Responding to the Kenyan Starvation Cult Tragedy: A Call to Christian Action
In the coastal town of Malindi, Kenya, a shadow has fallen over the community. A horrific starvation cult, led by Paul Mackenzie, claimed the lives of over 400 people, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair. This tragic incident has opened eyes to the demonic influence of false “Christian” teachings. With the veil lifted, the time for faithful Christian witness is now.
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Mackenzie, the cult’s leader, was deeply influenced by William Marion Branham's end-time teachings and prophecies. Mackenzie is friends and business associates with Ezekiel Odero, a multi-millionaire preacher-healer and arguably Kenya’s biggest televangelist. Together, they took Branham’s teachings to an extreme, manipulating their followers into believing that starvation was a necessary step toward salvation. This warped ideology led to unimaginable suffering and loss of life, many of them children.
Sadly, the Malindi cult is not an isolated incident. Across Kenya and East Africa, false teachers and cults prey on the vulnerable, exploiting their faith and leaving behind a wake of physical, emotional, and spiritual destruction. Could God be using the exposure of Mackenzie’s cult to draw people to biblical Christianity?
Charles Karuri believes God is at work. Charles is a Neopolis global partner and planted Crossway Baptist Church in Malindi to hold out the hope of the true gospel to his people. With the Branhamite starvation cult exposed, Crossway Baptist is all the more committed to their vision to shine in the darkness. Charles envisions a team of well-trained pastors, equipped with the convictions and resources needed to combat the spread of false teachings and defend the purity of the gospel message. He is persuaded that, as with the Protestant Reformation, so it is in our day: this battle will be won via the pulpit and the printing press. So he is committed to training local pastors in biblical exposition and providing them with access to sound theological resources.
The time to act is now. God is removing the veil. People are asking questions. In God’s providence, a faithful Christ-exalting church is already established in Malindi. But they need our help.
Neopolis is committed to coming alongside Charles in this gospel work. Your generosity can make a real difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities threatened by the allure of false prophets.
Here's how your contributions can make a tangible impact:
$64: Pay the way for a Swahili-speaking pastor to attend a 3-day conference in Malindi. Includes food, transportation, and a small library.
$120: Print 40 books in Swahili, providing valuable Bible-based resources for pastors.
$500: Translate biblical Christian materials into Swahili.
$2,970: Cover the cost of six months of residential training for a future pastor.
Your investment will directly contribute to the training and equipping of pastors who stand as beacons of truth and hope in East Africa. Together, we can help restore Malindi and other regions to the true light of the gospel, ensuring that the message of salvation and love triumphs over deception and despair.
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