I'm Huge in Africa!

That's right - according to Google Analytics (a website tracking program) I am big in Africa - or so I thought. For a while now, I've noticed that I get a ton of visitors from African countries. Now we do have one woman in our church, Catherine Makandawire, from Africa, but she doesn't have enough family from that many African countries to justify all the visits to my blog.

I finally did a google search for Pastor Chris, Africa. Pastor Chris IS huge in Africa, but not Pastor Chris Rollins of Charleston, SC. It's Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Embassy Ministries. He goes by Pastor Chris. Evidently he's a rather controversial figure - more of a healing televangelist of the Jim Bakker/Benny Hinn mold.

"Many people are skeptical about his healing abilities, believing that they are stunts performed with conveniently placed actors or willing participants. Others claim that he uses the healing angle to his own commercial gain because such Pentecostal healing shows have high viewer ratings in places such as West Africa."

Other than figuring out why so many blog visits from African countries, it made a passage that we looked at two weeks ago, Philippians 1:15-18, really stand out: "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."

Be discerning - absolutely. Be wary of false teachers - you bet. But ultimately, if Christ is preached, "what does it matter?" God will sort out the rest. We spend way too much time being the spiritual watchdogs of the world, when there are people all around us who simply need to see and hear the Good News of Jesus.

So to all my African Brothers & Sisters - grace and peace to you and welcome to my Blog. I know I'm not who you were searching for, but stick around, listen to a message or two. God has a way of leading people into our lives at just the right time for the right reasons - even if it's a continent away, through the internet.

See the resemblance?