Controversial ‘Snake Pastor’: Only Spiritual People Can Eat Live Snakes and Not Die

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Controversial ‘Snake Pastor’: Only Spiritual People Can Eat Live Snakes and Not Die

South African prophet Penuel Mnguni, Snake, End Times Disciples Ministries (Photo: Facebook/End Times Disciples Ministries)

Christian Post Report – South African prophet Penuel Mnguni, 24, commanding “snake spirits” into his congregants.

A controversial snake pastor in South Africa has been praised by the country’s Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Rights Commission for his vast knowledge of the Bible.

Pastor Penuel Mnguni of End Times Disciples Ministries in Soshanguve was recently forced to defend his religious practices to the committee after facing accusations of abusing and commercializing the Christian faith.

Authorities called Mnguni to defend himself after photographs showed the controversial pastor feeding live snakes and rats to churchgoers. Witnesses say Mnguni forced the congregants to eat the animals to prove their devotion to their faith. The religious leader also faced accusations of stepping on congregants’ backs.

According to the Daily Sun, Mnguni’s meeting with the commission Wednesday resulted in praise from the commission’s chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, for his so-called extensive biblical knowledge.

Mnguni has previously used Romans 14 to defend his practices. The Bible passage states in part that “One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.”

Despite the praise, the commission, which has been investigating dozens of Christian pastors in South Africa, also determined the Mnguni’s practices to be “unconstitutional and undignified.”

The pastor defended his unorthodox preaching style at the hearing, arguing that he fed snakes to members of the church to show God’s faith in him as a religious leader.

“A normal person cannot eat snakes — you must be spiritual. To show that God was with me, no one has died,” the pastor said.

Mnguni also defended his trampling on congregants’ backs, arguing that his preaching talent put churchgoers in a spiritual hypnosis, preventing them from feeling pain.

As The Christian Post previously reported, the self-styled prophet, also know as the “snake pastor,” fled his home in Soshanguve in November after learning that the commission had summoned him to a hearing.

The pastor has also received criticism from the country’s SPCA, an animal rights group, for his cruelty in feeding live animals to humans.

When appearing at the meeting on Wednesday, Mnguni denied he had been summoned, although officials claimed they searched for the pastor for months, suggesting he had been in hiding.

“I came to CRL Commission. I was not running from it. They were not looking for me,” he said. “They did not know where I am and what I can say is I came for myself here.”

“So I never received any summons from them and what is happening now … I’m going to start again the ministry as I’m talking now,” the pastor added.

The CRL has also made an effort to crack down on other Christian pastors who they suspect of abusing their preaching power.

Officials have also asked to speak to Lesego Daniel of Rabboni Centre Ministries in Pretoria, accusing the pastor of forcing his followers eat grass and drink gasoline to show their dedication to God.

Mkhwanazi-Xaluva previously told News24 that Daniel and Mnguni are two of 40 pastors being investigated for their religious practices, implying that these religious leaders have wrongfully taken money from their congregants.

“These people take money from people. What are they doing with that money? We want to know. We will not back down,” she told News24 in November.

Source : Christian Post

Gospel for Asia Awaits Papers as ‘Tens of Thousands’ Could Join Class Action Lawsuit

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Gospel for Asia Awaits Papers as ‘Tens of Thousands’ Could Join Class Action Lawsuit

Gospel for Asia (Photo: Screen Grab Gospel for Asia)

Christian Post Report – A screen shot of Gospel for Asia’s Christmas catalogue.

With more than a million unique donations being made to Gospel for Asia annually, Monday’s bombshell class action lawsuit against one of the largest missions agencies based in the U.S. could potentially involve no less than “tens of thousands” of plaintiffs and the agency says it’s still waiting to be served.

“While we are more than willing to answer any questions asked of us, it would be irresponsible for us to do so at this time since we have not yet been served any lawsuit. All we know is what has been posted on the Internet by certain bloggers who have previously misrepresented facts related to Gospel for Asia in a relentless attempt to discredit our ministry,” wrote Daniel Punnose in an email statement to The Christian Post Thursday. He is listed as a vice president and member of Gospel for Asia’s board of directors as well as the son of the organization’s leader, K.P. Yohannan, in the lawsuit.

“Once we know the nature of the accusations, we will respond accordingly and transparently. We remain — as we have been for over 30 years — committed to operating with integrity on behalf of so many of the world’s most desperate people. That is our commitment and we will remain focused on our Christian mission. We are so grateful for all of those who support our work,” the statement ended.

The missions agency was named in the class action lawsuit filed in Arkansas Monday by the Dallas-based Stanley Law Group alleging that it and several affiliates fraudulently solicited hundreds of millions of dollars in charitable donations, and misdirected the money into the Yohannan’s personal empire.

Listed as defendants along with Yohannan and his son are: his wife, Gisela, a member of the Board of Directors of GFA; David Carroll, who serves GFA in multiple capacities, including Chief Financial Officer; and Pat Emerick. Emerick, according to the suit, is a United States citizen who resides in Ontario, Canada. He serves as the director of the Canadian affiliate of GFA.

The lawsuit comes just four months after the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability cut ties with Gospel for Asia last October for violating five of the ECFA’s seven core standards.

Matthew and Jennifer Dickson are listed as the main plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which charges defendants with violations of RICO and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well as fraud and unjust enrichment.
The suit, however, covers: “All persons in the United States who donated money to GFA within the applicable statutes of limitations.”

And this class of individuals, according to the lawsuit, could amount to no less than “tens of thousands.”

“The members of the class are so numerous and geographically dispersed that individual joinder of all Class members is impracticable. While plaintiffs are informed and believe that there are not less than tens of thousands of members of the class, the precise number of class members is unknown to plaintiffs,” argues the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs allege that Gospel for Asia, Yohannan, and other GFA officials misrepresented to donors how, when, and where charitable donations would be spent, and funneled vast amounts of the hundreds of millions of dollars the organization has collected into for-profit businesses and an expensive headquarters.

The lawsuit charges that the exact number of persons in the potential class of plaintiffs can be “ascertained from defendants’ books and records.”

“Class members may be notified of the pendency of this action by recognized, court-approved notice dissemination methods, which may include U.S. mail, electronic mail, Internet postings, and/or published notice,” it further notes.

Between 2007 and 2013, GFA has solicited over $450,000,000 in donations from the U.S. alone, where the majority of GFA’s donors reside. Donors charge the suit have given on a one time or on a recurring, sponsorship basis.

The suit charges that despite repeated, explicit guarantees from GFA to donors, only a fraction of the donated money supports the people and causes for which it was donated, as the defendants redirect funds for their own purposes.

READ THE COMPLETE LAWSUIT BELOW:

Dickson v. GFA Complaint


Contact: [email protected]; follow me on Twitter @leoblair

Source : Christian Post

Vatican Says Bishops Not Obligated to Report Sex Abuse to Police

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Vatican Says Bishops Not Obligated to Report Sex Abuse to Police

Pope Francis REUTERS / Alessandro Bianchi

Christian Post Report – Pope Francis prays as he leads a mass in Asuncion, Paraguay, July 12, 2015.

Catholic Bishops have no legal obligation to report sex abuse allegations to law enforcement, a recent Vatican document states.

Monsignor Tony Anatrella, who belongs to the Church’s Pontifical Council for the Family, stated in a Vatican document — as well as during a training session for newly-ordained bishops — that Church leaders have no legal obligation to report sex abuse allegations to local authorities.

The Catholic news agency Crux Now first reported on comments made by Anatrella during the annual training session held for bishops in Paris, France, last fall, where the mosignor focused on a variety of issues, including “sanctifying, teaching and governing,” as well handling sex abuse claims.

“Anatrella argued that bishops have no duty to report allegations to the police, which he says is up to victims and their families. It’s a legalistic take on a critical issue, one which has brought only trouble for the Church and its leaders. Why, one wonders, was it part of a training session?” Crux News questioned.

The Guardian followed up on the report, citing a recent Vatican document, released last week, that says the bishops’ only responsibility is to deal with the charges at an internal level.

“According to the state of civil laws of each country where reporting is obligatory, it is not necessarily the duty of the bishop to report suspects to authorities, the police or state prosecutors in the moment when they are made aware of crimes or sinful deeds,” the document, written by Anatrella and released by the Vatican earlier this month, reads.

News of the Church’s guidelines for reporting abuse have received widespread criticism from advocacy groups, especially after Pope Francis repeatedly voiced his commitment to achieving justice for victims of the Church’s decades-long molestation scandal, as reported by The Christian Post here, here and here.

Barbara Dorris, the outreach director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Tuesday that the guidelines are not surprising.

“In one sense, this isn’t surprising. As BishopAccountability.org has pointed out, ‘zero tolerance,’ while often uttered by Catholic officials, isn’t even the official policy of the global Church,” Dorris said, adding “But it’s infuriating — and dangerous — that so many believe the myth that bishops are changing how they deal with abuse and that so little attention is paid when evidence to the contrary — like this disclosure by [Crux News] — emerges.”

Wayne Chamley, of the Australia-based Broken Rites activist group, told the Sydney Morning Herald that these guidelines protect bishops from having any obligation to report abuse.

“This basically instructs the bishop that they don’t have to do anything; it’s up to the families or the victims to go to the police,” he said. “This is unfathomable and yet it does not surprise me.”

Francis denounced the Church’s sex abuse scandal on a recent visit to the United States, during which he met privately with victims and vowed publically that “all responsible will be held accountable.”

While speaking at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia last September, Francis said “God weeps” for the grave offenses committed against children at the hands of the Church.

 “I commit to the careful oversight to ensure that youth are protected,” the pope added.

Source : Christian Post

Paul Osteen Hosts Medical Missions Conference to Mobilize Believers in Answering God’s Call to Serve

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Paul Osteen Hosts Medical Missions Conference to Mobilize Believers in Answering God’s Call to Serve

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  • Paul Osteen(Photo: Courtesy of Lakewood Church)
The Rev. Dr. Paul Osteen treats children during a medical mission in far western Zambia where he visited Mukinge and Chitokoloki Hospitals.
  • Osteen(Photo: Courtesy of Lakewood Church)
    • The Rev. Dr. Paul Osteen treats a child during a medical mission in far western Zambia where he visited Mukinge and Chitokoloki Hospitals.
  • Osteen(Photo: Courtesy of Lakewood Church)
    • The Rev. Dr. Paul Osteen operates during a medical mission in far western Zambia where he visited Mukinge and Chitokoloki Hospitals.

    Missions work doesn’t always involve traveling abroad, and the inexperienced don’t have to have all the answers in order to get started. That’s the message that Rev. Dr. Paul Osteen, brother of Lakewood megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen, wants to impart through the Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference.

    “We don’t have to have all the answers; we just have to do our part,” Osteen told to The Christian Post Monday. “There are so many opportunities available locally, and so many opportunities all across the nation, and then so many opportunities globally. So you don’t have to go to the interior of Africa to do medical missions.”

    Doctors, dentists, nurses and other medical professionals interested in medical missions might be surprised to learn that they don’t have to leave the U.S. in order to contribute. Osteen says missions workers can donate their time at a local clinic or even help to sort medical equipment to be sent to different locations around the world.

    Held at Lakewood Church in Houston on Feb. Christian Post Report – 19-20, the Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference will feature guest speakers who are “active and in the trenches and making a difference,” including missionary doctor and Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly, Restore International founder and best-selling author Bob Goff, and the director of the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons Dr. Russ White, along with 32 other speakers who will share perspectives on medical missions.

    Over 70 missions organizations will offer exhibits that range from helping to heal the sick and drilling for clean water, to fighting against human trafficking and caring for orphaned children — all with the purpose of providing “tangible, practical ways that people can get involved,” and to help attendees discover what mission is right for them.

    Osteen describes missions service as a broad “spectrum,” ranging from those looking to get their feet wet, so to speak, with very short-term assignments, to others who feel a call to do missions full time.

    “There are so many good organizations out there that can help you find a place [where] you can serve,” Osteen tells CP.

    The conference will also be an opportunity for current medical missions workers to connect, says Osteen, who is trained in general and vascular surgery, and is a teaching pastor at Lakewood Church. While on missions in Africa, the doctor practices obstetrics, gynecology, neurology, basic neurosurgery, pediatric surgery and even treats burn victims.

    A conference that raises awareness of the necessity for medical missions is something that is badly needed in the U.S., according to a 2008 Barna study which found that only 9 percent of Americans have ever participated in a short-term mission, and only Christian Post Report – 1Christian Post Report – 1 percent of churchgoers. At the time of the study, only 3.5 percent of adult residents in the U.S. had participated in a short-term missions trip within the last five years.

    Those low figures may be partly attributed to trepidation about working in third-world countries or in remote locations. Osteen is aware of the challenges facing some missionaries who travel abroad, including the lack of infrastructure like roads and hospitals in some countries, as well as the difficulties of living in extremely remote areas. “I see it not as a problem, but I see it as an opportunity,” he says.

    Osteen knows such conditions well. Each year, he spends four to six months working in remote locations around the globe. He’s done so for the past nine years, and his wife, Jennifer, and children often accompany him. The surgeon has the task of relieving other missionary surgeons, while his wife, a nurse, works with local orphanages and schools. “There’s always something to do in the mission field,” he says.

    The pastor and surgeon encourages medical professionals to attend the conference and volunteer for a mission. “Whether you’re a dentist, a doctor, a nurse — whatever your specialty, let us find a spot where you can serve. I believe your heart will be moved with compassion and you, too, will be inspired to do what you can to help.”

    To learn more about the Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference, go to m3missions.com.

    Email me: [email protected]
    Follow me on Twitter: @kevindonporter

    Source : Christian Post