Your Supernatural Connection

Transcription

1 Your Supernatural Connection Volume 2: No 4 Beware of Gambling Establishment of Bible Canon Prophetic Word for America To Eternity and Back Missions Medical Work in Colonial Kenya Free Copy Free Copy Everlasting Life

2 Your Supernatural Connection Volume 2: No 4 Publisher: Supernaturally Connected Ministries International (SCMI) Halliburton Road, Hacienda Heights, CA yscm2012@gmail.com Editor: Dr. Evanson Wamagatta Graphic Designer: Dr. Evanson Wamagatta Assistant Graphic Designer: Grace Wamagatta Your Supernatural Connection Magazine is published quarterly by Supernaturally Connected Ministries International (SCMI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is sent free of charge to subscribers. Copyright 2014 Supernaturally Connected Ministries International (SCMI). All rights reserved.

3 Inside This Issue 2 Establishment of Bible Canon 6 Everlasting Life 7 Beware of Gambling 13 Prophetic Word for America 15 There s a Fountain Filled with Blood 18 To Eternity and Back 21 Missions Medical Work and Its Gospel Connections in Colonial Kenya 27 Bible Riddle 28 Test Your Bible Knowledge

4 Establishment of Bible Canon The Bible consists of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The terms Old Testament and New Testament were first used by Tertullian at about 170 AD. There are also many other books which were excluded from the canon of the Bible. A canon is an accepted authoritative collection of authoritative sacred writings. How was it determined what to include and what to exclude from the Bible? Canon of Old Testament When the early Christians spoke of Scripture they meant the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures known as Septuagint (LXX). The Septuagint was translated in Alexandria, Egypt, between 300 and 200 BC. King Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt commissioned 70 Jewish scholars to carry out the task of translation. The term Septuagint means seventy in Latin and it gives credit to the 70 scholars. The translation was made to cater for those in Jewish Diaspora who were no longer conversant with their Hebrew language. There was a difference between the canon in the Greek Septuagint and the Hebrew Bible because the Septuagint had additional books and passages known as the Apocrypha. They included Judith, Tobit, Baruch, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Wisdom of Solomon, First and Second Maccabees, and additions to the books of Esther and Daniel. These were written during the period between Malachi (the last book in the Hebrew Bible) and the arrival of Jesus Christ. They were included in the Septuagint for historical and religious purposes. The Hebrew Old Testament is made up of 24 books which are equivalent to the 39 books common to all Protestants. The Protestant Old Testament has got more books that the Hebrew Bible because the books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra-Nehemiah were each divided into two books in the Christian canon while the Hebrew book of the Twelve Minor Prophets was split into twelve books, one for each prophet. From 382 to 405 AD, Jerome translated the Old Testament into Latin using Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. He called the extra books in the Septuagint the hidden books or the Apocrypha. He included some of them in his translation thus making a 2

5 total of 46 books in his Latin Vulgate Bible which was used in Europe for over 1000 years. The term Apocrypha generally refers to books entirely outside of the Biblical canon which are not considered inspired. The term is also commonly used to refer to any book whose authorship or authenticity is questionable. New Testament Canon In 1534, Martin Luther removed the Apocryphal books from his translation of the Bible into German and placed them in a section of their own that he labeled Apocrypha. Luther considered the Apocryphal books good for reading but not part of the inspired Scripture. The King James Bible of 1611 included the books of Apocrypha but it placed them in a section of their own between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In 1647, the Church of England excluded them from the English Bible. Other Protestant Churches followed suit and excluded them from their Bibles. In 1546, the Council of Trent gave the final list of books in the Catholic Bible. The list included the books of the Apocrypha. The Council sealed the canon of the Catholic Bible and no one can add or remove any book from their Bible. The Apocryphal books are used by the Catholic Church to substantiate and support errant doctrines such as prayers for the dead, worship of angels, veneration of saints, purgatory and the sale of indulgences. Today, the Protestant Old Testament has got 39 books while the Catholic Bible has got 46 books which include Tobit, Judith, Maccabees I and II, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) and Baruch. On the other hand, the Orthodox Old Testament has got 49 books as it has got three additional books which are Maccabees III, Letter of Jeremiah and Esdras I. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles were at first transmitted orally before they were written down. Both their oral and written teachings were considered authoritative by the early Christians. In addition, there were over 100 New Testament Apocryphal books in circulation which were attributed to certain authors but were not proven or universally accepted to be their works. Since there was no approved list, different books were read in different churches. Since there were so many inspired and uninspired books in circulation, there was a need for the church to separate the canonical books from the uncanonical books. In the final analysis, only the 27 books of the New Testament were selected as canonical. Marcion s Canon The first collection of New Testament books was made by Marcion in 140 AD. Marcion hated the Jews and the material world. He moved to Rome in 144 where he gathered a following. He was excommunicated because his doctrines contradicted those of the church. He founded his own church which lasted for several centuries. Marcion taught that the God of the Old Testament had created the material world and placed people 3

6 on it. He also not only inspired the writing of the Hebrew Scriptures but also discriminated against other people by choosing the Jews as his people. He was an angry God who was always punishing people who disobeyed him. Over and above the God of the Old Testament was the God of the Christians who was not vindictive as he sought love and not obedience. The supreme God sent Jesus to save us. Jesus was not born of Mary as that would have made him subject to the Old Testament God. Jesus instead appeared as an adult during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Marcion also taught that there will be no judgment because the Supreme God is loving and he will forgive everyone. Marcion got rid of the Old Testament as it was inspired by the God of the Jews. He also rejected all the gospels except the gospel of Luke from which he cut out all references to the Jews. He ended up with a canon that included the gospel of Luke and 10 epistles of Paul. Marcion considered Paul to have been the only person who had understood the message of Jesus. Marcion and other gnostics prompted the church to define what belonged to the written apostolic teachings. This began the process of the collection of New Testament books. 4 The Process The second known collection of New Testament books is the Muratorian canon also made in the second century. The canon included the 4 gospels, Acts, 13 of Paul s epistles, Jude, 2 John, Revelation, Apocalypse of Peter and Wisdom of Solomon. The canon also mentioned the book of Shepherd of Hermas which was recommended for reading in churches but not to be given to people to read for themselves. Tertullian of Carthage in his canon of third century included the 4 gospels, Acts, 13 of Paul s epistles, 1 Peter, 1 John, Jude and Revelation. He also mentioned that the book of Hebrews was the work of Barnabas and he thought it was worthy to be included in the canon. Origen was the first in the third century to distinguish between the undisputed and the disputed books of the New Testament. The undisputed books were the 4 gospels, Acts, Pauline epistles, 1 Peter, 1 John and Revelation. The disputed books were 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, James, Jude, Didache and Epistle of Barnabas. He also mentioned other books that were in circulation such as the gospel according to the Hebrews and the Acts of Paul. Cyprian in the third century came up with his list which included the 4 gospels, Acts, 9 of Paul s epistles, 1 Peter, 1 John and Revelation. He also cited Shepherd of Hermas as scripture and recognized Didache as apostolic quotations. John of Chrysostom, who was the bishop of Constantinople, gave a list which excluded 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude and Revelation. Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea in the fourth centu-

7 ry, divided the New Testament books into three categories: universally acknowledged, disputed and spurious. The universally acknowledged books were the 4 gospels, Acts, Paul s 13 epistles, Hebrews, 1 John, 1 Peter and Revelation. Disputed books were James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John. Spurious books included Acts of Paul, Shepherd of Hermas, Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Didache and Revelation. Eusebius also mentioned heretical books such as the gospel of Thomas, gospel of Matthias and other books bearing the names of the apostles. In 363, the Council of Laodicea came out with a list of 26 New Testament books. Only Revelation was excluded from that canon. The same list of 26 books was given by Cyril of Jerusalem and by Gregory of Nazianzus. In 367, Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, was the first to come up with a list that included all the 27 books of the New Testament canon without making any distinction between them. Amphilochius of Iconium also gave a list of the same 27 books but he mentioned that Hebrews, 2 and 3 John, 2 Peter, Jude and Revelation were spurious. Augustine in the fifth century listed the 27 books in his works. antiquity was also considered. The book must have been written in the first century. Thirdly, the orthodoxy of the book was considered; it must teach the apostolic faith and not contradict it. Fourthly, it must have been cited by early Christian writers and be accepted by most of the churches. Above all, the book must be inspired because All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Conclusion The canonicity of the 27 books of the New Testament and the 46 books of the Old Testament was determined in the fourth century. The establishment of the canon of the New Testament was especially a long process that took about 300 years to complete. The canonization of the New Testament took a long time because it was not an issue that divided the church. Secondly, the church was then not under one central authority. The books which were not included in the New Testament canon are known as New Testament Apocrypha. The 27 books were later declared canonical at the Council of Hippo in 393 and at the Third Council of Carthage in 397. The same councils also declared the 46 Old Testament books as canonical. At the order of Pope Damasus I, Jerome translated the 46 Old Testament books and the 27 New Testament books into Latin. In 419, the sixth Council of Carthage re-promulgated the same canon of the Bible. Criteria for Canonicity One of the criteria used for canonicity was apostolic authority; the book must have been written by one of the apostles or by a close associate of an apostle. Secondly, 5

8 Everlasting Life Two people die every second, 105 every minute, 6,319 every hour, 151,650 every day, 1,061,550 every week, 4,625,327 every month, and over 55 million every year. They include young and old people and they die of various causes. Many of them die without having received God s free gift of everlasting life and they end up in hell forever. Millions have not yet received God s free gift of eternal life because they think they have got all the time in the world to make up their mind. They forget that they can die at any moment without any warning. You do not know when you will die and that is why it is very important to be always ready (James 4:14). If you die before you receive God s free gift of eternal life, you will only have yourself to blame for spending eternity in hell. of God, he paid in full for your sins when he died on the cross, and he also rose from the dead (Romans 10:9-11). Then confess your sins, repent, and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and write your name in his Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15). That is all you are required to do. You must avoid going to hell at all cost since it is a horrible place of agony and torment. Hell was not created for human beings but for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41). If you die without God s free gift of eternal life, you will end up in hell with Satan and his demons where you will be tormented forever. That is not the place you want to spend your eternity. God wants you to spend your eternity with him in heaven. What must you do in order to end up in heaven? When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they died spiritually and lost their right to eternal life. They also passed on their sinful nature to their offspring. That is why all human beings are born as sinners destined for hell after death (Romans 5:12). There was absolutely nothing that human beings could do about it. God knew this and he provided a way out. Salvation God is love and he so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, in human flesh to reconcile us to God. Jesus took all our sins upon himself and died on the cross and paid our debt so that we could be forgiven and receive eternal life (Romans 5:12-19). Jesus also rose from the dead and because he lives, we will also live with him forever. God s gift of eternal life is available to all regardless of their social status, background, education, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, past or present life. The only condition for receiving God s free gift of eternal life is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son If you sincerely do this, you will instantly receive God s free gift of eternal life which will secure you a place in heaven after death. You will become a bornagain believer in Jesus Christ destined to live forever in heaven. Do this right away because you might never get another opportunity. Do not wait for tomorrow because it might never come (2 Corinthians 6:2). After you have received God s free gift of eternal life, join a true church for spiritual growth and fellowship purposes. You must avoid the bogus churches which are deceiving people and sending them to hell. 6

9 Beware of Gambling Gambling is a big business all over the world. In America, all states, except Hawaii and Utah, have some form of legalized gambling. Pari-mutuel betting is legal in 40 states while lotteries have been established in 37 states and the District of Columbia. There has been proliferation of gambling through video and computer technology. The internet has made it possible to gamble 24 hours a day anywhere in the world without having to leave the comfort or privacy of one s home. In addition, much gambling that goes on is illegal. What is Gambling? Gambling is to bet money or material possession on the outcome of a game, an event or contest. It is to play a game of chance for money or property on the outcome of an uncertain future event. The winner(s) and loser(s) are determined by the outcome of a game, event or contest. When the outcome is settled, the winner(s) collect the loser(s) stakes. Gambling is a game of chance based on an event of uncertain outcome such as an election or sports event. Each player places at risk some money or material possession and agrees to risk losing it in exchange for the opportunity to take over the money or material possession of other gamblers, depending on the outcome of the game. No goods or services are given in exchange for what is lost. The loser gives up his money or material possession without being recompensed, and the winner gains money or material possessions without repaying the loser. in gambling. They include casinos, card games, horse races, football, elections, pitching washers, darts, board games, sporting activities, slot machines, roulette wheels, dice, number games, poker games, office pools, matching quarters for cokes or coffee, playing marbles for keeps, bazaar and fair booths where people pay to spin a wheel to win a prize, lotteries, sports wagers, online betting, charity and church-sponsored bingo and raffles. The list is endless because gambling takes place anytime there is a wager made on an uncertain event. In essence, gambling is based on three things. First, it is based on uncertain events that are arbitrarily determined. Secondly, there must be stakes (wagers or bets) that are deliberately chanced. Thirdly, there must be winners and losers. When these three elements exist that is gambling. If it does not fit this model, it is not gambling. Gambling comes in many different forms as there are all sorts of games of chance that are put to use 7

10 Gambling is not determined by size or degree. Gambling is a matter of kind, not degree. It does not matter if it involves $1 or $1,000,000. If the three elements are present, it is gambling. Matching pennies, flipping for a coke or a dollar raffle ticket on the ladies auxiliary quilt is just as much gambling as buying a lottery ticket or placing a $2 bet on a horse race. Activities not Gambling People sometimes confuse the issue by claiming that everything that involves risk is gambling. This is not true. Not all risks involve gambling. Acts that do not involve wager and stakes are not gambling because there is no agreement to take Some people have tried to justify gambling by comparing it to farming and the risks involved of losing money. But the farmer does not seek to gain at the expense or through the loss of someone else. There is no wager or agreement to take other people s property without compensation. Neither does buying and selling stock fit the model of gambling. When one buys stock, he has bought something of value. The profit he makes is not at the expense of the other stockholders. While there is some risk, there is no stake, winner or loser. Investors receive their share of the profits in the form of dividends or increased value of the stock. When stock is sold, both buyer and seller agree on the price. There is no wager or prior agreement to risk loss at another s expense. However, it is possible to gamble in the stock market. One could use the risks involved in the stock market to create a gamble. If one were to bet $50 that the stock of a certain company will go up by a certain date, then that is gambling. In this situation the three elements necessary to a gamble are present: arbitrary selection of an uncertain event (the stock going up), wager ($50) and a winner and a loser. someone else s possessions. Although taking risk is one element of gambling, doing some things is not gambling because there is no wager or stakes involved. It is true there are risks involved in most of our everyday activities. For example, one takes risk in crossing the street but the risk involved has not been arbitrarily and deliberately determined by placing a wager on the outcome of that uncertain event. After crossing the street, one does not stand to gain at the loss of another person since there was no stake or wager placed on the outcome. But if one was to wager $5 with a friend that he could cross the street without being knocked down by a car, then that would be gambling. This scenario has the three elements of gambling: arbitrary selection of an uncertain outcome, a wager, a winner and a loser. 8 Some people also think that buying insurance is gambling. The whole purpose of insurance is to compensate the insured if he does have a loss of what is insured. No one agrees to gain at the expense of someone else s loss. There is no wager, there is no arbitrary choice of an uncertain outcome and there is no winner and loser. The company makes a profit on the investment of the premiums collected and the insured has his loss covered in the event that a catastrophe occurs. If no catastrophe occurs the policy holder has still received a service for premiums purchased of knowing he would have been compensated if he had experienced a loss. When one registers to win a prize at a store s grand opening or receives a prize that is given away for advertisement, he is not gambling. There is no wager and no risk mutually determined. The prize is a gift. If one enters a contest through the mail, he is not gambling; the price of the postage stamp buys the service for delivering the entry blank. If one pays an entry fee to participate in a sports league and receives a trophy at the end of the season, he is not gambling because the trophies are a part of

11 the expenses of playing in the league and they are a gift presented by the league to recognize skill and good sportsmanship. There was no wager made and the expenses were mutually agreed upon by all the participants. What about taking part in the diversity green card lottery, is that not gambling? No, it is not gambling because the three elements of gambling are not present. There is no wager or prior agreement to risk loss of money or material possessions at another person s expense. The losers lose nothing while the winners do not win at the expense of others. The organizers wanted to avoid corruption in the selection process of individuals who would come to the USA. Justifying Gambling Some people claim that gamblers work in order to win. This is not true because what they do does not produce anything of benefit to others. Gambling instead takes what others have without compensating them. In the same way, a thief cannot claim stealing is work because what he does is harmful to others, not beneficial. Some people claim gambling is just a friendly game and they do not really care whether they win or lose money. That they gamble, not to make money, but for the thrill and the excitement. If they do not gamble for money, why not leave money out of it and just play for fun? Why does money make it more exciting if they do not care about money? The only reason why money makes gambling more exciting is because gambling is all about winning money. Gambling is Contrary to Biblical Principles The Bible recognizes three morally legitimate ways for money or possessions to pass from one owner to another. Gambling fits none of them. One may be paid as compensation for work done. Gambling does not involve gain by labor since the gambler does not offer labor in exchange for what he receives. Gambling undermines the Biblical work ethic because, instead of accomplishing productive labor that benefits others, the gambler seeks to get something for nothing by taking what other people have earned. Some people argue that gambling is a form of entertainment. It may be entertainment if no money or material possessions are involved. In legitimate entertainment, the entertainers are paid a predetermined fee for providing a service to others. If gambling was a legitimate entertainment, then all participants should be paid. But the gambler does not want the other gamblers to profit; he wants to profit at their expense. Gambling undermines the work ethic and leads people to seek to profit by causing loss to others. There are also people in the government and the public sector who try to justify gambling on the basis of all the good that gambling does for the community. They claim it provides jobs and brings in revenue for the government. In Nevada, for example, gambling is the state s largest employer, largest revenue generator, and largest investor. But whatever apparent benefits are derived from gambling are superficial and without real value. It does not matter whether it is legal and done for a good cause. Why not just make a donation and skip the gambling? 9

12 Secondly, a person may simply agree to exchange possessions (goods or money) with someone else. Each party is paid or fairly compensated by receiving possessions of fair value in return for what he gives up. In a fair transaction, both parties receive what they view as fair value compared to what they give up. Neither party takes the other s property without giving fair value in exchange. Gambling does not fit here because the winner has no intention to compensate the loser. In fact, the gambler hopes the other gambler will lose so that he can take his property while at the same time he hopes no one will take his property. This violates the law of exchange. be motivated by love, compassion and desire to help others. This is not what motivates gamblers; they agree to give (if they lose) only because they want to win what others possess. Gamblers do not give willingly or freely as an act of love or compassion. Gambling is covetousness Gambling is a symptom of covetousness and greed. Gambling involves an inordinate desire to have what belongs to someone else. It is a desire to increase one s substance by appropriating that of others. A person is covetous if he wants to take other people s property in an ungodly way. Taking someone else s property while at the same time seeking to avoid giving him fair compensation in return is covetousness. That is exactly what gambling involves. Gambling is mutual covetousness just like dueling is mutual attempted murder. In dueling, each person agrees to let the other person try to kill him in exchange for the opportunity to try to kill the other person. But killing would still be illegal regardless of the agreement. A gambler agrees to let others take his possessions in exchange for the opportunity for him to try to take their possessions. It is still covetousness just like dueling is still attempted murder. The agreement simply makes both parties guilty of sin. Gambling is also closely connected to greed and the love of money which is a root of all kinds of evil. Greed leads people to do many foolish and hurtful things. Gambling is greed and it is associated with all kinds of sin and immorality. Gambling produces many forms of evil. Thirdly, a person may knowingly choose of his own free will to unconditionally give something away as an expression of goodwill or kindness with no obligation for the receiver to offer any compensation in return. One who has earned goods by his own labor may choose to give to others in need. Giving must The gambler does not trust God to provide his needs but has given himself up to the spirit of greed to worship at the altar of the god known as Luck where he lays his sacrifice on 10

13 gaming table in hopes that god Luck will return it to him a hundred fold. It is no wonder the Bible calls covetousness idolatry. Bad Stewardship Gambling also violates the principle of stewardship. Our material possessions are not ours to use as we please. We are stewards of the possessions that God has given us and we should use them to glorify God and to achieve his purpose here on earth. This includes providing for the needs of ourselves and our families, giving to the church and helping the needy. We must use our possessions to do God s will. The gambler is an unfaithful steward because instead of using the possessions God has given him for the intended purpose, he wastes them or risks losing them for selfish purposes. He gambles with money that belongs to God and wastes and squanders it. He wastes God s substance and risks losing it in gambling activities for his own selfishness. Most gamblers are losers. Our relationship to the things we possess is that of stewards and not owners. As stewards we must be faithful in the use of the things committed to our trust. We do not have the right to squander God s property either in wasteful consumption on ourselves or through careless use or idleness. God expects those that he has blessed to be a blessing to others. Lack of Love The gambler does not love his neighbor as he loves himself. Love makes us to do good, not to harm others. Coveting violates the law of love because it do harms one s neighbor. Love should not seek to profit by taking what belongs to others against their will and without compensation. The very essence of gambling is hoping other people will lose so that one can profit from their loss. Gambling violates the law of love because a gambler tries to do to others what he does not want them to do to him. Gambling by its nature is selfish and self-seeking as the gambler seeks personal gain and profit by taking other people s possessions without compensating them. This is contrary to the law of love. Gambling is nothing more than stealing by mutual consent. Just because the parties agree to take what belongs to the other does not justify it. It is not wages. The random selection of a number does not earn anything. It is not a gift because it is not given; it is taken. It is not a legitimate business transaction because nothing of equal value is given in return. There is only one word that describes that kind of transfer of value: theft. Not only do gamblers steal from their fellow gamblers but they also steal from their families, neighbors and community. The money that is won or lost in gambling translates into taking food, clothing and shelter from either their own families or other gamblers families. Statistics show that it is those who can least afford to gamble that do so. The poor families wager twice that of any other income bracket. Where gambling proliferates welfare rolls increase, the number of juveniles needing care increase, and employee theft, bankruptcy, and debt delinquency all rise. Bad Fruits of Gambling Gambling bears bad fruits which include poverty, neglect of families, quarreling and divorce. One out of every five homeless people in America admits that gambling contributed to their poverty. Nevada has the highest rate of divorce and the highest rate of high school dropouts. People spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that they would normally have spent in meeting the needs of their families. Interestingly, about one third of all millionaire lottery winners end up in poverty afterward. Perhaps the best proof of the evil nature of gambling is broken homes and wrecked lives. The people who gamble the most are the people who can afford it the least: the poor and the elderly. Many think that winning the lottery is their only way to become financially secure in their lifetime. But this is not true. Families are instead ruined, hearts are 11

14 broken and lives are destroyed. Another bad fruit of gambling is the losers anger, hatred and even contemplating murder against the winners, especially if the losers think they were cheated. Drinking, drugs, alcoholism and addictions always abound where gambling occurs. Gamblers who lose seek to drown their sorrow and guilt in alcohol. Lying is another bad fruit because gamblers seek to hide their habit and their losses. Gambling attracts criminals and is often sponsored by organized crime syndicates. Gamblers often deal drugs, embezzle, or steal to get money to gamble or to pay gambling debts. Gambling also promotes prostitution, lasciviousness and general sexual immorality because of the immoral entertainment provided in gambling houses. Suicide is also common as a form of escape from compulsive gambling or from huge losses. Nevada is first in the nation in suicides. Statistics indicate that the introduction of gambling in an area leads to increased crime, divorce, bankruptcy, poverty and illegal gambling activities. Nevada, where gambling has been legal for a long time, is the most dangerous state to live in. It has the highest suicide rate, double the national rate of divorce, first in gambling addictions, high school dropouts, alcohol related deaths, poor mental health, and bankruptcies. Drunkenness, drug abuse and prostitution are all a part of the gambling culture. Bars and night clubs are used by to lure and keep their prey interested. The entertainment that is associated with these activities is peppered with foul language and lascivious behavior. They have been used to seduce and lure naïve men and women into the gambling dens. Many would never have been introduced to gambling if it were not for the seduction of the cheap food and entertainment available at the gambling venues. money and since they want to get rich quickly, they fall into temptations and many foolish and hurtful lusts. Gambling puts people in the company of evil men and tempts them to participate in other sins. In every state where the lottery has been introduced, governments have found that the social costs of addiction and white collar crime go up and resources intended for other projects are dedicated to cure the gambling problem. Each compulsive gambler costs the economy $14,000 to $22,000 per year. Those who gamble are caught in its seductive web of thrill and anticipation for the big win. They are, whether they want to admit it or not, the slaves of gambling. Conclusion It is evident that gambling is not ideal for Christians since it is an irresponsible way to spend the money that God has entrusted to us to achieve his purpose. Some people argue that if they win the lottery, they will give a large part of their win either to the poor or to the church. This is not true. If they do not give to the poor and needy and the church the little they already have, what makes them think they will do it when they win millions? Gambling is also another sign of lack of trust in God to provide our needs. People instead trust the god of Luck to meet their needs. There is also a spirit behind gambling that leads to addiction. Just look at gamblers, what good have they reaped from gambling? You should avoid gambling and put your trust in God because he is the source of everything you need. Gambling is also addictive and it has an enslaving nature. Gamblers risk addiction and a lifetime of misery and want. Like drinkers and drug users, gamblers begin by thinking they can avoid the dangers involved. But participation lures them in deeper and subjects them to the moral dangers associated with gambling. Gamblers also love 12

15 Prophetic Word for America The following prophetic word for America was given to Pastor John Mulinde of Uganda in It was given to him in a vision in Chicago where he was attending a conference. The word was given to him at about 5:00 am in the morning when he was praying. The Vision saw before me a white clay pillar made of china I clay with blue flowers around it. It was about one meter high and on its top was a light-brown plate, and on top of the plate was a very beautiful round cake. As I was looking and admiring the pillar and the cake, they began to move away from me. The farther away they moved, the larger they became. The pillar eventually changed into a very high hill while the cake changed into a city on top of that hill. There was a very great, bright and beautiful light coming out of the city. As I looked at it, I marveled at its beauty. It was so beautiful and glorious and there is nothing I can compare with it. A voice spoke to me and said, This is the destiny of America, a city on a hill to give forth light to the nations and to proclaim the name of the Lord. After a pause the voice said, But America has turned away from her destiny, America has rejected her destiny. As I was watching, the hill began to slowly turn back into a pillar and the city into a cake. Cracks appeared on the pillar and as I watched, the cracks became bigger and bigger and my heart was gripped with fear. I began to say, 0h no, it s going to break, it s going to break! Just then, a scripture came to my heart that says, When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalms 11:3). There was a slight earth tremor going on and the pillar was shaking and the cracks were getting bigger and bigger and I was shouting, No, it s going to break! And the pillar broke. When it broke, it fell down and the plate broke into two parts. The cake fell down and broke into small pieces and the small pieces broke into even smaller pieces and finally what was left of the cake was just powder. The brilliant light hovered in the air for a moment and then slowly began to fade out until there was total darkness. With that, the vision came to an end. Aftermath When I came back to myself, my whole body was trembling. I was also sobbing and tears were flowing down my face. As I was wondering what the meaning of the vision was, a voice spoke to me and said, I am looking for a man who will stand in the gap on behalf of this land but I have found none. I said, But Lord, how can you say there is no man standing in the gap in America? This is where all the great prayer movements come from. This is where all the great preachers come from who go out to encourage other nations. The good inspiring Christian books that we read also come from America. The Lord said to me, The cry of sin in the land is louder than the cry of prayers. I am looking for people that will stand in the gap for this nation to cry out to me. One morning when I was still in 0klahoma, I was praying and the Lord told me that three waves of judgment were about to hit America. The first wave was going to be a judgment against the spirit of mammon because money had become their god and had replaced the Lord. The second judgment was 13

16 going to be against the pride of human achievements because people think they can achieve anything without God. The third judgment was going to come against the excesses of human rights because men had demanded liberties which were contrary to the word of God. God went on to say, My hand is still holding back the consequences of their choices but a day is coming when my hand shall be removed and the consequences of their choices will come upon them like a flood. Everything they yearned for is going to bear fruit and they will know that my standards have got life and the ways of the world are can I be a loving God and destroy everything their life is about? When I got back to my room that night, I asked God, Lord, is this the last word you have for this land, is there no hope for this land? He said, Pray for the remnant that it shall be big. If the remnant shall rise up and call upon me and live their lives before me, I will have mercy on this land. I am not through with America; my best is not yet over for America. I still want to raise this nation to reach the fullness of its destiny and I will use it for my glory if my people will stand before me and pray. Years Later I came back to the USA in 1999 and as I was praying, the Lord told me that a window of opportunity and grace had been opened over the land. He told me to Pray that the remnant would rise up and take their position, pray that they will be people who will hear the call of the Lord and stand in the gap and take their position. only death. The sin of this land has reached up to me like the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah reached up to me and I have come down. I am looking for a person to stand before me, just as Abraham stood before me and interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. I am looking for people to stand up and cry out for this nation. One evening, I preached in a church in Oklahoma. I just shared the vision I had and what the Lord had told me. As I preached, the whole congregation began sobbing and weeping. People fell on the ground and I could not preach any more. So I got down on my face and began to pray. As I was praying, the Lord said to me, They are not praying in repentance, they are praying in anger. They are asking how can I touch everything they have worked for? How can I be a just God and do this to them? How 14 When the terrorist attack took place on 11 September 2001, I was here in America. I had arrived just the day before the attack. As I was praying and asking the Lord to give me the keys of reaching nations that were bound by Satan, the Lord said to me, Speak to my people and say this is the call of the hour whether they will hear or not. Say to them, Thus says the Lord, Set yourselves apart for me that I may work deeply in your lives. I will make you the people I can use to change this land. He went on, Anywhere you go there are men and women I have been speaking to, calling them, to set themselves apart for me but they have been procrastinating and putting it off for one reason or another or excusing themselves for one reason or another. He added, Tell them the period of grace is running out. Conclusion Could you be one of those that God has been calling to stand in the gap and intercede for this country? Are you one of those that God has been calling to set yourself apart from the world and serve him? Or are you one of those people who have been procrastinating and putting it off for one reason or another or excusing yourself for one reason or another? Remember that time is running out and if you fail to respond to God s call on your life, you will only have yourself to blame.

17 There is a Fountain Filled with Blood The beloved classic song, There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel s veins, has become one of Christianity s anthems of God s unfathomable redeeming love which if expressed through our Lord Jesus Christ. The song was composed in 1772 by an Englishman called William Cowper who was a well-known hymn-writer and poet. William s Early Life William Cowper was born in 1731 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England where his father, John Cowper, was rector of the Church of St. Peter. His mother was Ann Cowper. Only two of the seven children of John and Ann survived their infancy. These were William and John. Ann died giving birth to John in November 1737 when William was only six years old. His mother s death greatly affected William for the rest of his life for he never stopped grieving for her. He was accordingly mentally and emotionally unstable for many years. appointment. The ordeal and dread of appearing for a public interview led to a mental breakdown and his second bout with depression. He was placed in an insane asylum for 18 months. While he was confined at Nathaniel Cotton s Collegium Insanorum at St. Albans suffering from prolonged periods of deep depression, he attempted to commit suicide several times. He eventually recovered and there was no incident of mental problems for the next several years. William s father sent him to Dr. Pittman s boarding school where he was routinely bullied by the big boys. From the age of 10 till he was 17, he attended Westminster School where he learned French, Latin and Greek. In 1748, he enrolled in the Middle Temple to pursue a law degree. Fits of Depression In 1752, William sank into his first paralyzing depression which was the first of four major battles with mental breakdown. Struggle with despair became a major theme of his life. He was 21 years old and not yet a believer in Jesus Christ. Thereafter, he fell in love with his cousin, Theodora Cowper, and they were engaged. Her father did not approve it and their relationship ended in In 1759, William was appointed, through the influence of his father, Commissioner of Bankrupts in London. In 1763, he was nominated as clerk of the Journals of the House of Lords through family connections. However, a rival faction challenged his His Salvation While confined in the asylum, William had spent much of his time reading the Bible. He was saved in July 1764 after reading Romans 3:23-25 which 15

18 says, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. Salvation did not bring him the peace and assurance that he needed. After his conversion, there were times when he seriously doubted the love of God for him and his security as a believer. In 1765, William moved to Huntingdon and resided with Rev. Morley Unwin and his wife Mary. Rev. Morley died in 1767 in a tragic fall from his horse. Life in Olney In 1768, William and Mary moved to the town of Olney where they attended John Newton s church. Newton was the author of the Amazing Grace hymn. Newton became a spiritual father to William and a real source of needed inspiration in helping him overcome his spells of religious doubts, mental depressions and emotional problems. Newton had lost his mother when he was six years old just like William. But unlike William, he had spent just a few years in school and later joined his father as a sailor on the high seas. He later became a slave trader. He was eventually converted and God called him to the ministry. He had been at Olney since 1764 and would be there till In 1773, William and Mary Unwin were engaged. But in the same year, his madness returned after the death of his brother John and it lasted for 16 months. He had terrible nightmares and he was convinced that he had lost his salvation and he would spend eternity in hell. He attempted to commit suicide believing that God had commanded him to kill himself. After he had recovered his health, William kept busy by gardening, carpentry and keeping animals. In spite of periods of acute depression, the latter part of William s life was marked by great achievement as a poet and hymn-writer. His first volume of poetry, Poems by William Cowper of the Inner Temple was published in Hymn-Writer Both Newton and William were very talented writers of Christian hymns. They wrote the famous Olney Book of Hymns which had 349 hymns. The hymnal was published in Among the 67 hymns written by William was There is a fountain filled with blood that testifies of his final peace with his Savior, and a monument to the sovereign grace of God. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and with the words of Prophet Zechariah 13:1 fresh in his mind, he penned the comforting words of that song. Zechariah 13:1 states that, On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. William had finally become aware of the efficacy of Jesus Christ s complete atonement for his sins. In 1786, William entered his fourth deep depression and again tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide. He and Mary moved from Olney to Weston that year. He took care of the dying Mary until 1796 when she died. He also worked on the translation of Homer and other Greek and French works. He wrote his last poem in 1799 before he died in His Death William s nephew was watching over him as he was dying. About half an hour before his death, 16

19 William s face, which had been wearing a sad and hopeless expression, suddenly lighted up with a look of wonder and inexpressible delight. It was as if he saw Jesus and realized that he had not been shut out of heaven after all. God used William Cowper to pen the words that have been an inspiration to Christians for over 200 years. The words have been used by the Holy Spirit to encourage many people and to call wayward sinners to a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel s veins. Conclusion What gifts has God given you? Are you using your gifts to glorify God? Remember that God has given you some precious talents according to your ability and you should use them to glorify God by producing good fruit for our Lord Jesus Christ. 17

20 To Eternity and Back Theo Nez is a Navajo Indian and he lives in Farmington, New Mexico. In 1995, he died of an overdose of drugs. After he had died, Jesus appeared to him and took him to hell and showed him the burning pit that Satan had prepared for him. For about two hours, Theo begged Jesus to not leave him there but Jesus told him there was nothing that he could do as he had died as an unforgiven sinner. But when Jesus heard Theo s wife praying for him, he told him that he was going to answer her prayer. Thereupon, Jesus took him to heaven and for the next two hours he showed Theo things that were just about to happen on earth. He also commissioned him to go back and tell people that they were living in the last days since Jesus was about to return. Theo s Death In 1995, Theo was living a sinful lifestyle. He used to drink and take drugs. He did not care about anything; he only cared about how to gratify his sinful nature. One day, he overdosed on drugs and died. He was dead for four hours. When he died, he saw three demons come out of his heart and they went out through the window of his house laughing. The noise of the world faded away and total darkness enveloped him. After he had left his body, he turned around and saw Jesus standing behind him. There was light all around Jesus. Theo asked Jesus where he had been since he had been looking for him. Jesus told him he Theo had disobeyed God s call to preach the gospel as he thought he was too young for that. He thought he had a long life before him and he instead decided to enjoy life before he could answer God s call to preach the gospel. But he had now died suddenly without having fulfilled his call in life. He had also died as an unrepentant sinner who was destined for hell. Visit to Hell Jesus told Theo he had much to show him. Jesus took Theo s hand and began to walk along a path. It was dark and the only light he could see came from Jesus himself. Soon, Theo began to see demons all around them trying to grab him but he held fast to Jesus hand like a little child. As they walked, Jesus talked about many things and Theo asked him many questions. Then they stopped walking and stood still. Jesus asked him what he could see and he answered he could see a light in the distance. Jesus asked him what he thought the light was and he answered it looked like the flames of hell. They walked closer and stopped at the ledge of a canyon. The canyon was about two miles deep and about three miles across. Down below, Theo could see orange-red flames. He was afraid and began to tremble. He knew he was going to end up down there. had never left him and had always been by his side and he had been waiting for him to repent and do God s will. But he had refused. Jesus told him God was angry with him for disobeying God. Jesus asked him to look down at the flames but he could not bring himself to do it. He instead began to cry and to hide behind Jesus. He also started repenting his sins and crying out to Jesus to forgive him. He promised to preach the gospel if he was given one more chance. Jesus did not answer him. They continued walking 18

21 down until they were in the pit of hell. Theo saw many awful things that words cannot describe. The place was full of lost human souls. Demons were all over the place. The human souls were being tormented in the flames. Horrible screams and wailing were all over the place. There was no hope for the lost souls. Some of them had refused to believe in Jesus. Others had waited for too long before they could decide to believe in Jesus. Many others had been hypocrites who had pretended to love Jesus but they had only been deceiving themselves. Once in hell, there was no way out for them. As they continued walking, Theo saw countless burning pits in hell. He was weeping and crying as they came to a pit that was empty. It had flames coming out of it. Jesus told him that was the pit Satan had dug for him. Thereafter, Jesus and Theo walked into a room that had a huge television screen. Jesus showed Theo his past, present and future. He saw his life flash before him from the time he was born until when he had died. Jesus also revealed many things to him that were about to come to pass in the future. Jesus told him to go back and tell people that they were living in the last days. Visit to Heaven Thereafter, Jesus took Theo on a visit to heaven. They went through a gate and walked on streets of gold. Theo saw a great multitude of people from every nation standing before the throne of God. They were all wearing white robes. Theo recognized some Theo started screaming and begging Jesus not to let him end up in that pit. He fervently repented his sins and begged Jesus to forgive him and also give him one more chance. He spent about two hours doing this but Jesus did not answer him. Then all of a sudden, Jesus told Theo to listen. When Theo listened, he heard a woman praying. He could hear exactly what she was saying. It was his wife. She was asking the Lord to give Theo another chance and bring him back to life. Her prayers strengthened Theo who started coming up with many excuses as to why he did not want to die at that particular time. But in spite of his many excuses, Jesus did not answer him. This made Theo to cry even more. On the other hand, his wife continued praying for him. After what seemed like an eternity, the Lord spoke and told him he was going to give him another chance because of the prayers of his faithful wife. Theo began making many vows and he promised Jesus that he would preach the gospel for the rest of his life. He also promised to tell people of how horrible hell was and the only way to escape from going there was to believe in Jesus Christ. of the people who included preachers and prophets from the Bible. Everything in heaven was very beautiful and everybody was so happy. Jesus showed Theo a huge clock and its hands were about to strike twelve o clock. Jesus told him that time was running out and it was time for him to go back to earth. Theo did not want to go back; he wanted to stay there. Jesus told him to go back and tell people what he had revealed to him. As they were coming back through the air, the earth looked like a small golf ball. Jesus took Theo back to his bedroom where his dead body was lying. Theo could see his wife still holding his hands praying. The room was filled with countless angels who were praising and worshiping God with very beautiful songs. 19

22 Jesus thrust his hand into the chest of Theo s dead body and took his heart out and threw it away. Then he put a new heart in its place. After that Jesus put Theo s soul back into his body. But his new heart was not beating. Then the blood of Jesus came upon Theo and washed his sins away. Alcohol and drugs were purged out of his body and all the darkness was gone. Next, Theo was filled with the Holy Spirit; it felt like electricity and fire went through his body. Jesus next touched Theo s new heart and it began to beat. Theo opened his eyes and found himself back in his body. His body was very cold and he could barely speak. When he asked his wife what had happened, she began to cry. Theo s chest was painful; it felt as if he had surgery. He was weak and thirsty and asked for water. Soon his memory started coming back and he remembered what had happened. He fell on his knees and prayed for the next three hours till the sun came up. Theo s life was never the same again after that harrowing experience and he has been preaching the gospel ever since. Conclusion God gave Theo a second chance simply because his wife prayed for him and would not let him go. It is unwise to think that you too will be given a second chance if you die without Christ. Many people are also deceived into thinking that they will have plenty of time to repent their sins before they die. No one knows the day of his death and that is why it is wise to believe in Jesus right now because no one knows what is going to happen in the next moment. Hell is full of people who waited until it was too late. Today is the day of salvation and the time of salvation is now. If you will end up in hell, you will only have yourself to blame. 20

23 Missions Medical Work and Its Gospel Connections in Colonial Kenya The provision of medical services was a major pillar of the evangelical work of Christian missions, not only in Kenya, but all over the world. Medical work was used to break down barriers of suspicion and hostility in a bid to win the confidence of non-christians. missionary doctors were welcomed as agents of mercy and this enabled them to establish intimate relationship with their patients which helped to win their confidence. Missionaries equated their ministration to the sick with love in action since this helped to bring non-christians into contact with the Great Physician. Medical Personnel In the early days, medical doctors were hard to come by. For example, before 1909, Dr. John Henderson was the only doctor who was serving the missionaries of Africa Inland Mission and Gospel Missionary Society in Kikuyuland, Kambaland and Maasailand. There was also a scarcity of trained nurses. Evidently, it was quite impossible for the few doctors and nurses to manage by themselves. Moreover, the missions could not train female nurses, especially in the early days, owing to cultural factors and the attitude of the missionaries who viewed African women as the repository of all that was dark and evil about Africa. Similarly, the missions were unable to train and employ many African medical assistants owing to financial constraints. The shortage of qualified medical personnel dictated that non-medical missionaries had to act as medical assistants or nurses. They could not escape it because, as one missionary informed their sponsors in America, out there one does about everything because there are so few to do it. It was also accepted in missionary circles that in Africa, illness hardly required the attention of a qualified medical man. As such, minor medical aid was rendered by many who were not themselves fully qualified. African medical assistants were trained on the job and they lacked any formal qualifications. However, they were indispensable because they were largely responsible for keeping the hospitals in order and for performing many nursing and dispensing duties. They also had the advantage of communicating with patients in their own language, explaining unfamiliar hospital regulations and allying their fears. They also helped the missions to fight superstition and witchcraft and to popularize western medicine among their own people. 21

24 Missionaries who had no prior medical knowledge were given a rudimentary on the job training by the medical doctors or by those who had already acquired a lot of experience. The medical services that they offered ranged from extracting teeth to midwifery. African patients had confidence in the non-medical practitioners simply because they could not tell the difference between a qualified medical missionary and a non-medical missionary. This was particularly true in the early days. Nurses and non-medical missionaries were required to refer the most difficult and complicated cases to the doctors. In later years, they could also refer them to the government doctors. As hand nearly cut off, the missionary in charge of the hospital had no choice but to sew it up. Sometimes, non-medical missionaries could do little when the doctors were unavailable to handle difficult cases. A case in point was when a missionary was confronted one Sunday with two very serious cases involving two little boys. One boy s skull had been fractured in two places while the other had fallen on a sharp tree stump thereby sustaining an ugly abdominal wound. The boys could not be taken to the government hospital because the bridges had been washed away by heavy rains. The missionary could do little for them and the second boy did not survive the night while the first one lingered on for several days. At other times, non-medical personnel made serious and costly mistakes. In 1916, for example, a missionary admitted a boy to the hospital thinking that he only had a fever but it turned out he had smallpox and he infected other patients. Similarly, in 1935, a nurse admitted a young man who was very ill with what she thought was a bad case of pneumonia but it turned out to be pneumonic plague. The patient died two days later while the nurse and the medical assistant were taken ill three days later. Both died two days later. The missions medical work, unlike their evangelical work, grew quite rapidly because patients hardly had any self-sacrifice to make. Nevertheless, it was an uphill task in the early days to induce people to take their sick for treatment. Most of the patients who went to them did so as a last resort when the medicine men failed to cure them. They included those with incurable diseases and ugly ulcers. a rule, the non-medical missionaries were not expected to perform surgery but when an emergence arose and the doctors were unavailable, they had no choice but to do it. For example, when a woman was rushed to hospital with her Prevalent Diseases When the missionaries began their medical work in central Kenya, the prevailing ailments included ulcers, sore eyes and chronic rheumatism. In due course, more diseases were added to the list and they included pneumonia, bronchitis, meningitis, influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, anthrax, sexually transmitted diseases, dysentery, ty- 22

25 phoid, plague and smallpox. Many of the diseases such as tuberculosis, plague, smallpox, meningitis and sexually-transmitted diseases were new and had been introduced by the coastal people and Europeans. There were frequent outbreaks of the above-mentioned diseases. Sometimes, several diseases broke out simultaneously as happened in 1913 when there was an outbreak of bubonic plague, smallpox and influenza. On other occasions, several diseases broke out at different times in a given year. Such was the case in 1915 when there was an outbreak of smallpox, plague, typhoid, tuberculosis and spinal meningitis. It was also the case in 1920 when there was an outbreak of plague, influenza, anthrax and smallpox. Influenza was one of the epidemics which frequently broke out. For example, there were outbreaks in 1912, 1913, 1918, 1919, 1920 and The worst outbreak occurred in 1918 during the so-called Spanish influenza which killed about 10% of the Kikuyu population and 4,000 of those who died were from Kiambu District. The scourge left Kikuyuland stinking with the stench of unburied bodies. Cerebral spinal meningitis was another new disease which appeared for the first time in It ravaged Kiambu District from May to August with very high mortality rates. The outbreak caused a scare since it killed its victims quickly. People naturally thought that witchcraft was involved. The people of Gatundu, for example, became very scared when 47 people died suddenly of the disease. Their chief arrested two men who were suspected of being responsible for the deaths. His council of elders tried them, found them guilty of practicing witchcraft and burned them alive. Since the chief and his council had no power to condemn anybody to death, he and his council of elders were thereafter tried by the Supreme Court in Nairobi for murder and were fined 50 rupees ($15.58) each. Malaria was another new disease because central Kenya had largely been free from it. But owing to gradual changes of climate brought about by increased cultivation on the fringe of their territory, malaria began to become a big menace. The first major outbreak occurred in 1915 when many people went down with the disease. The outbreak was complicated by an acute shortage of quinine and the little that was available was difficult to obtain because of the increased demand and disruption of supply by the war. As a result, the price went up and a pound of quinine cost $30. The heavy expenditure on quinine prompted the missions to request the government for a rebate of duties on the medicine they imported. Plague was another very problematic disease and there were outbreaks in 1913, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1925, 1930 and 1931 which left many people dead. It was not until 1920 when the government appointed special 23

26 plague officers to assist the missions with inoculation. It also proved difficult to eradicate the disease because many people were uncooperative. The government was even unable to convince them to buy the break-back rat traps which cost 75 cents ($0.12) each. This forced the government to periodically organize rat-killing campaigns in a bid to reduce their population and avert outbreaks. Cost to Missions The frequent outbreaks of the dreadful diseases proved costly to the missions, not only in terms of material and human resources, but also in lost opportunities to evangelize. During the 1913 outbreak of meningitis, for example, some mission converts were accused of practicing witchcraft when a child suddenly died after they had left the child s village where they had gone to evangelize. This scared them and they could not go out to preach as long as the scourge was ravaging the land. The outbreak of the contagious diseases would also lead to schools being closed down and to the cancellation of church functions when the affected areas were placed under quarantine. For instance, in October 1916, the DC ordered all schools in Kiambu District to be closed for two weeks because of an outbreak of smallpox. 24 The outbreak of the epidemics sometimes led to the destruction of buildings when they became contaminated. Such was the case in May 1920 when one mission was obliged to burn down the girls kitchen following an outbreak of plague. An outbreak of smallpox also meant extra labor and expenses as it entailed putting up temporary isolation shelters which would be burned down after the scourge had been eliminated. At other times, the hospitals would be closed down when there was an outbreak of bubonic plague. Gospel Connections The advantages of providing medical services outweighed the disadvantages as it was one means of evangelization. It paved the way for the gospel because when the sick recovered they would be grateful to their doctor, to the mission and to the medicine and above all might turn to Christ and the Kingdom of God. A doctor used all his medical knowledge for a missionary end; whose aim is to use the great influence which his profession gives him to draw his patients to the love of God. Each patient was a potential convert and it was believed that when medical treatment was given with prayer, it was enhanced and became much more effective. The frequent outbreaks of contagious epidemics proved to be a blessing in disguise since they brought many people in contact with the missions thereby paving the way for them to hear the gospel. For example, the missions credited the 1915 malaria outbreak with greatly undermining the people s faith in their medicine men since the mortality rate was very high among

27 their patients while most of those treated by the missions recovered. Thereafter, many people became more receptive to the gospel and there was an increased church attendance and a good reception of their converts during their preaching errands in the villages. The missionaries used every opportunity afforded by their medical work to propagate the gospel. Treatment was preceded by a service, usually consisting of prayers and a gospel address. The services were not a prerequisite to treatment but a preparation for receiving it. The services were brief but to the point and they dealt with the topics of sin and salvation. The waiting patients heard the gospel explained by another missionary or by local evangelists who read stories from the Bible, said prayers and distributed tracts and Bible texts. There were also frequent bedside prayers for in-patients and very often, non-believers were deliberately placed next to Christians so that they could witness the Holy Communion. The missions also used every available opportunity to preach to patients and their accompanying relatives. Medical work proved even more useful when patients had to seek treatment for a long time as this gave the missionaries an opportunity to get a word for Christ. They informed the patients that their medicine alone could not heal them unless God had blessed it. Prayers were made for their quick recovery and when they recovered, it was stressed it was because God had answered their prayers. In subsequent years, a system was established whereby out-patients would receive their sermons as they were being treated. Sometimes, patients and parents of sick children were made to promise to attend a church service before they received treatment. On the other hand, in-patients were required to attend church services. Both in-patients and out-patients were taught some of the elementary truths of Christianity. It was also carefully explained to patients who had almost died that they would have gone to hell if they had died. They were told that the merciful God had given them another chance to hear the gospel and be saved. This would be repeated to their relatives when they visited them. Very often, some patients and their relatives would start attending church or school (or both) and they would be on the road to becoming converts. In general, the successful treatment of some ailments, which the people thought were incurable, also had the effect of attracting people to the missions. A case in point is that of a barren woman who conceived and bore children after a minor operation. Her successful treatment attracted other barren women to the missions in the hope that they too might receive a similar treatment. Rivalry with Government Doctors Government medical services were almost non-existent in the African reserves in the early days of colonial rule. The provision of medical services was an expensive undertaking and some missions maintained their work entirely by the fees they charged their patients. They charged fees because if the people could afford to pay for the crude treatment of the witch doctors, which do not help them, they surely can pay the small fee. Secondly, people appreciated and valued a service which they paid for. Thirdly, the fees were supposed to make the missions medical work pay at least for the medicine used. The fees were not expected to be a burden and the missions never turned away anyone who could not afford to pay. In spite of their good medical work, the missions 25

28 were not given government subsidies in the early days of colonial rule. It was not until 1915 when the missions began to ask the government for a rebate of duty for the medicine they imported. Obviously, there was a need for the government to subsidize the missions medical work as it was a heavy drain on their meager resources. The missions were providing a service that was the government s responsibility and they were saving the government a lot of money. In 1919, the government introduced subsidies to the missions. Unfortunately, the subsidies were withdrawn in 1922 following the agitation of government doctors. But after much lobbying by the missions, the government reinstated the subsidies in 1926 under a new scheme. At the same time, the newly-inaugurated Local Native Councils, which were dominated by converts, also began to subsidize the missions medical work by making occasional special grants to them. Clearly, there was rivalry between missionary and government doctors. The government doctors were anxious to maintain the good name of the government in the African Reserves. They wanted to use their medical work for propaganda purposes in order to improve the image of 26 the government. They were concerned about the health of the Africans primarily for the sake of economic prosperity and social welfare. In contrast, mission doctors wanted their medical work to advance the gospel and they had both the temporal and the spiritual welfare of their patients at heart since their work was meant to glorify God. Undoubtedly, there were some differences between missionary and government doctors. Mission doctors, unlike their government counterparts, largely won the confidence of the Africans after many years of residence among them. Such was not the case with government doctors who were not only constantly moved from district to district, but also had more frequent furloughs. Mission doctors also knew the language of their patients unlike government doctors who used Swahili or interpreters. Despite the rivalry, mission doctors had no choice but to co-operate with government doctors because they were under the government s medical department. Conclusion It was not until the 1930s when the government began to become fully involved in the provision of medical services to the Africans. It began constructing dispensaries and hospitals which were equipped and staffed by the government s medical department. But by then, the missions medical work had largely served its purpose of bringing people into contact with the missions and the gospel. It had enabled missions to reach out to many people whom they would otherwise have had difficulties in reaching, especially in the early days when they were suspicious of the motives and the work of the missionaries. That is why their medical work was a worthwhile investment.

29 Bible Riddle: Whom am I? In the late 1800s, a man who lived in Philadelphia offered to pay $1,000 to anyone who could come up with a riddle that he could not solve. A California woman wrote the following riddle in response. The man failed to solve it and paid the woman $1,000. The answer is one five-letter word that appears only four times in its various forms in the King James Version. God made Adam out of dust, But thought it best to make me first. So I was made before the man, According to God s holy plan. My whole body God made complete, Without arms or hands or feet. My ways and acts did God control, But in my body He placed no soul. A living being I became, And Adam gave to me a name. Then from his presence I withdrew, For this man Adam I never knew. All my Maker s laws I do obey, And from these laws I never stray. Thousands of me go in fear, But seldom on the earth appear. Later, for a purpose God did see, He placed a living soul in me. But that soul of mine God had to claim, And from me He took it back again. And when this soul from me had fled, I was the same as when first made; Without arms, legs, feet, or soul, I travel on from pole to pole. My labors are from day to night, And to men I once furnished light. Thousands of people both young and old, Did by my death bright lights behold. No right or wrong can I conceive; The Bible and its teachings I can t believe. The fear of death doesn t trouble me; Pure happiness I will never see. And up in Heaven I can never go, Nor in the grave or Hell below. So get your Bible and read with care; You ll find my name recorded there. 27

30 Test Your Bible Knowledge Across 4. Mother of John the Baptist 7. Capital city of Israel 9. Father of Rehoboam 10. Father of Ishmael 12. Father of Prophet Jeremiah 16. One of the three friends of Job 18. He was king of Babylon 19. His wives were Adah and Zillah 21. He was killed by David 22. He was king of Assyria 23. Queen Esther s Jewish name 25. He was a great prophet 26. Wife of Boaz 27. Town where Jesus was born 28. Father of Manasseh and Ephraim Down 1. Moses sister 2. He defeated the Midianites 3. Name of the angel who appeared to Mary 5. A son of Jacob 6. Daughter of Jacob 7. David s great friend 8. Son of Noah 9. It had been revealed he would not die before he saw Jesus Christ 11. He lived for 969 years 13. Jesus raised him from the dead 14. They were the first to see Jesus after he was born 15. The first king of Israel 17. Mother of Solomon 20. He was also known as Edom 24. The disciple whom Jesus loved The winner of last quiz was Mr. John Uncko of Dracut, MA. Congratulations! Last Quiz s Answers Isaiah 3. Eunice 4. Obadiah 5. Isaiah Hoshea 7. Levi 8. Abishai 9. Salmon 10. James

31 Do You Have Something to Say? your comments to or mail them to Halliburton Road, Hacienda Heights, CA They should be received by November 30, Remember to include your name and address. The editor reserves the right to edit or reject comments for publication. Articles for Publication your article for publication to or mail it to Halliburton Road, Hacienda Heights, CA Articles should be 500-1,000 words in length and should be received by November 30, Articles should be about the supernatural power of God. Your article should not only glorify God but also strengthen and encourage other believers in their walk with the Lord. Your Supernatural Connection Magazine reserves the right to edit or reject any article submitted for publication. The publication of your article is not to be construed as an endorsement of the views expressed therein.

32 Your Supernatural Connection Volume 2: No 4