Here is a quick report from a recent visit by some of the unbelieving Mengen leaders from a strong animistic group as well as a white guy who supports their cause. I have some very serious concerns that I would like to voice and hope that you guys would stand with us in prayer.
These leaders expect their members to stand on the following pillars for their salvation.
– They need to diligently follow 10 commandments which are copied from the Biblical 10 commandments yet they have taken the liberty to change them themselves.
– They need to diligently pay for their sins. These sins include the transgression of the 10 commandments of this group and also various other rules.
– They need to work diligently in the garden called Paradise from which they believe they will receive the promised cargo and blessings
– They need to diligently feed the ancestral spirits so that the spirits will be kept at peace and that the spirits will eventually pay them back with great blessings and wealth.
Blessings
They have been told that if they diligently followed these rules then they would receive great blessings.
– It is also promised that they will receive the knowledge that will make all of them clever like white people from other countries.
– In return it is promised that they will all receive a kind of blessing so that they will all become wealthy like the white people in more developed countries. This includes receiving huge amounts of food, money, cars, planes, computers etc etc.
– It is also promised that they would receive the ability to create wealth for themselves.
– Their leaders see themselves as creating a new government with eventually their own leaders, money, flags etc. yet this is not what people on the ground level are looking for. They are looking forward to becoming clever in an instant and having lots of material goods [which they call cargo].
Punishment
– If they are not part of this group and do not strictly follow all the rules then they will be punished in some way or other.
– We are told that they will not be part of the blessings and knowledge or ability to do miracles.
– We are told there will be a time during which all who are not members of this particular group will be punished in some way or another for being a hindrance.
– We are often threatened that they will die, or get sick or their children will die if they do not follow the rules.
– If anything negative happens in their lives they are told that it is due to their not following the rules.
After the visit People from this specific group are saying that they are going to prepare their spears in order to violently remove all those who do not support them such as people from other religious and missions. They are stating that if people do not all vote for their political candidate in the National elections to be held in June this year then those who have not voted for him will be the cause of their not receiving the ‘promised’ blessing and that they would be responsible for any sickness and death that comes about.
My concerns I have some serious concerns about these threats.
I am extremely concerned about the fact that they are abusing the fact that many of the Mengen people are illiterate and poor. So most of our people cannot scientifically or philosophically evaluate what they hear. If people lie to them in some way then they very easily follow them. [cid:image003.jpg@01CD0846.B784D080] Our people are also very easily manipulated by the promise of wealth or a better life because of the fact that they are poor and are all longing for progress. Furthermore they have a hold on them because of the fact that the people fear the spirits of the dead and their ancestors and their elders.
This group are thus abusing the lack of knowledge of the Mengen people, their fear of the spirits and their poor economic situation to force them to support their agendas
I feel that we need to help these people, yet I am not sure how! Let us therefore earnestly continue to pray for the Mengens that they themselves will see the lies and have the ability to stand up against their elders! Praise the Lord for the believers who are standing very firm in the face of much persecution!
Blessings and thanks for your prayers!
Lourens