AFRICA!

TRUE   AFRICAN ADVENTURE   STORIES

  

by John Roy Bohlen & John 5:30

Better Stories Than Tarzan!

TRUE AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES!

“Ever Since The Olden Days: The beginnings of my interest in Africa.”

I was born at a very young age.  If someone asked me when I first started knowing or loving the Lord Jesus, it would be like being asked when I first started knowing and loving my parents.  I cannot remember when I first started loving or knowing my mother or father.  I know that it is necessary to become “born again”, by asking Christ to come into us as Saviour and Lord, but I started doing that since before I can remember, at age 3, 4, 5, and 6, etc.  I do not remember when that first happened.  It seems like I have always known and loved the Lord.  With that love came the desire to serve Him and share Him with others.  As a child, we had missionaries come to our church and present the need to preach the Gospel in other lands, other countries, to other groups of people, in other languages, so, there was early, created within me to take the Gospel to others, many others.  As a teen-ager, I remember weeping with the burden of the Lord for the lost in other lands.  I would seek God earnestly for the lost, sometimes fasting.  I gave my life for the service of the Lord, very early in my life.  I was stirred by missionary stories, like that of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint and the other missionaries to the Auca Indians. 

At Bethel College, my first year, I was chosen as vice president of the missionary society, WMF, the World Missions Fellowship.  The next year I was the president.  It was largely due to my Bethel College Missions involvement that I came into "The King’s Greatest Secret", at age 20, in November of 1960.  (See our book, The King’s Greatest Secret!)      Write:  K.O.G., P.O. 7123, Minneapolis, MN  55407

Later, I was privileged to minister on about a half dozen ministry trips to Mexico, and a 7 week ministry trip to Brazil.   Wow!  What a sweet privilege!  What adventures!  In Mexico, I went for a walk in the desert in the sunset, and saw a black something that I had never seen before, so I emptied my flashlight of the batteries, carefully captured it inside my flashlight, and put the cap back on and took it back to camp, whereupon I put it into a jar with a lid.  The local people were afraid of  this huge black scorpion in a glass jar beside our trailer.

Missionary Danny Ost hunched over the stick of his small bush airplane that seemed to be held together by baling wire, scotch tape and rubber bands, and he prayed for safety before we took off over boulder strewn and rocky desert, dodging sage brush and cactus, flying through storm clouds and dodging lightening bolts.  Other times, as I preached to crowds, the pigs and chickens would wander through the church with the dirt floor.  In Africa, it was common for chickens to take part in the services.

When I was to go to Brazil for 7 weeks, I only had enough money to plan the trip and pack my bags.  Then, I got enough money to apply for my passport.  I had enough money to go to the airport.  At the airport, someone, a stranger and his wife came up to me and asked me if I had enough money to pay for the ticket.  I said, “Not yet.”   They said, “God spoke to us on the way to the airport to give you this money!”  It turned out to be enough to pay for the rest of the trip, and enough to support Karen and the four children while I was gone.  I knew the Lord wanted me to go, and determined that if I only had enough money to go to New York or Miami, that I would go that far, and then sit on the side of the road, so to speak, and wait for further orders and provision.

What mighty adventures!  Speaking on the radio, over the loud speakers in the city square, sharing with strangers on the train and plane, learning the language well enough to get along alone.  I preached 49 times in 47 days.  Already, I enjoyed my food hotter than the Brazilians, having come to appreciate hot food in California, Arizona and Mexico. Now, I often eat my food hotter than the Africans.

“My First Time:  How I came to go to Africa.”

Because of this love for missions and missionaries and native peoples, we got to know and love a student from Nigeria who was attending North Central Bible College in Minneapolis.   We did not know, at first, that Paul Betiku, as it turned out, had been a lovely pastor in Nigeria, and was highly respected, and influential with an international Nigerian prophet/evangelist and his powerful ministry.  Because of the kindness we were showing to Brother Paul, and to his family and friends, but not knowing of his influence, I received an invitation to come and minister in Nigeria at their international annual convention conference, in 1988.   Here is an adventure story from that conference.

The Bow Of Respect:

Now, at this point, perhaps I should point out that in Nigeria, among the Yoruba People, they show their respect for each other, by bowing.  It is never a bow of worship, but a bow of respect.  This Yoruba people have a very highly defined refined sense of the rules of knowing who bows to whom.  The rule is: Whomever is worthy of the greater respect, bow to him or her, and, the more respect deserved, the lower the bow.  For example:  The woman bows to the man.  The younger bows to the older.  It just so happens that I, myself, qualify for nearly every category of those in their culture who are worthy of respect.  The Yoruba people bow to the greater age.  In their country, the older people are respected.  This is heightened by the fact that life expectancy is far lower in most African countries, including Nigeria.  There may be many reasons for this, such as, lack of health care, proper nutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and other diseases, poor birthing conditions, lack of finances, a higher rate of crime and accidents, poor air and water quality, sanitation problems, etc.  Consequently, although there are a few people who are over 60, they are not as many as in some of the more “highly developed” countries.  Because much of their diet consists of sugars, carbohydrates and starches, all of which turn to sugar in the blood, there is a very high epidemic of diabetes, which is almost always a death sentence, because of the lack of detection and/or treatment.  Thus, there are many millions who have diabetes, who are not aware, and the result is sickness, weakness, disability and death.  Thus, at age 69, I frequently find myself to be the oldest person in a meeting, although, as I said, there are some exceptions. 

In addition to age, education is respected, position in society is respected, ministers of the Gospel are respected.  Visitors, guests, and strangers are respected.  Believe it or not, fat and overweight is respected, although this is changing slowly.  People still very often have the idea that “Any one this fat, must really be doing something right, to be eating so well!”.  In Nigeria, white people are respected, for many reasons.  It is widely believed that white people are intelligent, are rich, and, in some cases, are thought to be superior, though we know that this is NOT the case.  I know many, many black Africans who are more gracious, gentle, friendly, wise, tender-hearted, sociable, generous, pure, spiritual, committed, loyal, hospitable, and intelligent, than many, many, many white people.

For this reason, I personally qualify for nearly every category of those deserving respect, by their culture.  Yet, on my first trip to Nigeria, it seemed that the Lord laid it upon my heart, several points of direction: 

* Bow as low to them, or lower, than they do to you!

* Count all others as better than yourself.

* Do not look at a group of people as though they are a group, but as though each individual among them is important, and that they have pain, and ambitions and feelings that are just as important to them, as mine is to me, and that I am to highly value each individual among them.  * That I am to show the same respect and consideration for them, as if Jesus Christ were living behind their eyes, between their ears, inside their skin, because He is! 

This results in situations where I can get into a ‘bowing contest’ with someone who is trying to show me respect.  They become frustrated, at times, when they see me bowing to them, and will sometimes try to instruct me in the bowing etiquette of their culture.  When they do, I will explain to them. “You have given me a Yoruba bow.  I have given to you a Kingdom bow, because, the Bible says that if we want to be great in the Kingdom of God, that we must be the servant of all!  Mk.9:35; 10:44.   The Bible also says, that each of us must count all others as better than our selves.  Phil.2:3. When I explain, the people seem to understand.

“THE LOAD UPON MY HEAD”

It was on a Sunday morning, at this large convention in a large cathedral like church where there were about 6 to 8 thousand people in attendance, including those outside, listening on the loud-speakers.  There was the center section, the two side sections, the balcony on both sides and in the rear, the large open space in the front, the steps, the pulpit that looked like a crow’s nest, the choirs, elders and musicians on both sides in front, and in the center front, was a large open space for people to bring their offerings, etc.  At the forward of all of this was a fence, with a gate, and behind the gate, and on a higher  level, was where the ministers sat.  The more "important" you were, the farther back you sat behind the pulpit, and the closer to the middle, and the larger the chair in which the “important” ministers sat.  I was invited to sit next to the center, in back.  I am making a joke of this word "important' , as we are all important to God, and, as we just quoted, we are to consider all others as more important than we ourselves.

The chiefs, the kings, their wives, and the government officials sat in the audience, on the left, in the front.  The rest of the congregation segregated the men, women and children separately.  In most churches, if a woman approached the church without a head covering, she was not allowed to enter.  The atmosphere was very formal.  Order was kept by ushers who roamed the isles with long sticks that they used to poke adults or children if they became sleepy, or to hit children with, if they became disorderly.  When the leader wanted to get the people’s attention, he would ring a large bronze school bell with a wooden handle.  If the noise was too great, as with corporate prayer, he would ring the bell into the microphone.  People were dressed in their finest regalia, robes and finery, with the ladies wearing lovely head wraps.  There were several choirs, a band, many offerings, and much pomp and splendor.  The ministers were wearing backwards clerical collars and dark suits.

Suddenly, right in the middle of the service, through the side door, came 6 to 8 elder types, like funeral casket escorts, with a young man, about  20-25 years old, perhaps older, between them, who was carrying a heavy stone upon his head, something like a grave-stone, weighing perhaps 40 pounds or more.  The man was weeping, and the people were laughing, jeering, taunting.  I did not know it at the time, but they had just beaten the man severely, before bringing him in.  I did not know what was going on.  I could not figure it out, so I asked, and the moderator of the meeting explained to me that the man had stolen a great deal of money from the purse of a woman while she was sleeping, at this international conference.  Some of the money had been recovered, but the young man had spent a percentage of the rest of it, and was now being ridiculed and shamed, as punishment, before being turned over to the police, who would have imprisoned and beaten the boy, if not tortured or even killed him. 

Immediately, it seemed that the Holy Spirit was leading me.  I went to my host, Dr. Obidare, the leader of the conference, and asked him if he would allow me to go to the boy, and to take his load upon my own head.  He said yes.  So, though I was probably the only white person in the entire 6 to 8 thousand people, I came from behind the gate where the ministers were seated, crossed the open space to where the boy was standing, surrounded by the men.  I took the heavy stone upon my head, and stood with my other arm around the boy, with the tears running down my cheeks.  Needless to say, time seemed to stand still, and many people outside crowded to the windows and doors to see what was happening.

Can you imagine the reaction on the part of the audience?  While this is a culture that carries heavy loads upon the head, even refrigerators and logs, these loads are carried by the poor, the lowly, the uneducated, the young, the subordinate.   In this culture where the load is carried upon the head, one almost never sees the load carried by anyone who is educated, wealthy, fat, older or white or a minister or a visitor.  Now, most of the time, when one carries the load upon his or her head, there is placed on the head, a soft doughnut of cloth to act as a sort of pillow to make the carrying more comfortable.  But here, there was no cloth doughnut cushion between my bald head and the stone, and I was experiencing pain where the stone met my head, because the load was heavy, and I was not accustomed to this.

Some of the people began laughing at me, because I was carrying the stone upon my head.  They all knew that I should not be carrying that boy’s burden.  It was not proper, for me, to be carrying a heavy stone on my head.  I looked ridiculous, and they were laughing in ridicule, even though I was weeping and in pain.

On the other hand, there were many that were angry with me for interfering in matters that did not concern me or my culture.  Who was I to interfere?  The boy needed to be punished, and I was getting in the way. 

Yet, there were those in the cathedral who began to weep, in a culture where men do not easily weep, men were weeping.  14 years later, this pastor was telling me, along with a number of people over the years, who have told me later, “I was there, on that day, and I will never forget!”  In fact, I just found out that a Nigerian pastor friend of mine was there and knew the inside story, and clearly remembered the incitent.  He told me that the police would most probably beaten the young man to death!  I knew none of this at the time.

Presently, the elders gently removed the stone from my head, and did not again put it upon the head of the boy.  I took my handkerchief, and dried the boy's tears and wiped his nose, then I embraced him, and they led the boy away.  I went directly to the leader, Prophet Obadari, and asked him if he would allow me to pay the balance of what the boy had stolen.  He said “yes”.  I later paid the debt that the boy owed, but it took every last dollar, every penny, kobo, every niara, every pound sterling, that I had with me in Africa.  Samuel Babalola, my host, an accountant assigned to collect the amount owed, told me that it was exactly the right sufficient amount. I had no money left. I had paid it all.  Christ paid it all for me!

Later, I believe that Dr. Obadari reported that the young man had become born-again.  I do not take credit for what I did.  I believe that the Holy Spirit impelled  me to do what I did, in taking the boy’s load upon my head.  But some people, fourteen years later, were still somewhat annoyed with me, because they are convinced that I interfered.  Perhaps I did.  Who is Jesus Christ to have died in our place, to take our load, our punishment, wipe our tears, encourage us, while we were yet sinners, to pay our debt?  Amen.

1 Pet 2:24  “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the Cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”  (NAS)

A pastor came to me.  He wanted to tell me a story.  He said that he was present, in 1988 when I took a load upon my head.  In the years following this incident, the pastor himself had preached about this.  This had changed his life and ministry.

Elijah:  Would you like to visit with Elijah?

When I first went to Africa, in 1988, I asked God to lead me to a man who had unquestionable integrity, who had pristine character, who could be trusted implicitly, and, who would do the will of God, uncompromisingly.  A major motivation for this was the fact that I wanted to commit the copyright privileges, and many copies of my books into the hands of someone who would be trustworthy.   So it was that I was asking the Lord God to lead me to such a person.  About the second week I was there, the Lord brought me into the presence of exactly the right person.  Elijah was God’s answer to that prayer.  I was present at Dr. Obadari’s monthly conference, during which there were thousands present in an out door meeting, although there was roof over the immediate central proceedings.  There, in the midst of all of the pomp and ceremony, was a young man, dressed in fine regalia, who obviously possessed authority, without parading that authority.  The Lord spoke to me that this was the man I had been looking for, and that I needed to meet and speak with him a direct and specific word of prophecy from the Lord.  I asked if we could meet.  We did so, at a restaurant, located at a motel owned by a Christian couple.  The name of the motel was Modulore, located on the northeast side of Akure, in Ondo State.  Here is the word I gave to Olufemi Elijah Bankole:  “You are to do the will of God, uncompromisingly!”  I told Elijah, that, in no uncertain terms, that it was very important that he was especially called to obey God at all times and in everything.”  This word happened to strike a special chord with Elijah, for it confirmed that God was dealing with his heart about obeying God, and that he should leave the ministry of which he had a very high position of authority and influence, and, instead, to walk, by faith, out into the Unknown, into a pioneering ministry, starting from “scratch’, that is, like Abraham, going out, “not knowing whither”.  Elijah had been dragging his feet about this issue, because he knew the price, the sacrifice, the courage, the difficulties that he and his family would face.  As it turned out, he did leave Obadari's ministry, and all that he feared came upon him.  Elijah and his family faced incredible hardship and sacrifice, sometimes continuing to this day, because Elijah has had a tendency to put money into the ministry that was meant for his family.  But, in the 20 years since that time, God has given to Elijah, nearly 30 churches, two Bible schools, a number of pieces of land for home and ministry, and he has successfully hosted me, some 21 times in Nigeria, and twice to Ghana, and the Republic of Benin.

“Female Circumcision:  FGM: The devil made them do it.”

When I first went to Nigeria in 1988, I found out about female circumcision.  It is a practice that is still widely practiced in Nigeria, in Somalia, in many African countries, in many third world countries, and, increasingly, in Europe and the United States.  Here is an article that I have written on the subject:  If you want to know more, you may write to us, or call, 715-866-4060.  Or, you may google  FGM Network on the internet.

“SHOULD WE CIRCUMCISE OUR DAUGHTER?”

John Roy Bohlen

Scientific data and Historical background:

I have been studying the subject of female circumcision since the spring of 1988, during my first trip to West Africa.  Since then, I have made 21 trips to Nigeria, 2 trips to the Republique du Benin and Ghana, plus one trip each to South Africa, and Lesthoto.

During this time, I have talked with and/or interviewed a significant number of highly experienced doctors, obstetrical nurses and medical personnel, some of which are the kind of friends who will tell me the truth, without bias. I have also been doing marriage seminars, during which time I have the participants, male and female, answer an anonymous questionnaire, including questions like:  “Do you believe in female circumcision?”  “If you are a woman, have you been: circumcised.?”  “If so, how extensively: (partial clitoris, whole clitoris, plus inner lips, plus outer lips)?”   “Frequency of intercourse?”  “What % of the time are  you able to experience a peak, orgasm, climax?”  “How much do you enjoy sex?”    If you have daughters, have you had them circumcised?”  We explain:

4 Kinds of Circumcision for a Woman

a)  Partial clitorectomy, (removal of part of the clitoris),  b) complete clitorectomy, c)  a plus b, plus the removal of the labia minora, (inner lips) or, d) infibulation, which includes a, b, c, plus the removal of at least part, and sometimes all, of the labia majora, and the sewing of the gaping wound shut, so as to allow a small opening and a scar where the genitals had been.  The more nerve endings that are destroyed or cut away, the less pleasure and enjoyment there is for the woman.   The scars make the area less resilient, allowing for tearing in childbearing, and often, tetanus or other infection.  Sometimes the raw and exposed nerve endings never heal, and cause constant pain.

Our questionnaire asks if the woman is able to experience an orgasm, and if so, what percentage of the time, and the frequency of intercourse.  By this means, an increasingly more accurate picture is emerging, of the status of women as to circumcision in West Africa and South Africa, and around the world.  I also ask the question: “Have your circumcised your daughters, if any.”  On a recent trip to Nigeria, 10 out of 20 women in Ondo State (Akure), said “yes”!  In nearby Ekiti State (Ado), 17 out of 18 women said that their daughters had been circumcised.  This means that female genital mutilation, or FGM, also known as female circumcision, is common in Nigeria and other African countries, and now, increasingly, in other countries, up to the present day, in spite of laws, literature, teaching and publicity to the contrary.  One man explained that his wife had had their daughters circumcised without getting his permission.  An enlightened University Professor confided that when their daughters went to visit the grandparents in the village, that the daughters were circumcised without getting the parent’s permission.

5 Occasions For Female Circumcision

There are 5 times in the life of a female when she may be circumcised:  1) at birth, or, 2) at puberty, or before, or,  3) upon becoming engaged to be married, or,  4) after marriage, if the husband is not satisfied with the degree of his wife’s circumcision, or, 5)  just before the baby is born, as there is a superstition that the baby will die or be cursed if the head of the baby touches the mother’s clitoris, during birth.  This ugly superstition is more stupid than the one about if a person drinks coconut milk, his brain will get weak.

Reasons Given for Female Circumcision

In my seminars, I ask the question, “Is there any demon present, any angel, any man, or any woman who can show me even one Verse from the Bible or the Koran that states, commands, recommends or even remotely suggests, implies, hints or infers that a female be circumcised?”  The place is always totally silent.  Then I present Bible verses like John 10:10 “The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I, (Jesus) came that you might have life and that you may have it more abundantly.” And, John 15:11  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”  (NAS)  In this case, the devil’s seeks to steal enjoyment and pleasure away from the woman.  He succeeds in this matter of FGM.  Yet God always has intended for both the man and the woman to experience sexual pleasure within marriage.

God created sex, the sex organs for both the man and the woman, and He gave sex and pleasure in sex to both the man and the woman as a precious gift.

1 Cor 7:1  “Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.  2  But because of immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.  3  Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.  4  The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.  5  Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (NAS)  These verses are a clear indication that God expects the woman to have pleasure.

Gen 2:22  “And Yahweh, the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib (or, side), which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23  And the man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman”, because she was taken out of Man.’   24  For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  25  And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”  (NAS)  And, 1 Tim 6:17  “Charge them - - that they be not high-minded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”  (ASV)  God created sex to be richly enjoyed by every husband and every wife.

Reasons That Circumcision Continues:

Sometimes culture and customs are hard to change.  Finances are a factor in the continuation of this devilish custom, as there are witch doctors or old women or whoever, that make, in some cases, a great deal of money for conducting the circumcision.  It is frequently done in unsanitary conditions, resulting in bleeding to death, or death by shock, tetanus, aids, or other infection. At times crude operating instruments are used, such as broken glass, rusty previously used razor blades, etc. Sometimes the scarring leaves the area without elasticity or resilience, resulting in horrible tearing, even into the anus, which results in further scarring, and sometimes, death.

Female circumcision is increasing in the United States.  Certain religions may contribute to this custom even though it is not mentioned in the Bible, in the Koran, or in any of the so called “sacred” writings.  There was one pastor who came to this country from Nigeria.  He knew of at least one woman who was able to experience a climax in spite of her circumcision.  He counseled some American women who were married to African men.  Although these women were uncircumcised, they had not been able to experience an orgasm.  This Nigerian pastor mistakenly assumed that circumcision would enable these white women to become orgasmic.  So he reasoned and recommended that these white American women should be circumcised.  He was ignorant of the fact that the more of the female penis (the clitoris), is cut off, the more nerve endings are destroyed, and the less chance there is for the woman to experience sexual pleasure, enjoyment and a climax, peak or orgasm. 

Reasons to not circumcise a woman

One of the most common reasons given for FGM is the mistaken deception and lie that it will reduce the probability of fornication and adultery and promiscuity in the female. The following are some of the reasons given for not circumcising a female:

1.  It is not called for, or even remotely implied or suggested in the Bible, the Koran, or any other “holy book”.

2.  Matt 15:19  “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” (NAS)   Fornication and adultery are a matter of the heart.  If one wants to reduce these, the heart should be circumcised, or cut out, NOT the woman’s genitals.

3.  The woman’s clitoris does NOT cause sexual desire in the female.  It is the ovaries that produce hormones that control the libido, that is, the sexual appetite.  If one wants to decrease sexual desire in the man, the testicles should be removed, in the woman, the ovaries. 

4.  Cutting off the woman’s clitoris is THE SAME as if a man’s penis were cut off.  One may remove the penis, but if the testicles are left, sexual desire will continue.  Likewise, one may remove the clitoris, etc., but if the ovaries are left, sexual desire will continue unabated in the woman.  Cutting off the man’s penis does not remove sexual desire, if the gonads or testicles are left.  The itch is still there, in both cases, but the means by which to scratch the itch, and obtain relief is minimized.

5.  There are indications that FGM, or female circumcision may actually INCREASE promiscuity, fornication and adultery in a woman, in that, since she is unable or handicapped in her ability to experience an orgasm &/or pleasure, she may attribute her inability to a partner’s inexperience or lack of skill, and she may pursue pleasure elsewhere.  This may result in an increase in promiscuity.

6. Eph 5:28 says,  “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;” and, Verse 33  “Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself.”  (NAS)  If a man loves his wife as his own body, and as much as he loves himself, he will desire that she experience pleasure just as intensely and as often as he, himself.  A man who is not interested or concerned that his wife have as much pleasure as himself, is IGNORANT, INCONSIDERATE, STUPID, OR CRUEL.  A father or mother who does not want their daughter to experience sexual pleasure in marriage is likewise ignorant, inconsiderate, crude and cruel.  Circumcising the female is the SAME as if a parent, worried that their little boy will be promiscuous later on in life, stupidly cut off the head of the little boy’s penis.  If they are really concerned, they will stupidly cut off most of the penis.  If they are really, really concerned, they stupidly cut off the whole penis!!!  If they really want to be cruel, they will leave the testicles to remain to continue to create sexual desire, but take away the means by which the desire can be fulfilled.  This is the EXACT male counterpart to female genital mutilation circumcision, when the outward genitals are removed, yet the ovaries remain to continue producing sexual desire in the woman.

Remedies and Solutions, A Reason for Hope:

1.  Any person responsible for the mutilation of any female, can repent, invite Jesus Christ to come within as Lord and Savior, and can give one’s life completely to Him as God.  1 John 1:9 offers complete forgiveness as a gift from Jesus.  MAY THE CURSE OF GOD COME UPON ANY ONE WHO KNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTES TO OR PARTICIPATES IN OR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR the mutilation/circumcision of any female!!!

2.  It has been documented that there are women who have trained themselves to become orgasmic, who have been paralyzed from the waist down, and who have no feeling in their genitals.  Other women have reported having experienced orgasm or climax through breast stimulation alone.  Still others report being able to attain an orgasm, simply from giving pleasure to their husbands, as in other forms of sex play.  Thus, we believe that with patience and practice, that it STILL may be possible for a woman to attain to a climax or orgasm, even though she has been severely mutilated, although, admittedly, the challenge will be greater, because many of the nerve endings have been destroyed, just THE SAME AS IF portions of the man’s penis were cut off.

3.  We believe in a miracle working God, through Jesus Christ, a God Who does creative miracles.  Papa Yahweh Father God, has the ability to restore body parts, and we are believing that the Day is already here when the mutilation done can be supernaturally reversed, and nerve endings be restored.  Amen.

4.  At the same time, we are believing that the Lord God will take a direct part in preventing more circumcisions, even to the point of supernaturally judging those who are responsible.

5.  Let’s keep things in perspective:  Upon reading this, you may believe that the people involved in, or responsible for, female genital mutilation and the circumcision of women are really barbaric, heathen-like, sinful and stupid.  They are. The thought of this may really be throwing some of you into a rage or may make you weep for these women who have been mutilated.  If so, you are to be sincerely congratulated.  But which is worse?  To circumcise a woman?  Or, to dismember her, piece by piece in the womb of her mother?   We put serial killers in prison, and wish them the worst, but if a baby murdering abortionist murders the baby girl, “It’s a baby girl!!!” while it is still in the mother, then we pay him a big salary and call him “Respected Doctor”.  Let’s not be too smugly critical of a “third world” society that circumcises it’s females, when the “first world” United States, and other “enlightened” countries, blesses the brutal dismembering of it’s dozens of millions of unborn  baby girls.  To be “pro-choice” is to be “pro-baby murder.”  The judgement of God is also upon those who commit, countenance or conduct an abortion.

6.  You can make a difference in praying, in giving, and in telling others about this problem, and in sharing this information with others.  For example, we make frequent trips to Africa, and teach these things convincingly to others.  If you desire to be a part of the solution, you may send tax deductible contributions to: 

          Great Commission Ministries, a part of  The Kingdom of God,

                   9473 County Road D, Webster, WI  54893

These funds will be used to travel to parts of the world where female circumcision/mutilation is practiced, to teach them a better way.  These funds will also be used to print and distribute literature to these same people and places.  Will you help us?  If even one female is saved from this damnable mutilation, what money value can be placed on such a rescue?!

References, Recourses and Reading Recommendations:

Reader’s Digest, June 1999  pp.186-224 from the book

Desert Flower by Waris Dirie & Cathleen Miller

Escaping The Twilight, Sigrid Weidenweber, Arnica Publishing, Portland, OR

www.SigridW.com   web site

Request Information package on:

FGM  (Female Genital Mutilation)

World Health Organization

Department of Women’s Health (RD)

Health Systems and Community Health

Avenue Appia 20  CH-1211

Geneva  27,  Switzerland

See also the FGMNETWORK on the Web. (Google search)

“They Are Taking Me To Jail!”:  A close call with a corrupt cop.

Sometimes, especially in the days before the Christian man Obasinjo was elected president of Nigeria, policemen, soldiers and other officials made their living by extortion and robbery.   The practice seems to be decreasing, although, as in all countries, stealing continues.   One morning, I was on my way to teach a minister’s seminar.  The uniformed officers stopped us at gunpoint on a “hum-bug” pretense.  They had seen the “oyinbo”, that is, the white man.  Almost everyone in Africa believes that if one is white, that they are also very rich, with enough money to surely share with them.   The officer jerked opened the back door of the car in which I am riding, and settled himself down comfortably in the back seat of the car, beside my travel bag containing my tickets, passport, tape recorder, camera, etc.  Now, see if you can picture the situation:  When I go to Nigeria, I have been advised to grow my white beard, as the people respect the beard, and they respect one more if the beard or hair is white or grey.  As a matter of convenience, and comfort, and to relate lovingly to the people, I also dress in the native tie dyed simple cotton clothing.

Then the officer sneered at me, and said in a gruff and threatening voice:  “Eh heh!  What are we going to do with you now?  Should we take you down to de station, orrrrr, what do you have, for me?!”  Immediately I knew that down at the station, they need for them to have the Gospel preached there, as well, so I was willing to go there.  I can have a direct and penetrating gaze, so, with my beard, and my clothing and my Lord, I turned round and looked him full in the face and said in a loud booming bass voice, and in Nigerian English, “We ah een de hahnz of God!”  (“We are in the hands of God!”)  A look of fear came to the face of the officer, and he hurried to get out of the car, and he said, “Go yo way!” The Bible says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Heb 10:31  Perhaps the officer gentleman did not like the thought of being in the hands of God.

“An African King:  A lovely and precious African king.”

In Nigeria, there are many kings and queens, with princes and princesses and chiefs, and village elders and family heads.  These kingdoms range in size from one of our townships or counties to a land area occasionally the size of one of our smaller states.  There are also political and government leaders, but they have wisely learned to work within the framework of the local government.  I have been in probably more than a dozen king’s palaces, including the king of the country of Lesthoto, and have met and spoken with, perhaps twice that many kings on special occasions.  I stayed at a governor’s palace compound a number of times.

One of these special kings became a personal friend.  His name was, Oba Kabiyesi Samuel Adeosun, from Erin-Ijesa, east of Elesha in Ondo State.

Oba means king, and Kabiyesi means “your majesty” or “your highness”.  Olori is the king’s principle wife.

Kabiyesi Adeosun came from a long line of kings going back through some 34 generations of kings, dating back to about the year 1100 A.D.  Adeosun’s kingdom was very lovely!  See if you can picture it with me.  As you drive along the road from Akure, past the Babalola Campgrounds, on the way to Elesha, you will notice  that the road on both sides looks like deep jungle, but, remember, Nigeria is a land area the size of Texas, with a population almost half that of the United States, about one hundred and fifty million people, so there are people every where, even in the “jungle”, as these jungles consist of cultivated jungles of cassava, coconut, cocoa, bananas, citrus fruit, vegetables, date palms, etc.  You will notice to the right, or north, that there is a long cliff  or escarpment, that runs for many miles.  The cliff is about 1500 feet high.   There is a dirt road that exits at a certain point, and winds back through the bush, for several miles, until one comes to a small city.  Beyond the city up against the escarpment is a lovely thundering 7 level waterfall which comes out of the escarpment and tumbles in succeeding levels of waterfall for a distance of 1500 feet.  This means that the average waterfall falls for over 200 feet!  This comes from a small artesian river of pure water that comes right out of the mountain!

In the days before the British came to colonize Nigeria, and, before the Christian missionaries came, the people of Erin Ijesa used to do human sacrifice at the falls, to Olumirin, the demon goddess of river water.  After the coming of the missionaries, the people sacrificed animals. 

Oba Adeosun was a devout and deeply committed Christian, and he refused to make any moral compromise in the process of being a king.  He had to take a firm stand from the beginning, because, normally, being a king in Africa means that, normally, one would become involved in the worship of demons.  Oba Adeosun, pronounced “Ah-dee-oh-shun” refused any compromise with a life totally committed to Christ.  He had reigned for many years, and was well loved by his people.  In the process of our becoming friends, Kabiyesi wanted to confer an honorary chieftaincy upon me and make me one of his chiefs!  Later on, the king came to visit us at our Great Commission Ministry Center, along with his wife, the Olorin, and his daughter and son-in-law.

HOW I BECAME AN AFRICAN CHIEF!

My 6 and a half foot son Joey and my 6 foot son Joshua were present with me, in Nigeria, in the kingdom of Erin Ijesa, when the people from miles around were invited to the palace courtyard of the king for a special ceremony.  King Adeosun wanted to officially confer upon me an honorary chieftaincy.  The king first presented me with two complete sets of his own royal clothing, which I was to wear.  Then, during the ceremony, the king gave to me a set of very valuable chief’s beads, that can be only worn by a chief.  There was this elaborate ceremony where I was presented with a special handful of branches with leaves, and prayers were made and words were spoken during which, by the grace of God, I became an official African chief, complete with royal regalia, the chief’s beads, a special certificate of chieftaincy, and I was given a special title.  The title is: “Onihirere!”, which, in the Yoruba language, means, “Proclaimer of the Gospel!” 

It is very interesting to me, that the African and Nigerian and Yoruba people take this chieftaincy seriously.  The king himself declared that I was not only a chief, but one of his “high chiefs”.   When the king held court, and the chiefs assembled, I sat among them as one of them.  King Adeosun also had earned and become a justice of the peace in the area, and as such, held court and acted as a judge in personal and legal matters.  In one such case, there was a land dispute.  The accused man had come into disfavor with the king, and lay prostrate before the king and the chiefs during the entire proceeding.  I was sitting in the midst of the chiefs as one of them, dressed in the same kind of attire of ornate robes and beads, and was accepted as one of them.  It was truly amazing.  The citizens of the kingdom, including the police, and the chiefs and the officials, bowed low to the king and queen and spoke to them with averted gaze and deep respect, freely interspersing their conversations with “your highness”, “your majesty”, “your eminence”, over and over again.  Often the king and the queen would conduct royal business and the affairs of state from the throne and the throne-room and the palace.  The king often wore an actual crown and held a royal scepter, which often consisted of an actual horse’s white tail, carefully cured and made into a very fancy scepter.  I myself was presented with one of these scepters, and an official chief’s cape, and an official chief’s cane, and an official chief’s cap, etc.  These items were to be possessed or worn or carried by a king or a chief, and were recognized as such by Africans everywhere.  It reminds, to some extent, of some of the actions and scenes seen in the movie “Coming To America”, although I have never seen any palace quite as wealthy as that seen in the movie, yet the respect was the same, and the mentality, both on the part of the royalty, and on the part of the citizens of the kingdom.

One scene that was typical of this kind of thing from the movie, was when the prince had come to America and was met at a ball game by one of the subjects of the kingdom.  The subject bowed repeatedly and exclaimed excitedly, to the surprise of everyone else.  But that same kind of excitement and respect is common in Africa. 

Kabiyesi Adeosun behaved every bit the part of a wise and revered king, and was also a great and wise and dignified man of God.  He spoke constantly of Christ and of spiritual things.  When we were staying at the palace, the king came with his entourage in the middle of the night, to have night vigil prayers and singing.  He would say, “We will sing moh!”  Often, he himself would lead, “Prayer Is The Key, prayah ees dah mastah key.  Jesus stahted weet prayah.  He hended weet prayah.  Prayah ees da mastah key!”, or, “What Shall I Rendah To The Lord?”,

The king and queen also adopted my sons as their own, and there was much joyful laughter, when they sat on the queen’s lap while she was sitting on the throne, and called her “Mommy”.

The king and queen came to the United States for the first time, and came straight to our home, from Nigeria, stayed for a week at our ministry center in the wilderness, for a special convention of people from many miles around, and, when the convention was over, the king and his entourage, flew directly back to Africa, only stopping briefly to see one of our shopping centers.  When I reminded the king that he could have gone any place in the United States to see any kind of sight, he responded by saying, “My purpose of coming to the United States was to worship God with you in the wilderness!” 

Kabiyesi was amazed that I would be kind enough to feed the birds, and was amazed when I took him and the queen for a ride in the state forest that there were no people anywhere around, because Nigeria has nearly half the population  of the United States in a land area the size of three states the size of Iowa or Wisconsin, so there people everywhere present, in Nigeria.  What an adventure!

Not long ago, on an fairly recent ministry trip to Nigeria, when we arrived in the country, I felt a very strong urgency to go straight to the palace to visit the king, so, even though my host wanted to delay the visit, instead was willing to respect my sense of urgency and we went to visit the king Adeosun.  Oh, it was a lovely time!  Kabiyesi was animated and joyful, with a spring in his step and with enthusiasm.  He described how, in his living quarters, a fire had broken out and he found himself trapped on the balcony, and would have been badly burned.  He described how he had jumped from the second story balcony and landed on a hard surface below, yet miraculously escaped any kind of hurt.  For this, he gave all the glory to God.  The king had diabetes, and was approximately 75 or so.  We had a lovely time there with the king, and I presented him with a lovely walking stick with ornate brass decorations, and with other small presents.  We embraced, then bowed low, and we departed, with smiles and waves.   That night our beloved king kabiyesi Oba Adeosun, passed away quietly in his sleep.  We were the last people from the outside world to see him alive.  How we loved him.

Our ministry, the Great Commission Ministries, has the legal right to confer honorary doctorate degrees upon worthy people.  At the ceremony, in which my chieftaincy was conferred upon me, and at which time my sons were present, without telling the king in advance, I conferred upon him, in front of all his royal family and subjects present, an honorary doctor’s degree, which he maintained for those 10 remaining years, or so, of his life.  I plan to pay a royal visit to his daughter, the princess Adeola, in just a few weeks on my up-coming 6 week ministry trip to Nigeria.

“This Is No Way To Treat African Chief!”

Like the Roman citizenship of the Apostle Paul, God has used this chieftaincy for good in the ministry.  In those days before the Christian leader Obasanjo became the president of Nigeria, the level of corruption and extortion was much worse.  The Lagos airport was the scene of much negativity.  Once, a friend of ours, was asked to show his ticket and his passport.  The uniformed officer took the passport and the ticket, and disappeared, and never came back.  On another occasion, a nurse friend of ours, named Helen, went to minister in Nigeria for several weeks.  On her way out of the country, beggars severely beat her pastor host at the airport, and the Nigerian Airways refused to honor her return ticket home, thus forcing her to purchase another.  Then the Nigerian Airways refused to honor that new ticket.  After several days and nights in that horrible airport, she borrowed the money to purchase a ticket from another airline, and escaped with her life.

Because of these conditions, my host, Elijah advised me on a subsequent ministry trip to wear the royal clothing and chief’s beads so that I would not be molested when arrival at the airport.  But at the last minute, the stewardess took our carry on bags and put them in the cargo, before Joshua or I could remember that our royal clothing was in those bags.  Thus, upon arrival at the Lagos airport, we were dressed like and appeared to be inexperienced tourists, who could be easily intimidated and extorted.  Sure enough, when we arrived at the airport, there were officers in uniform who were scrutinizing the crown to carefully select those who could be legally robbed.   The officer, after looking us over demanded that we stand in this other line.   This was the group especially targeted for bullying and extortion.  The officers took the man in front of us into the office, sat  him down, surrounded him and began interrogating him.  After they got from him all that they thought they could, now it was our turn.  They took us into the office and began with us, demanding that we justify to them why we came, who did we come to see, how much money did we bring, etc.  I had had the presence of mind to put on my chief’s beads around my neck, but under my sports shirt, but not in view.  As the questioning began, I asked them with a firm voice of quiet authority, “Ees thees any way to treat African chief?!.  Surprised, they demanded, “What do you mean, African chief?”  I gently moved aside the buttoned sports shirt and gave them a glimpse of my chief’s beads.  Shocked, they murmured to each other, and then asked me, “Eh heh, who ees de kink who gave you chieftaincy title?”  Kabiyesi Adeosun at Erin-Ijesa”, I replied.  “Ahyeee, what ees yo title?”  “Onihirere”, I said.   Then the uniformed bully in charge said, for all to hear, “Ah, dees ees no way to treat African chief!  Go yo’ way!”

 

THE SUITCASES!

We were hurrying to catch a flight home at the Lagos Airport one time, but the crowd was great and it was difficult to go through with our heavy suitcases, because they kept bumping into the pressing crowd.  The only way I could make progress at any speed, was to put the heavy suitcase upon my head, and to carry it, African style through the crowd.  When I did so, it caused a great deal of attention.  Cries of exclamation erupted as people laughed and pointed.  As we have said, the following people do not carry the load upon their head:  the educated, the wealthy, the well dressed, the white people, the older people, people of position, etc.  After I boarded the plane, a Nigerian passenger rebuked me for ridiculing the African way of carrying the load upon the head.  "Oh no!"  I exclaimed, "You do not understand!  I was merely trying to catch the plane, and the only way I could make progress through the crowd, was to put the luggage upon my head!  I was carrying the load, not to criticize, but to survive!" 

Almost dead at the airport.

On about my 10th trip, toward the end of a 6 or 7 week time of hard ministry, I found my self in difficulty with my health.  I was low on funds, because I had shared them out with the brothers, my pastor friends, too much, too soon, which is another story, but, the result was that I had left myself without the means of purchasing for myself, adequate water and food, and I became dehydrated and weak.  A precious sister in the Lord, saw my predicament, and gave of some of her needed money to purchase for me a bottle of water, which helped.  This was just before it was discovered that I had a severe case of diabetes, so I believe that I was also having some kind of related shock, perhaps due to hypoglycemia, or the like:  My schedule happened such that I had nothing more to do, for two days prior to my plane leaving, and would just be sitting alone in the heat, without funds, and hence, without water or food.  The family with whom I was staying was unaware of my predicament, or, I am sure they would have helped, but I did not want to be a financial burden to them. 

All of this resulted in a situation where it became very difficult to walk, as I was very weak, light headed and dizzy.  I went to the airport early, so I could try to change my flight to an earlier one, so I could go home two days early, which normally requires a lot of money extra, which I did not have.  Holding on to the precious brother who was escorting me, we made our way to business office and the counter at the Lagos Airport.  I begged the ticket man in charge, to allow me to come home early, and he insisted that I pay the extra money.  I explained that KLM and Northwest Airlines sometime showed kindness to those who traveled on an errand of mercy to Nigeria, and purty please could he grant me permission, at no cost to me, to go home early.  Finally, upon consultation with another in the office, he changed my flight home, two days earlier.  A man came into the office at that very moment, and requested, because of an emergency, that his flight be changed to an earlier flight, and they demanded from him a great deal of money to do so.  After protesting strongly but to no avail, the man paid over the extra money, while I was still standing there, and was rescheduled.   I returned to the home where I was staying to be brought to the airport later.  When it was time for me to be dropped at the airport, there was no one to remain with me, so I was alone, waiting for my flight, in 4 or 5 hours, soooo, I was waiting at the airport, alone, in the heat, weak, dizzy, dehydrated, hungry, tired.  The place was so very crowded that there was not even a place to sit down.  I could hardly breathe.  I was perspiring heavily.  I began searching for a place, any place where I could lay down.   Next to the window, on the floor, behind a row of seats where the people were seating, was a small place I could crawl into.  On my hands and knees, like a dog looking for a place to die, I crawled behind that place, laid my head upon my carry on luggage, and either lost consciousness, or fell asleep.  As I was lying there, I prayed that God would take me safely home to my wife and family.  I remember that each breath was a struggle, so that each breath became a prayer.

Back in the United States, the Lord had earlier awakened Suzie Belcher, and warned her that I was lying down someplace in Africa, and that I was dying.  She could see, in a vision, even the color of the room where I was lying.  She awakened her husband Tom, and, together, for nearly a three hour period, they interceded for me, that God would spare my life and bring me safely home.  I awoke, and returned to consciousness, and was refreshed.  There was a cool breeze.  My friend Bassi Bassi found me, and brought something to drink and something to eat.  I was refreshed.  I boarded the plane and came home safely to the family.  Later, it was discovered that I had a severe case of diabetes, with triglycerides at an alarming 999!!  This condition indicates a very strong probability of impending heart attack or stroke.  I went on the Atkins diet, and all of my numbers normalized within less than two months!  These numbers, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, etc, all stay within normal range, as long as I avoid starches, carbohydrates, and sugars, (even the healthy ones).  As long as I stay on a diet primarily consisting of protein, salad, vegetables, dairy, etc., all of my numbers stay within the "normal" ranges.  If I do exercise, in addition, the numbers are even better.  For example, on New Year's Eve I cheated by eating food that had some sugar.  Early the next day, I tested and my blood sugar was 201, which for me, was alarmingly high.  So, I went to the barn and walked for 3 miles,  Thirty figure 8 rounds of eighty steps in the haymow, equals one mile.  After walking the 3 miles, I tested again with a blood sugar level of 138, a drop of 63 points!!!

Thank you, Thomas and Saint Suzan Belcher, for having prayed and interceded for me.  Famous evangelist, Leonard Ravenhill was once caught in a hotel fire, and was forced to jump from a second or third story window, which resulted in his legs, hips and back being injured severely, so that, ever after, he was in constant excruciating pain.  As he  was recuperating in a hospital, a friend of his came to see him.  The friend begged Ravenhill for forgiveness.  "Why?"  said the Evangelist.  "Because, at the very time of the fire, the Lord awakened me, and asked me to urgently pray for you, that you were in a state of danger.  I rolled over, and went back to sleep."

Thank You, Lord God, for every time You have protected me, and for every prayer prayed for me and us, that truly made a difference!

Sitting on a suitcase

It is true that every one of us, is totally, totally at the mercy of God, and are totally dependent upon Him for every breath, every heart-beat, every clear and coherent thought, every moment spent in God, every second of our lives.  We are utterly, totally, completely, entirely dependent upon God for every penny, every kind of money, every ounce of strength, the ability to stand, walk, feel, think, move, or even be.  There came a day when I had no money at the airport, and needed a ride across the huge city of Lagos, but without the ability to pay, or the knowledge of just how to get to where I was going.  So, at the crowded airport, I sat upon my suitcase, and simply and calmly waited for God to come to my assistance.  I did not know what to do, having done all, to stand.  I had no money to be able to make a phone call, send an email, or to, in any way know how to get the many miles to where I needed to go.  Now, please note:  These situations are not new to me, as there are many times that we and I have been helpless in the hands of God, not knowing at all, what to do, but, simply, to wait, in a state of anticipation and expectancy.

So, I waited.  And, I waited.  I watched the people around me, and looked to God as to how I could make myself useful in some way.  Presently, a stranger walked up to me, and, in an excited tone, introduced himself as a taxi driver who had given me a ride, some years previously.  He remembered me as a man of God, and offered to give me a ride, at no cost to me, to where ever it was that I needed to go.   So, off we went, and, together we were able to reason out where it was that I was wishful of going.  When we reached our destination, this driver was paid by my host, who then graciously welcomed me, and saw to my every need, until I was able to continue to my next ministry assignment.

Olanusi

We have a great friend in Nigeria named Olanusi.  Each member of her family are great friends.  Sister Olanusi used to be a Lt. Col with the Nigerian army as a nurse.  She carried a lot of authority, and she used it well.  They gave up their bedroom and bed so that we could stay at their home in Lagos.  Wow!  What a privilege.  She and her family gently cared for Joshua our son when he became very, very ill from reactions to the Malaria medicine, called Larium.  Once, when we needed an escort from the Lagos Airport, Sister Olanusi came with an armed escort.  She walked through the barriers and long lines of people, and briskly escorted us through the check-points, with people of uniform smartly and meekly saluting and bowing to her authority.

Olanusi and the daughter who was beaten.

Once, Sister Olanusi's daughter Ebon, then about 17 years old, went for water at the compound well nearby.  In such a situation, one joins the queue, so to speak, or gets in line to take one's turn.  But there came to the well that day a local bully, who insisted on cutting into the line.  Ebon courageously insisted that he wait to take his turn like everyone else.  Instead, he bullied his way in front of the line, and slapped Ebon on the face.  Ebon came up the stairs and told her mother, the Lt. Col.  Sister Olanusi about the incident.  Momma gathered her guards and apprehended the bully.  His excuse was that he did not know who it was that he had slapped.   Sister Olanusi's response to him was, that the next time he decided to slap someone, that he should first inquire as to who it was that he was about to slap.  The bully's punishment was equal to his bullying.

 

The Iron Bar

Many people in Nigeria have a fatalistic view of life, through their religious beliefs, that interferes with personal responsibility, and initiative.  Their view of God and life can be strongly colored by this predeterminism that takes and pushes the "sovereignty of God" to a ridiculous and sometimes dangerous extreme.  This is reflected in the way people drive their cars.  Nigeria has one of the worst death and accident rates in the world,  Often they seem to think: "If God or Allah wants me to die today, it will not help if I drive safely, wear a seat belt, or keep my car in good repair, as to brakes, tires, etc.  I will die anyway.  On the other hand, if God or Allah wants me to live today, there will be no need to wear a seat belt, cross the road safely, etc. . . .

One home where we were staying was on the fourth or fifth story above the people walking below.  On the balcony or veranda just outside the sitting room, was an iron bar, lying precariously partly over the edge of the balcony.  It looked as if a gust of wind would topple it off the edge, or, if the dog might bump into it.  I asked the question of our highly educated and mature hostess, "Don't you think it would be good if we moved that iron bar away from the edge of the balcony, so it will not fall on the heads of the people below?"  This highly placed Christian lady replied, "Oh, God would never allow that to happen!"

Malaria Medicine:  Don’t plan on getting sick in Africa.

The life expectancy is not very high in Nigeria, and in many countries like Nigeria.  Malaria kills more people than does AIDS.  In addition,  with the introduction by the white man of white flour, white rice and white sugar, each of which have been proven to rob the body of needed vitamins and minerals, diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions.  It is unlikely that this and other diseases will be detected in the first place, or treated in the second place, because of the lack of finances and facilities.  I am, at the time of this writing, 65 years old, and there are many meetings where I minister, where I am the oldest person present, although there are exceptions.  One of the things that I like to share is the importance of "Body Stewardship".

Kosiato!

While the overall official language of Nigeria's 120 million people is English, there are 3 major languages that act as a kind of umbrella covering, with over a thousand sub languages that relate to people groups within that country.  Think of it, nearly half the population of the United States in an area about the size of Texas!  The Yoruba language is spoken mostly in the west and south west part of Nigeria, while Ibo is spoken in the east and southeast, and Hausa is spoken in the north.

In the Yoruba, the word, "Kosiato" means, "no difference", or, "the same".  "Oyinbo" means, "white person".  While preaching, I will increasingly intersperse words from the languages of the people to whom I am preaching, so as to better relate to them.  One of the things I teach is how to live and be and walk like Jesus.  I teach them what we call "The King's Greatest Secret!"  This book can be available to you if you contact us.  It tells how we can think of ourselves having been crucified, dead and buried with Christ, along with all of our inferiorities, inadequacies, inabilities and dysfunctions, because Christ took us with Him to the Cross, to the death and to the grave.  But then, He raised us up in newness of Life, as a whole, new, beautiful, glorious, able, stable, adequate, sufficient, creation in Him, that He is available to be the Life of.  We teach them from the Bible, how they can simply relax in the loving arms of their Heavenly Father, and sweetly allow Jesus Christ to live His glorious Life through them, to love with His love, be wise with His wisdom.  Christ no longer remains just to help or save or heal, but He BECOMES our wisdom, our Helper, our Salvation, our Health, our Enabler, our very Life!!  The Scriptures speak of how we can have the very same look (2 Cor. 3:18), the same walk, in 1 John 2:6, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

NKJV, and how we can be as He is, 1 John 4:17b, "Because, as He is, so are we in this world." !!!  NKJV  Kosiato!!!  No difference.  There are times, when preaching this word, that the people are shouting in unison, with a deafening roar, "Kosiato!  Kosiato!!  Kosiato!!!  The Holy Spirit has made this revelation real to them.  Once I was preaching to a crowd of thousands in the open air, in a town surrounded by hills.  As they shouted, the hills around echoed the sound, and as they danced for joy and leaped with new found freedom, the dust rose up into the air.  Remembering, years later, when they see me, they call me "Oyinbo Kosiato!"

'I Wept That Day':  A surprise encounter at the Lagos airport.

In the past, before Nigeria voted to the presidency, a Christian named Obasinjo, officials at the airport and over the country would hold hostage people's suitcases, automobiles and people themselves, until they could extort as much bribe money from them as they could.  So, one was often subjected to these indignancies.  One year, after some heavy weeks of ministry, Joshua and I approached the suitcase search counter where every person's luggage was being carefully searched.  The uniformed lady officer in charge demanded of Joshua, "What do you have in your luggage?"  Joshua smiled sweetly and said, simply, "Hello!"  The lady looked over at me, and said, to this effect, "Sir, I know you.  Five years ago, five hours from here, in a church on Sunday morning, you taught us how we could live within the circle of our Heavenly Father's arms, sitting on His lap, under His feathers, beneath His wings, listening to His heart-beat, His whispers of encouragement, far over and above every thing else, in the Throne-Room of the Father.  I wept that day at the revelation of how we can live a life-style of intimacy with Him, and I want you to know Sir, that I have lived in the strength of that revelation these five years hence."

Needless to say, she did not search our bags, but, instead, came out from behind the counter, and had sweet fellowship with us and our farewell party, while the other luggage checkers, ticket takers, and passengers looked on.

'We Don’t Know Who You Are!':  Mysterious blessings.

On one of the trips, as I was leaving Nigeria, I sat down in the narrow seat assigned to me. I was weary, after weeks and weeks of heavy ministry. I weigh 300 pounds, (much of it is muscle!)  I am over 6 feet tall, so the tiny and narrow airplane seats can be confining.  As I sat down and tucked myself in, trying to make myself comfortable, the steward came to me, and asked me to follow, which I did, all the way up to business class seating.  She said to me, "Sir, we do not know who you are, but it has come down to us from the very highest authority, that we are to treat you like a king, all the way home."  And, so, they did.

On another trip, the seat assigned to me had been mistakenly assigned to someone else, so they reassigned me to another.  When I go to that seat, it was also occupied, so, I simply waited.  When the doors to the plane closed, the steward saw me standing, and I showed her my seat assignment slip, so, she asked me if I would be willing to sit in yet a third seat.  Of course, I was willing.  When the plane took off, I looked over to my left, and discovered that there were five seats vacant, so, I simply raised the arm rests, comfortably stretched out across the five seats and slept like a baby nearly all the way to my destination!!!

They Ran Away: Where no white person ever ministered before.

While I am ministering in Nigeria, and it neighboring countries, when I have gone for weeks at a time, without ever seeing another white person. A number of times, I have ministered where no white person has ever ministered before.  Once, in the country of Benin Republic, I ministered in a village where the half naked people fled from me in terror, until they saw that I was wearing the clothing of the West Africa, and they saw me embracing the people and dancing and bowing, and smiling and preaching, gradually, they warmed up to me.   Some times the older ones tell the children, "If you do not behave yourselves, the white man will get you!"  In some of the villages, the last white people to visit, did steal them and their children and sold them into slavery.  In such an environment, the memory of such things, dies slowly, and the stories are told and retold, so that the past crowds close.

They Beat The Children In Church!  African crowd control.

To this day, the churches in Nigeria have deacons and deaconesses who carry sticks and switches with which to keep order and to keep people awake, young and old alike.  These deacons have the power to switch people.  On one occasion I felt the need to interfere.  It was an open air crusade at the King's palace in Erin Ijesha, near Ilesha.  The crowds were great.  There was a marked off, designated place in the front where the speakers and leaders could speak and lead.  The children were in the front.  The crowds were pushing from the back, crowding close, as they wanted to see more clearly, and be more of a part of what was going on.  As the crowd from the back, slowly pushed forward, the children were being pushed from behind, closer and closer to the speakers.  These children were being pushed over the invisible forbidden line.  To stop this from happening, the deacons with the sticks and switches began beating and switching the children while we speakers were trying to minister.  Finally, I went to the deacons and told them to stop beating the children, as their forward movement was no fault of their own.  They did stop the beating.  But some times, the crowd, with good intentions, can become unruly and out of control.  For example, the crowd may get it into their head that, as with Jesus Christ, if they can just get an opportunity to even touch a person or their clothes, that they will be healed or blest.  So, they can easily get into a mentality where they can trample each other and even sometimes trample the speaker in their rush to touch.  It can quickly become dangerous for the speaker in such a case.  In one town, the deacons and church officers and helpers, formed a human barrier to protect me from a crowd of about 3000 enthusiastic dear ones who wanted to meet and touch "the man of God".

Black Like You! Kosiato

I told you about "Kosiato".  We were ministering at one church, presided over by our Bishop friend who pastured a church in Lagos.  As I was entering the church compound, there were a group of mechanics working on a car in the street, outside the church.  This group was somewhat hostile.  I do not know if they were Moslems or not.  They began making negative remarks and gestures.  I touched my heart and, in their language, simply said, "Kosiato!"  Immediately, their attitude became friendly, and remained so, for the rest of the time I was at that church.

The Governor’s Mansion: 

Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba's, is a people that are delighted to show respect.  Generally speaking, one group of people that is highly respected, is a man or woman of God.  They also show great respect to a white person, a visitor, an American, an older person, a fat person.  For these reasons, I am treated far differently from my treatment in the United States.   My wife greets me at the door of my house, with "Here's some garbage for you to carry out!"  But in Nigeria, I am accorded celebrity status.  I have repeatedly been invited to king's palaces, and, sometimes, heads of corporations and heads of state.  On this one occasion Joshua, Joey, John Lindstrom and I were invited to stay at the Governor's palace in Ondo State Capitol, Akure for one week, while we ministered round about.  We were treated with great respect, and invited to minister repeatedly and to pray with the Governor's wife and family, along with the governor when he was available.

The Check book:  Has this ever happened to you?

It was before we departed on this same trip, that, we found ourselves without adequate finances.  A business man friend of ours scheduled a lunch meeting with his attorney.  After the lunch, the lawyer took out his checkbook, along with his pen, and signed the blank check.  He then handed the checkbook and pen to me, and said, "Here, you fill in the amount!"   I took the checkbook and pen, and held it before me, and waited before the Lord for direction as to what I should do.  After a few moments, I handed the checkbook back across the table to him and said,
"Sir, I do not feel impressed to fill in the amount.  But I will tell you what I will do.  I will itemize for you our financial needs for this trip, and will encourage you to be led by the Holy Spirit as to what you are to do."  I then totaled for him our financial needs for the trip, which came to, maybe 5 to 7 thousand dollars.  He promptly wrote his check to us for that amount!!!

Scream With Terror:  The African Greyhound Bus Ride.

Did you hear that we became involved with armed robbers on the night bus across Nigeria?   There was a bridge out, between Benin and Aba, but the robbers had removed the sign diverting the traffic to the other lane, which drove a line of vehicles into a dead end.  We heard the shots that injured the first driver, ahead of  us, but we had an armed guard with an assault rifle with us, and I believe that broke off the attack.  We brought the wounded driver of the big truck ahead of us into our bus and were able to make our escape, leaving the large truck to the robbers as booty.  When the guns began firing, the entire bus, filled with people, went stark raving mad with panic and fear.  The passengers began screaming, and some of them began moving about the bus, trying to escape from the bus into the jungle, while others tried to crawl under their seats.  Yet, those of us who were Christians, and who were intimate with God, experienced total peace and calm.  The laid the  wounded man  at our feet and Joshua and I alternately laid hands upon his head, believing for a total recovery, in spite of the blood.  We thank the Lord for His continual protection and provision.  Amen.

Songs In The Night:  Trekking in the dark.

The electricity in Nigeria is very unreliable.  Only the more wealthy among them have electric generators, and even some of the hotels and public buildings do not run the generators they have, because of the expense of fuel.  The result is that there are times in the night, when I will sit on the edge of my bed in the darkness, with the perspiration drip, drip, dripping from my head and body onto the floor.  So, I take with me, large towels, or extra bedding so that I will not soil the mattress or pillows.  On this one occasion, about 730 p.m., the lights went out, and I was left alone in the hotel in the darkness.  While in Nigeria, 98 percent of the time, I am ministering every evening.  But, on this evening, I had no ministry assignment.  In the quietness of the night, I could hear Christian singing from off in the distance, and had a yearning to fellowship with people of my Christian kind.  I tried to rest in my room, but the music kept wafting my way.  Finally, I dressed to go out, took my flashlight, which they call a "torch", and, followed the sound of the music, coming to me, as it turned out, from a distance of about 4 blocks distant.  As I passed people in the night, they were unable to see my white skin, and, so, I did not cause undo attention.  Finally, after wending my way carefully down the streets and between the buildings, I came to a church where the people were worshipping, by candlelight.  I sat down in the back of the church, so as to not be an interruption, as my white skin would surely cause attention.  Presently, a representative came to introduce himself and to know my name.  Thus, I was introduced to the group of believers, and to the church pastors and leadership, and was asked to speak, which I did.  The people were greatly encouraged, and permanent friendships were established.  I was invited to return subsequently to minister to them in the light!

The Abscessed Tooth:  Operating on myself in the night.

With weeks remaining to me on two ministry trips, I awoke in the night with an abscessed tooth.  My jaw and the side of my head was swollen.  Strong men and gunfighters died in the Wild West era of the United States, from an abscessed tooth, and, by comparison, I was "on the frontier", so to speak, in that this kind of medical help is not readily available and, often, is not very modern.  The situation became so desperate that I began looking through my things to try and find something that would enable me to pull my own tooth.  I began trying to loosen the tooth in its socket, but I was not making any progress in my efforts to help myself.  Finally, I prayed.  Joshua was with me on one of these occasions, and we prayed together.  This was at a time when I also had other negative symptoms, including swelling in my left foot and leg, and an infection, with a red line coming higher and higher, accompanied by nausea, etc.  I told the Lord that I could cut short my ministry trip, and return home with the testimony that God did not keep me healthy on the trip, and that I really needed His help, if I were to not return home, embarrassed.  I finally fell asleep, and awakened with the pain and symptoms gone, and the swelling on my face, returned to normal.  On one of the trips, out of 49 days in Nigeria, I was sick for a total of 1 hour!!!  God has truly kept us in a cocoon of His protection, His provision, and His power!

Poor Lucy:  More than one widow lady.

We received a letter from Nigeria one day, which was signed "Poor Lucy".   Lucy's story went like this:  Lucy was the mother of four children in the jungles of Nigeria, far back in the hinterland, living in a small out of the way village mostly peopled by heathen.  She invited Jesus to come into her life to be her Savior and Lord, and began living for Him.  Then, her husband died, leaving her pregnant with triplets.  Now, in her culture, widowhood is a disgrace, twins are considered a curse, and triplets even more so.  In that culture, the widow's property and possessions revert to the husband's relatives.  Lucy had a crop planted, but the brother of the dead husband, and his family, promised to take possession of Lucy's farm, just as soon as her crop was harvested.  After that, 'Poor Lucy would be on her own to starve, along with her now 7 children."  Lucy was taunted and teased by her heathen villagers.  But Lucy came up with an idea that she believed was from the Lord.  She had been a seamstress prior to her marriage, and believed that if God would give to her a singer sewing machine and some cloth, that she could support her and her children.  So, she began asking, then thanking God for this request.  She really believed that God would give this to her.  Her village pastor had somehow received a copy of one of our books that we wrote, and, remembered that our address is there, so he took dictation from Lucy, and wrote to us, telling us this story, and asking us if we could somehow help her, and signed her letter, "Poor Lucy".  I shared her letter with a businessman friend of ours who has contributed to our ministry, and he, along with his wife promised to pray about Lucy's need.  Immediately after this, Bob was on an airplane, and decided to read a magazine, which fell open to a story and picture of a black woman in America, who had just received a Singer sewing machine and was making a living for herself and her children.  Bob had asked me how much the project would cost and I told him "About $500".  The story Bob was reading mentioned that same price.  Bob and his wife wept tears of joy at this confirmation, and donated the money.  I took that amount to Elijah Bankole, who, at great sacrifice for him and his family, purchased 2 Singer sewing machines, one electric and one non-electric, along with brightly colored bolts of cloth, and drove many miles to Lucy's village.  For nearly 3 months since sending her letter,  Lucy testified to her village and stood in faith that God would provide for her, while the village taunted and teased her and her children, that her expectations were foolish.  Think of the glorious testimony to God, for Lucy's sweet vindication and provision from the Lord God of the Universe, Papa Yahweh!!!  Copies of this dramatic and exciting story has been written into a lovely 30 page booklet, and can be ordered from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Honk Your Own Horn:  A close call at the border.

East of Nigeria, there is a French speaking country called Benin.  This is one of a number of countries on the West Coast of Africa, where a little over a century ago, the slave trade was doing a brisk and bloody business, mostly to fuel the sugar industry.  In some of these coastal towns, corruption, intimidation, cheating, and extortion are still practiced.  It is still a dirty business to this day to try and cross the border from one country to another.  One needs to come prepared to pay the ransoms demanded by the various corrupt border officials, as very few of them have integrity, on either side of the border.  This corruption extends out into the environs round about, to just about anyone who is wicked enough to bully his or her way into robbery and extortion.

We were coming out of heavy ministry to villages where no white person had ever ministered before, and had the misfortune of needing to cross the border after darkness had fallen.  My host, Provost Victor went to haggle with the officials about allowing us to cross the border, leaving me in the darkness with a driver who was afraid of the dark and the trouble it could bring.  Presently, several men approached our vehicle, pretending to have authority as to where we should park.  They gruffly demanded that we move our car from that location to another.  Of course, the place they wanted us to park was further from the officials, and farther back into the darkness.  Their intent was to steal our possessions, and, in the process, do harm to us and, to our vehicle.  I refused to allow the driver to move.  The men began pounding on the roof of our car, demanding that we move.  I also pounded on the roof of the car, and made a decision.  I reached over and put my hand on the horn and began blowing the horn in one long steady blast.  I determined that anyone would have to use great force before my hand would allow the horn to cease its loud continuous blaring.  The criminals did not want this undue attention brought upon them, as they knew that they were greatly overstepping their authority.  My hand remained upon the horn, and it blared loud and long until the men slunk away into the darkness, and did not return.  Presently, we went safely upon our way.

Church Of The Broken Glass:  The Persecuted Church

Every place in the World where Islam achieves control, bloody and violent persecution of Christians is the result.  The Muslims have bloody murdered over one million Christians in Sudan.  No place in the Koran or in Islam is salvation to Heaven promised, with one exception:  The Moslems teach that if someone murders a Christian or a Jew, that they will go to Heaven for sure, with the guarantee of an eternity of fornication and drunkenness.  This explains why there are so many people willing to suicide bomb and bloody murder Christians.  The farther north in Nigeria one goes, the more Muslims there are, and the more of this bloody business one can see.  Joshua and I have repeatedly ministered in Kaduna, in the northern part of Nigeria, in a church that I have called, "The Church of the Broken Glass"!  Kaduna, along with many of the northern towns of Nigeria, has been the scene of a monstrous multitude of bloody and horrible Moslem persecutions against Christian people, pastors, and churches.  One of my great good pastor friends, Pastor Northcott, was violently murdered and martyred by the Moslems, as was another church member to whom we ministered.  In recent history, a strange fire from God came and pursued and burned Moslems, their houses and their possessions, who were persecuting Christians.  Many Moslems think it is enjoyable to burn the houses and churches and families of Christians, until the Christians fight back.  Then it is not so much fun any more for the Moslems, when their things are burned.

Once, in Kaduna, there had been danger of attack on the church where we were ministering.  The government posted soldiers to guard us in the daytime, with automatic rifles.  We only had God to guard us at night.  After we were there, the church built a new church building.  The Moslems burned it down.  The church built again, believing that God would protect them.  Thus far, God has protected them.  May God continue to protect them, and to bring swift, severe, Supernatural judgement against further persecution from these Moslems.  Amen.

The Gift of Knowledge:  Supernatural impartations of knowledge

The gift of knowledge from the Lord is a lovely gift, along with the other 8 major listed "Gifts of the Holy Spirit".  The Word of Knowledge is simply the Supernatural impartation of knowledge, that cannot be known by any other means.  For example, on three occasions, in the 17 years we have been ministering in West Africa, there have been three occasions when God simply told me that a local host pastor was committing fornication or adultery.  There was no way of knowing this about the pastor, except by revelation, as there was no indication in the natural that would lend itself to this kind of suspicion.  On each occasion, the certainty was 100% clear, and, each time, the Lord gave wisdom as to what should be done, including the need for stern confrontation in each case, along with what should be done, in case there was no repentance.  In two of the cases, the pastors completely and thoroughly repented, never to repeat their sin.  In the other case, there was a surface repentance, with no follow up.  The man was afraid of what would happen if his wife found out, among other things.  I want to lovingly encourage you to seek this Gift of the Word of Knowledge, along with the other of the 9 listed Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I encourage you to stay alert for God to Supernaturally show you things that you may really need to know, in your adventuresome walk with Him!  Amen.

Girl Babies:  A blessing or a curse?

In many cultures, male children are considered superior.  I was teaching a ministers' seminar, when a man walked up to me during a break.  The conversation went like this:  "Sir, may I ask you a question?"  "Of course!" I replied.  "I have only daughters."  The man said, "Tell me, why am I cursed, with only daughters?"  My response, was, "Was the person who gave you birth, a man, or a woman?", and I walked away.

Should God Kill Me?:  To sin, or not to sin?

At another minister's seminar, a traveling evangelist came to me, asking me to pray for him.  "Why do want me to pray for you?"  I asked.  He said, "My problem is that, as a traveling evangelist, I find myself committing adultery with the ladies in the church where I minister."  I said, "Tell me.  How easy do you find it to be able to commit adultery in the churches where you go?"  Without too much shame, the man said, "Oh, very easy!"   I said, "Please repeat this prayer after me, and I will agree in prayer with you, that God will surely answer your prayer."   Then I prayed, asking the young evangelist to repeat after me,  "Dear Heavenly Father,  I ask You, in Jesus Name, that before I ever commit adultery or fornication again, that You will strike me dead."  The man prayed that prayer.  I never saw him again.  But, I hope that God struck him dead, before he ever committed adultery or fornication again.

The Folded Bible:  A story illustration

At another ministers' seminar, a young man asked me, "Sir, how is it possible, as you taught us, that Jesus can live in us, and that we can live in Jesus?  How is it that we can live in Father God, and that Father God can live in us?  That the Holy Spirit can live in us, and, at the same time, we can live in the Holy Spirit?"   I reached over and picked up a copy of a little 64 page book we wrote, The King's Greatest Secret!  I opened the book and said to him, "Let's pretend that the white paper in this little book represent your spirit, that the words in this book represent your soul, and that the blue cover represents your body".  Then I took my Bible with the leather cover and said, "Now, let's assume that the white paper pages in this Bible represent the Holy Spirit as God, that the Words represent Christ as God, and that the cover of the Bible represents God the Father."  Then, I took the smaller book, and, like shuffling a deck of cards, I interlaced the pages of the smaller book into the pages of the Bible.  As I was doing so, I spoke, "Our soul, our body, our spirit, interlaced and mixed with God the Spirit, God the Son, and God the Father!" until all of the pages of the smaller book were interwoven and swallowed up by the pages of the Bible.  Then I took the whole of the smaller book, and gently doubled it over and tucked it in, and made a bundle, gently wrapping the outer pages and the cover of the Bible into a large round rolled up bundle that I could hold in my big fist.  I held the thing aloft, high over my head, and said, "Me, in Christ, Christ in me.  The Holy Spirit in me, and me in the Holy Spirit.  The Heavenly Father in me, and me in the Heavenly Father!"  I said, triumphantly, "Bound in a bundle of the LORD thy God!"  I referred to the Scripture found in 1 Sam 25:29  "Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling."   Can you picture it?  Don't you love it!!!

A King In My Barn!:  King Adeosun and the Queen came home

When Karen and I first moved to the boondocks in the Wilderness country of northwest Wisconsin, God gave us a 118 acre farm.  We turned the farm into a lovely ministry center, complete with 60 plus acres of woods, fruit trees, lovely old buildings, including a huge strong dairy barn, which we converted into a worship and prayer center.  The house was built in 1888 out of tamarack logs, which stand upright, joined together with square pegs in round holes for a tighter furniture fit.  The house seems as strong today as when it was built, 117 years ago.  We invited King Adeosun and his wife the Queen and his entourage to come to our Feast of Tabernacles conference on Fall, and they came and stayed with us for the entire week.  It was the king's first time in America.  Day after day, they worshipped with us.  I told him that he could be traveling to see Disneyland, New York City, or Hollywood, etc.  He said, "I came to worship God with you in the Wilderness!"

Pounded Yam In My Tyre!  Another way to fix African flat tire.

Because of the fatalism in Nigeria, where people fail to keep their car in good repair, or drive safely because if Allah wants them dead, there is no need to drive safely.  The hi-way guard rails there look like a giant with a sledge hammer went along and smashed them all out of shape.  In the middle of the journey, we realized that we had a flat tyre, as they say.  But our spare tyre would not hold air, as the rim was rusted.  No problem, we found someone along the roadside out in the country who could put the tyre on the car for us, but, in order to make the tyre stick to the rim so it would hold air, they went to the out door kitchen a short distance away, and got some pounded yams, with a consistency like mashed potatoes.  They smeared the goop around the edge of the tyre rim, pumped air into the tyre, and sent us on our way.  We reached our destination safely, thank God.

Stop!  And Let Me Out!:  The worst driving in the World!

I believe that I said that the accident and death rate from driving in Nigeria, is the worst in the world.  There are times when I gave our driver an ultimatum: that he drive more safely, or let me out in the middle of the strange city to let me fend for myself!  I meant it, choosing to live another hour, than to remain with him and die a certain death. 

The Scorpion:  5 star hotel.

 I was staying at a nice hotel in Abeokuta, on the outskirts of the city.  In such a place, one takes a bath like the baths we took while growing up on the Iowa farm where we had no running water unless I ran and got it.  Get it?   In this hotel, as with most places in Nigeria, the way one takes a bath, is to take a bucket of water, usually cold, pour a little onto yourself, apply the soap, then, cup by cup, rinse the water from your body.  But before I stepped into the bathing place, I decided to take my torch (flashlight), and shine where I was intending to step.  There, nearly 10 inches from my foot, waited a scorpion, poised, and ready to strike!  I gently coaxed the scorpion into a bottle, and, later, after crushing him, (it might have been a 'she') I taped the scorpion to my notebook, to bring home and put on display.

The Moslem Convert:  A visit from a stranger in a hotel.

To that same hotel, a stranger came to visit me.  He told me that he had come, several years before, to one of my meetings, as a Moslem.  He accepted Christ as His Lord and Savior and Master, and became a fervent Christian.  Now, he had married, with children, and was launching out into Christian ministry!  Yet, one year later, he had died from diabetes.  Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in Nigeria, because of an excess of carbohydrates, starches and sugars, all of which turn to sugar.  In Nigeria, diabetes is often a death sentence, as they have little means of detecting it in the first place, or of treating, in the second.

'Don’t Polish My Shoes':  Christ would have done it this way.

My favorite thing is to teach minister's seminars, as one can reach spheres of influence.  I usually open the seminar, by removing my upper garments, down to my undershirt.  Then, I kneel down, and polish the most dusty shoes of the humblest of ministers.  If I washed their feet, it would be considered a religious exercise.  But, in that society, there is no mistaking who polishes shoes.  In a culture that bows to those deserving respect, my shoe polishing is shocking.  Then I teach them the Kingdom principle:  Mark 9:35 & 10:42  "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, 'Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.  45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."  In John 13, Jesus commands us thrice, to wash the feet of others.

'Beat Me With My Cane!':  Caught in the act, for speeding.

I had been ministering in Ghana, and now, we were coming out of the country, to Nigeria to fly home, before Christmas.  Presently a policeman stopped us, and, amazingly, he showed us that we had been speeding.  He even had a radar gun!  We knew that we were in trouble, miles from home, in a foreign land, we could have been seriously jailed, delayed, or seriously fined.  When he came to Elijah's side of the car, I told the police man, "Occifah, Please, Sah.  Don' blame de drivah.  Ees ah my fault.  Ah am de guilty pahty."  The officer spoke to me, "You wah nah de drivah!  You ah nah to blame."  I turned on the tape recording that Joshua and Dawn Joy made of them singing West African songs, greeting me, and making me feel homesick.  I told the policeman, as was true, "Sah!  Ah am the guilty pahty, I was deestractin' the drivah.  Ees ah my own fault.  Please allow me to beyah (bear) de punismen."  By now the policeman had come around to my side of the car.  When in Ibo land in Nigeria ministering, the Igbos had given me a chief's cane, in honour of my high chieftaincy that had been conferred upon me by King Adeosun.  The policeman recognized the cane for what it was.  After I showed him pictures of Joshua and Dawn Joy and others of my family, I gently lifted the cane from my lap slowly toward his hand.  I pleaded, "Please Sah, I am begging you, please let me come down from the cah, let me bend ovah de bonnet (the hood of the car), an' you can flog me wit' my cane."  I kept a straight face.  Elijah kept a straight face.  The policeman kept a straight face.  After a moment, the policeman said, "Go yo' way."   And, so we did.

Driving On The Wrong Side Of The Road!:  A night journey.

Joshua and I were met in Johannesburg by Peter, our pastor friend from Lesthoto, an island nation completely surrounded by South Africa.  But the driver was unaccustomed to city driving, and to night driving.  Soon, we were trying to find our way through the worst crime areas and our driver was frozen with fear.  Picture us in the middle of the freeway, driving 35 miles an hour, at night, while the traffic would zoom up behind us at 70 miles an hour, squeal their tyres, sound their horns and careen around us.  I told Peter, who could not drive.  "Look, there is no other solution.  Both Joshua and I can drive better than this man.  We refuse to go another foot under these conditions!"   Even though the taxi was a hired car, the owner, far from being offended, gladly climbed into the back seat and went to sleep, while Joshua and I drove on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road, all through the night, all the way to Lesotho border.   As the sun was coming up, the driver awoke, climbed under the steering wheel, took us safely across the border into our town.

Supernatural Judgement:  A prophecy, come true.

In South Africa and Lesotho, the aids rate from promiscuity is very high.  There is a horrible belief that if a man has sex with a virgin, he will be cleansed from his aids.  Therefore the rate for the rape of young women is sinfully hideous.  So also, is car theft and the armed forced entry into homes.  I prophesied to a group of Christian men, from a church in Durbin, that the judgement from God was against these criminal acts, and that they would find the dead bodies of armed robbers outside the doors of the homes, before they succeeded in breaking into a home.  That night an armed robber was trying to break into the home of one of the men who had been present at that meeting.  A neighbour saw the attempted break-in, and he shot and killed the armed robber, on the doorstep of the man from the church.

Kenney Rogers, Father Christmas, and Caleb:  Misidentification.

I am a large man, and always grow a white beard while in Nigeria.  They respect the beard, the white one, the aged.  They even respect weight, thinking, "Anyone who can eat that good, must be doing something right."  Sometimes they call me "Father Christmas", their term for Santa Clause.  One man said to me with a smile, "Heyyyy!  Kenny Rooojahs!"  One year I cut off my beard before coming home.  They said to me, "Ahhh!  You look much bettah weedout de byahd."  "I do?"  I said.   "Eh hehhhh.", they responded, "Now, you look like yosef (yourself)!"  I said, "Ooh deed ah look like before ahh cutoff de byahd?"  "You looked like Moses!" Came the reply.  "How do you know?", I said.  Then I asked, "You say I look much bettah weedout de byahd, tell me honestly, do I look more dignified with or weedout de byahd?"   "Ahhh", came the reply, "You luke mo deegneefied, weet de byahd!"   Most everyone agrees, I look younger and better without the beard.  But I look more dignified weeee de byahd. (with the beard).  When I come home, the beard comes off, as, unfortunately, no one here, including my first wife (only wife), no one is convinced that I am the wiser with my beard.

Joshua was with me one time, when a church member exclaimed upon seeing me, "Aaay, you look like Moses!"  I pointed to Joshua, who had a little beard.  "Oooo does eee luke like?"  I expected them to say "Joshua", since his name is Joshua.  "Like Caleb!" was his reply.

Teyin, Teyin:  I love you!

In West Africa, it is not customary to tell people that you love them, and in marriage seminars, many confess that their spouse never tells them that they are loved.  Therefore it is a shock to them when I come telling that I love them, deeply, sincerely, fervently, greatly, and from my heart.  I tell them this, because I do love them, and because Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly Father, Papa Yahweh also loves them through me.  Jesus asked Peter, "Peter, do you love Me."  Three times, Jesus asked Peter this question.  God want us to tell Him that we love Him.  God tells us that He loves us. "For God so loved the World!"  I have been in Nigeria enough, and am somewhat familiar with the Yoruba language, as well as a few words in some of the other languages.  So, one night when I was teaching on the King's Greatest Secret!, I came to that part where God wants us to reckon ourselves to be dead INDEED, to sin, self and satan.  Now, the word for indeed, normally is translated as "patapata", but this time, when I said, "Dead indeed", the interpreter said, "O ku teyin, teyin!"  So, I stopped teaching long enough to ask the man why the new translation, just to check and see if he was accurately conveying my intended thought.  He explained to me, that in the Yoruba language and culture, they have an idiom "dead to the teeth", similar to our expression, "dead as a door nail".  When a person is so dead that their teeth have also died, they are completely dead.  So, in addition to the other ways that I tell people that I love them, I have also included, "O ku teyin teyin,", or, "I love you to the teeth!  They always laugh!!!

Slave Traders:  Meet my friend, Bassi, Bassi.

Ahhh, my dear friend Bassey Bassey Inyang.  He is a pastor.  He is like a great and noble prince.  His Yoruba wife is so darling, and is like a Queen.  Their sons are very bright and handsome.  Bassey Bassey is now a lovely pastor, along with his wife.  He used to be a basket ball player, and was once on the Nigerian Olympic team.  Then he became a policeman, but refused to be corrupt.  Now he is my friend, and the friend of Joshua.  Bassey has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to risk great danger in our behalf.  What a lovely family, so precious to God!

Land For Sale:  Wanna own some land in Africa?

In about 1990, Elijah told me of some land near Akure that was for sale, but that his people had decided to not purchase it.  I had an immediate desire to see it, and was shown the land.  It was a land of rocks and plant growth on the side of a small mountain, overlooking the land below.  I had an immediate positive witness and encouraged them to buy it with haste, and an additional adjoining.  They did purchase the land for some hundreds of dollars.  Everyone considered the land to be worthless.  Immediately after purchase, the land exploded in value, and the surrounding land was quickly bought up.  Now, a lovely large church, occupies that land, along with other up and coming projects.

"Nice Piyamas!":  Clothing by another color.

I always change into Nigerian clothing in Europe, during my stop-over, so that I approach the gate for the flight to Nigeria.  Their clothing is lovely, cotton, tie-die, intricate and beautiful design.  Some of their clothing can be very expensive, but I prefer the simple, less expensive, upper and lower garment, in contrast to the more elaborate and expensive "agbada" outer cape that stretches from finger tip to fingertip, 6 feet wide, and from shoulders to just above the ground, and additional more than 5 feet in front, continuing to 5 feet in back, a single piece of cloth 6 feet wide and over 10 feet long!  The garment is then gathered like huge shoulder blades on both shoulders, gracefully draped.  Yet, as I said, I prefer the more simple roomy light cotton, and wear that kind of beautiful 'clothings' one 100 % of the time while I am there.  In Europe at the airport, both coming and going, nearly everyone stares at me, my large old, frame over 6 feet tall, over 300 pounds, white beard, with a West African hat, which folds over to the side, something like that of a green beret.  As I walk along, in a stately manner, people actually stare at me, as I approach, and are sometimes still staring, after I pass.  One man from Holland, looked me up and down, smiled at me, and said, "Nice pee-yam-as!"

The Wedding Present:  The Bride price.

It is a great honour to be invited to a West African native culture wedding.  They usually have a formal "American Style" wedding as well, but their cultural wedding is fascinating.  First of all, there are still many "arranged" marriages, in which the marriage is actually arranged by the parents of the bride and groom.  At the very least, the approval and agreement of both of the families is important on a level that to us would be considered extreme, so much so, that marriage without the blessing of both of the families would be considered almost out of the question.  The wedding is considered an actual marriage of the two extended family groups.  At this traditional wedding, the "bride price" is discussed, complete with an actual list of wedding costs, including such items as "the lifting of the veil" that also has its mutually agreed upon price.  While, in the United States, the wedding might include "something borrowed, something blue", the West African 'traditional' wedding might actually include haggling and arguing over whether the groom has presented sufficient yams tubers, or bolts of cloth, or, a quantity of rice, etc.  I have actually watched while the extended families, the uncles and aunts, cousins and other in-laws actually or pretend anger, argument, insult, ridicule, offers and counter-offers.  If the quantity is not sufficient, often the groom's family will be pressured into leaving the facility and going after more items, until everyone is in agreement.  While all of this is happening, the couple to be married usually has nothing to say or do about the argumentation involved in this process, but sit, embarrassed, perspiring, meek and mute, dressed in their elaborate and expensive flowing "regalia", while the extended families come to an agreement, after which time the dancing and celebration begins to the native drumming, including the popular "talking drums", played by professional drummers who often try to intimidate the guests into giving them a gift of money.  They will approach anyone from whom they will extort money, by coming close and playing loud, until you give to them an amount acceptable to them.  Many of the African languages are tonal, similar to our "do, re, mi".  If the tone is not correct, the words will not be understood, and, in fact, may mean something else altogether.  With the talking drum, language may sometimes be conveyed through the tone exclusively, and can convey language and meaning through the variations of intensity, speed and tone, alone.  Sending message across long distances, through strategically placed loud drumming was possible not long ago.

As the couple dance, friends and well wishers dance up to the couple to be married, who are also dancing, and place money on the perspiring faces of the bride and groom, as a symbol of well wishing, that they will prosper and be blessed.  Usually the attendants gather the money that has become stuck to the perspiring faces, so that more money can be given in the same manner.  There is a unique West African hat that has flaps that come to a point on each side.  The cap has a name, for example in the Yoruba language, which, when translated, means, "the ears of the dog".  This hat is only worn on formal occasions, and with the agbada regalia.

The Gold Watch:

The history of missionary work in these lands is very fascinating, especially in the extreme sacrifice that the pioneer missionaries had to make in order to bring the Gospel to these foreign lands, in terms of danger and disease and inconvenience.  Often these hardships exist to the present time, in light of the heat, the expense, the danger of armed robbery or even kidnapping.  To this day, the Nigerian government often refuses to allow missionaries to enter the country, and will quite often, not allow people to enter the country, if they know that these representatives of the Kingdom of God are going to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is due to the possibility of Moslem persecution, the responsibility for which both Moslem and Christian authorities want to avoid.  Because the history of mission work has included a great deal of giving, on the part of the visiting ministries, often the native peoples have come to expect gifts and hand-outs.  The term "rice christian" is applied to those who are "christian", as long as they are being given rice, by the Christian missionaries, but when the rice runs out, then the "christianity" runs out.  There were times, in the beginning, when people would unapologetically say to me, "Give me your watch.  I need a watch." Or, "I need a camera."  One man said to me, "You have a nice wedding ring.  I need a wedding ring.  Give me your wedding ring."  But, over the years, the Christians in West Africa have come to see the great value and the magnificent rewards of giving.  On one of the trips, a brother in Christ, Philemon, noticed that I did not have a watch, took off his own watch, which happened to be very expensive, and gave it to me.  I insisted that he seek permission from his own wife, Kayendi, before I could accept the watch.  At first, he was offended, for, in that culture, to seek such permission would be an insult to the man's authority.  Yet, in this case, I wanted the wife to be shown such respect and honor.  She did respond with great emotion, that she would be included in such a decision, and came, humbly, moved to tears at the respect shown to her.  As I have mentioned elsewhere in this narrative, I have observed and received many times, the giving of people who have given, often at great sacrifice, often to their own hurt.  But, , like the widow who gave her mite, the woman who gave costly perfume,  these people sometimes believe that they are being led by God to make this sacrifice, and, perhaps they are.  At such a time, with tears streaming down my cheeks at my own unworthiness, I WILL receive, simply because, perhaps, I should.  Someone may remind me at such a time, that, the Christ within me is worthy.  These days, these trips, it is quite often, that I will stand beside the offering baskets when the people come to give to me, that, I will gratefully shake the hands of the ladies, and will gently embrace the men., and even the children, if they are not afraid of the white man.

Learning The Language:  Stick it in your ear!

One word in an African language can have many meaning, depending upon the tone that is used.  For example, the word "ojo" can have almost a dozen different meanings, depending upon the context and the tone.  Like our word "tear" can also mean "tear", the word "ojo" can mean, or "a rainy day", or "leaking", etc.  Since "ojo" can either be the name of a person, or can mean "a coward", if the proper tone is not used, one might make the mistake of calling a person a coward, when trying to pronounce his name.  When "ojo" refers to a person's name, the tone must be "do" "mi", or a lower tone on the first syllable, and a higher tone on the second.  Thus, in order to speak, for example, the Yoruba or many other languages properly, one must not only learn the vocabulary, but also learn the tone, in order to be understood.  Since this necessity is over-ruled in the process of singing, I will make up songs in Yoruba, so as to convey meaning, prior to being forced to also learn the tone.  Thus, I have come up with about 2 dozen songs to date, mostly of Scripture verses that I commonly use in my teaching.  Every small effort that I invest in the learning of any of these languages, is wonderfully and powerfully rewarded in the deep appreciation  and respect these people show for my efforts.  Thus, I am always eager to learn and speak more and more of the languages of the people to whom I am privileged to minister.

Watermelon and Pineapples

The fruit that is grown in these lands, is indescribably delicious.  There is nothing to compare to the pineapples!  But, sometimes, in order to be formal, they will rinse their fruit in water, before serving them to their guests.  If the water is not clean, this delicious fruit, must not be eaten.  Yes, the Bible says that we are to eat what is set before us, but, if God has not given us faith and grace, in the eating and drinking, one can become very, very sick, from contaminated water, to which the local people have built up an immunity.  Once, when Karen and I ministered in the Holy Land, the local people promised our tour group that the water in Jerusalem was totally pure and dependable.  Half of our tour group decided to take the local water by faith, while the rest of us decided to take the bottled water by faith.  Those who took the local water by faith, became very, very sick.  Can you imagine, investing 12 days, and thousands of dollars to go on such a trip, only to be vomiting and running to the toilet, headache and dizziness, simply because you wanted to brag on having faith??  At additional cost, we stick with the bottled water.  Recent strong recommendations from the state department, indicate that the local water must be boiled for at least 20 minutes before it can be considered safe!!!  It is sometimes difficult for the local people to understand this, and they will rinse glasses or dishes with contaminated water, before serving liquid or food.  Obviously, when one is in a situation where one must eat or drink, or be weak, ill or offensive, then one must trust to the grace of God, and partake in faith.  Thus, we do.

AFRICAN REPORT - 2002

In February - March of  2002, Joshua Paul Bohlen and John Roy Bohlen went to minister in Nigeria and in the Republique of Benin.  Joshua was there for 10 weeks and John was there for 8 weeks.

As we begin this report, we want to take this opportunity to thank every person who in any way assisted or was a part of our trip, through your prayers, your giving, your encouragement.  According to the Bible, you also share in the reward.  We hereby humbly thank you for every sacrifice that you have made, and we thank you in the behalf of each of the dear ones in Africa, and on the way, the marriages, the saved ones, those healed, or filled with the Spirit, or who came into the King’s Greatest Secret, or the Gospel of the Kingdom, who have benefited.  We thank you in behalf of our family, ourselves, our ministry, and, in behalf of God.  We hereby especially acknowledge Karen and the Joseph and Michelle Bohlen family, the Guptill Family, and all of the members of our Great Commission Fellowship, Shirley, Gabriella, Leah, Stacie, Darlene, Mike, Jerry, Jeanie and Justin, Pastors John and Jeanine from Milaca, for the Brashears, for Dr. Sally Stout, for the Benedicts, and for all of you who came and hugged and worked and prayed and gave and gave and gave.  Pastors Joey and Michelle stayed by the stuff, led in worship, spent many hours in counseling, and in wisely pastoring.  We honour you in Jesus’ Name.

We also want to honour Joey and Zoe who went on an equally dangerous and exciting ministry trip to China, just before the end of the year.  We encourage you to ask them questions concerning their trip.

We ministered in Lagos, Akure, Ado-Ekiti, Abeokuta, Iboro, Igbora, Aba, Calabar, Ibadun, and in the Rebublique of Benin.

THE MERIT OF THE MESSAGE

There may be someone who might be asking whether or not such a trip like this is worth all of the investments of time, trouble, effort, energy and expense.  Some have complained that we were gone from the church too long.  Others may need to be encouraged for the sacrifice they made in prayer, loving concern and in giving.  Thus, we are devoting some time and space to evaluate the investment of our lives, although the final evaluation will be made at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

How much money is happiness is worth?  Joy?  Peace?  Victory?  A life lived in God’s favour, God’s presence, God’s anointing?  How much money is it worth to save a marriage?  To keep a baby girl from being mutilated?  These things always happen when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached and taught:

The Message that we preach contains the following elements:

1)   The King’s Greatest Secret

2)   The Throne-Room Mentality

3)   Kingdom Glory

4)   Kingdom Marriage or Sanctified Celibacy

5)   The Gospel of the Kingdom

6)   Body Stewardship: Health and Nutrition

7)   Female Circumcision

Q.  How important is the Gospel of the Kingdom?

A.  We are to seek the Kingdom of God first.   John 6:27  “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.  28  Then said they unto Him, ‘What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?’  29  Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.’ ”  (KJV)

1 Cor 15:57  “But thanks be to God, Which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  (KJV)  Remember the saying, “Only one life, it will soon be past.  Only what’s done for Christ, will last.”?!.

The Kingdom of God was the most important thing to the prophets, to the psalmist, to John the Baptist, to Jesus, to the early disciples, to the apostle Paul, and to the last day disciples.  Mt.24:13-14 says,  “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.  14  And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”  (NAS)

Although most of the people to whom we minister were Christians, before we came, most of them do not live a life-style of intimacy with God, do not know the Gospel of the Kingdom, do not live overcoming victorious Christian lives, do not see themselves as sitting on the Throne with Christ, and do not have a revelation that Christ is available to live His Glorious Life through them.  Fifty to 100% of the people to whom we go still believe in female circumcision, that it is right to cut and carve the faces and genitals of the baby girls.  Through us, God brings these people into a revelation of these things, and people are saved, and set free from sin and defeat.  Marriages are revolutionized and married people discover that God intended that sex, for marrieds, is to be frequent and delightful.  It is still true, that both here and in Africa, in fact, every where we know of in the Body of Christ at large, less than one in ten thousand believers has any awareness that Christ wants to beeeeeeeeee their life, or that they have been or why they have been crucified with Christ.  That’s what we go to tell them, and as a result, people become more loving, more humble, more effective, more holy, more joyful, more peaceful, more productive, more pleasing to Christ.  I challenge you to put a price tag on these things.  A rich harvest reaped of the fruit of the Spirit follows our sowing and planting.

And you?  Every thing you give, every dollar, every check, every prayer, every sacrifice, every assistance, makes you a vital, a very important part of this planting, this sowing, this reaping.  To those of you have given, are giving and who will give, total strangers will be coming up to you for eternity, and saying “thank you”, for the money you have sacrificially given and the prayers you took time to pray.  In fact, if you endure until the End, you will be rewarded eternally, for the sacrifice you have made, and for the part you have played.  We ourselves, in behalf of our selves, and representing all of the multitudes who have benefited from your sacrifice, and in behalf of the Lord Jesus Yahshua Christ, we say, “Thank you”.

Joshua and I may, in the process of telling our story, we may tell it as though it is he and I against the world, but let me state clearly that every thing we did, every mile we traveled, every message we gave, all the good that was accomplished, was a team effort, with you as an important, a very vital part, of what we accomplished.  You are, and have been, and will, by God’s grace, continue to be an extremely important part of our adventures in God.  We, you and us, remember that it is Yahshua Jesus, the Precious Holy Spirit, and Powerful Father God, Who are at work within us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  So, we give God all the glory.  Amen.

BACKGROUND ON NIGERIA

Nigeria is located on the west side of Africa, about 15 degrees above the equator, right where the hump comes out to the left, on the Gulf of Guinea, across the Atlantic Ocean from America.  Nigeria is about the size of three Wisconsins, but with the population of more than 1/2 that of the United States.  Since the Sahara Desert takes about the northern 1/3 of the country, that means that there are 150 million people in a space the size of Wisconsin and Minnesota.  There are people everywhere we go, many, many people.  Most of them are very, very poor.  Although there are many churches, of many kinds, there are many thousands of villages where the Gospel of Jesus Christ has never been preached.  Both Joshua and I went to minister in villages where no white person has ever ministered.

TRAFFIC

The death and accident rate in Nigeria is reputed as being the worst in the world.  One of the reasons is because many of the people believe that if God does not want them to die, then they don’t need to drive safely, fix the brakes or tires, or wear a seat-belt.  And if God wants them to die, being careful will make no difference.  Many Christians think this way, and, so, are careless.

There are no punishments to enforce pollution laws, so the air is filled with exhaust and factory smoke, the smoke from burning fires and from sand and dust blowing in from the dessert.  There are almost NO police or soldiers to enforce traffic laws, so the roads have turned into a madhouse where survival of the bully driver and the loudest horn becomes the law.  Car jackings and armed robbery happens too often.  Practically every trip to Africa, we have seen dead or dying people along the roads, vehicles on fire or newly overturned.  But the road-blocks where soldiers or policemen hold people at gun-point until they pay adequate ransom, this has almost disappeared.

ARMED ROBBER(S)

Did you hear that we became involved with armed robbers on the night bus we rode across the southern part of the country, a distance about like from here to Chicago?   There was a bridge out, between Benin and Aba, but the robbers had removed the sign diverting the traffic to the other lane, which drove a line of vehicles into a dead end, we heard the shot that injured the first driver, ahead of  us, but we had an armed guard with an assault rifle with us, and I believe that, and God, broke off the attack.  We brought the wounded driver of the big truck ahead of us into our bus and were able to make our escape, leaving the large truck to the robbers as booty.  The people on our bus, who did not know the Lord, became insane with fear, but those of us on the bus who are on our heavenly Father’s lap, in His arms, and under His feathers, were totally calm in the midst of gun shots and screams.  I will say that I was praying God’s judgement upon any one who would try to hurt or harm.  A little excitement, but no one on our bus was hurt.  The wounded man lay at our feet and Joshua and I alternately laid hands upon him, believing for a total recovery, in spite of the blood.  We thank the Lord for His continual protection and provision.  Amen.

A FIGHT AT THE BUS STOP

Crime is common in Nigeria, although God has protected us.  At the bus stop in Benin City, we were accosted first by a woman who appeared to be a diseased prostitute.  We had to be very stern with her, as she wanted to get close enough to pick our pockets, I had to forcibly push her hand away when she insisted on coming too close.  Then there was a strong tall young man who appeared to be drugged or drunk, but who insisted on getting in my face, closer and closer, until his face would have been touching my own.  He also appeared to be demon possessed.  The man walked rapidly toward me in what seemed to be an attack mode.  When he refused to retreat, and, when his face would have crashed into my own, I hit the front of his left shoulder with the palm of my right hand, hooked the back of his right shoulder with my left hand, and spun him into a choke hold, but without choking him.  I quickly stepped backward, still holding the man, and applied weight to his upper body to prevent him from being able to kick back at me.  A large crowd of people were looking on.  After this, I released the man, and he did not attack me again, but stood cursing me, I returned his greetings in Jesus’ Name, and he went away.  The crowd seemed pleased at the way I handled the situation, as he seemed to have a reputation for bullying and intimidation.

A MARRIAGE SAVED

Pastor Harrison, from Calabar, testified on this trip, that when we did a marriage seminar, his own marriage was revolutionized, along with some of the members of his church.  Some of the ladies were so changed in their attitude toward sex that their unsaved husbands came to church and the families became strong and united.  Pastor Harrison said that our being there greatly increased church growth.

We did another marriage seminar this time and a couple came, the wife of which had already packed her bags and had decided to leave her husband.  The Lord put the marriage back together again.

PICTURES

We took with us on the trip, about 50 pictures from home.  People were amazed at the snow, at the age of the house, of the barn, the age of the jeep and tractor, at the birds, and at the people.  But these pictures were used by God as an evangelistic tool to draw people.

A VISIT TO THE KING

Over the years, we have had the opportunity to meet many African kings.    In each case, we had an opportunity to bring greetings from our dear ones from home, an opportunity to preach the Gospel, briefly, and, to pray for the king and his family and his realm of dominion.  Usually, the king ruled over a land area, ranging in size from one of our townships, to perhaps the size of one of our counties, though usually not so large.  In each case, the king lived in what was known as a palace, but usually was not as fine or as large as the average American home, although there were exceptions.  Since the turning over of British rule in Nigeria, and in most countries in Africa, the National government has wisely chosen to work with and cooperate with the local traditional rulers.  These kings act like kings, they dress like kings, have a throne and throne-room, are treated like and respected as kings.  Some of the kings are deeply committed Spirit filled and humble Christians. They try to work with the local governments and police agencies to maintain peace and order through out their areas of influence.    They often act as judges to help settle disputes between family members, land owners,  and other challenges facing the community.  These kings have high chiefs, chiefs, village elders, and extended family heads under them which act as leaders or principle members of the community.  Sometimes they are allotted a certain street or area by the king to help govern.  The chiefs often act as counselors to the king on matters regarding the community, holding special council meetings for discussion.  I have personally sat as a high chief among the chiefs, as trial held by the whole council to discuss the punishment of a certain community member for crimes or embarrassments committed against the community, or within community boundaries.  The person in question was prostrating himself over and over as a sign of apology and respect for the king and the authoritative position of the council.  They have something like this in practically every part of Nigeria, although they may go by different names, their functions are similar.

The country is comprised mostly of three main tribes with many other minority tribes and people/culture groups making up the balance.  The first tribal group (among whom we have ministered the most) is the Yoruba.  (Pronounced YÓ·roo·bah.)   These people live primarily in the south and western regions of Nigeria.  These people are very religious.  Mostly Christian, some Muslim, and some animistic or traditional ancestral ritualism.  These people are strong in family honor and bow to show respect.  They have many wonderful proverbs that they use in their language.  This one is used a lot when a wise elderly person has died:  "The library has burned down."   These are a very musical people and have excellent drummers of all kinds among them. 

The Hausa are among the top three tribes in Nigeria.  They live mostly in the north.  My estimation is that they are split almost perfectly in religions; the Christians comprising half, the Muslims, the other half.  These people are also very musical.  Many of them deal in cattle and sheep, however, almost all of Nigeria is known for its agriculture. 

The Ibo or Igbo, (pronounced EE·bow,)  live primarily in the eastern parts of Nigeria.  They are very strong in business and commerce. 

Business in Nigeria is made through the sale of common household items. Trade in agricultural products like bananas, plantain, all kinds of citrus fruits, pineapples, many different kinds of melons, papaya, mangos, coconuts, palm kernel oil, peppers, cashew fruits and nuts, peanuts and peanut oil, avocados, yams and tubers such as their pounded yam (which has been their main staple along with imported rice,) and others including sweet yams, Irish potatoes, and cassava.  Fish and poultry are also a large source of business. 

Other tribes include the Calabar, Edoh (which some consider a sub-tribe/culture to the Yoruba), Kadara, Aquaibom, Efik, Folani (nomadic, ranging across northern and western Africa), and more than a thousand others too numerous to name.

Unfortunately, very few of the various people groups in Nigeria have the Bible or any part of it in written form.  There are many thousands of villages where there are no Christians or Christian churches, villages that have not been exposed to the Gospel, hence are lost and eternally damned.  As I said, we have ministered in villages where no white person has ever ministered.  What an adventure!

Oil and precious minerals are also abundant commodities in Nigeria.  Few people ever see the money from these resources, however.  Only those with excellent education and influence can find job positions.  Consequently, many Nigerian youth seek to be educated overseas.  Although much of Nigeria is modernized, (with conveniences like light, computers with internet access, vehicles, television with CNN and radios, etc.,) there are vast regions of Nigeria where there is still the clash of simple, traditional living with modernism.  People strive to catch up with the rest of the world.  The resulting problems and challenges that occur are quite intriguing.

OMEGA BANK

In Nigeria, there is a powerful group of banks called Omega Banks, that are owned and operated by deeply committed Christians, and who have a high level of integrity.  Both Joshua and I had the privilege of ministering to the highest levels of authority in the central bank, to over one hundred employees.

MINISTRY IN THE VILLAGES

As we mentioned, there are many villages that have never heard the Good News preached before.   Although there were the beginnings of a church in each of the villages where we went, in most cases, they were just in the beginning stages, but were villages for the most part where no white person had ever ministered.  Many of the villagers, especially the children, and even teen-agers, who had never seen a white person before.   When I arrived and attempted to shake hands with them, many dozens of children fled from me in terror, although, after several hours of dancing and preaching among them, they warmed up to me, for the most part, although many of them were still fearful.  One of the pastors, mentioned to me that the last white people to come to that area, came to steal them and sell them as slaves, though many years ago, the stories were still fresh in some of their minds.  Because our white skins attracted and drew people who, in some cases, had never heard the Gospel before, they did hear, and did receive Christ for the first time.  In their culture, idol worship is common.  We saw some of the idols that they worshipped, but we were never impressed by any of them, compared with our lovely Yahshua Jesus.  Amen.

FOOD

Although termites, cats and dogs are eaten in the country, we have never been offered these things, nor do the people among whom we minister, generally eat them, although Joey and Zoe were served dog meat, just a few years ago, when they ministered in China. As was stated briefly earlier, fruits and vegetables are mostly consumed, rice and yams are their main staple.   Eggs, poultry, pork, fish, escargot, cattle, sheep and goat meat provide their main sources of meat and protein. 

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Life expectancy in Nigeria is considerably lower than in the United States, for many reasons, scarcity and inferiority of medical treatment, higher crime rate, birth problems, poor nutrition, poverty, malaria, lack of inoculations, unsanitary conditions, lack of education and the lack of available emergency help, are only a few factors.  For example, if one were to need emergency help, there probably would be no phone, close at hand.  The hospitals are poorly equipped and scarce.  The roads have no emergency lanes, and the traffic jams are frequent.  The roads and house addresses are often not clearly marked, so Nigeria is not a good place for a medical emergency, except for the fact that these conditions have forced the people to have faith in God to heal them.

About the end of the second week, I awakened about 2 A.M. to discover that my jaw was swollen.  While I lay awake, the swelling noticeably increased, and my jaw was growing numb.  In the American frontier, strong men died from having an abscessed tooth.  The infection can spread throughout the whole body.  I did not want to come home as a result of a bad tooth, so I immediately began trying to loosen the tooth.  We prayed, Joshua and I, and, by noon the next day, the swelling, pain and numbness had disappeared, and did not return to this day, (although, I since had the tooth pulled).  Praise God.

KING’S GREATEST SECRET!

Although there are many who preach prosperity, miracles and salvation, as is the case in the United States, less than one in ten thousand born again believers has any concept of the King’s Greatest Secret, Kingdom Glory, the Throne-Room Mentality, or the Gospel of the Kingdom.  It is these revelations that change people’s lives, bring them into an intimacy with God, and causes them to begin living a life-style of consistent victory and joy.  These are the truths that we go there to teach.  People are born into the Kingdom of God as we teach.  Marriages are restored and the quality of the marriages is greatly improved.  Last year we told you of a lady who, 5 years previously, had been present when we taught how to live life on our Heavenly Father’s lap, under His feathers, listening to His heart-beat.  The woman had wept at the revelation and she reported that she had been living in the strength of that truth for the 5 years that had passed. 

As many of you  know, shortly before our trip we were able, with the help of our many supporters and our beloved friends at Bethany Fellowship to print another printing of 10,000 copies of The King’s Greatest Secret blue booklet.  We brought as many of these with us as our over-sized suitcases would allow!  Praise the Lord!

DIABETES

Some years ago, we mentioned that a Moslem had come to one of the meetings and had accepted Christ as his Savior, and was entering ministry.  This year we found out that he had died from diabetes.  Diabetes is of epidemic proportions in all of the 3rd world countries, that have adopted the diet of white rice, white flour, white salt, white bread and white sugar from the white man.  They do not realize that sugar is a hideous poison, that white flour and white rice are totally worthless, and are harmful, because all of these things not only are harmful, and lack any positive nutritional value, but that they actually steal vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the body.  They will consume vast quantities of white rice, or white bread, and only harm themselves in the process.  These elements turn in to sugar in the body and overload the pancreas, and other organs, to their hurt.  Diabetes is only one of the horrible results.  It is difficult to diagnose, until long after it has done damage, and is difficult to treat, after it has been diagnosed, because of poverty and medical scarcity.  Diabetes in that country is, for the most part, a death sentence.  We try to bring glucose test kits and strips to help them.

THE WIDOW’S MIGHTY MITE

In the Republique du Benin, just 2 days before Christmas, a tragedy occurred, when an evangelist tried adjust the antenna on the family television.  He was electrocuted, and died, leaving a young widow, and a beautiful little girl.  In West Africa, the yearly average income is little over $300, and many expenses are high.  When the pastor asked if there were any who would be willing to help pay for the cost of our hotel room, even for half a day, this widow lady came forward with her little girl, and donated the cost of one half day.  This woman gave sacrificially, out of her need.  There were many such, who gave, out of their need, so that our needs could be provided for.  In one of the villages where no white person had ministered, they brought, as part of the offering, bananas, coconuts, avocados, pineapple, drinking water, fish, other food and drink, etc.

3 INTERPRETERS

To speak with the assistance of an interpreter was common.  But, sometimes, in the Republique du Benin, we would use 2 interpreters, and even 3, so that there would be four of us, sometimes passing the microphone, or the tape recorder, down the line, first me, speaking West African English, then an interpreter into French, then another interpreter into Yoruba, and fourth, another interpreter, would translate into the language spoken by the people locally

.

THE HEAT

People ask about the climate.  West Africa has two climates,  dry and hot, and, wet and hot.  If the place where we stayed had no screens on the windows, the malaria mosquitoes would bite us.  If there was no generator to power an air-conditioner or fan, and the electricity would go off, which it would often do, and for a long time, then the room would be like a sauna.  It was common for our pillow and sheets to become saturated with perspiration, so I would lay towels beneath to keep from ruining the mattress and pillow.  Sometimes, I would sit on the edge of my bed in middle of the night, and listen to the perspiration drop onto the towel.  At times, the air would be so heavy with heat and humidity, that Joshua and I would force ourselves to breathe, not knowing really, whether we could take another breath.  For about the last month, Joshua was afflicted with fevers, chills, headaches, body aches, weakness, dizziness, lack of appetite.  There were times when I would be perspiring, and Joshua would be freezing, wrapped in blankets, including his head, because his body would be racked with chills from his sickness.  At such a time we would worship, and pray, and ask each other if we should send Joshua home early.  One night, in the middle of the night, the left side of my face became swollen, and numb, from what appeared to be an abscessed tooth.  Because of the primitive dental conditions, I began trying to loosen the tooth, and even thought seriously of trying to operate on myself, to relieve the infection, all the while praying and hoping and praising and trusting.  Suddenly, as quickly as the swelling came, it left, and did not come back. In the settling of the American Frontier, there were times that tall, strong gunfighter types, would die from infection spread through their bodies, from an abscessed tooth.

IS THERE LOVE IN ALLAH??

I met a Yoruba woman, at one of the hotels in a village where we were ministering.  In the course of the conversation, I told her that I loved her in Christ.  "Mo ni fe nyin, ninu Kristi!"  She told me that she was a Moslem, and that I should tell her that I loved her in Allah.  Now, normally I am never at a loss for words, but I could absolutely think of no reply!  When I did not reply, she repeated herself.  She asked me, “Why don’t you tell me that you love me in Allah?”  When I did not respond, she asked me a third time.  This time, she went into her room, since I did not respond again.  Later, I gave to her, a King’s Greatest Secret, but I wrote a note.  I asked her if there was any love in Allah.   I asked her if the Koran said that “Allah so loved the world, that he gave - - -”???  I asked her if the Koran told the Muslims to love the Christians or the Jews??    Hate?  Yes!  Love?  No.  I concluded my note, within the pages of our King's Greatest Secret!, that said, "No, there is no love in Allah."

THE CHILDREN

We ministered in villages where no white person had ever ministered.  In one such village, about 80 percent of the children and teens, and even some of the mothers, fled from me in terror.  But, after spending time with them, dancing, greeting them in their language, and teaching them, sometimes, for hours, through interpreters, and then gently embracing some of the more courageous of them, I was able to gain their confidence enough to allow for hugging most of them, in a society where it is not common for a child to be embraced by their father.  But, I was teaching them about a life-style of intimacy with the Heavenly Father, Who stands all day long with His hands out-stretched.

Isa 65:2  “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts,”

(NAS)

Isa 49:16  “See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.”  (NIV)

Isa 44:5  “This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’; and that one will call on the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the LORD,’ [or, ‘the Lord’s, or ‘Yahweh’s’] and will name Israel's name with honor.”  (NAS)

Mark 10:13  “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  14  When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  15  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’  16 And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.”  (NIV)

Ps 91:1  “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  2  I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. - -  4  He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”  (KJV)

Col 3:1  “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  2  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  3  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  (NAS)

 

SONGS

“Jesu Shanu Fun Mi.”

“I Just Want To Say, Baba O, Eshe”

“Dun Di”  (Hausa Song)

“Toh Fun Jesu”

 

 

WORK ETHIC

The people in West Africa work very, very hard.  The Bible says, “If a man does not work, do not let him eat.”   Here, in the United States, if a person does not work, they can go on welfare.  But in Nigeria, if a person does not work, he or she will starve to death, and, sometimes, they starve to death anyway.  One of the hardest kinds of work that is done is by those who sell on the streets and busy roads and hi-ways.  Practically everything that can be carried, gets sold along the street, including clothing, toiletries, personal items, fruit, frozen dessert, candy, flashlights, even ice water!  They walk and run alongside the cars shouting “pee-you-ah what-ah”!   A woman or a child will have a cloth on their head in the shape of a dough-nut, on which a tray will sit, on which bread or fruit or practically anything will be stacked.  If you want something, you make a loud “SSSSSSS” sound with your mouth, and make a gesture like you are raking something toward yourself with your fingers pointing downward.  If you ask directions, and a person’s hands are full, they may point with their chin or their face.  The loads that people carry on their heads are unbelievable, such as a refrigerator, a television or air conditioner, a motor, or heavy log.  Would you like for me to describe for you an African limousine?  It is 6 people riding on a motorcycle.   Joshua describes it this way.  "A man driving a motorcycle with a boy in front of him, a mother with two children upon her lap, one facing forward, another facing toward her, and another strapped to her back!"  Usually, the wealthy, the educated, the mature men, white people, do not carry the load upon their head.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY TO US, TO THE LORD!!

We want to thank you again for the extent that you shared with us in this adventure, this portion of the reaping of the harvest of the ages.  Do you joyfully anticipate people coming up to you in Heaven and thanking you?   The Lord Himself will reward you for your willingness to have contributed through your giving, your encouragement, and your prayers.  You are encouraging us by being our friends today.

We want to encourage you that it is not too late to be a part of this adventure.  The following items are ways in which you can participate:

We are praying about announcing the opening, the beginning, the inauguration of our Great Commission School of  Ministries.  This school will reach the Nations in the reaping of the Harvest of the Earth, the perfecting of the Bride, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission to preach this Gospel of  the Kingdom in all the world for a witness to all the Nations, so that the End can come.  In order for us to be prepared, we will need dormitory space, that will double as prayer rooms, a new well and septic, showers and restrooms that will also serve the saints that come for prayer and fellowship, training and ministry.  In the process of traveling, there were certain expenses created that still need to be settled. 

We know that you also have needs.  But the best way for our needs to be met by God, is when we give to the cause of God, with His promise of a mighty-fold return.  Therefore, we are giving you an opportunity to not only share in this past adventure, but in all the adventures which are to come.  Remember:  You share in the reward, you are part of the Great Commission, when you give to the Great Commission Ministries.  Amen. Thank you again, for your friendship, your praying, your giving, and, your love.  Amen.

THE MAKING OF A VIDEO FOR PETER IN

SOUTH AFRICA AND LESOTHO  (LEE SUU TUU)

Q.  Why are you traveling to South Africa and Lesthoto? 

I am here at the invitation of Pastor Peter Kibalya of Lesthoto, and by the will of God Who has commanded me to come here as an ambassador of the King of kings.  The message the King has given me is that every knee must bow, and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ Yahshua is the Master of the Universe under the authority of Yahweh God Almighty.

Q.  What message are you going to share?

The Creator King of Everything, Yahshua Jesus Christ, is taking over, and that all the kingdoms of this World are becoming the Kingdoms of our Lord God, and of His Christ.  The way He intends to do this is by offering to come into people’s lives and becoming their life, that is, by offering to live His life through us as God Himself would live it if He came back and lived it. In the meantime, God wants to live His Own glorious Life through us, consistently and unhindered.  Jesus Yahshua does not want there to be any difference between Who He is at the right hand of the Father Yahweh, and Who He is - in us!

Q.  What do you think is the most important thing for people from South Africa and Lesthoto to hear?

This is the message that God has commanded us to bring:  That Yahweh, Father God, is taking over, and is establishing His very Own Kingdom, and is giving us an opportunity to rule and reign with Him.

Q.  Do you come to South Africa and Lesthoto with any kind of political agenda?

The Lordship of Jesus Christ reaches into every part of our lives, and is to impact every part of our lives, religious, political, practical, intellectual, emotional: every area.

Q.  You are here, in spite of the high incidence of aids, much crime, and other dangers.  Aren’t you afraid?

The principalities and powers and the forces of evil are afraid of any child of God who is on a mission from God.  Papa Yahweh, Father God is taking over every aspect of society, and His faithful ones will rule and reign with Him forever!

Q.  You are 60 years old.  If you had only 5 minutes to share, of the most important things you have learned in your entire lifetime of ministry and study, what would it be?

The King’s Greatest Secret!  If you want to know it in depth, write to Great Commission Ministries, P.O. 7123, Minneapolis MN 55407, or call 877-866-4060.  Here in Africa, get in touch with Peter Kibalya, phone: 011-266-333-403

“Eniti  oba  da omi siwaju a tele tutu.”

Hi Dad,

It's me, Josh!!!!   

Hey friends and family! 

Well, I can safely say that God has been very

much on our side! 

First of all, I can report that we have arrived

safely with out any glitches or problems.  We

went through the border safely and with out any

harassment... well, almost no harassment.  :)

The conference was well attended  by about

60-65,000 people; pastors, church leaders and

others.  We sang with the other singers on stage

the first day!  What fun.  We didn't get to sing

after that, but my, what a sweet privilege to

have been a part.  It seems that doors have been

opening to our ministry and Brad has been

prophesying over every thing that moves.  God has

set up very rich and timely meeting with people

for equipping them through prophecy and personal

ministry.  As Brad puts, "Gleaners on edge of the

field."

 We attended two nights of the Crusade and it was

amazing to stand in the middle of crowds of over

300,000.  Many gave their lives to Christ!  Wow.

We may send you more about that later. 

Dad, I need you to Email me  your schedule

because the schedule you sent Benjamin was lost.

I'm not sure when I'll  be going to join you and

my schedule is filling up.  I haven't booked any

thing from Saturday onward so I can be sure to

join you on time. 

We have been making friends everywhere and have

been eating well.  I've been introducing Brad to

the Nigerian diet for fun!  Pounded Yam, Kamala,

Draw soup, Cashew fruit and fresh mangos.

Coool..     "Oyinbo Pepe!"  We've been getting

our exercise and our rest as well.

As far as my health, I've had diarrhea about 3

different times, the first being on the plane

from Amsterdam to Nig., but I'm quite fine now

and have been taking lots of water to compensate.

My collar bone is getting more and more

comfortable with greater ease of movement in my

arms and except for a few brief moments during

the whole trip, I have been completely PAIN FREE!

 Praise God!  

Well, I guess that's all for now.  My love to all

you, my friend's and family.  Sweet blessings.

Joshua Bohlen

  POEM FROM AFRICA - MARCH 2001

 

            by John Roy Bohlen

 

As I think, out across the miles,

          Away, beyond the sea,

I recall the laughter, and the smiles,

          And all, that you are, to me.

 

I remember our quick embrace,

          In the kitchen, or anyplace.

I can see me, holding hands with you,

          Your smile, coming from a heart, that’s true.

 

Each time, I get to be with you,

          Is better, each time, than ever!

Each time with you is refreshingly new.

          Our love, no thing, can sever.

 

Please pray for me, across the way,

          Out here, beyond the sea.

And, I pray for you, “God, speed the day

          When your arms, and your lips, find me.”

 

         Love, Hunzie...

Happy and glorious Valentine’s Day - 2001

 

Beloved Karen,

 

I love you!  I miss you.  I look forward to seeing you.  Tomorrow, it will be 3 weeks since I saw you last.   But my mental videos of you are clear in my mind, and, of course, I enjoy playing these videos in my mind - of you!

 

Do you have any videos of me?  Are they pleasant?  Mine of you are pleasant and wonderful, and exciting, and colorful and funny.  I am well in every way, and happy.

 

It is gloriously fun, traveling with Rufus, and Bassi and Provost.  We laugh and pray and minister and are strong friends.  God has been meeting our needs.

 

I love you!

 

This letter and poem was written for Karen on Valentine’s Day - 2001

     MODULERE MOTEL

 

Modulore Motel is quite a place!

          It is clean and quiet, plenty of space.

The staff is efficient, gracious and kind.

          Modulore is the spot where the nerves unwind.

 

The food is great, the beds are wide.

          If you want to rest, it is the place to abide.

The location is fine, the noise is nil.

          The traffic is down, things are gentle and still.

 

So, quiet your soul, there’s no need to hurry.

          Relax and enjoy, there’s no need to worry.

Modulore welcomes you!  It’s a lovely place to stay.

          We extend a bow of welcome, to you, night or day!

 

    Written by Chief Rev. Dr. John Roy Bohlen, U.S.A.

  To Chief and Lady Akinbobola, Owners of Modulore

                                 March - 2001

This couple has been kind to me.  In 2002, they paid for my breakfast, each day.  In 2003, they hosted me for free for 1 week, a gift to me, of  between $200 to $300!  Thank You, Lord God.

 

THOUGHTS BEFORE AFRICA

30 January 1999

6:18 AM:  Good Morning Lord.  This is me, john, one of Your dear ones.  Here I am.  This is me.  I am looking out, through my eyes.  I am listening through my ears.  I am feeling, living through my body.  I am thinking through my brain.  Mine is a big body, over 300 pounds.  I feel well, though ponderous.  And, I am conscious of You.  In this early morning, when there is a fog that is creating a mystical world outside, beneath the setting full moon, of white frosty trees and all.  And me beneath the feather covers, thinking about the African trip, and You.

This trip once again, more than ever, finds me thinking about danger, imprisonment, death.  I’m hearing, more and more, about kidnappers, Moslem hideosities, robbers and killers, and corrupt government, etc.  I am somewhat reluctant to take Joshua into this trip, yet, somehow I have no fear, and, I do have trust, and confidence that we, that is, both Joshua and I, will return home safely and sound, with reports of protection and exciting adventure.

I am asking You for some favours, Lord.  Lord, God of All of the Universe.  Creator King of Everything.  Magnificent Christ.  Lovely Lord.  Precious Holy Spirit.  Papa.  Friend. 

I am asking that we return safely.

I am asking You for many more years with Karen and the family.

I am asking You for outward “success” with the ministry and the Farm - but it must be “success” by Your standards.

I am asking You for the privilege of teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom for many years to come.

I am still expecting to walk in the glory that I have preached about.

I am asking and expecting to see lovely completed buildings on this property, and, outreach to many thousands, millions.

I am asking that You privilege us to minister, repeatedly to a sea of faces, drawn by You and Your glory, faces, reaching to the horizon.

I am asking that You, as You have promised, allow me to be used by You, to heal the sick, all of them, to raise the dead, to still storms, to walk on water, to travel from place to place in this world with the speed of thought, ministering to millions of people, seeing millions and millions and millions of people saved, filled with You, learning the King’s Greatest Secret, the deep things of You, perfected in You, and to see thousands of churches established, many thousands of ministries trained and commissioned, etc.  I am asking to be a vital part of the end-time army of the earth, working together with You to reap the Harvest of the Ages, in seeing the Establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth, in seeing the completion of the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth.

Like John of Old, I would like to be known as an apostle of love.  I would like to grow old, and healthy, with Karen, old and healthy, having seen the marriages of all of my children and the maturing of many  grandchildren.

I am asking that You allow me to see and participate in being a channel of Your Power, to see new legs, new arms, new eyes, new teeth, new organs, new breasts, new body parts, new bodies, new hair, total healings, multitudes of creative miracles, on many people’s bodies, cancers healed, including Pat, Dianne Rich, etc.  I am asking for Papa Cady’s healing, and, that of Lyle Payne.  I am asking to see supernatural provision for many people, for many years.  I am asking to be a channel of miracle judgement on Your enemies that refuse to bow to You.

I am asking that You never allow me to backslide, or become arrogant, or go into heresy.  I do not want to ever be wrong in judging people, but to love them with Your love, including Richard Fike and Michael Rood, and the Blodgetts.  I want to always love everyone with Your love, and to see everyone through Your eyes.  I would like to see multitudes and multitudes and multitudes of people come into Your Secret and Your Glory.  And, in this life, I want to walk in Your Glory, and live in Your Glory, behold Your Glory, reflect and be a channel of Your Life and Your Glory.  I ask and believe for, and I claim as mine, in practical, experiential, gut-level reality, ALL of the living words and works that You have ordained for me to do and speak, from before the foundation of the World.  I know that sin, or shame, or failure or defeat is NOT in Your plan for me or us.  I believe that great fruitfulness, and fulfillment, and accomplishment is all in Your perfect will and plan for me and us.  I firmly believe that all that I am asking for, is within Your perfect will for me.

However, once again, I formally bow to You, and to Your Awesomeness - to Your Mysterious Majesty, to Your Inscrutable Greatness, to Your Depths of Love - to You.  I bow before Your Sweet Will.  I humbly demand that You have Your perfect way with me.  You said and promised Lord, that if we ask anything according to Your will, that Your hear us, and that thus, we HAVE the petitions that we have asked of Thee.  Therefore, I am asking that You have Your perfect way with me, whatever that means, even if Your perfect will for me would be pain and suffering, and disappointment and the loss and failure of all that I hope for or hold dear.  By Your Great Grace, “NONE of these things move me.” Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil.  Though I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.   But, I am NOT believing for death and hell.  I am believing for life and light and immortality and for great success in You.

Please, Papa:  Let me live to see the Goodness of Yahweh in the Land of the Living.  Please allow me to see the development of this land, into a great ministry center, that is greatly used of You to train and send an army of dear ones to reap the harvest of the Ages. To be used of You in the perfecting of Your Bride and the building and perfecting and the maturing of Your Church.  Please let many books, of poetry, and music, and the book on the Church, etc., along with our other books, be used to bless hundreds of millions of people, near and far.

But, once again, I bow to Your perfect will, what ever this means.  I welcome the adventures of the days ahead, with You - what ever that means.  I love You Papa Yahweh.  I trust You.  I trust You to keep me, and Karen and Joshua and Joseph and Michelle and Kari and Dawn Joy and their spouses, and each of the Grandchildren, as the apple of Your eye, held securely in Your long strong loving arms, with our names written on Your hand, while seated on Your lap. 

I love You Lord.  I trust You.  I have hope.  Amen - - - - - - -

Your friend, me, John        7:21 AM

100 plane trips

Karen and I and the family have traveled extensively over the years.  In my travels alone, Let's see, Brazil, Holy Land 2x, Africa 16 times, etc., that's over 70 plane rides!  In my life, I have been in an airplane over 100 times, and, yet, I am alive!!!   Friend, it takes the grace of God for any of us to go anywhere safely.  In taking off from the Amsterdam Airport, some birds got caught in the jet plane motor, and we had to fly out over the ocean, drop $70,000 worth of fuel, go back to the airport, be put up in a hotel overnight, given 3 meals and fly home the next day.  Each trip to Africa involves 4 plane rides, two over and two back.  "Thank You, Lord, for Your safety!"  Each time we take off or land, I pray that God will keep me in His hands, in His mind, in His arms, under His feathers, as the apple of His eye, in His thoughts, hidden in Him, under the shadow of the Almighty, under His blood, etc.  I never cease to be amazed, how God keeps us in a cocoon of His love, His protection, His provision, His empowering, His enablement, His grace, His goodness, etc.

Idols on Heads

In Africa, it is so very common for people to carry the load on their heads.  But there is one area in Nigeria, where the people do not carry the load upon their heads.  Wanna know the reason?   It is because there is a tribe who believes that their head is an idol, and that to carry any load upon their head, would be being disrespectful to their idol, so, instead, they carry the load upon their shoulder.

“Go-slows” with the Sellers

In Nigeria, a traffic jam is called a "Go-Slow".  Often we will be in a hurry to get to a meeting on time, only to be held up by a "go-slow",  and sometimes, I will say, "Ehhh, we have come fas' to de "go-slow"!  Once or twice, I have been scheduled to speak at a meeting, where, because of a number of "go-slows", I arrived at the meeting, after the meeting was dismissed.  Oshodi is a well known place in Lagos, Nigeria, where the "go slow" is common.  There are times when armed robbers will take advantage, and rob people at gun-point, in broad daylight, while they are sitting in the traffic jam.  On our last trip, Elijah was stopped one night, near the airport.  The armed robber pointed his gun at the driver, and said, "Give me your cell phone!"  Elijah gave it to him.  "You have one minute to give me your money.  Drive over there into the dark!"  By now the gun was pointing at Elijah.  Elijah said to the thief:  "In Jesus' Name, I am not giving you any money.  In Jesus' Name, you are not going to shoot us, In Jesus' Name, we are going to drive away now."  And then, they drove away.

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

(Instead of writing your name, please put a secret number code on this paper, so that you may feel more free to answer

List 5 important things that Jesus took of yours to the Cross.

Have you read the Bible all the way through without skipping any parts?             If so, about how many times?

How soon would you say (honestly) that you believe that the End is going to come?  (Be courageous and try to estimate.)

What is the five most important things in all of life? 

About how many times, in this past year, have you given a prophecy, in a meeting?  Would you like to do this often?

Honestly, what are the five most important things in your life?

Of the almost 7 billion people on the Earth, what percentage of them would you say are Christians? 

Ditto - led by the Holy Spirit and are doing the will of God?

What percentage of your life is spent being led by the Holy Spirit?  (Please try to estimate.)

Aside from sleeping, what 5 things in your life do you spend most of your time doing, and how many hours per week?

If someone could explain to you how you could fulfill the Great Commission, and do the will of God, all at the same time, would you be interested?

If we were to schedule the first week-end each month, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, up at our farm, for the purpose of worshipping and seeking God, receiving and sharing, pot-lucking and camping, would you be interested?

If you could, as part of this weekend, attend seminar classes on Saturday from 9 AM to 12:30 PM that would result in a 1 year Great Commission School of  Ministries graduation certificate, would you be interested?  

If this weekend involved 3 or 4 hours of work on Saturday afternoon, after the meal from 1:30 until 5, for everyone, would you still be interested?

How important would you say the ministry of an apostle is for today?           Would you be able to name 3 present day apostles?

Not to predict that you are going to die any time soon, what very practical preparations have you made, just in case?

What percentage of your life do you have a clear conscience?

How do you intend to help fulfill the Great Commission?

MINISTRY TRIP: NIGERIA/ENGLAND

FEBRUARY - MARCH  -  1999

If any thing was done that was good, God gets the glory!

 

Health: A cocoon of the Lord’s provision, protection, power.

Ps 17:8  “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Thy wings.”

Lord of the Microcosm/Lord of the Macrocosm

8 plane trips: take off’s, landings, flights

In 39 days (over 5 weeks) we almost always ministered once a day, sometimes both in different places at the same time, and often ministered twice a day, each and in separate places, some times 3 times a day, and once 5 times, and often in separate places.  Often, as in minister’s seminars, we would minister for hours.  In between meetings, were eating, sleeping and traveling, but, a constant stream of teaching, counseling, witnessing, and encouragement.

The King’s Greatest Secret was ministered over 40 times.

The Throne-Room Mentality was ministered probably over 30 times.  Kingdom Glory was ministered probably a dozen times.

The Gospel of the Kingdom was preached to groups of ministers and church leaders.  Many open doors and invitations were given.  We ministered to 2 kings and their wives and one king’s children and household.

 

Erin-Ijesa:  Farewell to the King!

Akure:  Follow the worship!  -  Ministry to Malam.  -  Taxi wanted to charge me double.  -  “Pastor, God is angry with you.”   Tiawo’s family.  -  My new watch

Kaduna:  love offerings,  pounded yam,  nephew sent away,  flat tire,  Joshua’s back flip,  female circumcision -70%,   Evangelist Monday,  the Church of the  Broken Glass, 

 

Abeokuta:  the trip to - with the policeman on board, red light district,  busy schedule,  provisions,  the two kings, Idols on heads

 

Lagos:  Pastor Johnson’s place,  minister’s seminars,  traffic,

 

London:  drum,  London, Thames,  offerings,  love of the people,

 “Go-slows” with the sellers

Oshodi

trips to and from

          police angel

          police stops

          petrol

          protection

          People walking

          fiery chariots of angels

Ministration

          preaching and teaching  Topics:

                   the KOG

                   True worship

                   the KGS

                   Throne-room mentality

                   Being led by the Spirit

                   Doing the Will of God

          Laying on of hands

                   Prayer for sick

                   Impartation of the Holy Spirit

          Laying on of hands cont.)

ITEMS TO TAKE:  Our pictures, that we had on the trip  - Ditto that we took on the trip.  -  Camera  -  video camera  - drums, horse tail,  posters,  map,  money,  clothing,  watch,  pictures of  Philemon’s family,

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO EMPHASIZE

The reprinting of  How To Rule The World - our handbook on the Gospel of the Kingdom.  Why?  Because “This Gospel of the Kingdom shall (first) be preached in all of the World for a witness to all of the nations, and then, the End shall come.”  Mt.24:14

 “What is it that Yahshua took of ours, with Him, to the Cross?  The reprinting of  The King’s Greatest Secret,  Why?  Because, the most important thing people can know is the King’s Greatest Secret!  Ask the people:  Where would you be today, if it were not for the King’s Greatest Secret!?  Tell them what is the King’s Greatest Secret!

Tell them the importance of the reprinting of  The Cult of Cannibals, our handbook on how to rightly relate.

Tell them the importance of  the printing of the book, The Perfect Church, our new book on how Christ intends to perfect His Bride, before the End can come.

 

TRAVEL RECOMENDATIONS FOR NIGERIA

1. Be absolutely certain that God is leading you to go, and, not just a personal whim. The sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit.  Rom.8.

2. Among the Yoruba, bow as an indication of respect.

3. Whatever the culture, try to learn the language. They will be pleased and honoured by every attempt. At the same time, believe it or not, it is very important for you to try as hard as possible, to speak Nigerian English so that you can be understood a much greater percentage of the time.    ("Gdaytah pahsentaj o' de tahm")

4. Drink ONLY bottled or well boiled water, or you can get very ill. This includes Lagos, good hotels, and nice hostesses. You can drink the local water by faith and get very sick, or, you can drink bottled water by faith, and stay well.

5. Carry with you some toilet paper at all times.

6. Carry 3 sets of identification, 1 in your luggage, one on your person, and one in your personal bag. This I.D. should include copies of your passport, your plane ticket, your driver's license, your itinerary, etc.

This way, if one set is stolen, lost, or destroyed, you will be ahead of the game. Leave showy items of value at home: rings, watches, jewelry, unless you want to give them.  (You may be asked unashamedly by a brother or sister or thief, could they have it?)

7. From before you arrive at Lagos, make sure that you have some Nigerian currency, in small amounts and values, so as to be able to give at a moment's notice. This can save a lot of hassle.  Begging is respectable.

8. Be led by the Holy Spirit always, and especially as to how to relate to those who confront you, such as soldiers, robbers, intimidators, etc.

9. Learn proper protocol  when greeting dignitaries, etc.

10. Carry ear plugs to blot out the sounds of the church loudspeakers.

11. Take care to not eat or drink things containing or rinsed by contaminated water, viz., salad, fruit, ice, etc.  Wipe out utensils.

12. When hungry for a snack, eat fruit, (their bananas are the best we've tasted.) and ground-nuts (peanuts), etc.

13. Stay away from raw street-venders food, such as eggs, fish, except smoked or dried fish.

14. Be prepared to be very, very hot.

15. The driving is the worst in the world. Do not go unless you are ready to die. If you are ready to die, then their driving does not make any difference, and you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

16. Take mosquito lotion along, and sun-screen.

17. Take a hand-held tape recorder along, and do not give it away until you have recorded all of the songs and sounds you want to keep.

18. Bring a Camera.  You may offend someone if they know you are taking their picture without their permission.  Be discrete.

19. Grab bits of rest whenever possible, to avoid burn-out. Pace yourself.

20. Go prepared to minister. Because you are white and American, you will be asked to minister, to teach.

21. Take as many things as you can to give away, including luggage, Bible, jewelry, reading glasses, books, toys, etc.

22. Do not give a stranger, even in uniform, your tickets or your passport, unless you are really certain that it will be returned. Note who takes it, where they take it, etc.  INSIST on keeping them in sight.

23. Wear a money belt or pouch, next to your skin, that is not easily detectable to a pat search, or steal, etc.

24. The only way you will be able to let your host/ess really know that you do not want any more food put on your plate, is, if you leave some leftovers. Keep in mind that they have served you first, and the ladies and children will be probably be eating after you,

25. Travel light

26. Have fun.

27. Always keep a right spirit.

P.S.:  Here are some recommendations I am going to add to the others, for travel to Africa.

*  Keep in mind that nearly every African wants to come to America, not realizing that America will soon have worse living conditions than Africa.  God may not, and probably does not want them to come to America.  They think that if they can come to this land of promise, that all their problems will be solved, not realizing that crime happens here too, that money is not easily come by, that it is difficult to make a living here, that the dangers of materialism and backsliding are greater here than at home, etc.

*  It is best to NEVER make any promise, or to give hope beyond reality.  The reality is that you may NOT be able to help any African come over here, because the red tape can be prohibitive, and, aside from a great creative miracle, and the will of God, impossible.  The state department of USA is trying very earnestly to keep people out of America who may not measure up.  Nigeria has a well deserved reputation for drug smuggling, staying on illegally, contraband, and crime.  Many thousands have come here, promising to remain only long enough to attend a Christian conference, or go to school, come to minister for a short season, then disappear into the population as illegal immigrants.  The state department tries really hard to stop this flood.

*  Practically every trip to Africa will be followed by pen pals, writing and begging for money.  Many times, people will be friendly, as bait for a hook that demands friendship expressions that are beyond your leading or capability.  We must always remember to never minister to people on their terms, never on our own terms, but only, ever, always on God's terms.  Amen.

GOD KNOWS THE SPARROW'S FALL!

March 12, 2003

Dear One,

Glory be to God, I am home safely from the far country of Nigeria.

On the take off from Amsterdam, a bird or birds were sucked into the jet motor, damaging the motor and putting it out of commission so we had to dump about $40,000 worth of fuel and stay in the hotel overnight until they could get us an extra plane.  Then we came home safely! 

We had a glorious reception here at home, a lovely party in the barn on Saturday night, with 70 people present and about 40 plus people staying over on Friday and Saturday nights!  Fun!

Joshua and Tara’s wedding plans continue for April 19 in Bismarck, North Dakota.  He is moving away from home one week from today.  Joey and Michelle and the 6 children made it home safely from a 7 week ministry trip to the West Coast, and parts in between.

Karen and I, Lord willing, are planning to fly to Los Angeles in a week or so, to help my brother Michael and Sandy celebrate his retirement from the LAPD police force.  Then we plan to fly to Portland, Oregon, to help my folks celebrate my Mother’s 88th birthday!

Joey and Michelle are still planning to move away to Bismarck within the next few months, before the birth of their new baby boy, in late May or early June.

Karen and I and all of us want to take this opportunity to say a sincere and special thank you for all of your love and friendship, prayers, giving, and kindness,   Thank you!!!!!!!!   Our e-mail is   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

With love, deep appreciation and respect,

john roy bohlen and for Karen and the family

NIGERIA REPORT - JANUARY 28 - MARCH 7, 2003

John Roy Bohlen

Preparation:   I have a reason for telling you this story, which I will tell you in a moment. When we planned this trip, Karen and I had no money.  We were obedient to God and planned the trip anyway.  Elijah had no money for himself.  Each of us left our wife with thousands of dollars in bills, (for which the Lord has been providing).  I called Elijah when he was leaving for the airport, three days before me.  I said, “Elijah, be honest with me, tell me how much money you have in your pocket?!”  He said, “Oh, about 3 or 4 dollars!”  In other words, Elijah was leaving for the airport for Nigeria, to travel to Europe, then to Nigeria, with needs for food, gas, car repair, an all of that, with 3 or 4 dollars!!!   I quickly called some of my friends, and told them of Elijah’s predicament, as I could not drive down in time to meet him, nor had we any money of our own to give.  One of our mutual Christian friends responded by saying, “Oh, 3 or 4 dollars should be enough.”  Two of our friends decided to sacrificially give out of their need.  Deanna Lee and her husband just missed Elijah, the other, Chuck Dodge, with Judy’s agreement, met Elijah at the airport with $85 dollars.  Elijah said that “Chuck was like an angel from God!”  Elijah gave $20 of the $85 to his wife and boarded the plane, to prepare for my coming in Nigeria.

I myself followed 3 days later with $600 in my pocket that was to cover hotel, water, feeding, transportation, giving to the Nigerians, missions, and all that is needed for 5 weeks within the country.  Many of the expenses are equal to that of the United States.  For example, the hotel costs, themselves can easily amount to $30 or more per night.  There is a reason why I am telling you all of this.   The Israelites were in a similar situation in the Wilderness, and in need of encouragement.  I am trying to help you to see that God, in His love and wisdom, sometimes allows, sometimes causes us to be in situations of total, total, total dependence upon Him, utterly and totally at His mercy.  He does not seem to feel obligated to apologize nor explain to us His reasons for allowing or causing us to be hideously hopeless, and horribly helpless, without His hope and help.  You and I are completely dependent upon God for our every heart-beat, our every breath, our every coherent thought, our every pain-free moment, our every ounce of strength, our every moment spent in God, the ability to stand, or sit, or walk or coordinate, or hear or feel or think or move or see, or taste or eat or drink.  Every one of us are totally, totally, totally, totally, totally, totally, utterly, completely, and absolutely, totally dependent upon Him for every split second of life and sanity and decent behavior.  Some of you think that you go to work and earn a living.  The strength and even the willingness to do that comes to you as a gift from God.  Some of you may think that you have always worked for every thing that you have.  The truth is, that none of us has anything that we did not receive from God.  His Word also declares in Ephesians 2:8,9 that every one of us deserves only an eternity in hell, and nothing better.  Any thing more than this is ours because God looked and does look down upon us and He took pity, and He had mercy.  Amen.

WHY DO WE GO?

Because God tells us to go:  Mt. 24:14, 28:18-20.

Because it is not right that people here twice when there are those who    have not heard once.

Because the people are hungry to learn and they are willing to change.

Lagos: 1st 1 1/2 weeks;  Akure: second week;  Elesha: 3rd week:

Abeokuta: 4th week;  Lagos: 5th week;  Trip home:

Here are some of the items we taught on and talked about:

Female Circumcision: Question:  “Is there anyone here that can give me any Scripture that even remotely suggests that we should circumcise young ladies?”  Silence. This horrible, demonic, devilish, dastardly, dirty, diabolical, practice continues widely to this very day!  It involves the cutting away and stealing of genital nerves and tissues that give pleasure to a wife in her marriage so that she will not be immoral.   This demonic practice that continues until this very hour, even among Christians, horribly fails to accomplish its purpose, because the source of desire in humans is their heart and their hormones, produced by the ovaries.

Body Stewardship:  Question:  “What would you think of me if I took a $50,000 Mercedes Benz, you had given me to evangelize the villages, and, instead of putting fuel in the fuel tank, went to the swamp and put toilet water in the fuel tank?”  The people shout, “Madness!”, “Lunacy!”  I say, “We do worse than this, when we put white sugar, white flour, and white rice into our bodies!”  Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in Africa, and is almost always a death sentence.

King’s Greatest Secret!  Question:  “What did Jesus take of ours with Him to the Cross?”  Less than 1 in 10,000 Christians, both in Nigeria and in the United States, answer out of Rom.6:6, Gal.2:20 or Col.3:3,4.

The Throne Room Mentality:  Question:  “Where are you, right now?”  Very few have a Col.1:20-2:1-6, Ps. 16 or 91 Throne-Room mentality.

The Heart of God: Question:  How big is the Heart of God?   In Genesis 6:6, the NIV says that “The Heart of God was filllllllllled with pain!!!!!!”  and that “It repented Yahweh the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.”  (KJV)  What we do and say and how we live DOES make God sad, mad or glad, Zeph.3:17.

The Gospel of the Kingdom:              Questions: 

“What is the Kingdom of God? 

“When is ‘The End’ going to come?”  (Mt.24:14)

“What is the Name of the King of the Kingdom?”  (Yahweh, Yahshua) 

“How important is the Kingdom of God on your list of priorities?”

“If you were to die and go to the Judgement Seat of  Christ, what kind of           grade, score, mark, evaluation, judgement would you receive?”

“Is it possible to be perfect or to live without sinning?”  “If not, why?”  “If so, how?”  (The answer to this question is: “Yes, and No.”, then it is necessary to define the word “perfect”.)  Mt.5:48, 1 Jn 1:9, 2Cor 2:14,15

PROTECTION:  We must have passed through close to 150 road blocks.  God gave us such favour that we were never once searched, nor asked to leave our vehicle.  Most of the time we were waved through without more than slowing down.  God protected us from militant Muslims, from armed robbers, carjackers, political activists or nasty insects.  Instead of anti-American sentiment, I was treated with the deepest of respect, and given a hero’s treatment everywhere I went.  Complete strangers bowed to me.  I gave a Kingdom bow to them in return, acknowledging that they were equal to and superior to me.  I sometimes polished their shoes, to convey to them the idea that in the Kingdom of God, we become the servant of all.

PROVISION:  “Is Yahweh able to provide a table in the Wilderness?”

Ps 78:14  “Then He led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.  15  He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.  16  He brought forth streams also from the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers - -  19  Then they spoke against God; they said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?’  20  Behold, He struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing; ‘can He give bread also?’   ‘Will He provide meat for His people?’  21-22  Therefore Yahweh heard and was full of wrath, and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also mounted against Israel; because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation.  23-24  Yet He commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven; and He rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them food from heaven.  25  Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.”  (NAS)

In Nigeria, in Africa, one does not want to plan to be sick.  The health services are woefully lacking.  One day, with three weeks to go until my scheduled return home, my left foot was swollen too much, it became red and began hurting.  The next day the pain and redness had spread to my upper ankle.  The next day the pain, swelling and redness moved up toward my knee.  I developed a headache, a tooth ache, I was weak and shaky, light headed, slight nausea.  I did not know what to do.  I prayed and said to the Heavenly Father, “Papa Yahweh, unless You come to help me, I can return home in shame and embarrassment, with the testimony that You could not keep me well in a strange land.  It is up to You.  Without You, I am helpless.  The next day I was totally healed from every symptom, and stayed healthy to this day.

Singing:  I wrote 14 Yoruba melodies to Ps.16; Ps.91; Mt. 5:48; Mt.6:33;  Mt. 7:21; Mt.24:13,14;  Rom.6:6;  Rom 6:11; Eph 2:4;  1 Cor.15:57; 2 Cor 9:8;  2 Cor.3:18;  Gal.2:20;  I Jn 4:17.

 

THANK YOU!!!

 

Thank you for all of the giving and praying that you have done.  I prayed through our phone list, taking time with each name, each church.

THE GIVING ON THE PART OF THE NIGERIANS

Nigerian Believers gave: Gasoline, rides, language help, money, water, bananas, peanuts, fish, salad, beef, turkey, chicken, cashews, oranges, grapefruit, biscuits, medical help, use of their automobiles, a drum, a tambourine, Yoruba Bibles, books, letters of encouragement, advice, cloth, bedspread, sets of clothing, help with carrying my bags Bible and water, pictures, motel expenses, medicine, prayers, hospitality, ministry and teaching opportunities, help to fan me,  (but, no one was willing to carry me on their head), and love.

During an extreme petrol or gasoline shortage, people would either give us money for gas, or rides, or the use of their car, or would give us of their supply of gas.  People would take time helping with the language, would help me carry my suit-cases, Bible, brief-case, etc.  They would give me a handkerchief or sweat cloth.  They would give us gifts of money, water and food.  We went to a lady pharmacist, who took us to a Christian doctor friend, who doctored me for free.  Others gave us the use of their automobiles in a society where they have no insurance, where the death and accident rate is the worst in the world.  One pastor named Lois made an announcement that the people would be blessed by God if they gave to “the man of God”.  She and they gave a drum, a tambourine, six sets of clothing, and other gifts.  Elijah’s brother gave a white Yoruba Bible for Joshua and Tara for their wedding.  Others sent cards, letters and gifts for them.  The Nigerians gave books, letters of encouragement, advice, cloth.  One lady who is a chief, a merchant and a nurse, gave food, lodging, an expensive bedspread, cooking, the use of her car.  Others gave us new sets of clothing, help with carrying my bags Bible and water, pictures, motel expenses.  One man gave us a whole week for free a stay in his motel, along with air-conditioning.  Others were willing to pray for me, for us, for our family and for our ministry, and some even fasted.  Others gave us hospitality. Others gave us opportunities to minister and teach.  Some came to actually help to fan me, so I could preach without suffering heat stroke,  (but, no one was willing to carry me on their head).  The love and giving from these people was sacrificial.

 

THE LADY AND HER HUSBAND

There is a Lady named Augustina.  Her husband studied in Russia and England.  They are native Nigerians.  He is a pastor, but he also own his own computer business, and is a business consultant. Even before they ever met me, they donated a driver and car for three days.  They insisted on putting me up in a hotel room the last two nights.  The hotel cost for two bedrooms and a common sitting room, was about $400 per night, along with hotel food.  The day before we were to leave, they invited ten of us to dinner at a fancy Oriental restaurant.  The bill came to over $300!  At the close of the meal, she handed me an envelope containing 6 one hundred dollar bills, then gave me one more, then gave me two more.  At a time when I had no money, I was handed $900 by this Nigerian woman and her husband, who, prior to that meal, had been  total strangers to me.  Can you imagine the Lord’s eyes, twinkling with amusement at the idea of lavishly spreading a table in the Wilderness, and treating us this way, when my pockets were empty? 

Some may object to this lavish treatment in a land where people are starving, but the money, the invitation, the food, the love came from God, and, on these last two days in this wilderness country, we allowed the Lord to hug and kiss and feed and carry and reassure us.  God revealed to us again, that He is truly able to prepare a table in the Wilderness.  Amen.

On the way home, the seat assigned to me was taken, so I was assigned another seat, that was also taken.  The steward asked me if I would mind sitting here, which I accepted.  Upon sitting, I discovered that the Lord had given me 4 entire seats, in which to sleep, all the way home from Europe!  On a previous trip, the steward took me from a crowded seat to first class, saying to me, “We do not know what you do, but it has come down to us from the highest authority, that we are to treat you like a king!”  And, so they did, all the way home from Africa!  God tenderly took constant care of us.  Isn’t that lovely?!!!  Ps.16; 23; 37; 91; 149 .

 

Nigeria - 8/9 2005  Idol of Iron

I had been invited to conduct a minister's seminar in Ondo Town, about 40 miles south, southwest from Akure in Ondo State in Nigeria.  As we entered the city, we were confronted by a road block of an annual celebration of worshippers of the idol god of iron, called Ogun.  The idol worshippers had painted their faces rather grotesquely, and were blocking the roads to bully, intimidate and extort money.  I was told that if a person kills a dog, he or she will have certain supernatural powers and advantages.

As we approached the road block, one man laid down in front of the car, another drug a tire rim in front of our car, another threatened to hit our car with an iron club, a part of what looked like an axel to the car, another, who was either drunk or high or demon possessed, or a combination of these, climbed up on the bonnet, the hood of the car, and laid himself down there, as if to say, "Hey, you guys are not going any where, until and unless we decide to let you go, and we will not let you go until we have had our way with you, until we have extorted what ever we wish from you." 

Still others surrounded the car, pounding on the windows, yelling and shouting.  When they saw my white skin and beard, some started shouting the name of an evangelist who is well known in Africa, and, especially in Nigeria, "Ahhh, Reinhart Bonke!  Rheinhart Bonke!  Then, one of them threw a half dead dog upon the hood ( the bonnet of the car).  The dog was trembling with fear at its cruel treatment.  What was our reaction or response??  We smiled and gently waved, and prayed, reminding ourselves that we were sitting upon our

Heavenly Father's lap, listening to His heart-beat, His whispers of encouragement.  After some time, the crowd melted away from us, and we passed through without harm, and without having given them any money.  Another day, we had an armed police escort who led us through.  From a safe place, later that day, but without the policeman, we watched the idol worshippers bully and intimidate and extort other passersby.  They knocked over motorcycles and their passengers.  One of the reasons they had so much freedom is because some of the local kings or chiefs were themselves involved in the idol worship.

 

"I did not get the Secret!"

Several years ago, Elijah introduced me to a Nigerian attorney, who said to me, "I got your book, The King's Greatest Secret! .  I read the book through one time, but I did not get the Secret.  Two times.  Three times. Four times - but I did not get the Secret.  The fifth time through, I got the Secret!  Praise God."

 

"4 OPEN DOORS!"

Before I left on my 18th trip to Africa in 17 years, someone, I do not remember who) prophesied over me that God would open 4 new doors that had not previously been opened.  I became curious to see what these new doors would be.

CHAPLAINCY

One of the doors was an invitation to join the Nigerian chaplaincy.  I was commissioned and given the title of "Brigadier General"!  This opens the door, to ministry to their armed forces and policemen, to hospitals, prisons and jails; and, perhaps, most important, to the chaplains themselves.  I have already been asked to teach them.  When I was commissioned, I was given a white military uniform, complete with braids and whistle, a blue beret, name tag, stars on shoulders, I.D. card.  All of this was accompanied by marching and saluting.

Another open door was to the country of Ghana to minister in the villages and the bush, as well as in Anglican churches.

Another open door came about like this.  Because one of the places that I reside is the Bishop Vinning Cathedral Guest House, I have the privilege of meeting many influential Anglican dignitaries.  One such came to see me.  They called him "Venerable".  While visiting with him, Karen, my wife called me on a cell phone they had given me to use.  I was so happy to hear from her that I was very loving and enthusiastic.  After the conversation with her, the Venerable said quietly and wistfully, "I wish I could talk to my wife like that."  They explained to me that his darling wife had just been killed in a car accident, just 2 months previously, leaving him with 5 young children.  I embraced him, as the tears came. 

Out of this friendship, came a loving invitation to minister in Anglican Churches and Seminaries.  Through him, another door opened when he promised me that he would see to it that my new book on female circumcision, or FGM, as it is known, would be given a special printing, uniquely tailored for Anglicans, sponsored by the Anglican church.

Another door that opened was an invitation to be the United States representative for Dr. Elijah Bankole' s new International Ministerial Fellowship.  Already, there is a great deal of interest, with ministers signing up from within and without Nigeria.

I was not sick for the entire time I was there this last time!  Hallelujah!!

My hosts try to put me into the best hotels affordable.  But, sometimes, unpleasant things are unavoidable.  One night, just after falling asleep, I heard a wild noisy commotion under my bed.  It turned out to be rats.  I stayed awake for an hour or so, reading my Bible, because I did not want any rats to nibble on my toes.  I heard a noise.  I looked up in time to see a rat sliding into my room under the door to the hall.  But when I picked up my size 16 shoe to throw at the rat, it ran away, so I plugged up that hole so it could not return.

On a previous trip, while going through the kitchen of a guest house, I happened to see some rats in the kitchen.  I thought I would report them to the night person.  He laughed a hearty laugh, and enthusiastically declared, "Ho yes,  we have veddy beeg rahts, heyah!!"

GIFTS

Increasingly, I receive sacrificial love gifts from the people: A trip I took in August of 2005, I received 3 gifts of cloth, 2 gifts of clothes, pictures; and the food of: coconuts, peanuts, bananas, cassava, oranges, chicken, turkey wings, beans, eggs, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, avocados.  Sometimes I receive what they call 'prophet's offerings'.  One of the last times this happened, the pastor announced that I would be willing to lay hands upon and minister to the person or persons who brought the largest offering.  "The man of God will minister to you, if you bring, such and such amount of money."  I told the pastor that I would be willing to lay hands upon, and embrace anyone who came, money or not.  And, so we did.  They came, put their money in the basket, or not, and received my blessing or embrace.

TRIP: Feb/Mar: 2006 with Michael Robin, married to Kari:

We depend so very much on God for our finances for these trips. After sending out nearly 300 letters of appeal and making personal appeals for the dear ones in Africa, we found ourselves with very little to take with us for the dear ones there.  The situation was so bleak that I called our main host, Elijah Bankole, to ask him if we should cancel our trip.  He told us that the people were waiting for us, and that we should come, by faith, believing that God would supply.  So, we forged ahead.

THE POST OFFICE

On Friday before the Wednesday we were to leave, the postman delivered to us our passports and visas.  The only problem was that the overnight postal envelope had become worn and had developed a tear on one end.  The visas were not there, nor were the passports.  They had become lost in the mail!!!  By the time we checked out the obvious places the post office might have left them, the week-end had come.  On Monday before the Wednesday we were to leave, 'day after tomorrow', we spent the day confirming that the passports were not able to be recovered, so, at the last minute we flew to New York.  Keep in mind:  we are to leave in two days! 

Monday night, arrive in New York, where we are greeted by the driver for our friend, Dr. Jo Omeokwe, a pastor and a math professor in the New York College system, who for years, has expedited our obtaining of visas for Nigeria.

Tuesday morning in New York: (We are to leave the next afternoon from Minneapolis!)  The Nigerian Embassy told us the they could not help us until we obtained a passport.  I called the U.S. Passport people, who told us that we could not get an appointment for days.  Michael Robin called the same people and we were given an appointment for 2 P.M. that same day!!  We had our passports in hand that same day!  We rushed to the Nigeria Embassy and were told to return at 9 the next day, in New York, the same day we were scheduled to fly out of Minneapolis!  At that point we had to make a last minute decision: whether to risk $3,000 that we would forfeit if we could not make our next day's flight, or to cancel, and, perhaps reschedule, to be on the safe side.  We decided to risk everything, hoping that God would do the impossible, by 1) getting our Nigerian visas the next morning, in time to make our 10:50 a.m. flight to Minneapolis, in time to catch our 3 something P.M. flight to Africa.  We received our passports at the Nigerian visas in Manhattan at 10 A.M.  Normally, it takes nearly an hour and a half to get to the Kennedy airport.  We made it in about 20 to 25 minutes!!!  They were just making the last call, and were ready to close the gate when we rushed up.  Karen and Kari did our last minute shopping and packing, picked us up at the Humphrey Airport in Minneapolis, and rushed us to the main terminal in Minneapolis.  We ran for the gate, and arrived, just as they also were making the last call at the gate.  When we sat down in the airplane, we looked at each other in amazement, and rolled our eyes, wept tears of joy!

We ministered all the way over, on the plane, including the airport in Amsterdam. 

Ministry to Chaplains

In Nigeria, we ministered to chaplains, about 150 of them, on Marriage and Family.  I taught them the difference between a marriage that may only be "Christian", as contrasted with a marriage that is "Kingdom", that is, a marriage where the couple relate to each other as Christ the King of Everything, wants them to relate.  I talked to them about a Kingdom Husband who is loving, tender, gentle, right spirited, with the fruit of the Spirit, and who is servant hearted.  I gave them a commission from John 13 where Jesus thrice commanded us to wash each other's feet.  The husbands present were given the charge to go home and wash the feet of their wife.  Later the 70 year old arch bishop, founder, president and general in charge of the chaplain's association, went home, knelt at the feet of his wife, and washed her feet!!!  I was mightily impressed, and, so was his wife!

SAVED FROM THE CUTTING!!

One of the most gratifying things was to hear two first hand testimonies of two baby girls who had been saved from the cutting, because of our book on female circumcision.  An Anglican priest, Brother Segun, took it upon himself, with permission, to print two thousand of these in memory of his late wife, and we have been getting these books out, through spheres of influence, to the dear ones who can and do do something about the matter.

TIRED OLD MISSIONARY

In September of 2007 I was returning from Nigeria, and was very tired.  At over 6 feet tall, I weighed some 300 pounds trying to cram all that muscle into small airplane seats made for shorter people with much less muscle than me.  I have to make a constant effort on these flights to keep my body in my own seat space and not let my shoulder or arm or knee or foot go out into the isle to be hit by food carts or people.  Before boarding the overseas flight home from Amsterdam, I asked one airline lady if she could have mercy on a tired old missionary and allow me to be seated in first class on my silver elite.  She named a ridiculous amount of money that such a move would cost.  So I asked another lady, who simply said no.  At the boarding gate, I asked another lady, who said, "You sit over there, I will see what I can do."  A few minutes later, she assigned me to a new seat.  It was   "I - A" in first or business class.  This seat was like an overstuffed living room chair with an adjustable foot rest.

A VILLAGE ON THE OCEAN

In late 2007, I was invited to minister in a remote village near the Atlantic ocean, some distance southeast from Lagos, on the coast.  We drove and drove, having car trouble on the way, finally arriving at a place in the sand where we had to trek through the sand toward the shore.  We climbed down into a 20 foot boat canoe dug from a huge tree log, and were pushed with a long pole through the swamp, through waters that were infested with alligators and snakes to an island that contained a remote village, consisting of Moslems, some Christians and some idol worshippers.  The people were very joyful and curious to see my white skin, and gathered round to see and hear.  I told them about how we can sit on the throne with our Heavenly Father, and with Jesus, and asked them if they wanted to do that now.  Everyone of them wanted to sit on the throne with Heavenly Father, just like it talks about in Psalm 91 and in Ephesians 1 & 2.  I told them that it was first necessary for them to become born-again, by inviting Christ Jesus to come into them, as Lord and Saviour.  Everyone of them, including the Moslem people, responded by doing so.  I told them that they must leave their sins behind.  All promised to do so.  They came running.  All joined me around the Throne of God, with the expectation of living here continuously, from now on.

 

CATHEDRAL!

One of my greatest thrills, is to minister to the Anglicans, who have been very eager and very open.  One priest gave up his own bed and bedroom for 20 days, so that I could be comfortable.  The savings to me was over $800.  He insisted that the money saved should be put back into the ministry.  I spoke at a huge cathedral, amidst the pomp and splendor, and was wonderfully received, wearing my simple cotton African garb, in contrast to their clerical gowns and formal dress.  I was given permission to preach the Gospel freely.  Everyone was gloriously receptive.

SONGS

To enable me to be able to remember better, certain verses of Scripture I set to music and song.  Many of the verses that I often refer to while preaching the Gospel of The Kingdom.  Here are some of them:

Ps. 16:8 & Ps. 16:11

Ps. 37:7,8

Ps. 91:1-4

Ps.135:20,21

Ps.136:1 & Ps.136:3

Mt. 5:48

Mt. 6:33

Mt. 7:21

Mt.24:13 & Mt.24:14

Ro. 6:6 & Ro. 6:11

1 Co.15:57

1 Co.16:23

2 Co.1:3 & 2 Co.1:12

2 Co.2:14

2 Co.3:18

2 Co.9:8

Gal. 2:20

Eph.5:20

Ph.4:13

1 Th.1:1

He.13:15

While I am able to go to Africa, the stories will continue!  In the meanwhile, we all lived HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!

20 September 2008

Dear Ones in Christ:

HalleluYahweh!!!

I am 2 days since safely arriving back from Nigeria!  All glory be to God, for all the great things He has done.  On the flight from Nigeria, the cabin attendants made room for me to sleep four seats across!   I was able to help a Yoruba speaking man that desperately needed insulin, so on the flight from Europe, they put me in first class. 

I had an appointment with the doctor, as I had fallen in Nigeria, so I needed encouragement for my broken shoulder and rib.  They are to read the X-rays today.  At the hospital, I noticed a doctor's name that seemed Yoruba, so I inquired, and I found and met a lovely doctor who is now, with her entire Yoruba family our great good friends! 

When I arrived in America, Karen, Dawn Joy, Timothy and Joshua Samuel, Tim's mother, Kari and their new Baby Kaitlyn, and Timothy Bankole were all there to greet me with cheers and gentle embraces, laughter and photographs, while many others looked on, smiling.  When I arrived home at the farm in the bush, Michelle, and grandchildren Shekinah, Eleeshua, Zechariah, Shoshanna, Ezekiel, and Elijah James were all there to greet us, along with our dog, who wagged her tail and made funny sounds.  They had made a lovely beef dinner and we all had a happy time around the table, too busy rejoicing that I did not have time to tell them any adventure stories from Africa.  One good thing about my sore feet, and pains, was all the sympathy I got from everyone.  But, I don't know if this, and my gout, is considered "suffering for Jesus" or not, because God and everyone has been treating me so well.

One of the highlights of this trip to Ghana and Nigeria was their tremendous response to the marriage seminars.  After each of the 6 or 7 seminars, the wives and husbands were deeply repenting to each other for having deprived and defrauded each other, from 1 Cor. 7.  The people in this part of the world are soooo hungry to learn and are soooo willing to change.  I can talk to them about marriage, eating properly, female circumcision, the King's Greatest Secret, the Throne-Room Mentality, Yahweh's Name, and the other aspects of Gospel of the Kingdom, and these people repent, and they CHANGE!!!!!!!, and they rise to new and powerful levels of being more gloriously victorious in these areas.  Dear friend Pastor Bassey testified, "I have been running away from sugar for the past 10 years."  I met Pastor Dele who had earlier testified, "We would have circumcised our daughters, had it not been for you!" 

DEPRIVING, DEFRAUDING, WITHOLDING

A pastor's wife who has been depriving, defrauding him for years, was overheard counseling another woman, "You must not fail in this, your ministry to your husband!"  Whole congregations came into these revelations of the King's Secret, the Throne-Room, etc.  In NO new congregation, had ANY one given the desired answer to the question, "What did Christ take with you to the Cross?", until God taught them through us.  A lady in a marriage seminar publicly testified that though she had escaped into the bush when they came to circumcise her as a child, that it had been done when she was helpless while giving birth.  Please give great glory to God for the deep and glorious changes that are now in place, as a result of your sacrifices and efforts.  See what the Lord has done, through your giving, prayers and efforts?!  Amen.

TRANSLATIONS

A great man of God, highly skilled and trained, promised to translate 5 of our books into Yoruba!  Another, The King's Greatest Secret into French!  (Earlier I received a prophecy saying that my books would be translated into 150 languages, but that I must be diligent.)  People prepared and brought meals and fruit, fuel, made lovely clothes, provided transportation.  Beloved friend, Anglican Pastor Segun, who had been widowed with 5 small children, and who has repeatedly opened his home for me to stay, safe and comfortable, is soon to be wedded to the loveliest of African princesses.  At great sacrifice, Elijah Bankole gave to me both car and driver friend Festus, for my safety and comfort.  Festus is now becoming a minister and I often encouraged him to share the microphone.

INVESTING

By the way, if you want me to invest your money for you in very fruitful, and rewarding strategic places in God's Kingdom, I am willing to do so:  In Ghana, host Timothy Gambo, wife and children, in Nigeria, dear friend Pastor Yinka and family, Festus and family, Pastor Bassey and family, Provost Ojeniyi and family, Elijah and his 30 churches, with their pastors and families, and their strategic ministries - your financial sacrifices and investments in these bright and effective corners of the Kingdom of God, will bring the greatest joys and rewards to you!  I have been and am willing to be your own personal Kingdom representative and ambassador for these loveliest of families and friends.  Amen.

Next week today, the 25th, is Karen's birthday!!!  May everyone greatly honor her for allowing God to be so sweetly magnificent within her!!!  All our kids with all their families plan to be together!  Wow!!  And, it looks like living grandchild number 12 is on the way, via Darling Daughter Dawn Joy and her husband, Pastor Timothy!!!  

The future?  We are in the hands of God, but, I was informed on this trip that a school is being named after me, in spite of my objections, another honorary doctorate, many invitations and open doors, etc., but, at age 70, next year, every heart beat, each breath, coherent thought, and the ability to function are alllllllll, a sweet and precious gift from Papa Yahweh. 

The most important thing of all, that we shared is the Creator King of Everything, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are willing and able to live in every part of us!  Ephesians 3:19b says, "May you be filled with all the fullness of God!"  Can you imagine meeting someone like this?

Love In Christ our Everything!!!

john roy and Karen Bohlen                  715-866-4060

 

THE DOCTORATE!

I am frankly puzzled about something.  On the one hand, the Bible says in Phil 2:13  "For it is God Which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."  But, on the other hand, Jesus said, in Rev 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."  The Bible speaks much of reward.  The mystery to me is that God works in us, both to will and do of His good pleasure, on the one hand, yet, He rewards us for that which He works within us, on the other.  Isn't that amazing?           

Izzzn't that amaaaaaaaaazing?!!!

Or, in the Yoruba language,  "I yanu, ni?!"

These were the words that I spoke at a reception speech that I gave at the the Way of Peace Ministry's recent 20 year convention, where the Bible College received their University status from Vision University based in Ramona, California.  They called me forward, midst much pomp and splendor, and awarded me an official honorary "Doctorate of Theology"!

My other honorary doctorate from Mt Olives University is: "Doctorate of Divinity".  And, from The Bible Way Institute in Stevensville, Texas, an earned "Doctorate of Divinity".  But nobody calls me "doctor".  Smile.  One reason is that I prefer to be called "Brother John", or, "Eru Iranse", which means, "Bond Servant".

BADAGRY

There is a place called "Badagry".  I was invited to visit the King of Badagry, on this last trip.  Badagry is the place where the first Gospel was preached in the whole of Nigeria.  I was taken to the sight, where there had stood a 160 foot Agia tree about 30 feet in circumference, under which the sermon had been preached.  Before that, for 350 years, slaves had been traded from that location from 1473 to the 1850's.  Now, I was to see the old King, midst much pageantry, surrounded by his chiefs and his household.  After being introduced, I prayed for him, presented him with a selection of my books.  I repeatedly told the king that I loved him, "Mo ni fe nyin" and "Mo fe ran re, lopo, lopo", he smiled and I asked him for permission to embrace him, we warmly embraced.  He also presented me with an official "Badagry Pilgrim Award", signed by the King De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyii, OFR LLD, J.P.) The Akran of Badagry Kingdom.

MY SHOULDER!

It was in the Badagry area, on September 14, 2008, at the age of 68, that I preached in Rev Johnson's church, on "The Throne-Room Mentality" about how we can sit  upon our Heavenly Father, Papa Yahweh's lap, within the circle of our Heavenly Father's long, strong loving arms, and listen to His heart-beat, His whispers of encouragement and love and guidance, and play with His whiskers, and snuggle down deep into the folds of His robe, under His feathers, under His wings, as it says in Psalm 91 and Ephesians 1:20,21, and 2:4-6.  After I preached, I hurried on my way out of the church to be on time for the next Sunday morning church service.  On my way, I walked on some boards through a slippery muddy place, after a rain.  The end of the left board sunk into the mud, and my right toe caught on the on-coming right board, and I could not regain my balance!  I knew when I started to fall, that I had a choice:  I could either fall on my shoulder, or I could fall on my pretty and beautiful face.  I decided to fall on my shoulder.  On impact, I knew immediately that something was seriously broken, because I really fell hard!  I could not raise my arm.  I also broke a rib or two, because there was a knife-in-the-ribs kind of pain at every breath, cough, laugh, sneeze or bump in the road. 

THE 20 YEAR OLD BOY

On this January/February 2009 trip, I was practicing "friendship evangelism" with a 20 year old man in Badagry at the French Villiage guest house, when the conversation "naturally" flowed to the question:  "Are you aware of ever a time in your life, when you asked Jesus, as God, to come and live on the inside of you?  Or, are you aware that you ever became 'born again'?"  When he said "No", I was able to lead him in a prayer of acceptance and appropriation.  It was a really clear and moving decision for Christ!  Wow!

At that same hotel, there were three of us men that had the room that only slept two to a bed, so I had the privilege of sleeping, at least part of the night, on the floor.

THE KING OF BADAGRY

Over the years, I have prayed personally for and have been invited to visit, many African kings.  Badagry is a land area the size of a large county, and has a well known and documented history, of coconut capital, ocean fishing, and a 350 year slave trading location and port.  It is also the site of the first missionary to Nigeria.  I was able to minister to and pray for this king, give him some of my books, embrace him, repeatedly telling him that I love him.  It was a very sweet time, and was one, I believe, that he will remember.

MONEY FROM HOME

Typically, I will give out any money brought from home, within the first several days of arriving in the African country.  It can be something like bill paying time in the United States, with enough to meet 10 needs out of 30.  Some of my dearest pastor friends live in 3 small rooms, sometimes with no running water or electricity.  The rest of the time, I "live by faith", looking to God as much as the pastors themselves.  Most of the time, the needs get met, while at other times, I am inconvenienced.  After leading the young man to Christ, as told above, we needed to make our way across the huge territory of the city of Lagos, through traffic and bad roads, and through very hot temperatures.  We began the journey of about 60 miles, and the journey took over 5 hours, through the thickest of traffic, extremely dangerous driving, over rough roads, and through oven like heat.  I am over weight, and in my 70th year, have diabetes, and, after 4 hours of driving, was hungry, thirsty, over-heated, cramped and tired - with not enough money to purchase a cold bottle of water or a small piece of chicken, and, needing to go potty.  I begged the driver, a local medical doctor who sacrificially offered to drive.  (He spent 8 hours on that hair raising journey!)  They did stop at an air-conditioned fast food chicken place, and, pooled their money and purchased a piece of chicken and a cold bottle of water for me.  That night, I called a friend in the United States who has money, and I begged him, would he please send me some money?  I could not stop myself from weeping at my slightly desperate condition.  The money was never sent, but God met our needs, and we came home wonderfully victorious.  It is interesting:  When I left Nigeria, I had no pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters or dollars, but I flew half way around the world, through Holland, and did not need any money, since meals and snacks were included in the ticket.  Please do not be critical of my friend who had money but did not send any, because I pleaded with him to not send any money, unless he was led by God to do so, and that we are not to give "out of necessity".  But there have been times when I have gone to one friend or the other, some of them quite wealthy, and said, "Do you believe the Bible?"  They said, "Yes."  I said, "Do you believe the part where Jesus said, "Give to him that asks of you"?  They said, "Yes."   I said, "I'm asking."  But they did not give. . . .

THE MAN OF GOD AND HIS LITTLE HOUSE

One mighty man of God, a humble pastor, from West Africa, invited me to visit his home.  I was nearly horrified when I saw his place.  It consisted of 3 small rooms, very little furniture, no electricity, no running water, a bathroom outside and around the corner, with no running water.  The pastor had only one small bed with only one mosquito net, so he insisted that his wife sleep in the bed with their two small boys, under the net, while he himself slept on the floor with the mosquitoes, cockroaches and rodents.  Yet, he and his wife dress neatly and work hard in ministry, including visiting the jails and prisons.  They often have little to eat.  He speaks 9 languages, and his beautiful wife speaks 10.  Rent for them in a decent house would be $100 per month.

THE WALKING STICK

Since I am in my 70th year, and had a bad fall about 6 months ago, still in physical therapy on my shoulder that I broke in 4 places, the doctor insisted that I use a walking stick.  Elijah's driver, my good friend Festus had one waiting for me at the airport.  He made it himself from the limb of a tree.  It was a wood that was nearly white, and its surface invited writing.  So, just for fun, I wrote in Hebrew, German, Yoruba, Twi, etc., words of Scripture, of love, of praise.  That walking stick was quite a tool for witnessing, everywhere I went.  It came up, even with my shoulder, and, with my white beard and flowing African clothes, people kept telling me that I looked like Moses.  I don't know how they knew.

MY DRIVER WAS A PRISONER!

In the country of Ghana, I told a story previously about an encounter with the police, when I begged the policeman to beat me with my cane.  But this time, our driver, had rented a car that had an improper license plate.  The police stopped us, and took the driver, the pastor I described above with the small house, and held him for ransom.  When I walked back to where they were holding him, the boss policeman told me that I needed to give them money before the driver would be released.  "You mus' bail de drivah!", he told me sternly, in front of the other policemen.  The only problem was I did not have any money.  "You mus' bail de drivah!"  he spoke more loudly.  Suddenly, I shouted, with equal authority, "We will pray!", and I began praying, out loud, for the policemen.  They immediately removed their berets, lined up for prayer, stood at attention, while I stood and laid hands on each of their heads, praying with authority, God to bless and keep them.  It was a holy time, there at the police blockade, with the cars going past.  One of the policemen begged me to come back from America and teach their people again.  Instead of bailing the driver, I had the privilege of "bailing" the policemen, with my prayers.  Amen.  We went joyfully on our way.

DIABETES

In West Africa, there are millions of people who have diabetes, and don't even know it.  (This is even true in America!)  One evening when I was preaching in an Assembly of God church, I was led to test the blood sugar of the pastor.  Though it had been more than two hours since he had eaten, his blood sugar tested around 250, while his wife tested 121 or so.  I may have saved his very life, by having tested him, then warning him and instructing him to minimize even healthy carbs, starches and sugars, maximizing protein, to lose weight, and to prolong his health and years.  I have done the same thing with others, and their lives have been rescued.

Once again, I am planning another trip to Nigeria, during the last 3 weeks in August.  It is now 5 weeks until I am to leave, and, at present, have no money toward the trip, for water, lodging, transportation, visa, plane ticket, or, most important, love offerings for the dears ones who so desperately need money to live and keep on ministering.  I also need money to print more books.  For example, my little book on Female Circumcision, or FGM has actually been used of God to save baby girls, little girls and women from being mutilated in their genitals!  But, I need to print more of these, in order to rescue and prevent more of these.

I have just turned age 70.  However, I am continuing to believe God for strength and provision and protection and empowering.  Amen.  I hope to continue to be able to give you ongoing updates. 

I love you!

Respectfully,

john roy bohlen

! ! !  TRUE 2010 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES  ! ! !

john roy bohlen   &   John 5:30

 

Tuesday, September 1, 2010:   Well, here I am, home from the far country, Nigeria.   Wow.  Wow.  And, triple WoW!!!!!!!!!

What an incredible ride!  Whew!  I came home, leaned against the car, my back was hurting, my feet were swollen, my chest was hurting, I was tired, moving slowly, my back itched in a bunch of places.  I greeted the people, took a long hot shower, sat down in my easy chair, surfed some channels, ate some scrambled eggs at Kari's hands, ate some toast at Michael's hands, and fell asleep for 5 solid hours in one position. 

When I awoke, I thought I was still in Africa.  I had been sleeping so long in one position, my throat was sore from snoring on my back.  When I was fully awake, I was in a state of wonder.  The house was quiet.  I turned off the air conditioners, the lights, went out and got the rest of the C-Pap machine in the pump house where Michael had put it to keep from importing negativities, bugs, etc. 

I was in a state of wonder, getting re-acquainted with the house.  The stars were not out.  I wandered about, aware that everyone was home and asleep.  I wrote the gang a thank you note for serving me.

I tasted some tomatoes from the garden.  Wow!  How sweet!

I cleaned my c-pap machine, came up-stairs, and marveled that someone had cleaned my room, my desk, end table, counters, desk, etc.  Thank You, God, and thank you, Karen.  Amen.

But I could not access my internet.  I suppose that someone has perhaps done something differently with the internet access.

Well, once again, I am sleepy!  I think I will try sleeping, although I realize that, in Africa, they are waking up, and have begun running.  The horns are honking in the go-slow at Os(h)odi, and, at the Maryland go-around. . .  Let's see now, it is 2 a.m. here, which means that it is 8:01, at Vinning. . .

Orun, ati orun, awon orun, ko le gba Olorun. (repeat)

Ki o le fi gbogbo ekun Olorun fun nyin.  (keep repeating this).

Heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God.

But, may you be fillllled with allllll the fulllllness of God.

Or,  The Universe cannot contain God . . . . but, your head can!

1020 P.M.:  Went to the Dr. today, said nothing wrong, ordered more tests, took my blood to check for heart attack damage.

Thursday, September 3, 2010:  Well, this is very interesting.  I have been having heart pain since arriving home.  When I helped unload the car of luggage, of groceries, a relatively severe pain developed in my upper left had heart area.  I bent over the car.  Then, when I climbed the stairs to bed, it returned.  When my wife and I got together, the next morning, it returned, for about 45 minutes.  Then, we went to see Dr. Jolayemi, took a blood test to see if I had had a heart attack.  Also, we took a heart test on the monitor to see if the heart was working o.k.  It was. She also took my pulse.  O.K.  She also prescribed some nitroglycerine pills.  I came home,  The pain returned when I went to load the garbage for burning.  I came into the house, took a nitro, reclined in my chair.  The pain subsided.  It was scheduled to rain the next day, and there was much garbage that needed to be burned, so I went back out to finish loading the garbage.  The pain returned, like a clenched fist, from the hollow at the base of my throat, larger than the size of my fist, below my collar bone, on my left side.  Since the keys had been removed, I went back into the house and took another nitro.  The pain subsided.  As the garbage really needed to be burned, and the windows on the minivan needed to be closed, I went back out, and Kari went with me in another car, to light my work with the headlights.  I burned the garbage, returned the cans, closed the windows, and, with the third return of pain, went back inside the house, and took another nitro.  The pain subsided.  When I climbed the stairs, the pain returned.  The next day, following breakfast, I went to the garden, and collected tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, a cucumber and all but four of the last of the summer plumbs.  As I was finishing, the pain came back.  But, when I returned to the house, I did not take another nitro, as it appeared to be subsiding on its own.

Father God:  Is it time for me to die?  Is it Your will that I become an invalid?  Or, is it time for me to take faith for more years?  I think I will decide to take faith for more adventures, more years.  Karen told me last night, that if I have heart pain, she will not make love to me any more.  I did not say anything.

I have decided to take faith for life, for healing, for good body stewardship, for weight loss, for lowered cholesterol, less medication, exercise, to beat this pain, to continue making love, to make more trips to Africa.  I believe that I will choose life.  Amen.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 201O

For the past 2 days, I have had no heart pain, though doing regular work, mowing, lifting, climbing stairs, etc.  Thank You, Lord.  Each and every heart-beat, every breath of air, every pain-free moment, every moment spent in God, every coherent thought, is a gift from God.  Isn't it?!.

True African Adventure Stories!

"PLENTY SOMETHING"

One newly widowed pastor's wife, our sister in the Lord, asked me, "I hope you brought plenty, plenty something for me from America."  I gave to her, from what little I had left.

BODY STEWARDSHIP

 

A dearly beloved Nigerian medical doctor friend of mine, Dr. Wilson, lamented the fact that many men and women of God in Nigeria fail to practice good body stewardship, and hence, die needlessly, far before their time.  The life expectancy in America is 77, in Nigeria, it is 51.

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN: WITH A BABY ON MY CHEST

I ministered in one muddy small backwards kind of place.  When I arrived early, the people were huddled inside the church, and, as I am sometimes led to do, pleaded with the pastor to bring the service outside, along with the sound system.  This way, the entire community can get involved, and exposed to the Gospel.  My chair was front and center in front of the church.  I asked the pastor's wife, who had been nursing her baby, if I could hold the baby.  AS I did, I told them of how Jesus held the little children as He laid His hands upon them and blessed them, having taken them up in His arms.   I reminded them of how Jesus said that, many times He had wanted to gather them, like the mother chicken gathers the little baby chickens under her wings.  I spoke to them of the Secret Place of the Most High, under the Shadow of the Almighty, and how we can live here constantly, while underneath us, are God's everlasting arms, and of how we are seated, hidden with Christ in God the Father.  I told them that if they repented of their sins, committed themselves TOTALLY to God, and accepted Christ within them AS their LIFE, that they could live continually on their Heavenly Father's lap and listen to His heart-beat, His whispers of encouragement.

ROAD BLOCK

The police stopped us at a road-block, as the policeman approached the window, I smiled and said, "Oyinbo Pepe".  His stern and official face broke into laughter, along with his fellow policemen, and we drove away, also happy and laughing.  This Oyinbo Pepe is part of a saying that goes like this, "Oyinbo Pepe, eef ee eats de pepe, he goes yello, mo ee mo!"  Which means, "White man, if he eats pepe (or African food), he will get more and more sun burned."  The African people are making fun of our inability or unwillingness to eat African food, and of our inclination to get sunburned.  When I said "Oyinbo Pepe", I was letting them know that I knew the inside of this, and was willing to laugh with them, at white people, myself included.  This saying is somewhat similar to the rhyme that some of us learned as children, "Eeny, eeny, miney, mo - - - "

COMMUNION: THIS IS MY BODY/BLOOD

I was given an opportunity to help Dr Elijah Bankole minister communion to his some 25-30 pastors.  I gently reminded them that, as the communion elements go to every part of their body, that they can likewise take faith that the Blood and Body of Jesus can go effectively to every part of our body, for healing, for deliverance, etc.

"ORUN, ATI ORUN"

2 Chronicles 2:6 & 6:18 tells us the entire Universe cannot contain God, but Ephesians 3:19 b tells us that our head can!!!!!!  Let me repeat.  "The Universe cannot contain God, but our head can!!!!!!"  Our brain, our cells, our clothes, our skin, our shoes, our bones, our muscles can contain God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

KING'S PALACE CHAPEL

Close to Badagary, one of the oldest and best known slavery holding and shipping points on the West Coast of Africa, there is a certain king and his queen.  They are Spirit filled and deeply committed Christians, and routinely hold church in the throne-room.  I gave the dramatized sermon, using the king to represent Father God, the queen to represent God the Son Jesus, and a child on their lap, while they are embracing, to represent ourselves, seated at the Father's right hand, as the Bible says, "Our lives are hidden with Christ innnnn God (the Father)."  Col.3:3

The pastor who introduced us to this king, was himself the son of a very powerful king and queen from the area, who had been verrry cruel, and had been responsible fro the deaths of too many.  After his cruel father died, the queen mother ascended the throne and was a very cruel murderer.  She was still living, had gloriously become born again, and has a very powerful testimony of God grace and her complete change to become a lovely and powerful child of and for God.

It was in this same location that I had been appointed to the position of "Academic Chancellor", or, an advisor/counselor to their college, and their curriculum.

ADISONA: 90 PLUS PASTORS/CHURCHES

I was invited to the largest city in Africa, and to the largest black city in the world, to be the featured speaker to the 40th annual conference of a group of 90 plus churches and pastors, of a denomination of churches scattered up and down the West Coast of Africa.  They and their members opened their hearts widely to me and the Gospel of the Kingdom.  I began the conference by polishing the shoes of a humble pastor, removing my outer garment, kneeling down.  Afterward, I admonished all of the pastors to return home and wash the feet of their wife.  They all vowed to do so, in a culture that would scream against the practice.  (Some of them did complain!).  I then taught them the Meaning of the Kingdom of God, the Throne-Room, the King's Greatest Secret, the Name of the King of the Kingdom.   (None of them had known before), and Kingdom Glory, etc.  They gave me a new set of African clothes.  They paid our hotel and drinking water expenses, and made food for us.

THE LIGHT TURNS ON

A dear pastor friend of mine who has worked closely with me for over twenty years, has heard me preach on the King's Greatest Secret! many many times.  Recently, while reading a book by Watchman Nee, the light suddenly came on in his brain, and the revelation of the exchanged victorious Christian Life, the King's Greatest Secret came to him.  He exclaimed to himself, "Ohhhh, so that's what John has been talking about and teaching for the last 20 years!!!"  After he "got it", he was heard to remark, "When a person gets this revelation (of the King's Greatest Secret!), one wants to shout it from the house-tops!!!"    And, shout it, teach it and live it, he has!

COFFIN ON DE HEAD

We were having great fellowship with a lady pastor, when I had a wish that she tell us a story.  She responded with a smile, and, a promise that this following story is true.  She said that this story happened in her father's city.  It goes like this:  Once, there was a boy that died.  The hearse was on its way to the funeral, where everyone was waiting.  But, they got stuck in a hopeless traffic jam that would not move for hours, which would make them arrive impossibly late.  However, the church where the funeral was located was very close, but on the other side of the road.  A man, on his way to the funeral, offered to assist them, by offering to carry the relatively light coffin on his head, across the other lane of busy traffic.  In Nigeria, and West Africa, nearly every impossible thing gets carried on one's head, including refrigerators, stoves, sewing machines, etc.  Finally, it was agreed upon, and the man was carrying the coffin across the busy other lane of traffic.  Just then, a policeman saw the man carrying the coffin upon his head, and stopped the man on the other side of the road, demanding to know why he was carrying the coffin upon his head, and demanding money for their trouble.  But the man carrying the coffin said nothing.  The police called his superior officer over and, together they began harassing the coffin carrier, as though to extort bribe money from him.  Still the coffin carrier said nothing.  Another officer joined the questioning, and, together, they attempted to roughly interrogate and bully the man.  Finally, the coffin carrier spoke, but in a low and mysterious voice, "I no like de place where dey done buried me, so I go carry my coffin-house to de oooodder side to a better place ah go bury mysef."  The police all ran away in terror, and, for months did not soooon return to harass people at dat place.

SUICIDAL PASTOR'S WIFE

A certain pastor's wife requested to counsel with me.  I met in a public place that on the one hand, offered privacy, but that on the other hand, was quite visible, with the door open, so that everything was proper.  As the lady was pouring out her heart of difficulties, I asked her if she had contemplated suicide.  In a quiet voice of wonder, she confided that I was the only person in the world to have asked that question.  God met that woman's heart, as I told her the King's Greatest Secret and the Throne-Room revelation.  She was completely delivered from her depression and her sadness, received hope and lasting encouragement.  She came to see that Christ Himself was sweetly available to her to live His glorified Life through her, and that her loving and all powerful Heavenly Father was available to hold her in His long, strong loving arms, far over and above everything that can be named.  As she got the picture revelation that she could live her life on Papa Yahweh's lap, and listen to Daddy Yahweh's heart-beat, where there is fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore, she became filled with peace and joy and hope and encouragement.  She since, has consistently reported being gloriously victorious.

PANSAGA X 3

Through the grace of God, and, perhaps, a word of knowledge, I spoke, on three separate occasions to men that had been unfaithful to their wife.  In all of these cases, there took place, complete repentance, and a coming back to God.

FESTUS

 

I have a verrrrry dear friend, who happens to be the driver of Brother Elijah.  His name is Festus.  Elijah, although he, himself, urgently needed both a car and a driver, loaned his ministry jeep to me for the entire month of meetings, in near and distant places.  God rewarded Elijah for that sacrifice, by giving him another jeep for his own ministry needs.  It is always utterly amazing to me, how Festus can avoid having accidents in that insane madhouse and maze of traffic and driving, and, at the same time, keep a right heart attitude toward pedestrians that crowd dangerously close and in front of the traffic of trucks, busses, three legged motorcycles, okada bike taxies, and other quintillions of vehicles of every possible imaginable means of conveyance.  But since Festus is constantly present when I minister, he hears me teach, over and over again, until the spirit and intent of the message goes deep and effectively, to the extent that he consistently allows Christ to live and think and speak through him.  On the one hand, Festus serves me perfectly, carrying my case, producing my walking stick, water, briefcase, Bible, washing my clothes, ironing, folding and packing them, lifting heavy luggages, going for food and all manner of needs.  Sometimes I jokingly and lovingly remark, "You can carry me on your head.",  to which he smiles, and goes merrily along.  And, when I am in a situation where, at the close of my teaching, I reeeeally want to drive the point home, I call upon Festus, who steps boldly forward, deeply in the language, booms out the conclusion and summary of the message convincingly.  Then, away we go, over the roughest of potholes and mud holes, the deepest of traffic, with its honking horns, through rain and storm, blinding sun, and, even, sometimes police road blocks and the constant potential of armed robbers.  On one such occasion, during slow traffic, a gunman stuck his gun barrel in Festus' ear and demanded money.  Elijah spoke firmly from the back seat, "In Jesus' Name, you are not going to shoot.  In Jesus' Name, we are not giving you any money, and, in Jesus' Name, we are going to drive away, now."  And, so they did, all in Jesus' Name.

BASSI

Brother Bassi Bassi is a tall gentle prince of a man, who is a loving picture of the gentle nature of Jesus, in black human form.  Bassi is as Christ-like, as any person I know, with a lovely sense of humor, a servant's heart and a deep knowledge of the Word.  His wife commissions and released him to be my constant companion, when I am in the country, and he often sleeps beside me in the king-size bed, while Festus always prefers to sleep on the floor.  Festus was once offered a great deal of money to sleep in a very expensive hotel.  He said, "My relative slept in an expensive hotel, while I took half the money offered to me and slept in my car.  While I am sleeping, my body did not complain.  I got a better night's sleep than my relative, and, he got less sleep than I did!"  But, back to Bassi.  Bassi Bassi was once on the Olympic basketball team for Nigeria, and has traveled widely.  He wants to start a sports Foundation for poor street kids to learn about God, while doing sports activities.   His great-grandfather had forty some wives, and was a wealthy man who captured other black people and sold them as slaves to other countries.  Pastor Bassi faithfully serves a very small church, that is expanding and growing.  He has a strong singing voice.   But Bassi has a habit of waking up sometime around 3 or 4 A.M. and kneels beside the bed, and begins quietly worshipping and praying Bible reading ( with a small flashlight which they call a 'torch'), and speaking in tongues and singing and rejoicing.  This has been his habit for many years, and he doesn't seem to mind doing it while surrounded by those who want to sleep.  Sometimes, I join in, at least for a while.  In the darkness, I reach up to God, and point back to Bassi, amazed at how much God must love him, for his zeal to worship and pray.  His entire apartment for his lovely wife and two brilliant boys, may be as large as your living room.  He does not have the rent money demanded of him in advance, for the next two years.

OJENIYI

My African adventure stories must include those who adventure with me while in Africa.  I now introduce you to Dr. Provost Bishop Professor Adewale Victor Ojeniyi.  Though he is Igbo, he is married to an Igbo woman named Gladys.  Some years ago, I tested her blood sugar, and discovered that she had full blown diabetes.  At my life and death encouragement, she lost weight, eliminated carbohydrates, starches and sugars, focused on eating protein, salad and vegetables.  She consistently checks her blood sugar, and it consistently remains normal.  Both of them credit the Lord through me as having saved their life.  Dr. Ojeniyi is my very dear friend.  With him, all I do is let him know of my availability, and he and Bassey arrange my schedule of meetings, and they take care of alllll of the logistics as to hotel accommodations, transportation, water, phone use, and food, etc.  Dr Ojeniyi is also one who has heard me preach and teach, many times, and he, himself, has been teaching and preaching this Gospel of the Kingdom, for over 20 years since we met.  He is humble, teachable, courageous.  Through him, I have literally hundreds of friends, many of them close and personal Kingdom friends, each of which, has an exciting story of their own, in their own friendship with me and us.  There is Bishop Lois, Dr Adisona, Dr Lawal, Sister Anosika, Lt. Col. Olanusi, Pastor Willie, and a number of kings, bishops, pastors, teachers, family and dear ones, etc.  He is responsible for our ministry in Benin, to Port Harcourt, the Igbo people in the east and southern parts of Nigeria.  Ogeniyi has repeatedly risked his very life in the process of ministering to me, and of making a multitude of opportunities for me to minister.

YINKA

Yinka lives an hour north of Bankole's headquarters in Akure, 5 hours north from Lagos.  He is an evangelist and a pastor and a police trainer.  He is very intelligent and has a warm, enthusiastic, out-going personality.  He is the one who died from cancer on the operating table, and was taken to heaven and hell for a number of hours.  He woke up in the morgue just when an attendant was attaching an identification tag on his leg in the mortuary.  He has a lovely wife and 4 lovely daughters, now coming into teen age.  The daughters all gather round, and sing and dance enthusiastically.  One of the songs they love to sing, goes like this:  "Ho  le  da Papa Joan con teen ye.   Ho  le  da Papa Joan con teen ye.  Hah  pon  da  mo tay,  ho hin  da vah lee.  Ho le da Papa Joan con teen ye!"  Which means, "O let the Papa John continue, upon the mountains, or in the valley, O let - -."  Yinka has kept me, and others, from being mobbed by numbers of people who think that touching me will bless them, so that hundreds, on one occasion, thousands would have wanted to, at the same time.  Once, to keep a speaker from being mobbed, Yinka disguised him as a native, with native hat and robe, and they made their escape on a motorcycle in the night.  The crowd was angry they had been cheated out of an opportunity to be blessed.  But there are actually cases where a ministry was trampled to death because of this.  Even now, if I make the mistake of reaching out to touch children, a mob of them immediately surround me, grabbing hold of me at once.  Perhaps 5 of them will grab my hand at the same time, roughly squeezing my hand and fingers to try to rub the white color off my skin.  Sometimes I do bless everyone, but, unless there is order, someone can get hurt!

SEGUN

Olusegun (means: God's Overcomer) is a very dear friend, along with his wife and children.  He has been a priest, a venerable, a canon, and an arch deacon in the Anglican Church.  He now has ten churches under his authority.  Every time I come, he arranges for me to speak in a high Anglican church, to process with the long line of people dressed in choir robes, altar boy robes, priests robes, etc., some of whom carry long poles with a cross or an eagle of whatever on top, while I also process, but wearing my everyday Yoruba Nigerian clothes.  They do the high service with many offerings and communion and the reciting and kneeling, but when sermon time comes, the give me complete liberty at the microphone, encouraging and allowing me to preach and teach on any Kingdom hearted subject I choose.  It is so very lovely and experience!!  He is very servant hearted and humble, loving and with a sense of humor, yet, he carries his great authority convincingly, and has the respect of a multitude of people, who now, also respect me, and us, and the message we bring.

1ST WHITE MAN

I have ministered in villages where no other white person has ministered.  I have met crowds of people who have never met a white person.  This is especially true of children.  Just as some American children have been told that if they don't behave themselves that "the boogey-man is going to get you", some of the Nigerian children, that if they don't behave themselves, that the white man is going to get them.  Many people do not realize that the phrase "boogie man" refers to a black person.  Thus, in addition to the newness of the children meeting me, and sometimes becoming frightened, there will be this other element.  With some of them, the memory of their exploitation by the white man is still fresh in their stories, and in their memories.  As it is, I often kneel down and beg them to forgive our white race, through my tears, because the white man gave them unhealthy white flour, unhealthy white rice, and, at the expense of 20 to 40 million black slaves, - - -white sugar, and the resultant plague of diabetes, etc. 

MY AGE

 

At most meetings, I am repeatedly the oldest person in the place.  As I said, earlier, the life expectancy for Nigerians is 51, while it is 77 in the United States.  Generally speaking, when one does find a person my age, they look very, very old, though there are exceptions.

INDIANS

 

There is a population of people from India, who continue to speak their Indian languages, that I have found an audience among.  Some of my contacts are like this one, the door being opened because I chose to be friendly.  Thus, I had several meetings with these dear ones.

CARRY THE LOAD

One meeting, we drove and drove for 3 1/2 hours through impossible traffic, huge mud holes and potholes, detours and rough roads, bumping, bouncing and swaying, to a church that was out of the way, arriving just in time to church past time to dismiss.  They gave us the most respectful and enthusiastic welcome, and insisted that I minister anyway.  So, I gave them a ten minute sermon, and taught them how that even though the Universe cannot contain God, that their brain can, their head can, their bodies can contain God, and that Jesus Christ, Creator King of Everything can live His glorified Life through us, unceasingly, increasingly.  They got the message!  Even though it was dark and late and rainy, and had to find their way home, they were not satisfied with just 10 minutes, and insisted that I give them a regular time of teaching.  So I did, teaching them how they could sit on Heavenly Father's lap, and play with His whiskers, reach up and touch His face, listen to God's heart-beat, His whispers of encouragement and love, how they can snuggle down deep into the folds of His robe, under His feathers, under His wings, and live happily ever after.

They gathered round to take my picture with cell phone cameras, to have their picture taken with me, and to touch my hand, or have me touch their head.  Sometimes they will want to touch my hair, my beard, or try to wipe away the white color on my hand.

The Pastor of the church told me that he was present, 22 years earlier when I first came to Africa, 23 or 24 trips ago, when I took the young man's load on my head.  He confirmed that the police would most probably have beaten him to death, and that my intervention probably saved the man's life.

MONEY

The expenses of our team, Festus, Bassey and/or Dr Ojeniyi and myself, amounted to about $10 per day, for water, about $30 for food, about $40 per night for hotel, plus gasoline, (petrol), car repair, etc.  This amounted to about $90 per day, times 30 days, or $2700, and $2100 for tickets, besides the ongoing bills at home.  This amount was offset somewhat by 70 year old Karen still working part time at the Burnett County Hospital as an x-ray technician, and from sacrificial love offerings from dear ones here at home.  Karen and I and the entire African contingency thank you for your sacrificial giving.  The Africans also give, always sacrificially.  Once, in the country of Benin, a woman with small children gave to contribute 2 & 1/2 nights for our hotel room costs.  I found out later that her young pastor husband had just been killed, and I wept at her sacrifice.  One may wonder why we would have to pay 40 or more dollars per night for a hotel, but, if we pay anything less than this, we must face an increase in deadly mosquitoes, scorpions, poison vipers, rats, bed bugs, cockroaches, lice, water availability, cleanliness, and the possibility of armed robbers.  While I personally have endured all of these except armed robbers, lice and poison snakes, the members of my team have.  Some of them regularly sleep on the floor, without mosquito netting, because they cannot afford better.

UYI

Another widow, Sister Uyi, paid for, cooked and sent containers of food, at her own expense and hard work, for one week, and does so, each time I come.  Before he died, suddenly, she and her husband, a good friend of mine, had agreed to do this, as an offering to the Lord.  She has continued this sacrifice, and God has been rewarding her.

PRINCE SOLOMON

I was introduced to a man called "Prince Solomon".  He handed me an envelope containing 100 pounds sterling.  We later transferred this into $150 cash for our ministry expenses.

FRIDAY NIGHT VIGIL

It is the custom among Nigerian Christians, to "keep the vigil" on Friday nights, although some churches have gone to one vigil night per month.  They assemble in the evening, and continue, sometimes, all night long.  During this time,

WASH MY CLOTHES

Although I often offer to pay, I almost never am allowed to pay, for all my clothes to be washed by hand, as people want to do this for me, as unto Jesus, and it is credited to their account, as having been done for Christ.

AMERICAN "BUSH"

One of my favorite things to do is to take a selection of pictures from home.  They absolutely and universally cannot believe that we live in the American Bush, that is the Wilderness - that is, until I show them the pictures of bears, wild turkeys, deer, and sometimes, a mountain lion.  One and all, they wonder, "Why don' dey keeeel dem?", because, in Africa, they want to kill and eat, nearly everything that moves!  They either do not have conservation laws, or, they are not enforced.  It is unconceivable to them that a deer could be alive, when they are hungry.  They cannot understand, nor can I, our law that says that "You are not allowed to kill a bear, until after the bear injures you."

COUNSELING

I praise God, so very much, that He used me, this time, more than ever, to counsel people.  This counseling, resulted in deep repentance, then deliverance and healing on the part of some, , including a pastor's wife who had been contemplating suicide, when she learned the King's Greatest Secret and the Throne-Room mentality, she came into consistent, glorious joy.  I was able to share with each of them a special key to victory, by asking them the question, "If it were raining, and you were holding an umbrella 80% over your head, would you get wet?"  The answer is always "Yes."  Then I ask them, "If it were raining fire, and you were holding a fire-proof umbrella over 80% - - , would you get burned."  They admit, "Yes."  Then I make the point that God will assume responsibility for our lives, only the extent to which we yield our lives to Him, but no more.  We have, automatically given the devil permission to do damage to that fraction of our lives not fully yielded to God.

THE BOW OF SURRENDER

 

In western and southwestern part of Nigeria, among the Yoruba people, folks have a very highly refined sense of who bows to whom, as a sign of respect.  They bow to status, education, age, wealth, position, visitors, white people, ministers, etc.  I just happen to qualify, in their eyes, to nearly every conceivable category of those, worthy of the bow.  Yet, I shock them when I give to them a bow of respect, and, explain to them that my bow to them is a Kingdom bow of respect, because, in God's Kingdom, we are 1) to count alllll others as better than ourselves, and, 2) we are to be the servant of all.  But this is never, at first, understood, accepted or allowed, that I, as an elderly, visiting, minister, white person would bow to them.  To them, it is unthinkable,

On the way to the meeting in Badagary, a major historical slave selling port on the other side of the Atlantic, the road was very rough.  It is the location where, several years ago, I fell, and broke a rib or two, plus, I injured my shoulder in 4 places.  However, on this trip, we were stopped by some traffic officials who were very mean, in that they were demanding extortion money before release.  When they saw my white face, we became a target, and were pulled over.  They demanded money, and would not release us.  It was past time for me to be speaking to a group of chaplains that were assembled to hear me teach.  When the officials would not let us go, I got out of the car, and, making sure that I could well be seen from both lanes of busy traffic, be seen from the crowd of sellers along the way, be seen by the many pedestrians who were passing by, I bent over and put one hand on the ground in a bow of supplication and surrender.  The throng of people and traffic could all see me.  The people began gathering round.  I was the only white person.  Soon, a crowd had formed.  Every one present or passing knew that it was very improper for me to be bowing, and they began insisting that I stand up.  I refused.  I determined that I would remain locked in that position, even if they beat or kicked or hurt me, until they released us to go.  I felt hands trying to lift me from my bow, but I remained.  The feelings in the crown were alll in our favor, and public opinion rapidly mounted against these extortioners in uniform, because I was a glaring embarrassment to them, and causing unwanted negative attention to their ways.  Finally, when the crooked officials begged us to leave, I stood, and we were released to continue to our place of ministry.  One passing gentleman, who had been reasoning with the officials in our behalf, I embraced him and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, in front of the crowd.  The ministry to the chaplains, that day, was tender.

"OYINBO PRICE"

 

It is always interesting to see purchases made in the market place.  When they see me in the car, the price of the merchandize almost always goes up, as they assume that because I am white, and because I have a lot of muscles, that I will have more money.  So, when they crowd at the window, a dozen people at a time, I ask them, "Is this the white man's price?"  They always smile or laugh.  The universal term in Nigeria for "white person" is Oyinbo, pronounced, "Oh-yee'-boh"

 

FRENCH FAMILY

In the airport in Paris, on the way over, I had a lovely opportunity to witness to, and pray for, a lovely French family of four, and give them a "King's Greatest Secret!"

WITHIN AN HOUR!

One day, I was a little frustrated that I had nothing to do in my schedule, but I determined to do the will of God.  So I left my hotel room, and went out, waiting at the entrance of the same hotel restaurant that I had met and first talked to Elijah in 1988, twenty two years previous.  While standing there, asking God what to do, I met a stranger, a Yoruba man, whom I greeted in Yoruba.  He said, "How is it that a white man can come over here and speak better Yoruba than those of us who live here?"  Of course, that was not true of me, but his comment was intended to be a compliment.  Within an hour after we met, he had offered to spend over $1,000 of his own money to print 1000 of The King's Greatest Secret!   It turned out that he is a printer with the highest quality printing presses and equipment, and is also a highly successful publisher, as well as a pastor.  His marriage was restored, his life was completely rededicated, and we are dear friends.

A MEETING

We left the hotel and drove and drove and drove and drove, past sellers of bananas and other fruit, vegetables, meat, fans, fridges, clothing, shoes, water, fried plantain chips, automobile parts, and all manner of goods.  We drove past motorcycle taxies, bus and car taxies, trucks of all manner of description, horns honking, roosters crowing, people shouting, some arguing, the blaring of loud speakers, the sound of the Muslim call to prayer, the sounds of churches singing, - - - when children and people see me, they will often point, nudge each other, and stare at me with wide eyed, open mouthed wonder.  And, sometimes, they will shout, "Oyinbooo!"   Or, "Oka - boh", which means, "Welcome!"

 

CONCLUSION

Bible says that when we do for the least of these, we do it to Jesus.  Many have prayed, and have contributed to make these adventures possible.  I salute you.  I congratulate you.  I thank you, sincerely and humbly, for making all of this possible.  Thank you, and, may God bless you to the Supernatural Maximum.  Amen.