A ‘feared’ evangelical pastor who used his trusted position to abuse children and adults over 20 years has been jailed for 34 years after his conviction for multiple rapes of members of his congregation.

Self-styled prophet Michael Oluronbi, originally from Nigeria and living in Birmingham, was found guilty of the offences against six women and a man in January, actions described by a judge as ‘one of the worst cases of sexual abuse of multiple children to come before the courts’.

Some of his offences were carried out after he convinced victims, five of whom attended his church, to take part in ‘spiritual bathing’, which he claimed would ‘cleanse’ them of evil spirits.

During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, a jury heard that some of his young female victims became pregnant multiple times but were taken to abortion clinics by qualified pharmacist Oluronbi, to cover up what was happening.

He was convicted of 15 counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault – as his sentencing hearing heard there were at least 88 separate occasions on which he raped his victims.

Judge Sarah Buckingham said the real purpose of the ‘spiritual baths’ was to ‘fulfil your insatiable sexual appetite’.

The 60-year-old’s wife Juliana was jailed for 11 years after being found guilty of three counts of aiding and abetting rape after helping arrange some of the terminations.

Both defendants will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Sentencing ‘arrogant’ Oluronbi on Friday, Judge Buckingham said: ‘You claimed that God was instructing you to conduct holy baths.

‘Its real purpose was to fulfil your insatiable sexual appetite.

‘The children feared you and this enabled you to continue your grip.

‘Your offending has had an extreme and severe impact on all of your complainants.

‘Any attempt to suggest otherwise would be without foundation.

‘You abused your position of trust – they trusted you like God.’

The judge continued: ‘You did this because you are an arrogant, selfish and vain man.

‘In my judgment, your offending must be one of the worst cases of sexual abuse of multiple children to come before the courts.’

The religious leader was brought to justice after one of his victims, now an adult, came forward.

When eventually confronted about his offences, Oluronbi said ‘the devil made me do it’.

In statements read to the court by the prosecution, one of the victims said the defendant’s actions made her ‘question if my life was worth living’.

Source: Daily Mail

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A ‘feared’ evangelical pastor who used his trusted position to abuse children and adults over 20 years has been jailed for 34 years after his conviction for multiple rapes of members of his congregation.

Self-styled prophet Michael Oluronbi, originally from Nigeria and living in Birmingham, was found guilty of the offences against six women and a man in January, actions described by a judge as ‘one of the worst cases of sexual abuse of multiple children to come before the courts’.

Some of his offences were carried out after he convinced victims, five of whom attended his church, to take part in ‘spiritual bathing’, which he claimed would ‘cleanse’ them of evil spirits.

During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, a jury heard that some of his young female victims became pregnant multiple times but were taken to abortion clinics by qualified pharmacist Oluronbi, to cover up what was happening.

He was convicted of 15 counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault – as his sentencing hearing heard there were at least 88 separate occasions on which he raped his victims.

Judge Sarah Buckingham said the real purpose of the ‘spiritual baths’ was to ‘fulfil your insatiable sexual appetite’.

The 60-year-old’s wife Juliana was jailed for 11 years after being found guilty of three counts of aiding and abetting rape after helping arrange some of the terminations.

Both defendants will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Sentencing ‘arrogant’ Oluronbi on Friday, Judge Buckingham said: ‘You claimed that God was instructing you to conduct holy baths.

‘Its real purpose was to fulfil your insatiable sexual appetite.

‘The children feared you and this enable you to continue your grip.

‘Your offending has had an extreme and severe impact on all of your complainants.

‘Any attempt to suggest otherwise would be without foundation.

‘You abused your position of trust – they trusted you like God.’

The judge continued: ‘You did this because you are an arrogant, selfish and vain man.

‘In my judgment, your offending must be one of the worst cases of sexual abuse of multiple children to come before the courts.’

The religious leader was brought to justice after one of his victims, now an adult, came forward.

When eventually confronted about his offences, Oluronbi said ‘the devil made me do it’.

In statements read to the court by the prosecution, one of the victims said the defendant’s actions made her ‘question if my life was worth living’.

Source: Daily Mail

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A youth pastor in Pennsylvania who got a 17-year-old girl pregnant in 2016 has now been charged with hiring someone to murder his senior pastor and the judge who presided over his case.

The Mercury News reports that 37-year-old Jacob M. Malone allegedly offered to pay a fellow inmate to commit the murders last year while in Laurel Highlands state correctional institute.

A teenage girl gave birth to Malone’s child in 2016. Malone was arrested after his senior pastor, Harold Lee Wiggins, reported him to the police. The teenager claimed that Malone had been sexually assaulting her since she started living with him and his family at the age of 17.

SOURCE: Charisma News

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U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who is a key player in the nation’s ongoing discussion about school choice and academic reform, is a devout Christian with a lifetime commitment to her faith.

And in a recent interview with The Pure Flix Podcast, DeVos dove deep into her biblical roots, her passion for education and her perspective on potential reforms.

“I was fortunate enough to be born into a family that raised me to make my faith my own,” she said. “I had exposure from my first memories to weekly church services.”

While DeVos was brought up in a Christian home, it wasn’t until her teen years that her faith was more firmly rooted.

“My faith really became my own when I was a late teen, early 20s,” she said, adding that she has since had continued challenges that have helped her learn and grow. “I’m grateful to have had that foundation.”

The Trump-appointee went on to note that faith is “foundational to everything” she does, explaining how her views about individual value translate to the educational realm.

“I firmly believe every single child is a uniquely created individual with great potential and there are too many kids that are just not able to develop that full potential, because they are in a place that simply is not cultivating that for whatever reason,” DeVos said.

Listen to DeVos share her faith journey and her passion for education:

She noted that there are many teachers across the U.S. who are doing a wonderful job, but added her belief that the system, as it currently stands, doesn’t meet diverse needs.

“Kids are different,” DeVos said. “They learn differently and a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach does not work.”

SOURCE: Charisma News

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Dr. David Wells, general superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, has been elected to serve as president of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) at its 2020 Annual Meeting. Rev. Wells will assume leadership on May 1, 2020. Outgoing President Jeff Farmer will continue to help lead the Next-Gen Cohort of 30 emerging leaders, appointed by member denominations and organizations.

Dr. Wells has served as the vice-chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship and on the executive boards of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship and the PCCNA. He served on the board of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada from 1999–2013 and served as chair of that board from 2007–2013. He completed his undergraduate studies in theology at Vanguard College in Edmonton, Alberta, and has a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Briercrest Seminary, Saskatchewan. In May 2013, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by McMaster Divinity College. In April 2014, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Briercrest College and Seminary, and in July 2017 an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Pentecostal Bible and Leadership Institute, Malawi.

SOURCE: Charisma News

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The forthcoming film “The Banker” should motivate the church to address the issues of financial literacy, caring for the “least of these,” and perseverance in the face of adversity, according to stars Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, and Nia Long. 

Based on historic events that took place in the 1950s and ’60s, “The Banker” tells the true story of Bernard Garrett (Mackie) and Joe Morris (Jackson), a pair of African American entrepreneurs who made themselves part of the real estate game in Los Angeles, California, and Texas.

Due to racial inequality, the two men decide to hire a white man, a home-repair worker named Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult), to act as the head of their company while they posed as a janitor and a chauffeur and ran the business.

Thanks to their savvy and financial ingenuity, Garrett and Morris made it possible for black citizens to move into formerly all-white neighborhoods before the Fair Housing Act of 1968 made discrimination unlawful. Their success ultimately drew the attention of the federal government, which threatened everything they had built.

Directed by George Nolfi, “The Banker” brings to life a fascinating true story of financial gamesmanship and racial discrimination in a segregated America. The film premiered at a special event at the National Civil Rights Museum on Monday that was attended by The Christian Post.

Mackie (the “Avengers” series), told CP he hopes the film motivates church leaders to address the issue of financial literacy from the pulpit.

“Financial literacy is something that we need to talk about in the church weekly,” he stressed. “I feel like when we go to church, we look for guidance and leadership. So we need the spiritual understanding of our day to day lives, but also our financial security so that we can take care of our families.”

The actor added that Scripture often addresses the importance of stewarding one’s money wisely, adding: “Tithing is there to build and grow the church and spread the Lord’s work. So in order for me to be a vehicle of the Lord, I need to have a home and a strong family system so that I can go out and live by His Word. That’s why it’s so important to talk about financial literacy.”

Jackson, who grew up in segregated America, told CP that while the country has come a long way, there’s still a “serious wealth gap” that makes it difficult for many African American and low-income families to achieve the “American dream.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Leah MarieAnn Klett

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A Colorado pro-life group collected over 138,000 signatures in the hopes of getting an initiative on the state ballot to ban late-term abortions in most circumstances.

The Due Date Too Late campaign announced that they turned in the signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday, putting them one step closer to getting their initiative on the ballot.

In order to be added to the Colorado ballot, the proposed measure needs to have at least 124,632 valid signatures. The state has 30 days to review the petitions.

The campaign noted in a Facebook post on Thursday that they were able to get around 43,000 of the signatures over the past week alone.

“We reached the minimum for submission and are now waiting for an official count. We have the best volunteers in the world! Thanks for speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves,” they stated.

Lauren Castillo, a spokeswoman for the campaign, told Colorado Public Radio that she was “confident” that the measure has “enough to qualify” for the ballot.

“It was an all-volunteer effort,” said Castillo. “I think it was really indicative of the grassroots movement. As word-of-mouth continued to spread, the momentum just continued to build.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski

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