In the news: Kanungu, ten years later

Uganda’s largest daily newspaper, The New Vision, has published four articles on the tenth anniversary of the tragedy sparked by the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God: “I survived Kanungu fire by a whisker,” “Kibwetere’s daughter speaks out on the cult,” “Kibwetere land still unclaimed,” and “Ten years after Kanungu inferno.” The cult’s ringleaders have not been apprehended, and a promised government inquiry has yet to begin.

Online Registration for March Conference Begins

You can now register online for ACFAR’s upcoming conference on cults and biblical discernment.

The event will be held in Kampala, Uganda from March 15–17 and include such international speakers as Robert M. Bowman, Jr. (pictured), Eric Pement, and J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu. Scheduled topics include Branhamism, the Word-Faith movement, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, indigenous cults and sects, the “Bio Disc” and alternative therapies, the ongoing tragedy of child sacrifice, and more.

Tell a friend—and be in prayer for this landmark gathering!

Mormonism Advances in Uganda

The Mormon Church News has announced the formation of the first LDS “stake” (equivalent to a diocese) in Uganda on January 17. The cult’s first branch in the East African nation was organized in 1991.

Read the complete story here—and pray that the Christians of Uganda will be ready to recognize and respond in love to the missionary efforts of this deeply heretical movement.

ACFAR Announces Its First Major Conference

Mark your calendar now for “The Bible and the Challenge of Discernment” (1 Thessalonians 5:21–22), a national conference for pastors and Christian leaders to be held on the campus of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda on March 15–17. The event is being held to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Kanungu Tragedy.

Noted speakers include:

• Dr. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu (Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana)

• Robert M. Bowman, Jr. (Institute for Religious Research, USA)

• Eric Pement (Centers for Apologetics Research, USA)

• Robby Muhumuza (Leadershipwise Africa, Uganda)

Among the topics to be addressed are the Christian’s call to discernment and defending the faith; the integrity and authority of Scripture; the Word-Faith movement; indigenous cults and sects; the Branham movement; Jehovah’s Witnesses; Mormonism; and the challenge of child sacrifice.

The conference is being jointly sponsored by ACFAR and the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST).

We truly covet your prayers as we prepare for this event!

Space is limited! For registration and additional information, visit the conference web page.

A False Prophet Spreads His Confusion Across Africa

Harold Camping, the head of the international Family Radio broadcasting empire, is predicting the end of the world for May 21, 2011. (He previously stirred controversy by declaring that 1994 would bring the end of the world and mark the coming of Christ, and by announcing “the end of the church age” in early 2002.)

Camping is taking his latest prophecy around the globe, with a special emphasis on Africa. According to one recently published article, “Family Radio is searching for people who can help them expand their range of broadcast languages. Included in the proposed new mix are Arabic, Armenian, Creole and Khmer. By far the largest component on the list, though, is African languages—and especially South African languages. If Family Radio is successful, listeners will soon be able to hear about the imminent Second Coming of Christ in Sindebele, Northern Sotho, Sesotho, Shona, SiSwati, Tswana, Xhosa and Zulu.” Billboards promoting the false prophet’s message have been placed in Lesotho (above), Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Ghana.

Pray with us that evangelical churches across Africa will actively resist this latest abuse of Camping’s media platform—and help believers to “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21–22).

A Powerful New Statement on the “Prosperity Gospel”

In two consultations at Akropong, Ghana (October 2008 and September 2009), the Lausanne Theology Working Group, Africa chapter developed a new and powerful statement addressing “the phenomenal rise of prosperity teaching around the world at large and Africa in particular.”

The statement, released online this month by Christianity Today, declares that “it is our overall view that the teachings of those who most vigorously promote the 'prosperity gospel' are false and gravely distorting of the Bible, that their practice is often unethical and unChristlike, and that the impact on many churches is pastorally damaging, spiritually unhealthy, and not only offers no lasting hope, but may even deflect people from the message and means of eternal salvation. In such dimensions, it can be soberly described as a false gospel.”

The statement offers a detailed, and fairly comprehensive, series of affirmations and rejections focusing on the major defects of this neopentecostal theology and the widespread damage it causes. We commend it to everyone who has an interest in the future of Christianity in Africa.

En route to Kenya

ACFAR coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire is on his way to Kenya for several days of ministry. Plans include preaching on discernment and the defense of the Gospel at a conference in Rititi, as well as various research-related meetings. Please remember him in your prayers.

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