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The Christian Journal The Leading Christian Newspaper
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ISSUE #41
SEPTEMBER 2016 TEL: 718 684 2510 EMAIL: info@tcjonline.org WEBSITE: www.tcjonline.org
Nigerian arrested for $60 million online fraud Page 7
STARTING AT
Husband hacks off wife’s hands after failing to have children
Page 16
Why are Ghanaians reluctant whistleblowers? Page 16
Trump's Global Outlook
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mericans are scared and skeptical about a Donald Trump presidency, with majority saying the man is simply not temperamentally fit to become President. When he is on the big stage campaigning, anything thing is possible. He is either being 'sarcastic' or pouring out raw feelings. On most occasions, he is inflammatory. In short, gaffes define his character. That is Donald Trump, the most flamboyant, yet brash and polarizing Presidential candidate America has ever known. Who knows – he may turn his fortunes here at home around with about two months before the elections. Yet if he manages to do so, he faces another hurdle – how to assuage the fears of the international community about his presidency. Ever since he called for a ban on the entry of Muslims into the United States, the world's reaction to the message has been a mixture of trepidation and scorn. Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France wrote on Twitter: “Mr. Trump, like others, fuels hatred,” and “Our only enemy is radical Islamism.” In La Défense, a business district west of Paris, Inès Lessieur, 23, a student, said Mr. Trump depressed her. “I am sure he'll get elected,” she said. Another student, Laura Albat, 20, responded, “No, a country that voted twice for Obama cannot elect a man like that.” In Britain, ex- Prime Minister David Cameron, of the Conservative Party, dismissed Mr. Trump's position as “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong. “The prime minister has been very clear that, as we look at how we tackle extremism and this poisonous ideology, what politicians need to do is look at ways they can bring communities together and make clear that these terrorists are not representative of Islam and indeed what they are doing is a perversion of Islam,” his spokesperson said. A British Member of Parliament, Anne McLaughlin, said “the Mexican migrants that Trump, who is the son of a Scottish immigrant, so roundly defamed are engaged in the same quest as his forebears,” adding, “I don't believe appealing to fear and prejudice is the language of common sense.” Jack Dromey, Britain's Labor shadow Home Affairs minister was more blunt calling for Trump's ban from Britain, “Donald Trump is a fool, but he is not free to be a dangerous fool in Britain.” Adding, “In the current febrile climate, ISIS needs Trump and Donald Trump needs ISIS.” Sergio Fabbrini, director of the school of government at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome said many Italians think Trump is a sort of American version of Silvio Berlusconi, a big personality without the background of what it means to be a politician. “Both are outsiders with a politically incorrect style, dividing American politics as Italian politics were divided,” he said. In Israel, Chemi Shaley, a columnist in the leftleaning newspaper, Haaretz, said Trump's remarks
“must have delighted the Caliph, Abu Bakr alBaghdadi,” the leader of ISIS. “For some Jews, the sight of thousands of supporters waving their fists in anger as Trump incited against Muslims and urged a blanket ban on their entry to the United States could have evoked associations with beer halls in Munich a century ago,” he wrote. In the Arab world, Trump's anti-Muslim comments have sparked conversation about the involvement of the United States in the affairs of their region. “There is something disturbing about where the Americans are going in their relations with the outside world in general and with the Arab and Islamic world in particular,” said Abdulkhaliq Abdulla, a retired professor of political science from the United Arab Emirates. “All of a sudden it seems that America, or at least some segments of America, have forgotten what America stands for.” Hafez Al Mirazi, the director of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo, contrasted Trump's comments with President Obama's speech in 2009 when he attempted to reach out to the Arab and Muslim world, inspiring many with his personal story of success. “What we are getting now is really terrible,” Mr. Mirazi said. “Stuff that only the Ku Klux Klan and others would say.” Dar al-Ifta, the authority that issues religious edicts in Egypt, called Mr. Trump's comments “extremist” and warned that they “threatened societal peace” in the United States. In Egypt, Trump was condemned by the country's highest religious authority and by many others, who called him an Islamophobe, a racist or, as Reem Khorshid, a 21-year-old engineering student and blogger, put it, “a madman who has no sense at all.” Rachid Tlemcani, a professor of political science at the University of Algiers, warned that Mr. Trump could push young people toward the Islamic State. “A lot of people in the Middle East think of the United States as the last place we can go if things turn really bad, as it is the place of freedom and liberty,” Mr. Tlemcani said. “I think that sort of comment could even invite some act of violence against America. I think he is not responsible.” Such is the grim outlook of Donald Trump in the international community, a stark contrast to President Obama's favorable ratings when he mounted his candidacy for the presidency. As a potential leader of the free world, such image raises questions about his leadership capabilities. The question is, can Trump change these negative perceptions surrounding his White House aspirations? Well, he has been trumpeting that he is a winner and hopefully, he will meet the problem head on. We wish him the very best of luck.
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WORTHY NEWS Open Your Eyes to the Homeless Around You, Pastor Urges
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hristian Post – August 16, 2016 - A San Jose pastor is calling on Christians living in one of the wealthiest counties in the United States to wake up to the reality that thousands of people in their midst have no place to call home. "Open your eyes, San Jose," says Pastor Scott Wagers, who leads CHAM deliverance ministry, in a YouTube video detailing his work among the homeless in California's Santa Clara County. Wagers, a Plato-quoting former bodybuilder and Disciples of Christ minister, told Religion News Service that what drives him is the "human crisis." "People are living under overpasses and going to the bathroom outside in one of the richest nations of the world. The Church has to be a witness," he said. Until two years ago, Wagers was serving hundreds of the city's homeless in an encampment known as
"The Jungle" — doing life among the poor, taking them food, water, blankets and supplies. Speaking about Wagers' mission to help the homeless, one former Jungle resident named Lex Mayweather said: "Without him, there is no us. Because without our Lord Jesus Christ and him coming to help, a lot of people would be dead or in jail. Without Pastor Scott, there is no Jungle.” While the Jungle no longer exists after police evicted the residents and barricaded the area in 2014, Wager and CHAM volunteers like Robert Aguirre, a former Jungle dweller, continue their mission to serve the homeless wherever they are. Unlike other programs that require the homeless to visit centers located downtown to receive services, Wagers takes a different approach, driving in a RV called the "Mercy Mobile" from camp to camp.
Chile: Christian churches set ablaze
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y Joseph DeCaro, Worthy church -- the Christian Union in News Correspondent Antinao -- was also set afire. A pamphlet found at the site read: "We are going to burn all churches" and (Worthy News) - Last month two demanded that all Mapuche churches in Chile were set ablaze by political prisoners be released. supporters of the Mapuche -- a Chilean movement that seeks to rid The damage to the churches are the region of religions contrary to estimated at about $10 million. their own indigenous beliefs. The morning after the arsons, A c c o r d i n g t o I n t e r n a t i o n a l Chile's Public Ministry named a Christian Concern, the church special prosecutor; at press time, attacks were two of five other eleven individuals had been arsons that occurred within 24 arrested and charged. hours. In the first attack, the Catholic Church of Santa Joaquina in the commune of Padre Las Casas was torched. Hours later an evangelical Page 6
Christians in Indonesia Stand Strong Despite Violent Threats
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ndonesia (MNN) — Despite facing threats of violence in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, a group of Christians in Indonesia is standing strong. According to Bruce Allen of Forgotten Missionaries International, a group of believers, led by FMI-supported church planter Pastor Yudianto, was holding a meeting when about 20 radical Muslims interrupted. The Muslims told the Christians to disperse and never meet again, threatening them with machetes and taking their pictures for future intimidation. Later, when the police arrived, Allen says boxes of weapons were found outside for quick access. Pastors like Yudianto persevere under difficult conditions. “Pastor Yudianto stayed a while longer with the family who had hosted the church meeting,” Allen says. “They just shared their heart with him, wondering, 'How do we go on from here? We're nervous, we're scared, but what do we do next? We still want to be discipled by you.'” Yudianto has a fairly wellestablished ministry site in Central Java, and has recently been pioneering evangelism in this second village where the attack occurred. Yudianto individually disciples about 15 believers in this village, and had gathered them together in one of their homes to discuss the idea of beginning a formal church when the attackers broke in. Despite the possibility of being killed, Yudianto plans on returning to the village later this month to continue his ministry. “He'll hold a meeting with all those Christians again, several different families and parts of families represented in that new congregation, and really encourage them, saying, 'This is what we face as Christians in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim dominant country,'” Allen shares. “Even though Christians enjoy protection constitutionally, on a local level, practically, they may not enjoy that
because of radical elements that like to go from village to village and hunt down Christians.” It's hard for them to know who to trust. This past summer, Yudianto told Allen that in the village of his primary ministry site, there is a police officer affiliated with a radical extremist mosque, which stirred doubts in the Christians about their safety. “So if the Christians need the protection of the police, if there is an attack, or churches are burned or bombed, or a Christian is physically harmed or threatened, sometimes they wonder, 'Will the police really come to my aid?” That's where FMI comes in. Allen says Yudianto will need to get creative to continue having an effective ministry, so the team is working to give him the training he needs to succeed. The congregation meeting at the site continues to gather for weekly worship as the walls of their church building grow up around them. “FMI's leadership is helping him think through those types of issues, and in fact, even during my visit to Indonesia this summer, part of our ongoing training conference was talking about how our identity in Christ makes us more than conquerors,” Allen says. “That whole concept is still what Paul says. We are like sheep led to the slaughter, but even in the middle of all these hardships and difficult circumstances, we can remain more than conquerors. We do not have to let these difficulties — tribulations, famine, persecution, things like that — they don't have to defeat us. We can have victory even in the middle of them.” Allen asks all Christians to pray for wisdom and courage for Yudianto and peace for his congregation. He is also seeking prayers for courage for police officers working to protect Christians and create harmony. Source: Christian News Network
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A Brooklyn dad stood up for his COMMUNITY NEWS son and was killed over a baseball cap.
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he deadly chain of events began Saturday when Gerald Sealey, 17, was playing basketball outside Public School 6 in Flatbush. Three teens approached Sealey at the Snyder Ave. courts and one of them snatched an Oakland Raiders cap from Sealey's head, police sources said. The stylish Don C lambskin cap with a snakeskin bill sells on eBay for up to $200, and elsewhere online for more than $400. Police said the trio roughed Sealey up and also tried to steal his cellphone. Sealey was playing basketball Wednesday at the same courts when he saw the 16-year-old robber — sporting his cherished cap — with two other teens about 10:15 p.m., police sources said. Sealey called his father, Gerald Cummings, 38, who came to the basketball court and snatched the hat off the 16-year-old bully's head, sources
said. The humiliated crook followed Cummings and his son off the court, trying to take the cap back when one of his friends pulled a gun from his backpack and started blasting, sources said. Cummings was fatally shot in the head in front of his son, police said. “He did what any father would do and that's stand up for his children,” said Earl Saunders, 34, Cummings' longtime friend and co-worker at a blood testing lab. “All he did was confront the kids that beat up his son — and lost his life in the process of defending his child.” Cummings was hit in the back, back of the head, and right temple, sources said. His son wasn't hurt. The dad — who also leaves behind an 11-yearold son — was rushed to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. “He was a caring, hardworking man,” said Cummings' nephew, Jahquel Davis. “I don't
know what to say.” Police had investigated 201 homicides this year through Wednesday, five fewer than the 206 reported during the same time period last year. That's a drop of about 2.5%. Police said that 544 shootings have been reported this year, 129 fewer than the 673 reported at this time last year. That's a dip of about 24%. Investigators have identified the teen robber and have a street name for the gunman but have not been able to find either suspect, police sources said. Sealey returned to his apartment building Thursday evening surrounded by family. When asked if he had anything to say about his father, he shouted, “No! No! No!” Inside the apartment, Cummings' distraught wife could be heard crying. “We're all grieving,” Saunders said.
Nigerian arrested for $60 million online fraud
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40-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested for defrauding hundreds of victims through email scams. He is thought to have tricked them out of more than $60 million. The Nigerian man was arrested in Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria with the help of Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the international police organization Interpol said in a statement.
'Mike,' is believed to be behind scams totalling more than $60 million (54 million euros) involving hundreds of victims worldwide," the statement said. The statement said that one victim had been tricked into paying out $15.4 million. The arrested man is thought to have headed a network of at least 40 people working from Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa. The network is believed to have provided malware and carried out the frauds, which included romance scams "The 40-year-old Nigerian national, known as and compromising email accounts of businesses.
The frauds affected small to medium businesses around the world, including in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the United States, according to the Interpol statement. "Mike" is also said to have had moneylaundering contacts in China, Europe and the US. The suspect and a 38-year-old accomplice who was also arrested will face charges including hacking, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.
British Charged in Kenya with Trafficking Cocaine
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enyan police charged a British national Thursday with trafficking nearly 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine that was impounded last week at the country's main seaport. Jack Alexander Wolf Marrian denied the charge in court. The prosecution opposed bail, saying he is a flight risk. The court will rule on the bail application Monday.
Department's 2016 drug control strategy report says. Stemming this flow of drugs is a challenge for Kenyan authorities, the report says, citing "corruption within the Kenyan government and business community ... High-level prosecutions The seizure was a rare one in Kenya, which the or large seizures remain infrequent.'’ U.N. and the U.S. say has become a cocaine distribution hub in recent years. Traffickers from For more than a decade, Kenya's police have South America are said to take advantage of been named annually by the local chapter of the The drugs were seized last week by Kenyan Nairobi's extensive air links to Europe and Asia. global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Traffickers also exploit Kenya's long Indian International as the most corrupt institution in the officials in containers from Brazil supposedly Ocean coastline and lack of adequate security country. carrying sugar destined for Uganda. controls at the port of Mombasa, the State www.tcjonline.org
A second suspect, who police have said is Kenyan, was expected to be charged later Thursday. It was not clear what happened to a third suspect, also Kenyan, who police had questioned earlier.
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church and ministry Liberian Immigrants Promoting
Gospel in Minnesota
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innesota, USA - Drumming and dance animated the grounds of Ebenezer Community Church as their newly 2.8 million dollars constructed building was dedicated and officially opened recently. This is the first time for Liberian immigrants in Minnesota, USA headed by a Liberian Pastor to build a sanctuary worth such amount. The project which lasted several years was successful through contributions, fund raising and a loan. Beaming with smiles the Pastor of the Church Rev. Dr. Francis O.S. Tabla , Sr. showered praises on God , church members, friendly churches and supporters for making his ministry realized its dream. Rev. Dr. Tabla said ,about twelve years ago, God blessed the church and they purchased a 4.3- acre land at $745,00.00 (seven hundred and forty-five thousand dollars) in January of 2006 . He admitted that it was challenging and the project prolonged because it was met with unforeseen circumstances that hindered them but stood committed to the church project and God. Dr. Tabla also said they had to regroup and work towards paying off the mortgage on the land in September of 2013. On June 7th 2015 he said a formal ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the first phase of the building project started. Dr. Tabla said the church remains ever convinced that Ebenezer is the Lord's doing and they as a church is committed to the
purpose of being a body of believers that love God , care for each other, and are on mission at home and abroad. The giant size building is not the only unique attraction to the Ebenezer Community Church ministry, but it is a church were everybody is somebody and scores of people have found purpose and meaning of life, people have utilized their ability gifts, talents to the glory of God. The church has also been a medium where hundreds of people have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and rededicated their lives to Jesus. God is greatly using Ebenezer Community Church to strengthen marriages that were at the verge of breakdown to be restored while scores of people have found purpose and meaning of life, healed from the brokenness and wounds they experienced on a daily basis. Rev. Dr. Tabla commended members of the church for their faithfulness and prayers, financial support and encouragement that has helped to make the project possible and called on them to keep it up. Making remarks at the program was Liberia's Consul General for the Midwest, Jackson George, Jr. Who on behalf of the government of Liberia appreciated their church for their initiative. Said Mr. George “This is an extraordinary day for Ebenezer, and we rejoice with you, we exalt the Almighty God with you and we will surely take away the message that Perseverance amidst faith yield success”. According to Mr. George, perseverance is one of the key to success, and the ability
to keep on, especially when people efforts are met with disappointments, changes, and failures, but the church “Ebenezer”, made all the difference in the world to produce success. The Liberian envoy used the occasion to admonish Liberians to press forward on their goals saying it leads to achievement. “I leave you today with the message that amid our instant gratification, short attention-span, and multitasking world; let us not lose sight of two core elements, Faith and Perseverance”. The Liberian Consul General for the Midwest said, the government and people of Liberia are proud Ebenezer Church members and leadership. In a short sermon the guest preacher Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville of the Richmond's First Baptist Church, Virginia challenged members to continue winning more souls for God and spreading the message of Jesus Christ across their world regardless of their status. The formal dedication ceremony was witnessed by several churches and friends from around the world including the Wisconsin Baptist convention, Liberian Gospel Ministers Association, USA, Churches, and individuals who also came from Liberia amongst other countries. Nathan P. Charles, News Contributor
Rev. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi assumes office as AABF President
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hana News Agency – Reverend Ernest AduGyamfi, the Executive President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, has assumed office as President of the All African Baptist Fellowship (AABF) with the approval of the AABF General Assembly at a meeting in Accra. The AABF is one of the six regions of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) which unites over 15million church members from 62 Conventions and Unions in 30 countries in Africa. It is sub-divided into North, East, West, Central and Southern Africa and its mission is to network and partner with cooperating conventions, unions and associations in Africa. The AABF is also to promote missions and
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evangelism of Africans, facilitate the establishment of Baptist churches all over Africa and promote and facilitate the social well-being of Baptist churches in Africa. Rev Michael Okwako, the immediate past President of the AABF and President of the Rwandan Baptist Convention, advised Rev. Adu-Gyamfi not to be tempted by the privileges of his new position. He said there was the temptation of every leader to focus on the privileges that came with the position and forget about the challenges but advised Rev. Adu-Gyamfi to concentrate on solving the problems of the AABF.
Rev Adu-Gyamfi, who is also the Vice President of the BWA and Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, said it was an honour to be elected to the highest office of the President of the AABF and promised to promote development and unity. He said his experience, expertise and efforts would be put into good use to raise the status quo of the AABF for other leaders to emulate. Rev Adu-Gyamfi thanked the AABF General Assembly for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work hard for the fellowship to progress in Africa and beyond.
Rev Okwako said though he had not left any physical infrastructural development, he has left a legacy of good leadership and a united AABF.
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2 Ivorian Soldiers Get Jail Time AFRICAN NEWS in Connection With Grand-Bassam Attack COTE DIVOIRE
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wo soldiers in Ivory Coast have been sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with a deadly al-Qaida attack in the beach resort town of Grand-Bassam last March. The same day the trial opened — a military court in Abidjan found Zanga Zoumana Coulibaly and Brice Touré guilty of criminal conspiracy and failing to report a suspected terrorist to police. The charges against them stemmed from their
meeting with Assane Barry, also known as “Sam,” who is suspected of having been the driver of the car that al-Qaida operatives used to carry out the terrorist attack in Grand-Bassam that left 19 people dead. The soldiers argued they were innocent and said they didn't know that Barry was involved in terrorist activities. Barry is still awaiting his own trial. The soldiers' attorney, Raoul Gohi Bi, denounced the sentencing of his clients as illogical, since
Barry hasn't yet been convicted of terrorism activities. “I'm going to appeal this decision because I want it overturned with the highest rigor by the Supreme Court,” the attorney said. Ivorian authorities have arrested more than 80 people in connection with terrorist attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast over the past year. Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed responsibility for all three attacks.
KENYA
Husband hacks off wife’s hands after saying she failed to have children
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Kenyan woman’s hands were butchered and she was left with injuries to her head after she was brutally attacked by her husband, who blamed her for not being able to conceive any children during their seven-year marriage. Jackline Mwende’s husband, Stephen Ngila, allegedly attacked her in their home with a machete on July 23, which also left her deaf in one ear. Her father told CNN that Ngila “threatened to shut her mouth for good before attacking her with a machete.” Police and members of the community
began looking for Ngila the night the attack took place. He was arrested the following day after appearing at the hospital where Mwende was being treated. Husband, not wife, had reproductive issues While Ngila allegedly attacked her because they weren’t able to have children, a hospital in Nairobi said Mwende was fertile and it was her husband who had reproductive issues, Daily Nation reported. Kenyan member of parliament Joyce Wanjala Lay told CNN: “It is really sad that something of this nature would
happen in this time and age. “Having a child is a shared responsibility. A woman without a child is still a woman and even more stronger,” she said. Lay tells CNN that she has been at the forefront of the campaign against gender-based violence after she became the first member of parliament to say that she had been assaulted by a fellow legislator.
Incident sparks public outrage Mwende is recovering from her
injuries at her mother’s home in Machakos county — 64 miles from the capital, Nairobi, where women’s rights representatives have visited her. The Bangladeshi embassy in Kenya has promised to provide Mwende with medication for at least three months, while Lay says she and other activists have offered to provide her with prosthetic limbs, a $250 allowance per month, transport to therapy and business skills to help prepare her for life after recovery. The attack has been condemned by politicians, activists and citizens across Kenya.
GHANA
Why are Ghanaians reluctant whistleblowers?
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decade ago, Ghana passed its Whistleblowers Act offering protection to concerned citizens wanting to speak out about the corrupt practices of others in the public interest. Hardly any have come forward. Ghana's 2006 Whistleblowers Act enables citizens to disclose information about the corrupt or unlawful activities of other people. It offers them protection from victimization linked to such disclosures. The law was passed after Ghana was rocked by a series of financial scandals. But ten years later, most Ghanaians DW spoke to appeared
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unwilling to acquire the whistleblowing habit. "The dangerous part is that people are going to know who reported the issue and when that happens the ones that reported it will be in trouble," said one Ghanaian woman. In Ghana's northern Tamale region, only two people have made use of the provisions contained in the Whistleblowers Act over the last two years. Suspicions persist Ghanaian Abdul Somed finds it hard to believe that his safety can, or will, be guaranteed if he turns whistleblower. That's why he won't report anyone. "You don't know what's going to
happen at the end of everything," he told DW. Adam Baani, an anti-corruption officer with Ghana's Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), is trying to disarm such suspicions by telling Ghanaians that citizens who make disclosures under the Act won't face criminal or civil proceedings. He says that Ghana has some "very fine laws" to tackle malpractices but finds himself wondering "how come that in our part of the world it is [so] difficult to combat corruption." According to the office of Ghana's Auditor General, billions of cedis (hundreds of thousands of dollars) go
missing from state coffers every year because of fraud. Banni says he is forming "community integrity clubs" to act as watchdogs over public officials. He explained that protection was afforded to whistleblowers, because people who leak their identity face a "jail term of two years." But public aversion to whistleblowing runs deep in Ghana and is unlikely to abate any time soon. Ghana ranked 56th out of 168 countries surveyed by Trasnsparency International for its 2016 index of business perceptions of corruption, performing better than many other African countries.
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Ghanaian jailed in Canada on child porn charges
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58-year-old man from the West African nation of Ghana will have an extended stay in Canada after accepting responsibility Friday for child pornography found on his cellphone as he entered the country. Thomas Aboagye Acheampong was arrested Monday at Halifax Stanfield International Airport after arriving on an Air Canada flight from London. Acheampong told a Canada Border Services Agency officer he planned to visit for 17 days but gave inconsistent answers when pressed for details. During a secondary examination, a border officer discovered three videos on Acheampong’s cellphone showing children having sex with one another.
Crown attorney Perry Borden told Dartmouth provincial court the six children in the videos appeared to range in age from five to 13. Acheampong pleaded guilty to a Criminal Code charge of possessing electronic media depicting the sexual exploitation of children and a Customs Act charge of smuggling prohibited goods. Judge Timothy Gabriel accepted a joint recommendation from lawyers and sentenced the Ghanaian national to eight months in jail on each count, with the time to be served concurrently. Acheampong will almost certainly be deported after he gets out of the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, the judge said. “If it wasn’t for people like you, sir, who possess this kind of material,
there would be no incentive for the monsters doing this to the children,” Gabriel told the offender. “And you’re bringing it into Canada! “Let me be very direct. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t care that children are treated this way, that is prepared to contribute to the perpetualization of an industry that treats children this way, you’re not the type of person we want in Canada in any event.” The judge said the aggravating features were “too many to mention” and deserved strong condemnation. “No society in the world accepts this kind of conduct,” Gabriel said. “I don’t purport to speak for all of them, but I speak for Canadian society. We don’t tolerate it and we punish it severely. “We express society’s revulsion and
Don't Be Offended by Trouble
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o you ever get offended when something bad happens in your life? I know I have. It's an attitude that says, "Why is this happening?" or "This shouldn't be happening to me!" While it may seem harmless, offense is actually one of Satan's greatest tools to rob us of God's blessings. He uses offense to lure us into bitterness, resentment, hatred and unforgiveness — things that stunt our spiritual growth and make our lives miserable. When difficulties come our way, they present opportunities for offense. They challenge our faith and what we believe about God. In fact, a lot of people use the trouble in their lives as an excuse to be mad at God or not believe in Him at all. In their minds, they can't reconcile the idea of a loving Creator allowing such pain and suffering. Webster's dictionary partially defines offense as "an act of stumbling."1 I find this interesting because the enemy would love for us to get offended by the trials in our lives and stumble or fall away from our relationship with God. If you're like me, when things aren't going well, you're tempted to think, Why, God, why? But we're not always going to be able to figure out why. Sometimes other people's decisions affect us negatively, or we make unwise decisions that hurt us. Our enemy, Satan, also works hard to come against us and prevent us from walking in God's good plan. Whatever the reason, it's important to realize that suffering is not from God. The Lord originally created a world where everything was perfect, but when Adam and Eve sinned, it changed all of that (Genesis 3; Romans 2:12). Thankfully, through Jesus Christ, God has restored
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us to Himself and we can receive all of His blessings (2 Corinthians 5:21). However, the Lord tells us that "in this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33 NIV). So, what should we do when trials and tribulations come our way? The greatest thing we can possibly do is trust God because it's the answer to every single problem we have! There's tremendous freedom in trusting God. When something's not going our way, instead of getting offended, we can trust that He has a plan that's better than ours and He will ultimately work out the situation for good (Romans 8:28). We need to understand this because sometimes when we're having trouble, we can even get offended at other people who are being blessed. We can have a self-righteous attitude that says, "Well, I'm a better Christian than you are. I deserve those blessings.” For example, maybe you want a promotion at work but someone else receives it instead. What should you do? You can get offended, self-righteous and really hurt yourself spiritually. Or you can trust God and say, "Lord, if this is where You want me right now, then I'm going to serve my boss with a smile on my face. And I know if You want to put me somewhere else, You can do it in Your perfect timing." I've learned that God is smarter than we are! Sometimes He puts off giving us what we want because He has a different purpose in mind — something better than what we could have imagined. For instance, many times the Lord has allowed me to go through things the hard way. Sometimes it has been extremely difficult, especially when I watched other people receive breakthroughs in the
contempt for individuals who participate in that kind of activity, and the sentence must reflect that.” He said the only mitigating feature was the early guilty plea, which saved the court some time. Borden said he asked for more than the minimum sentence of six months for possession of child pornography because Acheampong had a previous conviction in Maryland in 2004 for conspiracy to traffic heroin. “So he’s not coming to court with clean hands,” the prosecutor said. The judge also ordered Acheampong to provide a DNA sample for a national databank and register as a sex offender for 10 years.
By Joyce Meyer same areas more quickly. But when God allows me to walk this path, He wants me to experience and understand what people are going through so I can relate to their pain and help them walk through it successfully. The Bible actually tells us that trials are good for us. James 1:2-3 (AMPC) says, "Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience." Suffering doesn't originate from God, but He will use it to help us grow up spiritually because He knows it will eventually bring out the best in us! (See Psalm 94:12-13.) The Lord wants us to become stable and mature ... to reach the point where we're not blown over by every storm in life. He wants us to have joy and contentment in Him, even when our circumstances aren't perfect (Nehemiah 8:10). God never promised us a trouble-free life, but we can take comfort knowing that He loves us tremendously, He has His eye on us, and He is already working behind the scenes to help us (Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 33:18). Remember, what you're going through now isn't going to last forever. So don't live your life bitter and resentful over something you can't do anything about. Instead, choose to place your trust in God. He's the One Who loves you unconditionally ... and He's the One Who can turn your trials into something great.
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Keeping Spiritual Compromises in Check FILLING UP
By Dr. Steve Danso
P
eople lead lives based on their principles and try to sustain those principles. Whether it is a sworn affirmation not to gloat over other peoples' misfortunes, living a quite life, trying to maintain self discipline or leading a life of honesty and openness, they do their best to uphold such principles. In real life, there have been a few great men whose principled leadership is worthy of mention. Mahatma Gandhi of India was so committed to his principle of nonviolence protests against British Colonial rule that he once declared: “My marriage to non-violence is such an absolute thing that I would rather commit suicide than be deflected from my position.” True to his word, Gandhi never compromised on his stance. He radically transformed the Indian nationalist movement into an intransigent force that eventually kept the British government out of its 'rhythm' and led to India's independence. Back here at home, Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, who took inspiration from Gandhi,
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was one such inspiration. Throughout his struggle against racism, he was committed to his principle of non-violence and never departed from that stance. In the corporate world, great companies try as hard as possible to avoid compromising the quality of their products to sustain consumer confidence. Not all compromises are bad, though. If two people join together in Holy Matrimony, there is a sure bet that a compromise was reached. Businesses reach a compromise to avert potential damages in cases where a prolonged conflict could endanger the financial fortunes of these companies. The reality is, such personal and corporate principles can turn awry at times, but when it involves a spiritual relationship with God, compromising on Godly principles could be the harbinger for spiritual paralysis. And this is what Satan relishes. He embellishes lies, makes them look good and believers fall for it. Yes, the greatest threat faced by any believer is Satan's subtle attacks, which hinge on his deceptive power of compromise. Nobody ever thought that King Solomon could be one such victim. He was a man mightily blessed by God with wisdom and wealth, and the king who built the most beautiful temple in honor of the Lord. A passage in the book of Chronicles reads: “And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his
heart” (2nd Chronicles 9:23). Solomon's love for God was never in doubt. When Solomon was made King, no nation dreamt of attacking Israel because of the 'impregnable wall of protection' God built around it. The world was simply at the feet of King Solomon. A compromise with the world, however, doomed him. God warned him against any dalliance with Egypt because of their loyalty to other gods, but Solomon overlooked the instruction and married Pharaoh's daughter. That was not only his drawback. Very complacent and bolstered by the deceptive influence of compromise, Solomon ended up marrying several wives who worshipped pagan gods and turned his heart away from God. In the end, he fell out of favor with God, who told him: “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and I will give it to your servants” (I Kings 11:11). King Jehoshaphat was another story. He was the king who led his people in prayer and fasting to forestall a serious threat by an enemy attack and prevailed. Scriptures talk about the invincibility of Judah: “And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat” (2nd Chronicles 17:10). Jehoshaphat was without doubt, a Godly king, whose leadership was
an inspiration. But he, too, gave in to the power of compromise. He made friends with Ahab, the king of Israel, who was a huge fan of idol worship and even supported his son to marry Ahab's daughter. Jehoshaphat's unholy alliance with Ahab led him to war against Syria, where he was nearly killed. That's the nature of Satan. He's subtle, tricks with very good causes that are easy to rationalize, and provides the incentive to embrace concessions. As believers, we cannot continue to succumb to those tricks. Although, we have a sinful nature, our ability to resist sin has been made possible by the redemptive power of Christ. The Book of Corinthians offers this uplifting message: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may able to beat it” (1st Corinthians 10:13). This explicitly suggests that in Christ, we have overcome the world and must be able to stand against any compromise that has the potential to diminish our standing with the Lord. We live in a world where the pull of the devil is strong and powerful, but we must resolve to hold the line in obedience to the Word and purge our minds of those worldly temptations that stand in contrast to the truth.
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Cameroon Works to Boost Infant Breastfeeding HEALTH
W
orld Breastfeeding Week has took on special urgency in Cameroon where a recent government survey revealed that as many as 70 percent of babies are not exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life. Health workers in Cameroon are trying to get the message out. Nineteen-year old Lilian Ngetchi dishes up a local maize porridge called pap for her two-month old baby. She says she breastfed the child just for a month and a half. She says she has had only one child and does not want her breast to lose its shape because she is still very young. She says at her age she does not want to look like old mothers whose breasts have become flabby. Across town in the capital, threemonth-old Henrietta Ngufor cries at the Messassi district hospital. Her
mother, 26-year old Comfort Ngufor says she started losing weight when she stopped breastfeeding her a week ago. "I prefer artificial milk. It saves time," she said. "There are some very nice milks in the market that you could get for your child. It is just all about quality." Dr. Evelyn Mah at the pediatric hospital in Yaounde works to debunk myths. "Whether you breastfeed the baby or you don't breastfeed your baby, you will age and with age, your breast will become flabby," she said. "Breast milk contains all what the baby needs. When they breastfeed their babies exclusively, what they have to do is to eat balanced meals and drink a lot of water."
Pediatrician Dr. Dorianne Mvogo of the family welfare department of Cameroon's health ministry, told VOA a quarter of infants who die in Cameroon have been denied exclusive breast milk during the first six months of their lives. The World Health Organization has also noted a correlation. The WHO says more than 800,000 lives would be saved globally if all babies were fed nothing but mother's milk until six months of age. Myogo says women shouldn't believe local myths like that having sexual relations will contaminate their milk and make their babies sick. There is no relation between the two, the doctor said. She says some women also tell her they think that breast milk can go bad in a woman's body, something else the doctor says is simply not true.
Myogo says Cameroon should take a lesson from Kenya which she says has boosted breastfeeding and infant health by regulating how formula is marketed and requiring safety notices on the packaging. She says human breast milk contains natural antibodies that protect babies against infection and formula milk does not. Cameroon gives a period of two months for working mothers to remain at home and breastfeed their newborns. After the two months, the law requires they be given two hours each working day for a period of four months to go home and breastfeed their babies. Some family welfare advocates are calling for the state-protected maternity leave to be extended to six months, though there is concern that this would only benefit mothers working in higher income jobs.
WHY IT MATTERS: Immigration Immigration
W
ASHINGTON (AP) THE ISSUE: An estimated 11 million people are living and in many cases working in the United States illegally. The questions of what to with them and how to curb future illegal immigration have been a campaign issue for more than a decade. Never more so than now. Illegal immigration goes to the heart of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. It's a source of his strength among supporters, contention among critics and confusion over what he really intends to do.
vows it won't. Trump had repeatedly pledged to deport all the people living in the country illegally. Now he'd focus on deporting people who have committed crimes beyond their immigration offences. As for the rest, he's proposing no path to legal status while they are in the U.S. Democrat Hillary Clinton has pledged to push for an overhaul that would enable citizenship — not just legal status — for many living in the country illegally. She has also said she would expand programs that protect some groups of immigrants from deportation, including those who arrived as children and the parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. President Barack Obama's effort to shield parents from deportation is on hold after the Supreme Court deadlocked on a decision in a case challenging the president's authority to expand the deportation protection program.
The long debate over immigration in Congress has focused on which should come first: stiffer enforcement at the border and inside the country or a path to legal status for the millions of people who are already a part of their communities. Efforts to overhaul the country's immigration laws have routinely been defined by Republicans supporting an enforcement-first approach with Democrats preferring a path to legal status for those here while working on WHY IT MATTERS security efforts at the same time. The result? A Illegal immigration has remained at nearly 40standstill. year lows for the last several years and several estimates of the immigrants living in the country WHERE THEY STAND illegally suggest that Mexican migration trends Trump vows to build a wall along the Mexican have actually reversed, with more Mexican border complete with a “big beautiful door.” He nationals leaving the United States than vows Mexico will pay for the wall; Mexico arriving. And billions of dollars have been spent www.tcjonline.org
in recent years to build fencing, improve technology used at the border and expand the Border Patrol. Nonetheless the Mexican border remains a focal point for those who argue that the country is not secure. As evidence that the border is not secure, many Republicans point to the illegal crossings of hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied children and people traveling as families in recent years. The surge of children and families from Central America in 2014 was described as a crisis at the border and the volume of people apprehended overwhelmed government resources. At the same time, the Obama administration has dramatically slowed the pace of deportations after setting a record by sending home more than 409,000 people in 2012. During the 2015 budget year, the administration removed 235,000 people. Multiple efforts to overhaul immigration policies have repeatedly ended in a legislative stalemate as Republicans and Democrats spar over how to approach both securing the border and dealing with those immigrants already here.
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BIRTHDAY CORNER
I
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Pastor nick Celebrates 50th Birthday
n celebration of his milestone 50th birthday, Pastor Nicholas AnaneAgyei's Wife threw a party fit for a King. The celebration took place at the Ghanatta Hall in the Bronx. Friends, family and members of his congregation gathered to celebrate his
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birthday in style. The Ghanaian Ministers fellowship, community leaders and other sister churches celebrated with him as well. With rousing gospel music he took to the dance floor with his wife. There were a lot of heartfelt testimonials about Pastor Nick as he is affectionately called.
Take a look at some photos from the event in this gallery, courtesy of Fabweb Solutions Invite The Christian Journal to your wedding or Anniversary. 718-684-2510
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