I normally post stories like this on my Nigerian Blog, but thought this was interesting for a broader audience.
From the BBC:
Nigerian pastor finds new flock in Ukraine
Sunday Adelaja started with a just handful of followers
Inside one of Ukraine’s biggest sports halls a band pumps out deafening music surrounded by pom pom-waving dancers in shiny blue outfits.
Thousands of people are on their feet enthusiastically singing and clapping along, as if at a pop concert.
A Pentecostal church called the Embassy of God is sweeping across the country.
It claims to have 25,000 members in the capital alone.
What I find really interesting about this is that the orthodox church in Ukraine believes the church is a cult.
The Orthodox Church feels threatened. It says Embassy of God is a cult.
“The followers become like zombies – they are fully devoted to the leader of the organisation, ready to fulfil any of his desires,” says Father Superior Yevstratiy Zorya, spokesman for the Orthodox Church in Kiev.
“It also has an impact on political life, because these people help to campaign for the politicians loyal to their church.”
The Embassy of God says there is no brainwashing. Instead it targets people who feel rejected by society.
I wonder if the members are really devoted to the leader of The Embassy of God, or the leader of the church as a whole, God Himself. Ever think you or your church could be described as zombies – fully devoted to God, ready to fulfil His will?
What would that look like?
What would that sound like?
What kind of impact would that have on the world?