On Saturday night we received the Reverend James Brown of Orlando, Florida for what will be his seventh visit to Bayonnais. As Chief Officer and Overseer of the organization “Voice of Christ Worldwide Ministries & Missions, Inc.”, Mr. Brown travels around the world preaching the word of God to audiences from the most secluded tribes of southern India to the solemn shanty towns of western Africa. The aim of this week’s “Evangelical Crusade” will be to save the Christians of Bayonnais that have deviated from the righteous path and to expose those who still worship voodoo to the power of Jesus Christ. Reverend Brown’s style at the pulpit (and amid the pews) is characterized by an unprecedented fervor and conviction. His application of Biblical aphorisms coupled with anecdotes from his own personal adventures never fails to excite the crowd. The Reverend’s benediction is complimented by mellifluous performances by the mixed choir and an energetic participation from the congregation which reflect the true ethos of the Haitian people. On his first day, Brown was able to use his healing powers to cure four members of the community that had been suffering from involuntary aphasia, demonstrating to the people the will of God.
At the risk of sounding blasphemous (and I am not afraid to take that risk), I am somewhat skeptical of the authenticity of the new converts. To me, it is not enough to see people clapping and wailing the name of Jesus Christ when only weeks before it was a voodoo spirit they were venerating. Likewise, scare tactics such as “accept Jesus Christ or burn for eternity” will only win over the most craven of worshipers. True adoration should come from the principles of Christianity found in the Bible and in Bayonnais: compassion, equality, respect, integrity, and tolerance, to name a few. To a people that have no idea about the history of Abraham’s people and cannot identify Nazareth (let alone Israel) on a map, it is the aforementioned virtues which will lead to real change in Haiti.
1 comment:
Very,very interesting statement, Morgan. I know Rev. Brown and have privately questioned his endeavors. Hopefully, they are to speak the truth, but I tend to wonder about his tactics. I'm praying for your safety. Take care. helen
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