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.