Cameroon bishop was killed for opposing homosexual clergy, local priest alleges

A Cameroon bishop who was found dead in June was killed for his opposition to homosexual clergy, a local priest has alleged.

Bishop Jean Marie Benoit Bala of Bafia, Cameroon was found dead in mysterious circumstances in June.

Bishop Jean Marie Benoit Bala of Bafia was found dead on June 2, 2017, in mysterious circumstances – his body discovered in a river four miles from his abandoned car after he went missing on May 31.

Now it has been alleged that the 58-year-old bishop was killed for opposing homosexual priests, according to Crux.

Speaking in a memorial Mass homily for the bishop on Thursday, Monsignor Joseph Akonga Essomba gestured towards government ministers and certain clergy present at the service and said: 'Shame to all those people in black suits and black spectacles always sitting in the front rows of the Church.

'Shame to all those priests who have come here, pretending to sympathise. These are the people who killed our bishop, because he said 'No" to the homosexuality perpetrated by those priests.'

Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo, Cameroon said: 'The same reasons for which Christ was crucified apply to the killing of the bishop.

'He was killed because he stood for the truth. Any pastor, any bishop, any priest who stands for the truth should be ready to face the sword. It's a beautiful way to die.'

A police investigation into Bishop Bala's death concluded that he had drowned. However, Cameroon bishops rejected the report, insisting he was tortured and 'brutally assassinated', according to their evidence.

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Veteran Christian country star Glen Campbell dies at 81

The veteran country musician Glen Campbell died yesterday at age 81, after an ongoing battle with Alzheimer's disease. Campbell was a born-again Christian who had shared how his faith saved him from a cocaine addiction.

Glen Campbell was a American country icon and born-again Christian who was open about his faith.

 Glen Travis Campbell, who famously recorded hits such as Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman and Gentle on My Mind died at an Nashville Alzheimer's facility surrounded by his family, his publicist announced.

His family wrote in a statement on the singer's website: 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.'

Campbell announced he was suffering from the disease in June 2011, after which he embarked on a farewell tour across the US that concluded in November 2012.

The acclaimed singer-guitarist has won six Grammy Awards and had nine no 1 records in his five-decade career.

The artist's stardom also led to personal troubles, including drug abuse and alcoholism. However in 1981 Campbell became a born-again Christian and added hymns to his musical repertoire.

He said in 1990: 'Christ has delivered me from all the evil I was in. I'm happier now than ever in my life...I love singing gospel music and hymns. Being a Christian, I love to tell people about Christ and what he's done for me and can do for them.'

After three failed marriages, Campbell settled with his fourth wife, Kim Woolen in 1982.

He told the magazine Guideposts about how his faith enabled him to leave behind his cocaine addiction and his alcoholism. He said: 'When God lifted my obsession for alcohol it was as if he raised the curtain on a whole new life. He changed me in ways I never could have changed myself, and that is the key. Kim and I have a real marriage now, an honest marriage.

'Today I truly have a peace "which passeth all understanding". I really don't understand it. But I thank the Lord all the time. I am a man richly blessed, despite myself. For all that God has given me, there is nothing for which I am more thankful than Kim.'

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What are demons and how do they operate? Christian exorcist explains

An excorcist in Los Angeles has warned Christians about the things they must never, ever do if they are to avoid demonic possession.

Dabbling with the spiritual world can be seen as innocent fun and games by many people but the exorcist, identified only as Father Robert because of the sensitivies of his work, said they are anything but.

Not only are they going against God's commands, they are actually opening the door to demons, not good spirits.

It's this interaction with demons that makes him say that the Ouija board is an absolute no no for people.

'The Ouija board is something to be avoided at all cost. This is a direct invitation for a demon to move the object on the board,' he said in an interview with FaithWire. "God and angels have nothing to do with parlor games. These methods of conjuring spirits go against the first commandment. This is the reason why King Saul initially had all sorcery banned from Judah.'

Sadly, many Christian churches and seminaries do not teach in depth about the spiritual world and particularly the presence of demons and because of this, many people are ignorant about them.

That goes against Jesus' teaching practice as he openly spoke about demons and how to combat them during his earthly ministry.

In fact, it's because Jesus talked about them so much we can know they are real, explains Father Robert.

'Jesus talks about it. Therefore, they exist,' he told Faithwire.

Father Roberts, who is a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, has learned a lot about demons and how they operate.  He explained that they actually have the 'nature of angels' because they were originally created by God as angels.  And because of that, they also have 'infused knowledge of creation.'

But they changed from being good to bad after rebelling against God.  They were expelled from Heaven because they refused to serve their Creator and His creation.

Father Robert revealed an interesting limitation, though.  While we can think demons are all-powerful and can do anything for us that we ask them to, the truth is they are limited by 'what God allows them to do.'

And he starkly warns that humans are deceived if they think demons or demonic power will benefit them or work on their behalf in any way.

'They will get us to believe that they will do things for us but they said from the beginning they will not serve God.  Do you think that they will serve us?' he said.

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Why does God allow some people to be born handicapped? Billy Graham has a great answer

Most people would say life is hard, but there are some things that can make life feel harder and one person born with a physical handicap couldn't help but feel that way.

They got in touch with Billy Graham to ask why God allows some people to be born with a physical handicap and others with none at all.

The person, who wrote anonymously, admitted they felt 'angry at God' for allowing them to be born with the handicap that had 'held me back all my life.'

'I blame Him for keeping me from leading a normal life,' the person wrote.  'I know some people are worse off, but I'm still bitter.  Why shouldn't I be?'

Graham, 98, has spent his whole life studying Scriptures and preaching God's Word but he had to admit in his reply that there are some things even he cannot fully understand.

But he started with what he does understand and that is: God definitely understands when people feel angry and bitter about their circumstances. But He loves them all the same and knowing that love makes all the difference to our happiness.

'The most important thing I can tell you is that God understands your feelings—and yet He doesn't reject you or get angry at you. In fact, God loves you—and once you discover this truth, your life will never be the same,' he explained.

Graham then pleaded with the person to turn away from their bitterness.  He also assured them that this was something God actually wants to help them with.

'Admittedly I don't fully understand why some people go through life without serious physical problems, while others (such as yourself) struggle with limitations all your life. But I do know this: God knows what you're going through, and He wants to help you move beyond your bitterness and anger,' he said.

In fact, Graham encouraged them to remember the Apostle Paul who suffered greatly with persistent physical problems and yet was still used greatly by God to touch many people and bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

He recommended reflecting on the teaching in Hebrews 12:15 not to allow any bitter root to grow inside as nothing good can come from it and it will only be like 'poison to the soul,' he said.

Next, he said every person needs to remember the suffering of Jesus Christ who suffered far more than any of us and finally he suggested remembering the words of Job in Job 29:15 in which he says he describes himself as 'eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.'

'Ask God to show you ways you can help others who are handicapped,' said Graham. 'Turn your bitterness over to Christ.'

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'The Lord is their refuge': 7 Bible verses about the poor

As Gozpelworld reported earlier, the Bishop of Burnley has said that the Church of England's approach to mission is 'almost entirely focused on the needs and aspirations of the wealthy'.

In powerful words at the New Wine Christian festival, he added: 'The simple and hard truth is that, in the poorest parts of the country, we are withdrawing the preachers. The harvest is rich, but the labourers have been re-deployed to wealthier areas. We are seeing the slow and steady withdrawal of church life from those communities where the poorest people in our nation live.'

So what does the Bible say? Here are seven Bible verses about the poor:

1. The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them (Isaiah 41:17).

2. If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them (Deuteronomy 15:7).

3. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. (1 Samuel 2:8).

4. 'Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,' says the Lord. 'I will protect them from those who malign them' (Psalm 12: 5).

5. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge (Psalm 14:6).

6. Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me' (Mark 10:21).

7. Looking at his disciples, he said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God' (Luke 6:20).

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Can Business and Ministry work together?

Most people think that ministry is only limited to pastors and other church leaders, but this is not so. The word "ministry" came from the greek word "diakoneo" which means "to serve," or the word "duoleuo," which means "to serve as a slave." Following these definitions, a person can do ministry to the Lord Jesus in pretty much any capacity.

The Bible has various examples showing that ministry can take on many forms, such as Tabitha's service to the poor and Stephen's attending to the needs of Hellenistic widows, both of which can be found in the book of Acts. This simply shows that any person can be of great service to the Lord's purposes!

In fact, the great reformer Martin Luther once said "[t]he idea that service to God should have only to do with a church altar, singing, reading, sacrifice, and the like is without doubt but the worst trick of the devil." We should break free from the idea that ministry is confined within the four walls of the church!

Think about it. Your business can be used to bring the Gospel to people! Do you own a restaurant? You can feed the homeless once in a while and use that same feeding event to spread the Gospel. Are you a salesman? Let your graceful speech and friendly attitude bring someone close to Christ!

Whatever you do

Paul said "[whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (see Colossians 3:23). Our motive here is that in all that we do, whether in our careers or not, we do it unto the Lord. Anything you do can be an act of service to God!

The greatest servant

Let's consider the greatest servant of all: the Lord Jesus Himself. Matthew 20:28 says "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." And what did He do? He didn't just stay in the synagogues to teach during His time – He "went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him" (see Acts 10:38). He had all kinds of people follow Him, and He taught them how to pray and love God. He fed thousands of people, taught many, including a Pharisee named Nicodemus (see John 3), healed the sick, and raised the dead.

More than that, before He left the earth to sit at the right hand of God, Jesus commanded His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations" (see Matthew 28:18-20). This means that every Christ-follower, whether a businessman, a teacher, a chef, a delivery man or a pastor, is given the mandate to reach all kinds of people with the Gospel. Serve the Lord in every way you can!

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