Christian Banker becomes Mayor of Kiev

Millionaire Banker and Presidential Candidate Leonid Chernovetsky has become the new Mayor of Kiev. He is a member of the Embassy of God Church led by Sunday Adelaja, a Nigerian, who founded the church 12 years ago. With over 25,000 members it is the largest church in Europe.

'Kyiv has got its first new mayor in a decade, following the March 26 upset of 67-year-old incumbent Oleksandr Omelchenko by his longtime rival, Leonid Chernovetsky, a businessman and member of Parliament.

With over 80 percent of the ballots counted on March 29, Chernovetsky had 32 percent of the vote, well ahead of former heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko (23 percent) and Omelchenko (21 percent), despite long-running polls showing a different picture.

Trained as a lawyer, Chernovetsky is also a self proclaimed Christian activist.

“He (Chernovetsky) is very committed to the truth,” said Adelaja Sunday, senior pastor at the Embassy of God, a Kyiv-based evangelical church.

“He’s been a member of our church for the last 10 year,” said Sunday, adding that they work together to feed over a thousand people a day.

“We supply the people and he supplies the money.”

Widely reputed to control Ukraine’s Pravex-Bank, which is ranked 22 in terms of net assets, which total 400m dollars, Chernovetsky would be well placed to do this.

Sunday said that the homeless and alcoholics that his church helps may not have been influential in the March 26 vote, but other city residents who have heard of the charity work were.

According to Sunday, the Embassy of God has 25,000 regular members in Kyiv, but boasts 250,000 “affiliates” altogether.'

Report from the Kiev Post

Afghans protest against convert

Many Afghans are not happy with the decision to dismiss the caseSeveral hundred people have protested in northern Afghanistan against a decision to dismiss a case against a man who converted to Christianity.
More

Afghan Christian to be freed

An Afghan man facing the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity is expected to be freed after a judge ordered that prosecutors re-examine the case.
More

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan is reported to have given assurances that an Afghan convert to Christianity will not face the death sentence for apostasy.

These attemps were resisted by the court itself however.

The case had deeply troubled President Bush who spoke out on behalf of the man.

Mr Bush said in a speech that a young democracy is growing in Afghanistan, but "we expect them to honour the universal principle of freedom".
He continued: "I'm . . . deeply troubled when I hear the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account. That's not the universal application of the values that I talked about."

Condoleeza Rice had also spoken out. However, Jack Straw was silent on the issue.

Silent Straw
'Britain's mighty response has been left to one of Mr Straw's juniors at the Foreign Office, Kim Howells. Mr Howells has sought "urgent clarification" from Kabul.

'I think I know how the case of Abdul Rahman will be "solved". President Karzai of Afghanistan has indicated that he will not be killed. The way out seems to be that he will be declared insane, and insanity, even under sharia, excuses you from death. He will then spend the rest of his days incarcerated, probably in conditions that don't bear thinking about, and Kim Howells and Jack Straw will feel that the matter has been "urgently clarified"...

I do not know whether Mr Rahman is insane. It is reported that he suffers from depression, which would not be surprising in one who has suffered 16 years of persecution. But the idea that dissenters from the prevailing ideology can be labelled mad is one that totalitarian regimes, such as Soviet Russia, have found convenient.

Actually, it goes back a long way. When St Paul appeared before the Roman governor of Caesarea, Festus, accused of blasphemy and sedition by the Jews, he expounded his beliefs. Festus then said: "Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." Paul replied: "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak the words of truth and soberness."

The position of the Romans in Caesarea was roughly analogous to that of the British and Americans in Afghanistan today. They killed Paul in the end.

Read Charles Moore

Afghan man faces death for Christian conversion

An Afghan man is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death on a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity, a crime under the country's Islamic laws, a judge said yesterday. The trial is thought to be the first of its kind in Afghanistan and highlights a struggle between religious conservatives and reformists over what shape Islam should take here four years after the ouster of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime. Abdul Rahman, 41, was arrested last month after his family accused him of becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada said. Mr. Rahman was charged with rejecting Islam.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," the judge said. "It is an attack on Islam." Judge Mawlavezada said he would rule on the case within two months.

"He would have been forgiven if he changed back. But he said he was a Christian and would always remain one," Mr. Wasi said. "We are Muslims, and becoming a Christian is against our laws. He must get the death penalty."

More from The Washington Times

Afghanistan Constitution

Claudia Castellanos Wins Senate Seat

Election Success

Claudia Rodríguez Castellanos, co-pastor with her husband Cesar of Misión Carismática Internacional (MCI) Church in Bogotá - one of the fastest growing churches in the world – and former Colombian Ambassador to Brazil, was elected to the Colombian Senate in the March 12th national elections.

Standing as a candidate for the centre-right party, Radical Change, she won a seat in the Senate with 55,783 votes - the third highest vote in her party out of fifteen and the 23rd highest in the final list of new Senators.

Radical Change leader, Senator Germán Vargas Lleras, won the highest number of votes overall with 213,599 compared to second place, Gustavo Petro, leftist leader and friend of Hugo Chavez, with 135,391 votes. Várgas Lleras, grandson of former Liberal President Carlos Lleras Restrepo (1966-1970), is now tipped to become President in 2010.

MCI Church also had leaders standing for the Radical Change Party as Candidates for the 166 members House of Representatives. Luis Barrios was successful in the Bogota DC Department, winning one of the 18 available seats with 24,795 votes.

Unsuccessful candidates included Carlos Hernandez in Anitoquia, Clara Lucia Sandoval in Cundinamarca, Diogenes Munoz in Santander and Consuelo Hernandez in Valle.

In all, Evangelicals obtained almost 400,000 votes.

Friends with the President

The church is an outspoken supporter of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez who was elected in May 2002, publicly backing his campaign at their Annual Convention in January 2002 and supported his successful attempt to change the Constitution to allow him to run a second time this May.

The President addressed the MCI Annual Convention in 2004 and 2005 and meets with the pastors before his weekly Cabinet meeting.




Christian influence in Politics

Senator Vargas Lleras committed himself publicly to adopting a ‘Christian’ agenda at the 11th MCI Annual Convention and pledged to ‘accept the challenge of facing change with the help of the Christian community’ and promised to commit to all of the goals of the Christian agenda for family, national security and the eradication of poverty.

He has promised to oppose the legalisation of abortion and the union of homosexuals. The party’s position in on these issues has been credited by the weekly Semana magazine to the influence of Claudia Castellanos.


During my visit to Colombia for the Convention in January 2006, I had the opportunity to interview Pastor Castellanos. She told me that the Christian agenda is:

“Committed to a new beginning for Colombia spiritually, morally, economically and politically.

“Conditions in South America compared with North America are completely different. Number one is a priority of government in the face of guerrilla warfare. President Uribe has stopped groups that bear arms and who are acting outside the law. We want to strengthen a culture of legality.

“Secondly we want to strengthen the security of the family, including the protection of the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman and the protection of children before they are born, as well as afterwards.

“My main agenda over the next four years is that I want to concentrate on eradicating poverty.

“Colombian people need dignity, a place to work, a home, food, clothes, rights. The State must assure the right to work and freedom of enterprise. These are Christian principles.

She also spoke about her desire to use the principles of the G12 model practiced in the church in

“I want to generate jobs in Colombia by implementing the G12 model in business. Everything we have done as cells in the church can also work at the business level.”

These ideas were reported in the national daily newspaper El Espectador.

In the elections, Uribe supporters were elected in strength. In the Senate, pro-Uribe parties won 61 of the 102 available seats. The largest parties, the Party of National Unity won 20 seats, the Conservative Party 18 seats (up from 13) and the Radical Change Party, 15 seats (up from 9).

In the in the lower House of Representatives, Uribe supporters took 91 of the 166 seats.

President Uribe now looks set to win re-election in May.

Conquer by Faith

Bound for Conquest Series, Part 4
Sunday 12th March 2006

‘Without faith it is impossible to please God.’
Hebrews 11:6

Christians are to be the most positive people on earth! In a world of doubt, fear, and negativity, Christians can and should live with confidence and hope.

Without doubt, one of the primary keys of conquest is the key of faith. ‘Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.’ 1 John 5:4

Hebrews 11 catalogues a whole chapter of men and women through the ages who conquered by faith.

The world today is in the mess it is because people do not ‘live by faith.’ Instead they live by:

• The limitations of human logic,
• The unreliability of personal feelings,
• The unpredictability of circumstantial realities or
• The emptiness of religious rules and dogma.

The Bible, however, makes clear that this is not the way to live, even if these are commonly accepted ways of the world.

Faith in God, specifically faith in Christ and through Christ, is the only firm foundation for life.

The Christian life is to be a life of ever increasing faith where, as the apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 5:7, ‘we live by faith, not by sight.’

Paul faced many difficulties in his life-including suffering, shipwreck, beatings and being let down by others but he lived a victorious life because he lived a life of faith. That is God’s plan for every one of us.

1. A Conquering Faith Will Be Totally God Centred

Conquering faith comes when your life is focussed on God and when you believe that:

• He is who He says He is

The basis of faith is that there is a God. ‘In the beginning God…’ Genesis 1:1.

There you go! No explanation: just declaration of a revelation.

He is the Creator God. He is a Holy God. He is a righteous God. He is a powerful God. He is a wonder working God. He is a faithful God. He is a loving God. He is a God who rescues and saves. He is a God of greatness and a God of tenderness who wants all peoples on earth to be blessed.

This is the God who revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and many others and caused them to become conquerors.

• He will do what He says He will do

Hebrews 11:6 ‘…. and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’

God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. When people get serious in their prayerful pursuit of God, God will meet them and help them.

To have a conquering faith you must know God’s word and believe God’s word over and above anyone else’s word.

If you want a conquering faith, it begins right here.

2. A Conquering Faith Believes That All Things Are Possible

In ‘faith’s hall of fame’ that is Hebrews 11, we see people whose faith caused them to win through in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

When Abraham had an encounter with God he immediately accepted that there was no limit to what God could do for him and through him.

Genesis 15:5-6 says God 'took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.'

When he finally did get his son, Abraham remained in a position of faith.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Hebrews 11:17. Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Conquering faith is when we recognise that no matter what situation we are in there is no limit to what can do for you, for your family, for your finances, for your health.

As Jesus said in Mark 9:23, "Everything is possible for him who believes.”

God can turn you around. He can turn your family around. He can turn you from a slave to a ruler. Stop accepting your problem as normal and inevitable. Start to believe.
God has got options everywhere. He is not boxed in and neither need you be.

3. A Conquering Faith Has The Confidence To Always Look Beyond Negative Circumstances

If you are going to move into conquering faith you have to move out of destructive doubt. Quit looking at your problems. Don’t let the visible stop you seeing the invisible. Stop focussing on what you haven’t got and what’s not happening.

'Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.'
Romans 4:18-21.

Abraham refused to weaken in his faith even though nothing seemed to be happening - indeed when everything seemed to be against him.

A non-Biblical example also shows how important it is to have a determination and confidence in the face of negative circumstances.

You may not know the name, Lord Halifax, but he was the man who might have been Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1940. He saw the power of Hitler and the Nazis and concluded that this country’s only option was ‘the possibility of a negotiated peace.’

Roy Jenkins wrote in his biography Churchill, ‘It would mean Nazi domination in Europe and acceptance by the British that their attempt to check Hitler by war had been a failure.’

His views were repugnant to Winston Churchill, who became Prime Minister instead. Lord Halifax thought that Churchill ‘talked the most frightful rot!…it does drive one to despair when he works himself up into a passion of emotion when he ought to make his brain think and reason.’

Churchill however had no time for such logic that only bred defeatism. Churchill’s defiantly positive speech that ‘we shall never surrender’ inspired the nation. Furthermore he insisted a positive culture be created.

‘In these dark days the Prime Minster would be grateful if all his colleagues in the Government, as well as high officials, would maintain a high morale in their circles; not minimizing the gravity of events, but showing confidence in our ability and inflexible resolve to continue the war till we have broken the will of the enemy…’

As Christians, in ‘these dark days’ or moral and spiritual chaos, we should lead the way in confident living and show others how they can look and live beyond negative circumstances.

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

4. A Conquering Faith Is Willing To Embrace Change And The Challenge Of The Unfamiliar

Faith requires action. Smith Wigglesworth said, 'Faith is an act, and faith without an act is not faith, but doubt and disgrace. Every one of you has more faith than you are using.'

Abraham understood that you have to move out from where you are to get to where God wants you to be. A person of faith is not a settler. He or she is a person who is always moving onward, upward and forward.

No Christian should get stuck in a rut and be risk averse. You must remain ready to move on in your experience of God and in your mission for God.

Abraham was old but he was not retired. He left the security of his father’s house so that he could pursue his destiny as a father of nations.

What is holding you back? Let it go. Leave it. Whether your past has been good, bad or sad, embrace the opportunities and challenges that God is putting before you today to shape your tomorrow. This leads to...

5. A Conquering Faith Will Possess The Future

When you walk by faith, you will unleash unending possibilities for the future.

'By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.' Hebrews 11:11-12

We can see the future and shape the future - whether or not we will be on earth to see God’s plans unfolding for present and future generations.

When I became a pastor I said to my mother it was a pity that my Dad, as founder of the church, was not here to see this day. ‘He did see it,’ she told me. ‘He saw it long before you saw it!’

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Hebrews 11:20-21

If we have seen the future by faith, we have seen what the future holds!

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.” Hebrews 11:22. On the night of freedom after 430 years captivity in Egypt they remembered to pick up the bones of Joseph who had long before foreseen this moment!

As a church we have seen by faith that great multitudes of people will come to Christ and that we will touch the world with the gospel.

We see great growth coming. We see great change for good in individuals and families. We see new ministries being raised up. We see that the young people will not be lost to God but sold out for God. We see old people staying fresh and vibrant in their faith, flourishing in their advanced years.

We see women, as well men, stepping into their destiny in God and making a difference shaping their culture and generation.

We see a new level of dedication, and service and sacrifice.

We see darkness all around but a light that shines brighter than the darkness. We see that the seeds of faith and love that we are sowing today will bring great fruit tomorrow all over the world.

By faith we will possess the future - both here and now and in time and eternity.

Today you must get rid of unbelief. “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12.

• Renounce negative thoughts and words.
• Focus on God.
• Fill yourself with His Word. Romans 10:17
• Start to speak positive words of faith. Proverbs 18:21
• Use what faith you already have. Matthew 17:20

When you have learned to use the faith you already have you can do what the apostles did...Luke 17:5

From today determine to live by faith.

Indian tribe sends a missionary to tackle spiritual void in Wales

Indian tribes who were converted to Christianity by missionaries from Wales are now returning to evangelise the Welsh because they believe that the country is in a state of religious decline.

The Diocese of Mizoram, in the north-east of India, has already sent one missionary to south Wales. It is planning to send a second in April, to help the Welsh Presbyterian Church with its shortage of ministers.
More

It is a shame that an area so full of Methodist history, renowned for the rich voices of the valley choirs, must turn to those to whom it showed the light of Christianity.
Read the Opinion from The Daily Telegraph

Conquer by Breaking Free From Captivity

Bound for Conquest Series, Part 3
Sunday 26th February 2006

‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.’
Galatians 5:1

A Christian called Cyprian who lived between 200-258’AD once said:

'It is a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy, which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians -and I am one of them.'

Every Christian should have this testimony. No matter how bad or sinful the world around us; no matter how difficult are the circumstances around we may face; we can be over comers.

Christ promised his disciples, that no matter what they faced in life, He would give them the power to overcome.

Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The apostle Paul emphasises in Galatians that Christ has come to break every chain and hindrance so that we can live as free men and women.

Today we are either free or we are bound. There is no in between. If something holds us back, then we are not free. If nothing and no one but Christ is our master, who gives us power to rule, then we are free.

The apostle Paul challenges the Galatian Christians because, although they had started out as free people when they were born again through faith in Christ, they were now getting back into bondage - in their particular case a religious and legalistic bondage.

See Galatians 5:19-21 for a list of sins.

This is in stark contrast to those who have been set free to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23.

1. Break from Uncleanness

In the Old Testament, the generation that Moses ministered to were virtually indistinguishable from the immoral, idolatrous and materialistic people of Egypt.

Exodus 32:6 & 25
1 Corinthians 10:8

In contrast, when God’s people entered Canaan, which was rife with sexual perversion and disease, they were to live a radically different lifestyle. There was to be no compromise with the surrounding culture (see Joshua 3:5).

Today Christians are to be a people of morality in a world of immorality. They are to be faithful in their relationships when others regard unfaithfulness as acceptable. They are to live lives of integrity in a world of corruption.

The Bible teaches that we must have clean hands, clean hearts and clean minds. What the Bible calls holiness is a big issue if we are to know God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God,' Matthew 5: 8.

We must put aside deeds of darkness, Romans 13:12-14.

When we move into new territory in our Christian experience there must be an end to sexual sin, materialism and idolatry.

What needs clearing out of your life? Decide today that you will not be held captive in any way by uncleanness.

2. Break From Bitterness

Ephesians 4:31 states, 'Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.'

Bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness will hold you prisoner, Hebrews12: 15.

Bitterness is a serious business. It can:

• cause you to miss the grace of God
• grow to the point where it causes trouble
• ‘defile’ or poison others.

It was Absalom’s bitterness against his father David that led to him conspiring against his father King David and a civil war (2 Samuel 15).

When you look at strife in families or churches or nations, it can all be traced back to someone who has a bitter spirit because they perceived that they were not treated properly or recognised or honoured.

At root there is a strong sense of ‘it’s not fair. It’s not right. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.’

Today repent of your bitterness and release yourself and others by forgiving them.

3. Break From Negative Words, Thoughts And Attitudes

In the Old Testament criticism was one of the main reasons the children of Israel who left Egypt never entered the Promised Land. They were forever criticising Moses. Even when they had seen miracles they spoke of stoning him!

In contrast, those who inherited the land under Joshua were supportive and positive in their words. They answered Joshua in Chapter 1, verse 16, 'Whatever you have commanded us we will do...'

Do you need to break free from negative words about others and about life?

Don’t say: ‘I am a failure, I’ll never rise above my circumstances’ - God’s word says 2 Corinthians 2:14.

Don’t say: ‘I can’t change, this is me’ - Jesus said in Matthew 18:3.

Don’t say: ‘I’m so weak, that I can’t conquer temptation’ - God’s says in Titus 2:11.

4. Break From Fear And Doubt

One of the most common phrases in the Bible is: ‘do not fear.’

People are held captive today by many fears. People are fearful of: failure, sickness, getting hurt, not having enough money, being exposed, not being accepted, not making the grade, being alone or of death.

Hebrews 2:15 tells how Christ, through his death, is able to ‘free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.’

Fear may be driving your life and your career right now. The Bible says ‘there is no fear in love', 1 John 4:18.

If you are a fearful person then you need to experience God’s liberating love. When you discover it, you will know that nothing will ever separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Today your destiny is to be a conqueror, a master of your soul, an overcomer, a free man or a free woman.

If you are held back by uncleanness, by bitterness, by negativism or fear, then face up to your situation. Repent of your wrong words, attitudes and behaviour.

Forgive those who have hurt you. Accept Christ’s forgiveness.

Ask him to pour out His Holy Spirit upon you so that you can live a live of love and freedom!