As I blogged a few months ago, in August last year Helen Ukpabio was “consecrated” as an Apostle by Bishop N E Moses; Moses used the opportunity to denounce those who had criticised her teaching on the existence of child witches, as he ranted about “Witches attacking! Wizards attacking! “Atheists attacking!” He also praised members of Ukpabio’s church for disrupting a conference on the problem of children stigmatised as witches.
The “consecration” was well-attended by Ukpabio’s supporters and by her associates in the film business. A number of religious leaders gave their backing to the event, and a handbill for the consecration service carries some names and photos (although mostly illegible, the names can be discerned when cross-referenced with another advert). They are:
Prelate Isaiah Isong [founder of Christ Believers Assembly]
Bishop Jonas Katung [of Maranatha Covenant Church, Jos]
Bishop [Leonard] Kawas [of World Harvest Ministries Inc]
Bishop Elkanah Hanson [of El Shaddai Ministries, Port Harcourt]
Bishop Victor Uzosike [General Overseer of Kingdom Life Gospel Church (Destiny Chapel), the church arm of Gospel Outreach Ministries]
Bishop Mike Laju [of Mike Laju Ministries and The MOG Ministries]
Also mentioned is “Rev Dr Daniel Bassey”
The consecration was preceded by a week-long event called “Empowerment for Greater Service” at Ukpabio’s church, with a similar line-up that includes two more people:
Bishop Godwin Okafor
Comdr. Ezekiel Duke
There were also fellow-pastors from her “Liberty Gospel” church; as I noted in February, a newspaper report mentioned
Eyo Nkute, Louis Oku, Excellence Sambo, and Alobi Ofuka – superintendents of the church in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu, respectively.
On her website, Ukpabio states that:
Unlike other ministries where witches and wizards are beaten or stoned to death, Liberty is the only Ministry that shows mercy to witches. No matter the degree and level of the witchcraft, deliverance is certain through Helen Ukpabio’s ministration. In dealing with witchcraft possessed persons, the deliverance is conducted in a very easy and mild way that one may wonder if at all it will work. Of course it works so perfectly. The process of delivering witches is mild that she doesn’t even lay her hands on them yet all will be delivered. She can minister to one thousand witches at the same time and all will be delivered at the same time. This is a mystery.
…It is only in Helen’s Ministry that witches have been stopped, delivered and cleared to worship God without projecting any longer to any demonic realm or circles. If you are a witch, smile, get in contact with the woman of God for your deliverance – free of charge.
This is her defence against the claim that she harms children. But of course, it’s not as simple as that: Ukpabio has used her influence to cause trouble for a hostel protecting stigmatised children, and children are suffering because of the very idea that a child can cause misfortune by “projecting” a “demonic realm”. Ukpabio’s method of deliverance may milder than forms found elsewhere, but not everyone who sees her films or reads her books will be able to come to her church in person – and even a “mild” deliverance for “witchcraft possession” is based on something which is simply not true. The suffering of children on account of witch-stigmatisation will come to an end only when it becomes impossible to take the idea of “child-witches” seriously. It doesn’t require “atheism” or “humanism” to see that the teaching is harmful and absurd, just a bit of reason – a human capacity available to humanists, Christians, and followers of other religions. Why is it that Ukpabio encounters “one thousand witches at the same time” at her church, when hundreds of thousands of other churches around the world have no such experience? Or anything even approaching it?
Christian leaders in Nigeria (and beyond) could play a significant positive role in ending witch-stigmatisation. There’s nothing in the Bible which says that misfortune or illness can be caused by children “projecting a demonic realm”, and it is their duty to make that clear.
Those who endorse Ukpabio are part of the problem. And those who perhaps privately have reservations, but are reluctant to create a public controversy, need to consider whether they really deserve to be in a leadership position.
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RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW
I am surprise Richard Bartholomew had gone down so low to disgrace himself and his family in the internet. I use to love and respect him but not any more. Richard I can’t believe that you stoop so low to defame a woman that you never new in your life.
Can’t you respect a woman, I am a human right activist and I want to warn you from all this defamation of character, your wife should be a woman.
We the women of “SAVE THE WOMAN” are against your lies, we will soon bring you to book if you don’t resists.
We have facts that you have been lying against Helen Ukpabio. You are not man enough.
Rachel.
How do we know Helen isn’t a witch, herself? Has anyone weighed her? Is she heavier than a duck?
Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries is making the world a better place for humanity by spiritually healing thousands of people sick of incurable diseases, delivering thousands from witchcraft attacks and possessions, proving means of livelihood to many.So quit hating Liberty or the founder{HELEN UKPABIO} by carrying false rumors.Richard Bartholomew, so you can be this wicked,how much were you paid to carry out all this proper gander,i wonder how you people will end your lives.You are just looking for cheap popularity.This is stupid,bad people with bad minds,haters of good things will not see one, messengers of doom. HELEN UKPABIO will always move forward you cant stop her move
It’s Amazing, actually mind boggling that in this day and age, seemingly intelligently people can be brainwashed to believe that their kids are witches. Come on my African brothers and sisters, this is 2010. Do you really believe these kids can bring harm to you through some form of witchcraft? You all have been hoodwinked, the real witch is this Helen person. Use your brains, if she can “deliver” these kids from the grasps of the “evil realm”, how come their are so many of the socalled witches living in the streets? She claims to not even having to lay a hand on them to “deliver” them. So how their are so many of these kids without homes?? She will pay for the evil she is perpetrating in the name of God. The Europeans came with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other and forced their God on the African people, killing and enslaving millions. Now the African “Christian” is finishing the job, picking up where the colonizers left off and killing their own.I AM AN AFRO-BELIZEAN AND I MOURN FOR THE MOTHERLAND.
Richard,your article portrays you as an atheist, a miserable unbeliever and blackmailer who need spiritual and mental deliverance from satanic bondage.
Before God’s judgement comes upon you, please you are strongly advised to seek the face of God through counselling by Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio. If you are not worshipping the Almighty God definitely, you are worshipping Lucifer. The bible says it is appointed unto man to die but once, and after that judgement. Where will you spend eternity? Repent or perish in hell fire. Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio is the President and Founder of Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries. The Ministry preaches soul salvation and repentance to atheist and sinners like you. God by the power of the Holy Ghost has used her to deliver many families from childlessness, satanic bondages and afflictions for many years now. She has never killed nor branded children witches, rather, she saved many children by freely delivering them through the power of the Holy Spirit. Please repent and stop your blackmailing business even if you were paid to do so.
Most black people consider a misfortune to be born black/poor in this world hence the high sales of”whitening” creams in Nigeria. So I wonder how these “pastors” explain away such chips on their shoulders. Is it creams saving peoples souls, or Jesus?
I am greatly saddened by the comments above. These are posted by men and women who are either being paid to respond to articles that expose the truth about Helen Ukpabio. This is NOT the point if view of most educated Nigerians; this is the perspective of people who benefit from the dehumanisation of the most vulnerable people in Nigerian society. Please understand that these people are driven by poverty, of mind and spirit, and in some cases, diminished mental health. They are so blinded by their worship of Helen Ukpabio that they can not and will never know the God who said, ‘let the little children come onto to me. Helen Ukpabio and many of the ‘Bishops’ mentioned above are not running churches; they are leading money-making cults. These hungry dupes all suffer from delusions of grandeur and when the final trumpet blows, they will be on the first bus to Hell.
So Mr Bartholomew, do not be intimidated by them. Their greatest fear is that they will be exposed. As a human, clearly with the milk of human mercy flowing through your veins, please continue to do what you are doing!
The comments by the sycophants and denialists speak volumes.
What a sad bunch.
I think the only shameful thing here is that Richard Bartholomew seems to have got into a battle of wits with some unarmed people. I do like how the apologists all posted in quick succession. A cynic might even suspect that they were the same person.
Bartholomew, thank you so much for advertising Helen Ukpabio’ consecration, you can see how real her God is, her God has used you to advertise her consecration to the whole world.
Joy Jesus
You are mental.
Word to your Jesus.
Bartholomew, you are a double aged sward, you think were hurting Helen but you are actually promoting her. I will send her a letter of congratulation
Mike
I think you mean ‘edged’ Jesus bean.
Foolish Bartholomew, so frustrated that he does not know what to do again but to put up Helen Ukpabio’s consecration video on his web site. This man bart is a terrorist
Ify
Change the name but you’re one person just leaving comments because your God is impotent.
Spamming the web because Jesus ain’t got your back.
*ouch*
Hi Bart,
Shame to you, what is Helen Ukpabio’s consecration clip doing in your site? You are a big disgrace to your family and wife .I never new this Atheists are stupid
I think you mean “knew”.
Jesus would be ashamed of your spelling, you are a big disgrace to him.
Repent!
You are a stupid and a foolish man,idle mind they say is the devil’s workshop, Bartholomew please try and get busy in your life,Helen Ukpabio is a very Busy person and does not have time with Atheists like you, you are a disgrace to manhood, even with your education,you still behave like a child,old man like you shame to you and your generation yet unborn, Anyway thanks for the advert, hahaha monster, i must tell you,you need Helen Ukpabio to cast out that Devil in and set you free totally,
Bartholomew, why did you cut out a short clip to put on your site,what happened to the whole video,or don’t you have it? i have been longing to watch this video since i was not present in the consecration,please i need the whole video .i am so happy to see Helen Ukpabio’s beautiful face again, oh good woman of God,You made me what i am today,God will bless you for me.
Richard please If you will be sincere, tell the world how much you have collected to blackmail Helen Ukpabio, i know Garry Foxcroft paid you heavily to do this,but what you dont know is that you are touching the Lord’s anointed
psam 105.15.
Bartholomew,our Jesus did not go to school but he gives knowledge. With our illiteracy we will tell you the truth you must know, you can call JESUS any thing but he is the Lord of all. This is what you foolish wit can not change
Bartholomew, Good day to you, how is that your hippopotamus wife, how do you fell seeing
Helen Ukpabio very pretty and beautiful because of Jesus? Shame to you Atheist of the 21st century Mfon Mfon
Bartholomew,
i want to inform you that i have also seen a newly posted magazine in Helen Ukpabio’s website could you lift it into your website, since you are looking for materials on her to boost your site,http://www.libertyfoundationgospelministries.org/Documents/mag.pdf
2. Bartholomew, in all your education, the only thing you can do is trail a woman of God, a daughter of Zion. I love the clips. All those prayers on her have made her strong against you and your evil intent.
lol at the comments. obvious trolls are obivous
I am glad Bartholomew is gradually surrendering his life to Jesus. Jesus will capture you soon and will change your evil heart to a heart that fears and reverence God.
Hi Bart, you are a real Bat, stupid and insane. You and your wife are mentally deranged. You can’t earn any respect. Shut this disgraceful site.
Psycho Bart, hatred is not a good thing. You are so frustrated and confused that you put Helen Ukpabio’s Consecration clips on your website.
Thank God, at last Jesus is working good now on your website.
Hello Bart, Why are you engaging in a battle with an African woman – can you stand them?, You are a Goat. Can’t you see that you are not sound? Something really is wrong with you. Why not shut down this disgraceful site. It is putting you in a bad light.
Allow Bartholomew to keep disgracing himself. He claims that, it is a battle of wit with a bunch of illiterate. Who is now the Illiterate? It is Barth himself.
I think, I can answer that question. An illiterate is one who behaves like Bartholomew towards Helen. He is a whole bunch.
Bartholomew, You and Gary Foxcroft must refund my money. I have read an article and have investigated and it is true, that you are scammers.
I need all my money back. I Support no wicked mission.
Can the whole world ask Bartholomew, what his problem really is? What has Bartholomew gain by his bitterness towards Helen Ukpabio. Are you aware that this woman is in court to proof her innocence and already Gary foxcroft and the Akwa Ibom Government has been ordered by the court to pay Helen Ukpabio a fine of Thirty Thousand Naira for wasting her time.this judgement was on Monday 28th June 2010.
I don’t think Gary Foxcroft has told you this. Are you aware that Gary has denied by writing that Helen Ukpabio has never killed a child? What a conflicting write up besides no witness has come up on their side to testify to the reality of their documentary—Dispatches saving the Africa’s witch children
Very soon, Richard, you shall be force to proof all that you have been lying against her. Your own turn is coming.
This is ridiculous and clearly from helen herself. Why don’t you also mention that Helen’s court case was thrown out of court for being an absolute joke.
Lets look at oen thing here, Jesus walked the earth a humble man, a kind man who loved children and said they are all innocent. Wasn’t it the bible that said it will be easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of god……If this is Gods word then the fat Camel Helen Ukpabio and her huge house and Humvee will have major problems in entering the kingdom of God, she is neither humble of kind and has made money off the back of the lies she tells about you children being witches and Wizards. Actually that Channel 4 film never once said Helen kills children, it said that she claimed that children under the age of two who cry at night and don’t feed well are witches, it said that the film showing young kids being witches and wizards was wrong and that as she was claiming all of this under the banner of christianity then it was misleading and could insight abuse..this is obvious. I will pary never the less for Mrs Ukpabio and may God be the judge of her terrible false prophet ministry. I have heard from one of my cousins that Helen is able to do a lot of tricks that are normally associated with mediums, that should tll you what she really is. Look under false prophets, I prayed last night and opened my bible for an answer to all of this, my book fell at the page of their being false prophets. God will Judge you Helen. Lets also not forget that three children in Calabar were burnt and tortured and they had been attending helen’s deliverence programme, she may not have poured the hot water on their delicate skin but she may well have done becasue she told the parenst that the children were possessed. God forgive you Helen for your false lies, I pray that you see the light and that Satan stops working through you as a false prophet
Helen Ukpabio and her supporters will spend eternity in hell being sodomised by warthogs.
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It is no surprise that one religious charlatan is sitting on the computer close to Helen Ukpabio and be disgracing her, Ukpabio in the International arena the more. Let the ignorance proceed
Mike Isang, Oron
It’s Amazing, actually mind boggling that in this day and age, seemingly intelligently people can be brainwashed to believe that their kids are witches. Come on my African brothers and sisters, this is 2010. Do you really believe these kids can bring harm to you through some form of witchcraft? You all have been hoodwinked, the real witch is this Helen person. Use your brains, if she can “deliver” these kids from the grasps of the “evil realm”, how come their are so many of the socalled witches living in the streets? She claims to not even having to lay a hand on them to “deliver” them. So how their are so many of these kids without homes?? She will pay for the evil she is perpetrating in the name of God. The Europeans came with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other and forced their God on the African people, killing and enslaving millions. Now the African “Christian” is finishing the job, picking up where the colonizers left off and killing their own.I AM AN AFRO-BELIZEAN AND I MOURN FOR THE MOTHERLAND.
[…] Mary now lives shut down, accusing its director of being a “wizard”. As I’ve noted before, she differentiates herself from other pastors who claim to be able to diagnose witchcraft, in that […]
I thought the crisis was between we Christians and our ‘COUSINS’.
Richard Bartholomew is entitled to his own opinions, whether or not he is right is an issue only God can judge.
[…] Victor Ukutt (Ukutt, incidently, stopped by at this blog a few days ago). Ukpabio, who is a powerful figure in the state, claims that the hostel is run by a “wizard”, and she warned Akpabio […]
[…] The “Pentecostal Fellowship of the World” is a mistake: Bishop Enebong Ephraim is actually with the “Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc”, an American denomination based in Indianapolis. There is no indication that Ephraim shares Ukpabio’s belief in “child witches”, although his part in this event is clearly an endorsement of what she stands for. As I have previously blogged, Ukpabio has a number of religious allies. […]
[…] and to have worked independently. Ukpabio is very different from this: she is a powerful figure with allies in the Nigerian Pentecostal establishment, a network of urban Liberty Gospel churches, and access […]
[…] it should be recalled, “consecrated” Ukpabio as an “Apostle” in 2009, and other clerics participated in the event. Moses praised members of her church for invading a conference on […]