Pastor Joe Ita is the preacher at Liberty Gospel Church in nearby Eket. 'We base our faith on the Bible, we are led by the holy spirit and we have a program of exposing false religion and sorcery.' Soft of voice and in his smart suit and tie, his church is being painted and he apologizes for having to sit outside near his shiny new Audi to talk. There are nearly 60 branches of Liberty Gospel across the Niger Delta. It was started by a local woman, mother-of-two Helen Ukpabio, whose luxurious house and expensive white Humvee are much admired in the city of Calabar where she now lives. Many people in this area credit the popular evangelical DVDs she produces and stars in with helping to spread the child witch belief.
Ita denies charging for exorcisms but acknowledges his congregation is poor and has to work hard to scrape up the donations the church expects. 'To give more than you can afford is blessed. We are the only ones who really know the secrets of witches. Parents don't come here with the intention of abandoning their children, but when a child is a witch then you have to say "what is that there? Not your child." The parents come to us when they see manifestations. But the secret is that, even if you abandon your child, the curse is still upon you, even if you kill your child the curse stays. So you have to come here to be delivered afterwards as well,' he explains patiently.
'We know how they operate. A witch will put a spell on its mother's bra and the mother will get breast cancer. But we cannot attribute all things to witches, they work on inclinations too, so they don't create HIV, but if you are promiscuous then the witch will give you HIV.'
Guardian
Children Learn What They Live (2005)
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to feel discouraged
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to feel
angry
If a child lives with violence, he learns to feel
afraid
If a child lives with dishonesty, he learns to feel
suspicious
If a child lives with judgement, he learns to feel
guilty
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to feel
ashamed
If a child lives with disorder, he learns to feel
confused
If a child lives with disappointment, he learns to
feel helpless
If a child lives with silence, he learns to feel lonely
BUT
If a child lives with protection, he learns to feel
safe
If a child lives with honesty, he learns to feel
trustful
If a child lives with peace, he learns to feel calm
If a child lives with sharing, he learns to feel
thankful
If a child lives with understanding, he learns to
feel encouraged
If a child lives with laughter, he learns to feel
happy
If a child lives with creativity, he learns to feel
inspired
If a child lives with choice, he learns to feel free
If a child lives with community, he learns to feel
supported
If a child lives with accomplishment, he learns to
feel confident
If a child lives with meaning, he learns to feel
fulfilled
If a child lives with love, he learns to feel tender
by Duen Hsi Yen
4 comments:
I would also ask for your support for our petition as well, for it addresses youth being savagely killed as well in Mainland Communist China. May God protect the children of the world especially from all such evil!
Re: Disabled Lives - Transplant Patients - Family - Communities Locally - Globally Support Our Petition!
Dear Family-Friends-Community - Locally-Globally,
Please help to get out our message. We would appreciate any support possible in terms of signatures.
Thank you so much for all you do. Here is our message and link.
One of the main ways The Chinese Communists have enhanced their financial portfolio is through the selling, harvesting of organs and tissues. Virtually, 'banking' on the lives of their slave labor victims bodies and charging medicare and insurance companies around the world for transplant surgeries. Please pass the word and sign our petition. Thank you.
I am asking where possible for people to support our petition as well. Can't go far because of disabilities, but keeping silence is not an option.
May 12, 2008- "From The Heart of San Francisco"
A Global Request From Civilians & Youth of the Globe
Please - Go To Our Website: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/928204536
Hello and thanks for your site and expression on disabilities on Care2..
I am a kidney dialysis patient on life support, making awareness to lives near and far about the selling, the harvesting of organs and tissues by the Chinese Communists.Please Sign - Share - Translate Our Petition!
Please Don't Forget To Get Those With Disabilities Signatures, Lives Waiting Transplant Donors. Our voices are extremely really important, locally and globally!
Tatiana A Kostanian - Founder
MHONA International
Human Rights & Disabled Rights Advocate/Activist Since 1962
"From The Heart of San Francisco" Cradle of the Universal Human Rights Doctrine For & By Disabled Lives and Profoundly Disabled
Member: San Francisco Mayors Disability Council; Armenian National Committee; Commission Investigating Persecution of Falun Gong;
Past Member San Francisco Mental Health Consumers Board 14 years
May god protect the children of the world...what god? Do you see a god? I don't see a god. I don't see any witches either. I just see insanity. One insane thing after another...on and on and on. Whew...when will people tire of it?
mhona international,
I have signed the petition and have invited my friends to sign also.
Good luck and thank you for commenting. Come back again soon.
dgswilson,
As long as it is happening I will not tire of the unjust things these pastors are doing in the name of Christianity. Children are being beaten, abandoned, tortured, trafficked, live on the streets, are starved and are killed because of "it". I can not see how anyone could turn the other way and let this happen. Children are our future no matter what country they live in.
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