NE Moses has a USA overseeing bishop but didn’t identify him.
According to This Day he is bishop of Overcomers Faith Mission, Lagos.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=165907
Smiler, I have to delete your comment, libel laws in Canada are way to strict for unproven accusations.
I’ve seen this accusation elsewhere online and it has no legal basis and won’t be permitted here without documentation.
I direct your attention to Sections 296-317 of the Criminal Code of Canada
You didn’t get the name correct.
Your accusations have been addressed elsewhere.
Spreading scurrilous comments may be acceptable in Nigeria, and acceptable to your employer, but is not legal in Canada, nor Christlike to slander to advance political, spiritual or cultural agenda.
I’ll pass this on. BD
to John P-Bishop is a common title in charismatic/Pentecostal circles that can go to a well-respected pastor without any supervisory authority over other churches. For example, I remember one Word of Faith pastor, Keith Butler (who was running for Michigan governor four years ago) was a “bishop” when he was merely head of a big church in metro Detroit. Rev. Moses might be a recipient of similar title inflation.
I wonder if there were any real witches to hunt; there are a lot of animists in Africa that might warrant a “witch” label, but things seem to have gone overboard.
If kids were actively working in the occult, what then could you call them under Kenyan law?
This ran on HBO Mark, it’s Helen Ukpabio’s End of the Wicked film which labels children as witches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUeKBibBN0I
Stepping Stones UK has been in touch with Stephen Strader.
Mr. Strader is finding it difficult to believe his friend NE Moses is part of this and feels he hasn’t been given enough proof. He also says he isn’t able to view some videos from the US. I don’t know what videos he has seen, or what proof he believes he and the US ‘bishop’ need.
http://www.steppingstonesnigeria.org/witchcraft.html
Stepping Stones is putting out a movie: The False Prophet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfZQqTh2Fw
to educate and raise awareness about Nigerian child trafficking, child abandonment and devil child accusations.
The Publications and Research page has excellent backgrounders.
CRARN is also working in Nigeria with Stepping Stones.
There is now an attack site set up by Helen Ukpabio supporters and her ministry site is on the offensive in part due to wider exposure and the push to educate US pentecostal ministers.
Smiler – your comments have been deleted. I’m not clear what you want.
The topic is people who sponsor NE Moses for NA speaking engagements and in particular New Apostolic Reformation apostles such as Stephen Strader.
What do NE Moses and Stephen Strader have to do with you?
Why must you delete my comments? you are blackmailing Stephen stradger trying to manipulate him to believe in your free thinking philosophy, do you have the proofs of what you are saying against these men of God? then if not a lawyer will soon contact you in Canada.
Why must you delete my comments? you are blackmailing Stephen strader trying to manipulate him to believe in your free thinking philosophy, do you have the proofs of what you are saying against these men of God? then if not a lawyer will soon contact you in Canada.
Smiler:
Blackmailing?
Would you give me a legal definition please.
Perhaps you can start here.
http://legaltree.ca/node/554
NE Moses is on video, Mr. Strader wrote what is above.
What is it you want?
Mr. Strader wrote Mr. Brayton publicly which is what you are reading in the post above. Do you object to Mr. Strader doing his own thinking and research and speaking publicly?
Perhaps you would feel better taking up your concerns with him.
Mr. Strader has been touch with Mr. Batholomew, Mr. Brayton and NE Moses.
We were also in touch.
Are you saying these men of God are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine?
Is Acts 20: 17,28: Titus 1:5-7: I Peter 5: 1-2 irrelevant to them?
What belief do you believe Mr. Strader is being manipulated into?
I’ve been clear as to why I’ve deleted your comments.
Smiler, you are not free to violate Canadian law any more than I am.
Your lawyer is free to contact me.
Mark Byron
Thanks for the info
There seems to be sayings and rules of etiquette in some Charismatic/Pentecostal Circles
I’d heard a woman who’s father goes by the first name of Bishop then uses his surname.
However, I’ve not come across persons using the form of name of Bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
Then in some Charismatic/Pentecostal Circles who are known to be New Apostolic Revolution, N.A.R., are persons with the titles, Elder Apostle.
There are also others who use the term and word Prophet
Whatever the names are that are used, the main important part is the personality dynamics of the person.
What makes the person tick?
What is the history behind the group they are a part of?
Who started it?
What decisions were made and why?
What were they based on?
Brayton, this is to inform you that God has not appointed you to be an overseer or a prophet to any man of God. You are an Atheist, and no body has taken time to investigate you as an Atheist, what your group means and stand for. Because you join league with Bartholomew, the good Lord will shower you with trouble, you can not fight God. And God will soon take away sleep from you and you will sleep on pills very soon.
Is that a curse Esther? A follower of Jesus Christ does not threaten others, nor think more highly of themselves then they ought to.
It is sad you do not show understanding between the difference between God and people, nor the difference between criticism of behavior and a person. Colossians 4:6
Esther, if you can’t comprehend that Mr. Brayton and Mr. Bartholowmew are not saying they are appointed (like you are), there is little anyone can say to you.
Prophet Helen Ukpabio from Nigeria is one of the central proponents in the African child witch hunt. Once again, she is coming to Houston, Texas to promote biblical literalism and root out evil Old Testament style.
From change.org:
Helen Ukpabio is a “christian” preacher from Nigeria who has been spreading the fear of child witches in Nigeria. She uses her sermons, teachings and prophetic declarations to incite hatred, intolerance and persecution of alleged witches and wizards, usually children. Thousands of children have been killed, tortured, or maimed by acid, fire, or other acts of senseless violence. The surviving children are usually left homeless and are preyed on by others.
She has a simple diagnostic tools that can detect a witch:
“A child under two years of age that cries at night or deteriorates in health is an agent of Satan.”
These witch children are regularly subjected to:
Abandoned, isolated, discriminated, ostracised from the community
Taken to the forest and slaughtered
Disgraced publicly and murdered
Bathed in acid
Poisoned to death, often with a poisonous local berry (asire)
Buried alive
Chained and tortured in churches in order to extract confession
Exploiting local superstitious beliefs, particularly those related to spiritual or demonic possession or witchcraft, Helen Ukpabio’s organization has grown exponentially throughout Nigeria and West Africa since its foundation.
http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/2012/01/notorious-nigerian-witch-hunter-to.html