WHO REMEMBERS REVEREND KING?

I don't know how many of us that remember the embattled Preacher popularly known as Reverend King. He was the General - overseer of The Christian Praying Assembly. A man whose occupation was once the propagation of the gospel. Up until his legal troubles began, he was not of national prominence. But given the tales that were later told, Rev. King was a Preacher who was revered to say the least. He was accorded all the respect given to a powerful man of God. His apostles followed him adherently and every word proceeding from his mouth was taken as the word of God Himself.  Men and women burned with the passion of the worship of God under Rev. Kings spiritual leadership. They committed their time, money and vision to his ministry and they believed all they were preached.

For so long this may have been, until 6 of his church members were involved in a 'fire incident'. It was alleged that the Preacher set them on fire himself. Sadly, one Ann Uzo lost her life in the fire and 5 others were seriously injured. This happened in 2006, 22nd July to be precise. Social media did not have strong popularity like it does today, but the incident raised enough attention. Alot of tales were told. Members began to come out of the closet and narrate their experiences being members of Rev. King's flock. Allegations of sexual harassment, cohesion, corporal punishment, etc came up and I suppose some financial misleadings may also have been raised.

I do not know what is the fate of that church now. I do not know if they dispersed at the trial of their General-overseer or if another Overseer carried on the work of God in the church. Too bad a life was lost and 5 others injured before a flashlight was shined on the life and operations of Rev. King. Who knows what and what we would learn if we shine flashlights on the lives and operations of our Preachers today. How many of their flock would endure the findings and accept that all men are fallible.

I believe the late Ann Uzo was a passionate Christian who believed she was being a humble servant by following all of Rev. Kings words. She probably paid tithes, sowed seeds of fate, consulted the Preacher before making any decision in her life(such as marriage or career choices) , believed in his utterances and considered them prophecies, invested her time and very many other things. Too bad she was burnt to death in the hands of an Apostle she so believed in.

It is not that these men of God are so great Preachers but it is that their followers do not know how to worship God. For if they knew, they would know when they begin to worship man instead. We all share in the abundance of grace made possible by the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. And the only way to the Father still remains Jesus Christ.

We all know how special the people in the inner circle of the religious leaders considered. It is assumed the anointing of the man of God flows directly to them before it trickles down to the rest of the congregation. The Rev. King's incident should teach us that those in the inner caucus even bear more burnt as they are harshly rebuked for any action their leader finds intolerable. If they are following a true man of God, they would live exemplery lives. But if they are following a wolf in sheep's clothing, they would be objects of hypocrisy without even knowing.

Jesus too was tried but fortunately He was not found guilty of any crime but yet was crucified. Maybe Jesus did not have an option of appeal,probably he would have made a case for Himself to stay alive. He humbly attributed His trial to be the will of God. For it was His mission to be killed by those he was sent to redeem. Rev. King is still alive, 11 years after a Court of Law sentenced him to death, having been found guilty for murder and attempted murder. Maybe Rev. Kings death by hanging is not the will of God. Maybe his mission was not to come and be killed by the people of the world. That is why he is employing all legal options to upturn the judgement and pronounce him not guilty of the charges. If he had 'Peter', he would have allowed him to cut off the ears of the Officers who are subjecting him to trial.

It's hard to know which Preacher is a wolf in a sheeps' clothing. Today, believers continue to believe in the anointing of their Preachers. And invest even more commitment than the unfortunate Ann Uzo who lost her life in the service of Rev. King. And they continue to revere their Daddies in the Lord and accord them supreme status as gods who reign alongside God that we all are serving. Let's not wait till a legal violation ensues before we realize when we begin to live in bondage.