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THE ORDINATION OF PASTOR JANE MUIRURI (WAMUITA) IN COVENTRY ON SATURDAY 25TH APRIL, 2009
KENYA GOSPEL MUSICIAN MARION SHAKO AT CCBC SWAHILI SERVICE ON SUNDAY 26TH APRIL, 2009
WEDDING OF JOSEPH KURIA (JOSDA) AND FLORENCE WAIRIMU IN LONDON ON SATURDAY 4TH APRIL, 2009
BISHOP JB MASINDE CONFERENCE AT INTERDENOMINATIONAL WORLD REVIVAL ON SUNDAY 15/02/09
FAITH EVANGELISTIC MINISTRY (FEM) CONFERENCE IN LONDON ON SUNDAY 8TH FEBRURY, 2009
BISHOP KAMURI MUYA CONSECRATION CEREMONY IN ELBURGON, KENYA ON SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER, 2008
CCBC SWAHILI SERVICE CHRISTMAS PHOTOS - DECEMBER, 2008
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Towards a Strong United Independent Church Movement in the UK
By Bishop Francis Waihenya
Introduction
It would be an understatement to say that the religious map of the world has changed and that the map of Christianity has also changed with it. This has resulted in the centre of gravity of the Church moving from the Northern Hemisphere to the South Hemisphere. The fact that most of the fastest growing Churches in the UK are those lead by Africans in the Diaspora is neither by chance nor by coincidence.
We, the Christian leaders from the South who are ministering to communities in the North, therefore have this not-to-be-missed opportunity to make our unity in Christ visible in our day-to-day commitment to mission.
Our people in the South present us with a challenge because they are trapped in poverty, a complicated social issue involving all areas of life - physical, personal, social, spiritual and cultural.
Ministering in Unity
Ministering in unity should not therefore be regarded as an option but as a possibility in so far as we continue proclaiming Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and presenting the gospel in its entirety. We need to be clear that the communities where we are located here in the UK and elsewhere needs Jesus Christ and we should come together in unity of mission to declare that truth.
The Independent Churches derive their unity from faithfulness to the Word of God and The Great Commission. We affirm with The Lausanne Covenant that “the visible unity of the church in the truth is the will of God and that Evangelism is also an invitation to unity, since unity strengthens our witness, just as disunity is a denial of our gospel of reconciliation".
I am therefore personally convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the issues of church unity and effective church leadership are critically important to the future survival of the Kenyan Independent Churches here in the UK.
Organizational Instability
It is common knowledge that in the last couple of years; the Kenyan Churches in the UK have passed through a period of organizational instability, internal strife, and disunity among church leadership and members.
As is often the case, some of the many reasons that have contributed to this instability may include lack of integrity and honesty, lack of Church administrative and management skills, lack of fellowship amongst leaders and lack of organized representative administrative bodies that would bring the Churches and or ministers together.
Whatever the issues, it has become evident that, as a Christian church, we need to restore unity and governance befitting a body of Christ. It is therefore essential that the leadership of the Kenyan Independent Churches in the UK work on finding a solution that would lead to healing this disunity that continues to tear the body of Christ apart by working in isolation.
Church Leadership
Quality of our Church leadership will be evidenced in acts of unity and in Christian conduct that is exemplified by honesty, kindness, and in setting others higher than ourselves. This is the message we need to share with each other as we pursue the need for the Kenyan Churches in the UK to unite and work together as a one body.
I have reason to believe that the Kenyan Church leaders in the UK are aware of the fact that the things that went wrong and robbed us of our unity which in return has taken away our ability to address issues that face us and the people we serve can only be addressed and fully resolved by ourselves.
Leadership integrity and restoration of trust in dealing with each other should be considered as critically important and as one of our top priorities as we all walk together the path of healing towards this unity of the body of Christ.
Ministering Holistically
Our continued service to the Kenyan community in the UK and the regions beyond should be seen by the effective presence of the church in her involvement in a holistic ministry that addresses spiritual, physical and social needs of her members including and not limited to humanitarian and development activities.
Even as we boldly proclaim the good news, wherever possible, in church and in public halls, on radio and television, and in the open air, because it is God's power for salvation and we are under obligation to make it known, the Church should also be actively involved in social outreach.
Confronted with Luke's emphasis that the gospel is good news for the poor, we need to ask ourselves what this means to the majority of the population who are destitute, suffering or oppressed. We have been constantly reminded that the law, the prophets, the wisdom books, the teaching and ministry of Jesus, all stress God's concern for the materially poor and our consequent duty as a Church to defend and care for them.
Proclamation of God's Kingdom
The proclamation of God's kingdom demands the prophetic denunciation of all that is incompatible with it. Among the evils we should deplore are:
Political corruption which affected our Church leaders in Kenya in the last general elections
· All forms of exploitation of people and of the earth’s resources following our failure to remain faithful stewards of creation
· The undermining of the family unit which forms the nuclear of the Church
· Demand for abortion, drug trafficking, and the abuse of human rights. Destructive violence like one that we witnessed in Kenya in 2008. In our concern for the poor as Church leaders, we should both feel increasingly distressed by the burden of debt our people have been subjected to by the politicians who are left to decide for themselves the salaries, allowances and expenses they need to be paid from the taxes of the poor in total disregard of the taxpayers.
We are the Image of God
We have a responsibility as a Church to ensure that the Good News we preach also address the structures and systems of this world so that they are aligned to operate within our Creator’s requirements.
It is this practical alignment that will progressively release the people we serve from their systemic problems of poverty, lack and oppression. We should be outraged by the inhuman conditions in which we as Church leaders and the people we serve continue to live despite bearing God's image as we do.
Our Mission is Incarnation
Our commitment to social action is therefore recognition that the biblical gospel has inescapable social implications. True mission should always be incarnational in that it necessitates entering humbly into other people's worlds, identifying with their social reality, their sorrow and suffering, and their struggles for justice against oppressive powers which cannot be done without personal sacrifices by Church leaders like you and me.
As Church leaders, we should repent that the narrowness of our concerns and vision has often kept us from proclaiming the lordship of Jesus Christ over all of life, private and public, local and global and determine to obey his command to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matt. 6:33).
The Great Commission
It is a pity that many of us today still interpret the Great Commission (Matt. 28.20) in the version of an exclusive mission of preaching, converting and teaching. According to John Stott, “It is not just that the commission includes the duty to teach converts everything Jesus had previously commanded (Matthew 28.20); but, social responsibility is among the things which Jesus commanded.
We should not only see the consequences of the commission but we must understand the actual commission itself to include social as well as evangelistic responsibility, unless we are to be guilty of distorting the words of Jesus” (John Stott, Christian Mission in the Modern World [Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975], 23).
While the Bible gives us a comprehensive understanding of health, Shalom connects evangelism to development and provides the key to understanding holistic mission. To be in Christ is to be in shalom. Holistic mission therefore is the outworking of what we are individually and corporately in Christ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I call upon Kenyan Christian leaders in the UK to seriously consider starting a Ministers and Leaders Forums in your respective regions to address the inability of our churches to speak with one voice about the issues affecting us and the people we are called to serve and to address the problems of co-operation between our independent churches.
Since God has called us to be part of a communion, part of a Kenyan community, it is not an option to reclaim the unity Christ has given us, and since the heart of the gospel is that we are better together than disunited, organization of such leaders’ forums and meetings are critically important.
My fellow ministers and community leaders, we are called to unite and support one another, to be a community and a communion and to go together for the long haul for the sake of the peace and reconciliation of our people.
We thank God for the leaders who have such forums like The Oxford Pastors’ Forum which I had the grace to be one of the facilitators of its formation before its launch on 21st February 2009.
For those leaders who are planning these forums in various regions in the UK take courage and let us learn from one another by accommodating each other’s suggestions and giving the Holy Spirit a chance because the unity of the church will be a work of the Spirit, or it will not be at all.
I humbly welcome constructive comments and suggestions through e-mail or telephone contacts at the bottom of this page.
Stay blessed
Bishop Francis Waihenya
4 Nicholson Road
Oxford OX3 0HW
Tel.: +44 7906 979 262 (Mobile)
Tel:. +44 1865 243 460 (Hse)
bishopwaihenya@yahoo.co.uk
Food for thought - part 1
January 4 2009 at 4:09 AM
End-Time Bible Prophecy Study #7:
United States of America in Prophecy
Aim of this Study
The aim of this End-Time Bible Prophecy Study is to determine whether there are prophecies in Scripture that pertain to the United States of America, and if there are, what they denote.
Introductory Remarks
From the evidence provided in End-Time Bible Prophecy Study #1: From Shoemaker-Levi 9 to Blood Red Moons (The 1994-2015 Timeline) in which the validity of the 1994-2015 Timeline and its associated events were investigated, and in the light of the evidence presented from Scripture in End-Time Bible Prophecy Study #2: The Great Tribulation and the 1994-2015 Timeline, the following conclusions have been drawn:
Every seven years since 1994 something extraordinary occurred either in the heavens or on earth.
That something extraordinary will therefore occur in 2015.That the extraordinary events of 2015 will be the Solar Eclipses and Blood Red Moons calculated by the NASA scientists.
That the Solar Eclipses and Blood Red Moons of 2015 are related to what is described in Joel 3:3, The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Should the foregoing conclusions be valid, then the most likely time for the Great Tribulation to occur will be during the 3 years that precede 2015.
If you haven't visited the two above-mentioned studies yet, I strongly recommend that you take time to do so at your earliest convenience. These studies hold the key to all the other Bible prophecy studies on this website. You will find the link to those pages on the End-Time Bible Prophecy 2009 Revelations Home Page.
To know that the 1994-2015 Timeline is based on the following four extraordinary events, each separated from the next by seven years, will suffice for this study.
1994: The comet Shoemaker-Levi 9 broke up and crashed into Jupiter with what was then described as 21 cosmic gun salutes.
2001: The September 11 (9/11) World Trade Centre & Pentagon terror attacks in America.
2008: The Global Financial Collapse with its epicentre in America, also described as the worst financial crisis of its kind in human history, hit the world on 15 September.
2015: Blood Red Moons Phenomenon of the years 2014-2015, the only time in this century when 4 consecutive full lunar eclipses, known as a tetrad, will coincide with the Jewish religious feasts of Passover and Feast of Tabernacles.
United States of America in Prophecy
Have you noted that two of the four extraordinary events on which the 1994-2015 Timeline is based, occurred in America? Have you also noted that those two earth-shaking events that transpired on American soil are precisely seven years apart? Coincidence? I believe this proves that America's fate is irrevocable tied to the 1994-2015 Timeline and closing events on this planet.
Over the past century America has distinguished itself as the wealthiest and mightiest nation in the history of this planet. On the other hand, America has also distinguished itself as the most corrupt and debased nation in the world. For instance, the current global financial debacle has proven once again how rotten the global free trade economic system underwritten by America is.
Do you now realize how absurd it is to think that Scripture wouldn't make reference to what is irrefutably the most influential nation in the end times?
Where in Scripture do we find the prophecies pertaining to America? In the main these are the prophecies in the Book of Revelation that concern Babylon the great of the last days. Many people have been conditioned in believing that these prophecies concern a fallen global religious system. Such fallen church systems are spoken of in Revelation 2 and 3. The "beast" referred to in later chapters of Revelation is a product of these fallen church systems. However, the prophecies pertaining to end-time Babylon fall in another category.
Though we find in the prophecies concerning the end-time Babylon some religious, moral and cultural nuances, the emphasis falls mainly on her economic influence globally. It is in that area where we shall witness her ultimate collapse unfold.
"For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste." (Rev 18:17-19)
Just think for a moment. Almost half of Revelation 18 is dedicated to the merchants of the earth lamenting the end-time Babylons fall. If mystery Babylon in one way or another represents the false religions of the world, as many prominent exegetes of Scripture claim, why would the mighty traders of the world be so perplexed by its demise? Shouldn't the pastors and the priests be the ones doing the weeping and wailing?
In Revelation 18 the mighty traders of the world want to know what city was like this fallen city. Ask yourself, what nation in the history of this planet can be compared to America in prosperity, opulence, extravagancy and military might? There is none!
Some vigilant "watchmen on the wall" in America have correctly deciphered the prophecies in Scripture concerning their motherland. Here follows their views on who the mystery Babylon of the last days actually is.
"I wanted you to see this verse where Scripture clearly calls the Woman a city, not a church. It then proceeds on into Revelation 18 where she is described as being a huge worldwide merchandising and manufacturing entity that political figures, merchantmen, and transportation industries weep over at its destruction because they can no longer buy or sell its goods. This is not describing a church and its business, wealth, and fall, but a nation's business, wealth, and fall" - John W. Ritenbaugh of ccg.org.
ECONOMIC BABYLON OF REVELATION 18 MAY BE AMERICA - We believe this prophecy fits this country exactly, so precisely that it could refer to no other nation on the earth today The United States of America has led the world into this Satanic New World Order, both in terms of national political and economic leadership, but mostly in the leadership of values. People all over the world have yearned to be like America, as they have seen our wealth, success, and power. Such a position draws people to emulate, to allow themselves to be deceived This Babylon has become thoroughly inhabited by Satan and his demons.
Remember our earlier discussions of such disgusting, vile American sins, the very nature of which are filled with demons and their activity? These sins have become so pervasive that God is finally moved to physical judgment American businessmen still hold the predominate wealth in the world. What is the attitude on the part of Americans toward this wealth? They believe they need nothing else and that this good time will never end America's leadership in these sins has been instrumental in leading untold millions, perhaps billions, of precious souls into eternal Hell. Is it any wonder that God singles her out for "double" punishment? This destruction of this nation will evidently be of UNPARALLELED VIOLENCE, producing a destruction, the likes of which have NEVER been seen BEFORE in world history. - David Bay, Director of Old Paths Ministries / cuttingedge.org.
ECONOMIC BABYLON OF REVELATION 18 MAY BE AMERICA - We believe this prophecy fits this country exactly, so precisely that it could refer to no other nation on the earth today The United States of America has led the world into this Satanic New World Order, both in terms of national political and economic leadership, but mostly in the leadership of values.
People all over the world have yearned to be like America, as they have seen our wealth, success, and power. Such a position draws people to emulate, to allow themselves to be deceived This Babylon has become thoroughly inhabited by Satan and his demons. Remember our earlier discussions of such disgusting, vile American sins, the very nature of which are filled with demons and their activity? These sins have become so pervasive that God is finally moved to physical judgment
American businessmen still hold the predominate wealth in the world. What is the attitude on the part of Americans toward this wealth? They believe they need nothing else and that this good time will never end America's leadership in these sins has been instrumental in leading untold millions, perhaps billions, of precious souls into eternal Hell. Is it any wonder that God singles her out for "double" punishment? This destruction of this nation will evidently be of UNPARALLELED VIOLENCE, producing a destruction, the likes of which have NEVER been seen BEFORE in world history. - David Bay, Director of Old Paths Ministries / cuttingedge.org.
"IS AMERICA BABYLON? Does it not seem odd to you that America, the GREATEST NATION IN THE WORLD, the greatest evangelical nation; that took the Gospel of Christ to the four corners of the world; THE RICHEST NATION ON THE EARTH, who has given more aid to nations than any other; THE NATION TO HAVE WON TWO MAJOR WORLD WARS and many others; IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE?" Mark Swatson of CIS Scanner, TruInsight / markswatson.com
"The United States of America Mystery Babylon? My belief of the likelihood that the US is the prostitute, based on all her actions, will likely get a lot of people very angry with me. Now remember, I'm not trying to prove anything, but I am pointing some things out. I'm almost convinced now that the United States of America is in fact the whore, Mystery Babylon. But, I recognize the reality that I could be wrong. However, I can easily and correctly say that no nation on this entire earth fits as well as the United States of America" - endofthisage.com
"America, The Babylon: America's Destiny Foretold in Biblical Prophecy. America has defeated the lands of ancient Babylon known as Iraq. This makes America the latest world power to conquer "Babylon" and from a prophetical standpoint, America holds title to Babylon and thus America inherits the "Mystery Babylon" title. But that's only the tip of the "Mystery Babylon" iceberg that includes DOZENS of other PROOFS from the scriptures that all points to and proves that America is the only answer as to who or what is Mystery Babylon" - R. A. Coombes of americathebabylon.com
According to Scripture all earthly empires are destined to fall. So also America, which underneath its evangelical garb, is nothing but an end-time, Babel-like melting pot of every profanity, obscenity and perversity conceivable. For most of its existence it has been playing both sides of the field - the pious side and the profane. But America's religious facade is speedily crumbling. Let's hear what America's own moral leaders have to say concerning their debased motherland.
Popular wisdom has it that our society is wildly hedonistic, with the collapse of family life, out of control immorality, and the world, led by the United States, in the throes of a sexual insurrection. The unrighteous humanistic adjudicators of America have seen fit to bless unions that the Almighty has forbidden in His Torah, the Blueprint for Life. Of all the current sexual fads, the one notable for its militancy is that of homosexuality. This refers male or female, along with other phenomena such as transvestism and transsexualism. - By Rabbi Levi bar Ido/Bnai Avraham; Rabbi Ed Nydle, Board of Rabbis Union Of Nazarene Yisraelite Congregations
Homosexual marriage and legalized sodomy have caused strong polarity within our country It seems that the sodomites within this country and Canada, which recently allowed same sex marriages, have convinced a large part of the population that their sin is acceptable. The terrible fact is that most churches don't teach any different out of fear of the majority, which sympathizes with the sodomites. A recent poll found that 51% of Americans sympathize with homosexuals desiring to get married. Sodomy is just one of the many sins of this society. - By Mike Blackburn and James Meyer, Paleo Times
"The pornography business in America is bigger than professional football, basketball and baseball combined! Should we then be shocked to discover that one military unit in Iraq had a pornographic ring in its midst complete with videotaped sex between U.S. soldiers and simulated sex involving Iraqi detainees? American soldiers have been raised in a sex-crazed culture where pornography has gone mainstream. Where do you suppose the soldiers at Abu Ghraib got the idea to film sadomasochistic acts?" - Gerald Flurry, Philadelphia Trumpet, June 2004, page 11).
Only America meets ALL the preconditions to be identified as the end-time Babylon of Revelation. I've already mentioned that almost half of Revelation 18 is dedicated to the merchants of the earth lamenting Babylons fall. Below, some of the trade agreements, trade initiatives, trade organizations and trade conventions America is retaining with the rest of the world.
ORGANISATIONS AND AGREEMENTS THROUGH WHICH AMERICA (BABYLON) ENRICHES THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH
1. The World Bank
2. The Group of 8, or G-8 (formerly G-7): a structure with the worlds 8 richest countries as members.
3. The World Trade Organisation (W.T.O); the arbitrator and policeman of the world free trade system or globalisation.
4. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, or the O.E.C.D.
5. The International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.); seated in Washington, not far from the White House. Is currently often in the news. A mysterious council consisting of 24 members controls it. No doubt the American government is at the helm of this organisation. In the early 90s it gave the shaky Russian economy an injection of $10,2 billion; in 1995 it gave the collapsing Mexican economy an injection of $18 billion, and not long after $10 billion to the crushed South Korean economy. Moreover, almost $20 billion went to Thailand. A similar rescue package for Indonesia was negotiated in the late 90s.
6. The General Agreement for Tariffs and Trade, or G.A.T.T.
7. The North America Free Trade Agreement, or N.A.F.T.A; brokered between the USA, Mexico and Canada.
8. The Multilateral Agreement on Investment, or (M.A.I); concluded by the 29 richest countries on earth.
9. The Asian Pacific Economic Conference, or A.P.E.C.; an initiative piloted by the USA to expand trade relations with countries of the Far East.
[Take note that America provides the largest percentage capital to keep these organisations and agreements operative, consequently having the most influence on their managing boards. Countries that have largely benefited will grieve most when America falls (Revelation 18 verses 3,9,11,15 & 23)].
Closing Remarks
Is it possible to determine roughly when America will fall?
The fall of America and the demise of the global free trade system constitute the same event. In final verses of Rev 16 we read that it is an unexpected and awkward turn of events during Armageddon (WW III) that will trigger the ultimate collapse of the global free trade system and therefore the fall of America.