For the second time in 18 months an attempt has been made on the life of Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, the Bishop of Jos.
Early on the morning of Tuesday July 24 at 2.15 a.m. a gang of men, more than five in number bound the two security guards at the gates of his compound and locked up the four domestic staff,
Armed with guns and knives, they then battered through the doors of the house, went upstairs and marched Bishop Ben Kwashi downstairs and outside.
They told Bishop Ben, they were going to kill him. Then, inexplicably the men changed their minds, gave up that plan, took him back inside and ransacked the house for valuables. They beat up his teenage son Rinji. Help came after about half an hour.
When we think we have it bad, we just need to look at this giant of the faith! Thank God for His protection on +Kwashi.
Henry,
Agreed! The members of the GS have much more pressing and important issues to deal with than sort out our mess here. It says much about their charity and forgiveness that they are willing to do so. One hopes that when the time to act comes, we will be willing to do so even at great cost, and that we will be properly thankful to our GS brothers and sisters who gave us the opportunity.
APB
Thank God for His protection of Bishop Ben. I heard him preach this year at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. I don’t think I have ever heard a more passionate preacher for Jesus. Surely they need our prayers and financial support from those who feel called to do so. It is true we have no idea what persecution means!
Amen about prayers and support, Shirley! I have been praying for various GS and other orthodox leaders daily, and in recent weeks especially for CANA/Nigeria, including Bp. Kwashi by name. I echo #1’s “Thanks be to God!” for protection in this incident.
God was looking out for him and the others in his compound. I’ll be sure to continue to keep him and also his family in my prayers.
I echo the thanks and prayers for this shepherd and man of great faith. I also urge those who have the means to contribute to repairs here: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/?page_id=215
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
Like Shirley, I met Bp. Kwashi when he was here in Birmingham (US) for the Lenten Series. I was sitting with him at dinner and was the one who told him that KJS had nixed the Lawrence election; he hit the ceiling and offered to consecrate him on the spot! The experience for me was transformational. Thank God that he is physically OK and thank God for his powerful witness. There is no way we should expect people who are defending the faith while staring down the barrel of a gun to be in communion with those who think that truth is relative.
“There is no way we should expect people who are defending the faith while staring down the barrel of a gun to be in communion with those who think that truth is relative.”
That is true, #7. Evil doers want us to compromise. If our Lord Jesus had compromised, we would be without hope, dead in our sins.
How many bishops in ECUSA would be willing to submit themselves and their loved ones to the threats of martyrdom for the profession of Christianity experienced by this bishop?
I know of a few, but not many.
Put revisionist ECUSA bishops into this kind of physical and spiritual pressure cooker and I think that most of them would fail the test.
In fact, I think that most revisionist ECUSA
Bishop Kwashi is a man filled with a flaming love for Jesus. I have heard him speak and have had the privilege of spending some time with him in conversation. God be praised that he has been spared, but let us pray for his son. May the Lord grant him continued blessing in his ministry, and him and his family the protection of His angels.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
I too add my Amen to what many have written here, especially Dr. Radner’s words. I had the privilege of hearing Bishop Kwashi and his wife Gloria speak at New Wineskins in April. What a testimony and ministry this family has! May the Lord continue to defend and protect them and may He use them powerfully for His glory.