“A renegade and demonic,” is how President of the Christian Council Bishop Sam Greene described a pastor who launched scathing allegations last week regarding the much-anticipated ‘Revival is Here’ crusade which starts February 24 in New Providence.
Bishop Greene yesterday broke his silence regarding claims made by Pastor of Kingdom Life Ministries, Apostle Cedric Moss, that there was a pre-arrangement for 50 percent of the offerings collected during the crusade to be given to keynote speaker, Prophetess Juanita Bynum.
Apostle Moss labeled this so-called arrangement biblically wrong.
But Bishop Greene hit back hard after saying last week that he would not “dignify the matter with a comment.” Yesterday, he unleashed his fury surrounding the ordeal that has become public.
“It is patently obvious from the number of persons attending this press conference that if there is anybody who is a detractor, he is a detractor because he is demonic,” Bishop Greene said.
“If this good gentleman wished to get the facts, he could have come in with the committee to make whatever contribution he wishes to make, rather than staying out there like the renegade that he is, trying to imply that those who are planning this revival are dishonest,” said Bishop Greene, during a press conference at Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church in Pinewood Gardens.
Eighty-three churches and four denominations will participate in the crusade slated for February 24 through 28 on Clifford Park.
Chief Coordinator of the event, Senior Pastor of Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church, Bishop Neil Ellis, defended his integrity, saying that in his 16 years as a pastor, he has never made any pre-arranged financial contracts with speakers.
“I had the wonderful privilege of hosting Prophetess Bynum at a conference in October of last year,” Bishop Ellis said. “At the time, there were no pre-arrangements. We treated her like we’ve treated anyone else that we would bring in. They came and they blessed our people and we reciprocated with an honorarium.
“We never had any discussions about money, about any particular amount. And even up to this date, there has been no discussion with Prophetess Bynum about any kind of honorarium. She’s not raised it. We’ve not raised it. There are absolutely, unequivocally, no contractual agreement with Prophetess Bynum,” he said.
Bishop Ellis said he wishes not to be brought into a conflict with Apostle Moss.
“This is a time of prayer,” he said. “All I have for my brother is love and I commit him to prayer. Outside of this, I pray for my brother, I love Cedric Moss. I know him personally. He has a good heart but somehow perhaps he has been misguided and I pray that in the near future God will do whatever is necessary to bring him back on track.”
Generally, Bishop Ellis said he is not disturbed by what appears to be distractions, but the only thing that saddens him is where it is coming from. “For an event of this magnitude to go off well, God will also permit somebody to say some things or do some things that will get the attention of those who ordinarily wouldn’t be paying you any mind. I believe now, that as a result of all that has been said, all that has been perpetrated and all that we know to be lies, there will be a host of people who will come in out of curiosity and those are the persons whose hearts need to be touched,” he said.
He said he was not prepared to answer any more questions regarding Apostle Moss’s charges as he wanted to avoid a confrontation with him. Bishop Ellis said during the five-day crusade, organizers hope that 25,000 souls would be saved.
“With 25,000 people going the way of the cross, I promise you that crime has to go down…I believe there is going to be a shaking in this nation,” he said.
He said the crusade, which is expected to attract 2000 participants from the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia and Iceland is in line with the government’s religious tourism thrust.
“They’re not coming here for frolic and fun,” Bishop Ellis said. “They are coming to help carry on and fan the flames of a revival they believe has been birthed in the Bahamas. They recognize this Macedonia call and they’re spending money.
“They have to use our taxi cabs. They have to pay government taxes at the hotel, 12 percent. They have to pay $15 when they are departing [the country]…so we’re talking about people coming with one particular agenda to help the Bahamas and at the same time, contribute to the Bahamian economy.”
Bishop Ellis said the visitors are expected to spend at least $2 million in the Bahamas, including spending on hotel rooms, government taxes, food and transportation.
The government is expected to provide seating for the crusade, but according to Bishop Ellis, no confirmation has been made as yet on that arrangement.
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
