By Patrick Obia
A Non-Governmental Organization – Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) has ended its five days training of pastors of various churches in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, on how to stop witchcraft accusations.
The five days theory and practical exercises commenced on Monday 13th to Friday 17th March with various facilitators demystifying cases of witchcraft branding using Bible-based standard.
Held at Assemblies of God Church, Adiabo, Odukpani LGA, with the theme: “Heart of the matter: keeping children safe from harm” the Preachers were taught that not everyone’s misfortune is attributed to witchcraft and they (Pastors) should be agents of positive change and healthy society instead of destructive missiles.
Speaking on the topic; ‘normal child development and the impact of trauma’ on Day 2, Pastor Obia Akpama said children tend to behave in a certain way due to some decisions taken against them in a traumatized manner.
Overthinking, poor academic performance, a child’s disability, stealing, lying, and family misfortune among others are viewed as some of the reasons why children are quick to tag witches.
This, Mrs. Obia inferred that psychologically, every child’s characters and behaviors tend to change in every developmental stage, therefore, those stages of growth shouldn’t be characterized as atoms of witchcraft.
She noted that every child requires all the needs – emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental needs for survival, adding that those with special needs especially children must be given preferential treatment instead of condemning them; citing Mephibosheth in the Bible who was recognized and invited to dine and wine with the king despite his condition – 2 Samuel 9 verse 1-12.
Day 3, witnessed dissecting the topic: ‘spiritual powers’ by Pastor Divine Effiong.
He echoed that the training is to redirect their paths in God’s spirit and power and to remind them what they have forgotten about Biblical teachings of witchcraft which he said though, is in the Bible.
He averred that anybody accusing anyone of witchcraft is not doing so with the spirit or power of God but an agent of Satan adding that, they are being branded out of hatred to kill or destroy the person; referencing John 10 verse 10 and Revelation 10 verse 12.
The Minister posited that there is no true prophet in the Bible who accused his followers of witches rather than workers of divination.
Effiong enjoined the Ministers to imbibe the Christ-like life that never chased anyone away in the name of being a witch.
Day 4 topic: ‘the role of Pastors’ was unraveled by Pastor Bassey Mbang who reiterated that Pastors are shepherds and responsible for their actions or inactions with the sheep entrusted into their care.
He said they should be able to decipher between evil and witchcraft spirits. Mbang pointed out that, as much as deliverance is important, members should not be manhandled during deliverance.
Pastor Obia Akpama who also x-ray the topic: ‘the place of a child within a community’ intimated participants that every child deserves love and care in the community because a woman only gives birth to a child but the whole community trains him or her.
Day 5, took the legal dimension of child’s rights and survival. Barrister Obanghe Tahteh, speaking on the topic: ‘children’s rights and the role of the law in child protection” said the church is a major mindset formation in the society because members tend to believe what their Pastors tell them more than others.
The lawyer highlighted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted in 1989; the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; the Child’s Right Act 2003; the Criminal Code/Penal Code among others are all International, national or local laws that serve the best interest of children.
While discouraging taking laws into hands (jungle justice) she said Section 210 (b), section 207, and 212 are a few sections of the criminal code that prohibits any form of abuse, adding that section 274 and 275 of Akwa Ibom Child Rights Law, spells out further offenses and punishments for witchcraft accusations.
The less theory and more practical training saw participants express gratitude for such a wonderful eyes-opening exercise which they say was a mind resetting both as men of God and as individuals.
Rev. Emmanuel Phillip, Senior Pastor of Assemblies of God, Tinapa section thanked the organiser – BRCI for bringing such teaching to their domain.
Rev. Emmanuel said most of the things he has learned during the training were not brought to his attention in his years of ministry adding that he will incorporate them in his gospels.
Similarly, Rev. Vivian Edet of Souls Liberation Evangelical Ministry International, Odukpani expressed joy at the impact of the train and she will use it positively to affect her immediate community, even though she was guilty of some of the things taught.
In the same vein, Pastor Omang Ekong of Omega Fire Ministry, disclosed that his mind is tweaked and his perception about witchcraft branding has changed; he never knew there are laws with stiff penalties prohibiting witchcraft accusations and he will begin to educate teachers and members of his church.
In an interview, the Co-Founder of BRCI, Mrs. Ese Ibor said they “decided to organize this five days training for Pastors in Odukpani because they are one of the primary persons responsible for accusing children of witches, especially Pentecostal Pastors. That’s why the training is called ‘Heart of the Matter’ targeting primary people responsible for accusing and affirming accusations of children as witches.
“The training manual has 7 modules and is carefully designed and researched by our partners – Stop Child Witchcraft Accusation (SCWA). It will take 5 days to effectively train Pastors on the manual.
She added: “They are to be advocates of change and incorporate the ‘Heart of the Matter’ teachings into their sermons in their churches and even in their communities. With that, more awareness will be created and more people reached. Aside from that we will hold quarterly meetings with them and monitoring visits to ensure that the teachings are being implemented.”
The five days training includes individual and group practical sessions, question and answer sessions, and presentation of certificates.
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