August 15, 2013Cameroon's President Paul Biya has ordered the closure of nearly 100 Christian churches in key cities.
Cameroon's President Paul Biya has ordered the closure of nearly 100 Christian churches in key cities.

Yaounde, Cameroon (CNN) -- Cameroon's President Paul Biya has ordered the closure of nearly 100 Christian churches in key cities, citing criminal practices organized by Pentecostal pastors that threaten the security of the West African nation.

But Pentecostal pastors said the move is evidence of Biya's insecurity about the churches' criticism of the government.

Biya is using the military to permanently shut down all Pentecostal church denominations in the nation's capital, Yaounde, and the North West Regional capital, Bamenda, which have the largest Christian populations in Cameroon.

More than 50 churches have now been closed, with the government targeting nearly 100 in eight other regions.

"We will get rid of all the so-called Christian Pentecostal pastors who misuse the name of Jesus Christ to fake miracles and kill citizens in their churches. They have outstretched their liberty," Mbu Anthony Lang, a government official in Bamenda, told CNN Wednesday.

Nearly 500 Pentecostal churches operate in Cameroon, but fewer than 50 are legal, he added.

On Sunday, a 9-year-old Christian girl collapsed and died during a prayer session in Winners' Chapel, a Pentecostal church in Bamenda. The girl's mother, Mih Theresa, told CNN Wednesday that the pastor intended to cast out the numerous demons that were in control of her daughter's life.

"I want the government to stop these pastors who use mysterious powers to pull Christians and kill then for more powers. All my children have ran away from the Catholic Church in search for miracles, signs and wonders," she told CNN while holding back tears.

Another Christian, Mveng Thomas, said his marriage ended abruptly when a Pentecostal pastor ordered his wife to dissolve their union. He said the pastor described him as "an unrepentant devil."

Pastors marched against the government's decision Wednesday in Bamenda and Douala. Pastors said the Biya government sees the mass proliferation of churches as a threat.

Boniface Tum, a bishop of the Christian Church of God in Yaounde, said that Biya, who has been president since 1982, is becoming insecure about the freedom of speech within these churches.

"Authorizing only the Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Muslim, and a few other churches, is a strict violation of the right to religion," Tum added.

Targeted Pentecostal Christians in Bamenda are transforming their private homes into churches.

North West Regional governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique said Wednesday that police had discovered the abduction of 30 children under age 18 by a pastor in Bamenda. The pastor said he wanted to remove the children from a bad society, Lele added.

Government officials also say that some pastors convince congregants that they do not need professional medical treatment for their ailments.

"How can a pastor say the sick needs no medical doctor? We need sanity in our Christian lives," Nyang Blaise, a youth leader for Biya's ruling party, CPDM, told CNN.

One woman said her mother was refusing cancer treatments because of her pastor.

"My mother's condition is worsening after doctors confirmed she had cancer. She is dying silently, and yet we cannot persuade her to see a doctor for proper treatment, against her pastor's wish," Deborah Tanyi said.

via CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/14/world/africa/cameroon-churches/in...

Sensible government. Great Africans.

Hmmm

I think we need something like this in Nigeria with the only difference being all religions should be banned.

same action needed in nigeria, job less con men on rampage

I bet some of those churches had names like the ones provided below

I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE NAMES OF THESE CHURCHES EXIST UNTIL SOME FRIENDS CONFIRMED SOME NAMES! BELOW ARE THE NAMES:

JESUS OF GOD( IMO STATE)

GOD'S MENNONITE CHURCH

GUIDED MISSILES GOD CHURCH

JESUS IN THE NOW GLOBAL MINISTRY

HEALING HAS BEGUN MINISTRY

GOD'S OWN MINISTRY

THE TRUE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH

JEHOVAH SHARP SHARP (FESTAC, LAGOS)

HURRICANE MIRACLE

HEALING TSUNAMI MINISTRRY

SATAN IN TROUBLE MINISTRY

FIRE FOR FIRE MINISTRY

FIST OF FURY( NTA ROAD P/H)

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE MINISTRY

THE YOKE MUST BROKE MINISTRY

FACE TO FACE MINISTRY

JESUS HEAL MINISTRY

ANGEL ON FIRE CHAPEL OF PEACE

LIQUID FIRE MINISTRY( SULEJA , NIGER STATE )

BY FIRE BY FIRE MINISTRY

HOLY FIRE OVER FLOW MINISTRIES

DAVID KILLED GOLIATH MINISTRY

HOUSE OF JEHOVAH'S PADAWANS ( TRANSAMADII P/H)

JESUS IN HIS MIGHTINESS GLOBAL MINISTRIES

OPM- OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY (P/H)

GOD IN ACTION MINISTRIES

MOVING MOUNTAIN GOSPEL CHURCH

MY BROTHER IS A CHRISTAIN CHURCH OF GOD

FELLOWSHIP OF THE WINGS- AJAH (LANGBASA)

POWER FOUNDATION MINISTRIES - ABA

HOLY GHOST ON FIRE MINISTRIES ( ABUJA)

HIGH TENSION MINISTRIES

JESUS NEVER BLEEP UP MINISTRY (BENIN

DEVIL GO HEAR AM JESUS MINISTRY

ACCREDITED CHURCH OF GOD

CHUKWUDI AND SON EVANGELICAL MINISTRY - ABA

POWER PASS POWER CHURCH OF THE MOUNTAIN MINISTRY INCORPORATED

MINISTRY OF Unclad WIRE - BAYELSA STATE

LABORATORY CHURCH OF GOD

GO AND TELL AHAB THAT ELIJAH IS HERE MINISTRIES- BENIN

GOD IS REAL MINISTRY

FIRE BURN FIRE MINISTRIES

JESUS THE LANDLORD, WE THE RELAXING PEW MINISTRY- PORTHARCOURT

HAPPY GO LUCKY CHURCH OF ALMIGHTY GOD IN JESUS NAME AMEN- ABEOKUTA

OLD TIME RELIGION MINISTRY

STRONG HAND OF GOD MINISTRY

BEST SPOT IN THE LAND OF GOD CHURCH - APAPA

TRIGGER HAPPY MINISTRY( MOTTO: ALWAYS FIRING THE DEVIL)

KASABUBU CHURCH OF GOD- IBADAN

JESUS KNOWS HIS CHILDREN MINISTRY - BENIN

SEVEN THUNDERS OF JESUS

PERFECT CHRISTAINITY MINISTRY

ELSHADAI SHALL NOT DIE MINISTRY

Source: FILEBE(m): 8:25pm On Dec 07, 2010

MARK MY WORDS, THAT PRESIDENT'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED. President since 1982. He has overstayed his welcome. I HEREBY DECLARE HIS SEAT VACANT. Like if you are in support.

The Best action ever taken by an African leader.

Go and tell ahab that elijah is here ministry?

Jesus of God ministry?
Hmmmm.

Efrybody wan chop.

Next, we go hear

we collect only tithe and offering here ministry

and

dont bother about living a holy life ministry.

And finally


wear anything you like ministry.

Economy downturn tins.

church names dis days dey funny me sha imagine this
We Talking Jesus Here
You Talking Nonsense Ministries lokoja,

ban all religion, the chinese leaders who are atheist, made china a global force and one of the richest countries on earth, but our bible wielding and koran reciting leaders have been stealing us blind since 1960

Winners chapel in cameroon? The pentecostal houses should be banned. I believe redeemed christian church of God will be on the banned list too. How can a pastor be asking for 1billion naira donation per person? Mukina2 front page abeg. Lets shame all these conmen

our country need good leaders not pastors.........uk,usa,sa,spain,etc lived good on good leadership nt religion. truth is better sha like alomo bitter.

Just like this one

Funny how government takes decision in a 'democratic' nation. Denying a majority of the citizens a part of their life in pretence of protecting another.

For your info, westerners are more religious, I repeat more religious (not fanatical) than africans. I bet you don't know that the key statement of the US is 'in God we trust'

shaqoloye: our country need good leaders not pastors.........uk,usa,sa,spain,etc lived good on good leadership nt religion. truth is better sha like alomo bitter.

@Post

This is quite interesting. This means that all our big churches like RCCG, Winners and the likes that are looking to open church branches in Cameroon will now have to think twice. Interesting!

By the way, in as much as I believe in freedom of worship, I must say that some pentecostal churches here in Nigeria have become a nuisance by causing noise pollution due to the loud speakers they attach outside their church's building. Worse of is that many of these churches are being built in residential neighborhoods here in Nigeria and the noise they cause is just becoming something else.

Point of correction@article.cameroon is in CENTRAL west africa.

Nigeria's own will be deadly when the masses wake up from their dream.

' Religion is the inability of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand'-Karl Marx. Shut them down. Round up the sheep. Break out the strait-jackets. Send them to an asylum.

dasparrow: @Post

This is quite interesting. This means that all our big churches like RCCG, Winners and the likes that are looking to open church branches in Cameroon will now have to think twice. Interesting!

By the way, in as much as I believe in freedom of worship, I must say that some pentecostal churches here in Nigeria have become a nuisance by causing noise pollution due to the loud speakers they attach outside their church's building. Worse of is that many of these churches are being built in residential neighborhoods here in Nigeria and the noise they cause is just becoming something else.

I agree with you but at the same time you should clarify dat the mosques also contribute their own quota to the noise as they decide to wake us up when sleep is sweetest.

I wish na for nigeria dem ban churches mek I see who go force me to wake up bcox of church for sunday morning. The tin dey tire me to go mek I talk truth

y

Nigeria my country,filled with so many religious homes,yet we be BABA for crime.

I know sey Alfa, Muskeeto, Okija, Logicgoat.. Go dey happy

Yeah we need this in naija ooh! every tom, dick n harry is seeing visions now, anyone who survives a little electric shock or slip would go say he saw vision that he should be a pastor!

why weren't there this many pastors those days that pastors werent making money? everybody wants private jet smh.

I just dey lafff ooo. Well, Closing of Churches doesn't stop the spreading of gospel. Don't get me wrong. There are wolves in Sheep clothing. But winners and redeemed, I beg. Let always look for facts and hold unto the truth. Sick people need God to heal them. Drugs sometimes may not work. But not all sick people needs doctor. Abeg... make we leave the matter for mathias.