Adventist Cult Leaders in Ghana Arrested for Trafficking, Forced Marriage of Girls
by Adventist Today News Team
Five men and two women were arrested by Ghana Police Service at the Maranatha Adventist Prayer Camp in rural Ahafo Ano District and arraigned last Wednesday (April 10) in an Accra Circuit Court charged with human trafficking and conspiracy, according to a number of sources. Among the seven alleged offenders were Veronica Agbo, age 30, who had assumed the alias Ellen Christ, and John Agbo, age 36. The other five ranged in age from 24 to 42, according to court records published in Ghana Business News on April 11.
A group formed in the Aflao Seventh-day Adventist Church about five years ago during an evangelism crusade. “The team had fasting and prayer … and all of a sudden, the spirit fell on” Veronica Agbo, a Lucien Anane, who identified himself as an elder, told an investigative reporter for the New Crusading Guide newspaper in Ghana. When church leaders admonished Agbo, she accused them of being possessed by an evil spirit and when the group was disfellowshipped, she told church members that the Second Coming and the Battle of Armageddon were very near and they should flee to a rural area.
The investigative reporter, Anas Aremeyaw Anas joined the prayer camp near the village of Mentukwa and evidently recorded conversations with a number of the group members, including children. Transcriptions of some of the interviews are being published in a series of long stories in the New Crusading Guide.
The adherents were told that because the return of Christ was so near they must stay at the secluded camp and away from the “sinful world” in order to assure their salvation. “They were preparing themselves to be lifted to Heaven,” reported the Daily Graphic, another newspaper in Ghana. “About 50 members of the church in Aflao bought into the prophecy and followed the” Agbos to at least two other rural “prayer camps” before settling in the Mentukwa location.
Police Superintendent Patience Quaye told The Ghanaian Times that the group had built mud houses and was cultivating crops of corn, beans, cassava and plantain at the camp. The police decided to raid the group when it received a tip that girls as young as 14 were being forced into marriages with older men in the group, and that children were denied food, health care and education, reported the Daily Guide based on statements by Quaye.
A total of 18 individuals were rescued when Quaye’s team raided the camp on Sabbath, April 6. Four babies and at least seven children under 14 years of age were among the victims, according to several news reports. The Ghana national government’s Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, said some of the children were malnourished after she visited with the group. She said they were being placed in a shelter and would be provided with new living arrangements.
The investigative reporter, Anas, recorded young boys at the camp telling him, “They don’t allow us to use phones,” speaking of the adults in charge. “They say when we start using a phone, all our attention will be on the phone and we will forget God.” They were taught that their thoughts must always be focused on God if they were to be saved when Jesus returned. The boys indicated to Anas an interest in attending a nearby school but told him they were not allowed to because “when we go to school … our attention will be drawn away from the Word of God.”
Anas also reports evidence of the members of the group being whipped and caned. Physical punishment was evidently dished out to all except the Agbos. “Even the financier of the church, [an] Aflao based business woman” said when she could not immediately deliver cash to the Agbos, “for not giving the church money, I was whipped.” A 13-year-old girl for “her refusal to consent to an arranged marriage” was beaten.
Anas was told that a mother “refused to send her daughter to the hospital” when she became ill, because “the doctrinal position of the church was against orthodox medication.” Anas explains that “adherents are virtually psychologically enslaved to … Prophetess Ellen … whose words could not under any circumstances be challenged.” Anas stayed under cover in the camp for several months and reported, “The first accusation that is usually leveled against any member whose actions go against the dictates” of Veronica Ago, calling herself Prophetess Ellen Christ, “is that he or she has been possessed by ‘evil spirits.’ This accusation paves the way for deliverance,” meaning dire restrictions and physical punishment.
The camp was located beyond where rural electrification has extended in Ghana. The group wore “footwear made of wood with a leather flap. They do not take meat and pepper; members are always dressed shabbily,” Anas wrote. “They read and learnt the Bible a lot … pray more than 15 to 20 times a day … study the Bible morning, afternoon and evening.”
The first story by the investigative reporter in the New Crusading Guide likened the Adventist splinter group to the Jonestown Massacre of 1978. It also recalled a similar event in Uganda in the 1990s when “500 followers of Joseph Kibwetere under the group African Movement for the Restoration of the 10 Commandments committed mass suicide … to announce the coming apocalypse of 2000.”
There are 375,000 members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana in a total population of about 25 million. Some researchers believe that there may be as many as three times the membership among unbaptized children and other adherents, based on census data and surveys. There are seven local conferences in the country and nearly 1,200 local churches. The denomination operates eight hospitals and nine community clinics in Ghana, as well as a large Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). In addition to Valley View University in Accra and Asokore Teacher Training College, there are four Adventist secondary schools in the nation and Advent Press is located in Ghana.
“adherents are virtually psychologically enslaved to … Prophetess Ellen … whose words could not under any circumstances be challenged.”
What a fitting name and apt description of the psychology of too many in the wider Church!
This story broke last week and this week it has been revealed that the real Adventist church has made a substantial donation to the government agency to help them feed the people who have been rescued. The leaders of this group had been disfellowshiped from the Adventist church some years ago. I discuovered this from Internet neews stories as I am writing from Australia.
The "real" Adventist Church? And what, pray tell ,would be the "real" Adventist Church in this case? How would we know which group constitutes the "real" Adventist Church here?
Do only "real Adventists" belong to "real Adventist churches"? A novel concept. Care to explain the meaning?
This is certainly an excellent question, Elaine. In all fairness this shouldn’t go unanswered.
Would Erv consider himself a member of the “real” Adventist Church in this country? Whether he does or whether you doesn’t, he surely must understand that there is a “real” institutional, official Seventh-day Adventist Church.
I recall the words of a Mormon 'sister wife' in describing members of an even more wacko LDS compound: "Too much scripture will make you crazy!" Just sayin'….
While no Seventh-day Adventist in good standing is apparently charged with the current lawbreaking, clearly the local congregations are very closely entwined socially with the cult group. This is one of the hardest elements to deal with in matters of apocalyptic-gone-wrong. How to sever ties with the beliefs and destructive values of these groups, while working for the redemption of their souls. As a journalist I have personally investigated a number of these Adventist groups-gone-awry and find that in many cases a goodly number choose to return to mainstream fellowship, after a passage of time. I have also known of situations where numbers of individuals mistakenly identified as cultists have been disfellowshipped in somewhat hastily-called, quasi-clandestine church business meetings. It's just very, very difficult to plow a straight furrow in matters of this kind—for belonging to the mainstream church also involves serious study and belief in apocalyptic verities, does it not? When, where, and with whom this hyper-apocalyptic crosses the line is difficult to determine in the method and process of severing ways and the process is often far-from-surgical. These groups usually contain far more "innocents" than ringleaders.
I can concure with Edwin A. Schwisow. I worked in Accra, Ghana in 2006 in a series of meetings. Everywhere you look in the backstreets of the city, there are small "shacks" with signs advertizing the "only true churches" which worship within them. If there are 25,000 denominational groups in the USA, there are 100 times that many in Ghana. Everyone of the Ghana groups view everyone else as apostates and lost, advocating their own exclusivist views as the only valid views. It is the result a mental pathology meant to give meaning in a society which disenfranchises most of the populace. "I belong to something important, something exclusive that only the 'elect' may join — therefore, I am important!"
This issue invites us to answer a survey about Waco. It was viewed as a dangerous, well-armed militant sect. The Ghanaian group has the same mentality. It is likely that the "human traficking" allegation is an exaggeration based upon community missperceptions. From how many "cults" in the USA have young people been rescued based upon accusations of "brainwashing"? Even the early Christians were accused of cannibalism because of pagan misunderstandings about the Lord's Supper.
I don't condone the authoritarian leadership of "Ellen;" however, we should not paint them with too broad a brush stroke. The pathology which engenders it exists, in local churches, school boards — it rears its ugly head where you least expect it.
Article: ‘“The first accusation that is usually leveled against any member whose actions go against the dictates” of Veronica Ago, calling herself Prophetess Ellen Christ, “is that he or she has been possessed by ‘evil spirits.’ This accusation paves the way for deliverance,” meaning dire restrictions and physical punishment.’
James: ‘This issue invites us to answer a survey about Waco. It was viewed as a dangerous, well-armed militant sect. The Ghanaian group has the same mentality… I don't condone the authoritarian leadership of "Ellen;" however, we should not paint them with too broad a brush stroke. The pathology which engenders it exists, in local churches, school boards — it rears its ugly head where you least expect it.’
I much agree with James – but with a twist.
Before we all go making fun of conservative Adventists, and African ones at that, it is my own personal experience that this same obsession with demons and magic is as alive and well within ‘progressive’ Evangelical Christianity – including within the Evangelical wing of Adventism.
I have become personally exposed to the rise of so-called Deliverance Ministries (aka Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare) within the Development World Church. It is nothing more than shamanistic practices dressed up in modern Christian terminology.
Deliverance Ministry is so Pentecostal that the Assemblies of God denomination itself now condemns it as too radical. The GC of our own Church undertook a massive study into this ministry in 1983 and condemned it as dangerous stuff.
And yet this type of ministry is alive and well, at least within the SDA Church in Australia, and operates with the tacit support of the SDA hierarchy. This type of ministry is run by SDA Church pastors and even high-level conference leaders, run in Adventist Churches and camp retreats, and advertised in official Adventist publications. There are clearly the same cult-like elements within found within these supposedly progressive Pentecostal groups of Adventists.
My point? My point is before we go making fun of those ‘backward Africans’ and ‘conservative nuts’, perhaps we Evangelical Adventists in the Development World need to have a look at some of our own Pentecostal-like practices. I think if we scratch the surface, we might find much of the same extremism and cult-like thinking in the more liberal wing of the Church – not just its conservative wing.
The real adventist church?
1. Belief in a prophet that had visions and observed the 6 day creation with her "heavenly guide." Check
2. Belief that the world was created in 6 literal days despite the evidence against it. Check
3. Belief in an ongoing investigational judgment creating a paranoi that ones salvation is always in jeoprady. Check
4. Belief in a literal flood. Check
5. Belief in unfolding eschatology and that the SDA church is the "remnant." Check
What can go wrong?!!! I suspect these cultists believe in the 28 fundamentals and have carried SDA eschatology to a new and dangerous level.
Doctorf,
How about making a similar list for the “real” Roman Catholic Church, or the “real” Assemblies of God, or simply the “real” Christian religion…or any faith community?
Certainly, you aren’t suggesting that a similar list could not be made for these. Then again, in fairness, we’re not posting on the Catholic Today site; are we?
Another slant on this meme is that this story appears similar to "witch doctor & shaman" styles of the past, even a blending of the popular religion sects with voodooism styles. Evil spirit entities will use any covers to do their dirty work.
"Evil Spirit entities"? I hope Mr. Calahan is using that term as a metaphor. Or do we believe in literal "evil spirits"?
Where have these "evil spirit entities" been seen? How can they be identified?
You can probably find out all about it in plenty of Evangelical-winged Adventist Churches, especially here in Australia. One doesn't have to go all the way to Africa. It is called 'Deliverance Ministries' (aka 'Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare') founded by Peter Wagner and Neil T. Anderson.
In the seminar I was unwittingly exposed to, which had been running at an Adventist church for several years, the presenter-Pastor told a story of a five-year old boy who acted in an overly sexualised way. The Pastor asked the mother if the boy had been sexually abused. The mother replied no; however, the mother admitted the child was conceived out of wedlock. The Pastor explained that was it – the child had become possessed in the womb!
And then they had 'prayer' sessions, where to my horror it turned out they were trying to do exorcisms on people! It was pretty scary stuff. From a conservative point of view, it seemed dangerous messing with demons. From a liberal point of view, it seemed dangerous having non-medical people teaching that mental illness was actuall demon possession, which they supposedly could heal.
Again, this wasn't deepest darkest Africa. This program run in a maintstream Adventist Church, one of our largest, here in Australia. I have since found out the programme has been running for a long time, and is supported tacitly by some of the highest Church officials in this Developed country.
I have since discovered lots of friends and acquaintances have since gone through this programme, without anyone asking any questions. It took me about 30mins to do a Google search to find out that many scholars (including both Adventists and non-Adventists such as the CRI) slam Deliverance Ministries.
If you are interested, here is the programme (from the US) that has been running in Australian SDA Churches, called 'Ancient Pathways' from a guy Craig Hill (who it turns out is a businessman, not a pastor or theologian):
http://www.familyfoundations.com/index.php/the-ancient-paths
And the Assesmblies of God for goodness sakes warns that this stuff is too raddical, but not us!
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/topics/sptlissues_spiritual_warfare.cfm
So Elaine, if you want to find out all about 'evil spirits', and how you can magically control them, look no further than your local SDA Church, and find out when they are running the next Ancient Pathways seminar. Crazy don't you think?
Just because so-called "deliverance ministries" are being abused like healings can be, and tongues, let's not deny the reality of evil phenomena.
Laugh all you want, like evolution, we can't explain all these things away. Making fun of them won't do it. No church should be involved in exorcism, though we can certainly pray for and with those who suffer.. Since all illness came from an adversary, so would mental illness. But unusual phenomena witnessed by rational people is not all mental illness.
I have seen it in my extended family who did not believe in such things (or know God) until it happened to them. Having lost family members, they were vulnerable, but eventual conversion/surrender got rid of it. It spread through that family–some wouldn't accept it, and it left them (levitation, noises, and other things). I have heard hundreds of such stories of good and bad unusual experiences over the years–some by people I knew and respected and were well-educated.
People talk with such certainty about evidence, then why refuse the evidence of those who experience first-hand the reality of evil from outside human sources (or through human mediums). Isn't that the dilemma of religious people–they would rather blame God for evil than admit the existence of an adversary? I can't understand that other than it is our culture, arrogance, and narrow-mindedness.
If there is a devil, he certainly shows himself under the right circumstances. A lot of people have had experiences that can't be explained. Satan won't go to unbelievers (especially those who take pride in their education) and ruin their already deceived status about God and evil. At the other end, the religious fanatic is ripe for it. I would say we need a balance between belief in "unusual" phenomena, whether bad or good, and the kind of narrow thinking that says it is all in the mind.
There are no evil entities without belief in them. Just as there are fairies only to those who believe.
When people are led by a strong charismatic leader to believe what is told, there is little that will not be possible.
The question for all: How much are you willing to believe based only on another person's belief?
…based only on another person's belief? Norhing.
I am sadened by this story. It's a shame many think they must work their way to heaven or do something. If the Bible were read ( I love the gospel of John ) I would think they would see the words of Jesus that says "Believe on Me and you will be saved". If we needed to do a list of things I would think Jesus would have told us.."If you love me Keep my commandments "
If we could be perfect in our selves we would not need a savior or what Jesus did for all people.
1] The Seventh-day Adventist Church nowhere teaches members to kidnap children, force them to marry, deny them education, food or any of their basic needs.
2] The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not teach that there are 'successors' of Ellen White nor any other grave misrepresentations found to be practised by the group that was rightfully removed from Church membership as a result of their extreme beliefs and apostasy.
3] The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not support such fanaticism and warns against it. Even Ellen White condemns such fanaticism too.
4] Again I say that these types of actions aren't solely a result of conservative views. Conservatives have a high standard of moral and ethical behaviour which stands diametrically opposed to those the group subscribes to. The heavy 'spiritualism' and 'spiritism' practiced in churches in the region, including Nigeria, where the charismatics have a huge stronghold of faith healers and also are heavily influenced by the Pentecostalism found in the West, are also very likely contributory factors in causing those who are more susceptible to being swayed by such fanaticism, to be lead astray.
5] Also, many Adventist Africans aren't so conservative, for example, with regards to following strict vegetarianism like many in the West do, much of which is due to living conditions and circumstances. They are, however, faithful in their belief and love for God. The conservative label is all relative as some have remarked as can be seen even in America and Europe where there are various fanatical Christian groups who aren't Adventists. The Church of Scientology can be included here in this group.
Yes, 22oct, what you are saying is true. However, the bottom line is that what the history of our church has shown us is that our church seems to attract the crazies more than any others.
Why exactly is that?
I believe that a strict cultic, conservative mindset fueled by an apocalyptic eschaetology, and exclusivity and doctrinal supremacy to the detriment of other faiths, is prime suspect. Our emphasis on EGW, (i.e. placing importance on a spiritual leader), directly and even indirectly opens the door for warped, messianic thinking that others can be that kind of leader too in this modern church age as EGW was back then.
I think in some ways by some conservative beliefs (such as LGT and sinless perfection as well as almost cultic adherence to Sister White by many), we influence and perhaps even indirectly condone such thinking with our emphasis.
22Oct, I would agree with #5. It seems people tend to be more captured by their culture than they are by any new religion or conversion anywhere. Take the view of women in so much of the world.
Darrell: you said our church seems to attract the crazies more than any others. Have you researched this? I don't think so. There are a lot of them out there who take a literal interpretation of the Bible from snake-handling to secret rapture and hellfire. And that's just the Christian religions. What is so amazing is what these exSDAs choose from EGW writings. Why is it always the small percentage of absurdities of the 19th century instead of the greatest percentage of Christ-centered, loving material? Church writings have certainly been abused, and our leaders have let it happen.
When ministers are paid to represent the church, are they not the church to the public? Is it only the "Adventist church" when the G.C. president speaks?
I know your questions are rhetorical Elaine. But just for clarification – No, ministers are not paid to represent the church to the public. Ministers are generally paid to pastor local church congregations within conferences. Corporate church entities, such as local conferences, speak only through their Boards and corporate officers. As far as public perception is concerned, the members are probably far more influential than pastors in representing the church, and when it comes to matters of faith, I do not believe paid ministers are any more "the church to the public" than I am.
The G.C. President does have limited authority to act and speak on behalf of the G.C. corporation in his corporate capacity. But to my knowledge, that is a very limited scope, and does not include authority to speak ex cathedra on matters of doctrine or belief.
Pastors have the "bully pulpit" with the ability to preach each week. Whether correctly, they do have more influence than the average member in speaking for the church. Perception is 90% reality for many.
True, Elaine. But the public doesn't hear the pastor in the pulpit, and as a whole, they experience far more Adventists who are not pastors than who are. Because at least 95% of their time is spent focused on their church members, pastors do not, in my opinion, have a fraction of the public influence that their church members do – at least not the church members who live and work in non-SDA environments. Members don't speak for the church either, though many think they do.
Not sure why we're having this conversation or how it relates to the topic. I guess I'm just contrarian and like to argue.
We shouldn't speak for the church. We should speak and live for Christ at home and everywhere else. Do we want to lead people to the SDA church or do we want to lead others to Christ? There is a world of difference in the two concepts.
AMEN!
And I say AMEN again..
Nathan: 'But the public doesn't hear the pastor in the pulpit, and as a whole, they experience far more Adventists who are not pastors than who are. Because at least 95% of their time is spent focused on their church members, pastors do not, in my opinion, have a fraction of the public influence that their church members do – at least not the church members who live and work in non-SDA environments.'
It is my personal observation that the Head Elders (or the shadow 'Head Elders' where the official Head Elder is a bit of a puppet or clayton) are the ones with the most influence – far more influential than the pastor. I have often heard the joke that the 'White Pope' (i.e. Pastor) has power, but the real power lies with the 'Black Pope' (i.e. that lay leader who really is in charge of the congregation). Most Church pastors who don't quickly find out who is really in charge of their church, and then get on their good sides, don't tend to last too long.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD PROOF READ WHAT THEY WRITE TO ENCOURAGE CLARITY ON THE DISCUSSION INCLUDING THE ONE WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE
galatians 5:20
acts 16: 16-19
Jer 1:1 -19