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 Section One

IDENTIFYING HEALTH
NEEDS

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 CHAPTER 1

SPIRIT

HUMANS

SOUL BODY

Balancing Health Issues

ealth is a state of physical, mental, spiritual and complete well-being and
not necessarily absent of disease. There is no substitute for good health. A
sound mind can only dwell in a sound body. There is no price too high to pay
for good health. When gospel ministers live a healthy life, they fulfill God’s
purpose and heartbeat. Their lives become an illustration of their gospel and a
fulfilment of their faith. John the Apostle exposed the mind of God concerning
the believers’ health thus:

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper

and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2)

Gospel ministers should separate factual faith from foolish fanaticism on

health issues. This will enable us both to “give… those things which are needful
to the body” and live healthy lives. This will also enable us instruct God’s
people properly on health matters. James the Apostle declared:

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 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those
things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:14-17

The Apostle here emphasized the need to give the body the needed physical
attention. Stressing that spiritual soundness is not a replacement for physical
wellbeing. Gifts of the Spirit cannot make up for good meals, just as
righteousness and holiness of life cannot make up for cleanliness and regular
bathing!

As a minister, you must find out what kind of solution is actually needed by a
presenting complaint: prayer and fasting or money for feeding; deliverance
ministration or physician’s attention; words of faith or water and food; sound
messages or gainful employment! The right thing must not be emphasized at
the wrong time; neither should the wrong thing be done at the right time. Of
course, if we do the wrong thing at the right time, the right thing is left
undone.

The Triune Man

Gospel Ministers must balance between spiritual and physical well-being. This
is necessary because man is a triune or tripartite being, having spirit, soul and
body. The body is different from the spirit and the soul. The spirit is the
immortal part of God in all men, which returns back to God at death. The soul
is the centre of decisions and the central processing unit installed in man by
God at creation. The body is the house or casing that contains the spirit and
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soul of man. These three must be in the proper shape and state for the man
to function optimally. The spirit needs the body to live in and glorify God. The
body and the spirit must be equally nourished for the soul to function
properly. Remember that a sound spirit cannot live in a collapsed neglected
body. When the body is neglected, starved, battered and uncured, it becomes
inhabitable for the spirit. When the vitals pillars that sustain the body collapse,
the spirit departs from the body and life ceases. The scriptures confirms that:
…the body without the spirit is dead”
James 2:26.
These vital pillars that sustain the body to keep it alive are the vital tissues and
organs in the body, which include the brain, heart, liver, lungs, blood, blood
vessels, nerve and, stomach.
A lot of gospel ministers often approach a simple physical problem with a
complex spiritual solution. Many “prayer warriors” and deliverance ministers
exhaust their energy in rigorous spiritual exercise, praying to heal the body of
a simple pain that the commonest analgesic could have removed. Refusing to
give what is needful to the body is not a mark of spirituality. When the body is
unnecessarily tortured and deprived of what is needful, the spirit is denied of a
good habitation and the soul will malfunction.

Things which are needful to the Body

It is not an over emphasis to say that the needs of the body are different from
the needs of the spirit, and cannot interchange. This fact is embedded in Jesus’
parabolic teaching using the Good Samaritan. Perhaps the priest and the
Levite could not solve the man’s immediate problem because they were
spiritual men of God on a spiritual mission! The Samaritan realized the man’s
immediate needs, went ahead to provide them without even a word of prayer!
He realized that what the man needed at that moment were physical
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resuscitation, wound dressing, physician’s attention and good nursing care.
Not casting out devils or prayers of deliverance.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he

was and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in
oil and wine, and set him on his own beast and brought
him to an inn, and took care of him (Luke 18:33-34).

All the injured man needed urgently was bandage, oil and wine (materials
for wound dressing), a beast (transportation to hospital) and two pence
(deposit for medical care). Severally, ministers delay the solution to
believers’ problems by embarking on futile spiritual exercise rather than
giving those things which are needful to the body.

It is not every sickness that has spiritual undertone. Even those ones due to
demonic afflictions may require physical care and medical treatment after
sending off the evil spirits. The scripture emphasizes the needed to give the
body those things which are needful. Those things needed by the body
have been identified to include:
a) Balanced diet
b) Proper medication
c) Warmth (clothing and shelter)
d) Cleanliness
e) Exercise.

Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is a meal that contains all classes of nutrients in the right
quantity and proportion as required by the body. These nutrients are
carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and water. The body
needs these nutrients for energy, growth, repairs, fight infections and resist
diseases, and to function optimally. Imbalance diets result in malnutrition

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in children, growth retardation, recurrent infections, depression and
sadness.

When a child is plagued with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), the

protruded stomach, lean limbs, bony chest, bony face, lameness and
offensive cry can make the ignorant minister to embark on series of prayer
and fasting to deliver the child from “ancestral” spirit. A proper nutritional
therapy is what that so-called “spirit” needs, not deliverance sessions! Give
that child balanced diets and watch him or her bounce back.

Balanced diets are easily got from combinations of the common food stuffs in
our environment. Many believers do not take a little care to make good meals
from the simple stuffs available. They rather feed the kids with anything and
confess that “God is in control”. When the effects of malnutrition set in, they
shop around for prayers and deliverances. It is balance diet that is the
treatment of choice for malnourishment.

Proper Medication
Another important need of the body is proper medication, either in the
form of topical (body cream, soap, ointment, balms, sprays, etc), orals
(tablets, aerosols, syrups) or injections. This fact is upheld by both the old
and the new testaments of the scriptures. Paul the Apostle prescribed a
physical medicament to Timothy for his recurrent abdominal troubles:

Drink no more water, but use a little wine for thy

stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:
23)

The knowledge of medical science does not come from the devil. God is the
author of it. Medicines are meant to take care of the body and not the spirit.
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Medicines heal the body and make a comfortable habitation for the spirit and
the soul.
A child convulsing due to high fever following neglected or mismanaged
malaria infection may not be possessed of any demon spirit. Mobilizing prayer
warriors to fight a demon that is not there is to delay the child’s healing. That
is approaching a physical problem with a spiritual solution. A dose of
antipyretic, potent antimalarial and sedative is enough to spare the warriors
their strength for a more challenging spiritual battle! Administering the proper
medication to the body will not only make the body to recover from
sicknesses, it will also protect and prevent the body from unnecessary
breakdown.

Warmth
The sources of warmth to the body are proper clothing and shelter.
Abnormal exposure of the body to cold robs the body of its vital need. All
body processes operates at regulated temperature and extremes of
temperature affect these life processes. Proper clothing and good shelter
provides the needed warmth for the body to thrive well. Many disease
conditions arise from excessive exposure of the body to cold and harsh
weather conditions. Certain recurrent chest infection may be due to
continual exposure to excessive cold from the air-conditioner.

Cleanliness
One important need of the body is cleanliness: clean water, clean food,
clean clothes, clean environment, clean skin, clean nails, clean hairs, clean
mouth, clean beddings, clean everything! Dirtiness is not a mark of
humility and cleanliness is not worldliness. Even in the wilderness where
there was scarcity of water, God still demanded the children of Israel to
wash their clothes.
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 And the Lord said unto Moses…let them wash their clothes,
Exodus 19:10
Residing in environments infested with rodents, reptiles, flies,
cockroaches and other disease vectors should be recognize as a
predisposing factor for the recurrence of certain illnesses.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Regular exercise
Moderate physical exercise is very useful to the human body. A lot of
gospel ministers, most especially the “Papa GOs” and “Mama GOs”, exhibit a
lot of “bigmanism” to the detriment of their health. They surround
themselves with different levels of voluntary and hired workers to the
extent that somebody will breathe for them if it were possible! They cannot
even open the car door to enter, not to talk of washing the car, trimming
and watering their flowers or walking to the car park. These are regarded
as unnecessary stress meant for servants. The car must be driven very
close to Papa’s office door for him to enter. A little physical exercise and
sports are rated as carnality or waste of precious counseling and prayer
time. At the long run, the body begins to breakdown because of
unnecessary fat deposits from their sedentary lifestyle.. The end results are
obesity, raised blood pressure, raised blood sugar and arthritis, which are
usually attributed to witchcraft and demonic attacks against the Man of
God. Paul the Apostle noted the profitability of bodily exercise:

For bodily exercise profiteth little. (1 Timothy 4:8)

Bodily exercise burns off excess and bad fat deposits in the body. It keeps
the blood vessel patent and enhances blood flow to organs. Moderate
exercise helps the heart to pump blood optimally and function well.
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 CHAPTER 2

Religious Syndromes

A careful study of the present religious Christendom reveals two

syndromes whose complications are responsible loss of many lives among
christian worshippers and gospel ministers. These two antihealth religious
syndromes are spiritual problem syndrome and BAD syndrome

Spiritual Problem Syndrome

One big huddle that hampers prompt identification of believers’ health
need is the spiritual problem syndrome. It is a common phenomenon to
see believers describing cerebral malaria, diabetic coma, stroke, febrile

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convulsion, diabetic ulcer, severe anaemia, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia as
spiritual problem that do not require medical intervention. A lot of gospel
ministers have erroneously indoctrinated their members to believe that
there is nothing about pregnancy and child birth that should be medical.
They threaten their members with diverse prophecies, warning the
pregnant ones against antenatal medical care. They ordain and empower
certain untrained women, who claim to have acquired some midwifery
skills spiritually, to handle their members’ pregnancies spiritually. They
afflict their pregnant women with bouts of fasting and starvation, with
regular consumption of olive oil. Some render forced menial services to the
religious leaders’ wives as their antenatal obligations. Anaemia due to poor
feeding and fever due to malaria are usually described as witchcraft attacks
and “spiritual problem” that only require some “assignments” and not
hospital visit. These religious leaders forbid their followers from hospital
delivery, describing it as acts of faithlessness and even punish those that
dare them!

In the recent times, most denominational founders have created antenatal

units and labour rooms. Others have reshaped their denominations into
assignment centre, where they administer assignments and spiritual
solutions to cases of hernias, acute appendicitis, pelvic infections, ectopic
pregnancies, uterine fibroids, severe anaemia in pregnancies, postpartum
bleeding and HIV/AIDS!

This spiritual problem syndrome is a degenerative religious mentality

precipitated by ignorance, religious fanaticism and greed. It is a mentality
whereby every health challenge is labeled as being a spiritual attack from
demons and evil spirits. It has so completely blindfolded many that they
cannot realize their real need of proper medical attention.

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Many religious healing homes and prayer house operators seem to take
advantage of this syndrome and exploit their followers and victims.

BAD Syndrome

There is a new wave of religious waywardness which can best be described

as BAD syndrome. In the recent times, religious clinics and healing homes
have come up with money spinning consultation formula referred to as
browsing. They stay in their consulting rooms where they “browse” their
clients’ spiritual “file” in a paid “counseling” session. They guess from the
complaints, ages, environment, fears and previous knowledge of their
clients, certain symptoms and disorders which their clients may be
experiencing. This is usually followed by a list of items and cash payments
so that some religious rituals referred to as assignments can be prescribed
or conducted for their clients. The purpose of the assignment is to achieve
deliverance for the people.

The consultant spiritualists usually employ the above three deceptive

strategies to attract patronage and dissuade their members from seeking
proper medical care. In other words, the components of BAD syndrome
include

 The use of dreadful declarations and threats, which they call

prophecies
 Performing of customized religious rituals called assignments
 Mentioning guessed symptoms based on age, sex, environment or
previous knowledge of their members and customers, which they call
browsing or word of knowledge

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The outcome of this is that, while their followers and victims are
continuously being tortured by avoidable and treatable debilitating bodily
afflictions, these apostles of spiritual problems, assignments and
prophecies smile to the banks! Surprisingly, some of these prophets and
prophetesses, who pose as consultant spiritualists, have personal
professional physicians that attain to their own medical needs and that of
their household. What a gross deception!

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 CHAPTER 3

Why Believers
Get Sick

Why should a child of God become sick despite all the promises of God for
good health? Why should a minister of the gospel of Christ who prays for
others to get well becomes ill? This chapter examines this all-important
question in the light of the word of God.

1. Disobedience to God’s instruction

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the

LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and
wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes,
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I

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 will put none of these disease upon thee, which I have
brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth
thee. (Exodus 15:26)

Here, God addressed the Children of Israel through His mouthpiece, Moses.
He was not referring to the Canaanites, Jebusites or one of those idolatrous
people that did not know Him. He made it very clear that although loving
and caring He is, He can afflict the disobedience with sicknesses and
diseases. God told Israel that He will personally do the putting of “those
diseases”.
When believers take God’s instructions for granted they can incur His
displeasure in the form of bodily afflictions. In most cases these
instructions are directed through a human mouthpiece. Hence, believers
are tempted to see those divine instructions through God’s servants as
mere human suggestions, therefore despising them.

Greed and gifts often make many ministers of Christ to deviate from the
direction that God directed them to follow. These push them into handling
the ministry in a way that is not “right in His sight”, but only right in the
sight of men. Gehazi saw nothing wrong in being rewarded for a
spectacular miracle that God performed through their ministration. He
must have seen his master Elisha as being too dogmatic, rigid and old-
fashioned. He was too carried away by the gifts from Naaman to remember
divine instructions. Because he saw the gifts, he delivered a message to
Naaman that he did not received neither God nor His servant. Elisha
declared:

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and

unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a
leper as white as snow (2King5:27)

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Many ministers are afflicted of certain diagnosable and non-diagnosable
diseases because of disregard to divine instructions, deviation from divine
pattern and disobedience to divine order.

Paul noted that many believers were “weak and sickly” because they
disregard the Lord’s instruction touching the Lord’s communion.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and

drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's
body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you,
and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11: 29, 30).

2. Disobedience to the Laws of Nature

Ministers of the gospel must understand that the purpose of the ministry is
not to wrestle or contend against divinely established laws, settings and
routines. Attempting this is like standing on the way of a moving train or
flowing ocean! You cannot be so full of faith that you close your eyes while
crossing a busy highway. Many times ministers take decisions and actions
concerning their health, or that of their followers, that is equivalent to
disobeying the traffic light at a very busy road junction. It is a divine
arrangement that fire should be hot to burn, ice should be cold, and
electricity should shock.

The entire creation on earth is sustained by divinely established principles.

These divine principles are scientifically referred to as “laws and
theorems”. Every machine operates in obedience to the laws of nature. The
manufacturers usually spell out the operational principle of engines and
machines which must be understood by the engineer. Else he cannot fix the
machines if they breakdown. Deviation from the natural principles of
existence means deviation from the natural rules of life.

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The human body is the most complex machine that exists on earth. Like
any other machine, the human body is also governed by natural laws and
theorems. Deviation from these laws of life result in breakdown, sickness
and death. Physicians are able to “fix” the human body when it breaks
down because, by the virtue of their training, they carefully and diligently
investigate abnormalities based on their understanding of the divinely set
laws upon which the body operates. It is important to consider some of
these natural laws of life.

(a) The Law of “Work and Rest”

One divinely constituted law that sustains the normal functioning of the
human body is “work and rest”. Disobedience to this law has great health
consequences. You cannot continue to work without resting. Working
when you ought to be resting is doing the wrong thing at the right time.
Whenever the wrong thing is done at the right time, the right thing is left
undone. When the right thing is done at the wrong time, it becomes a
wrong thing.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose

under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Many ministers of the gospel do not see rest as a divine design to keep the
body alive and functional. They overwork the body by preaching at
multiple church meetings, conduct protracted prayers and counseling
sessions, handle workers training and ministers meetings, indulge in
protracted fasting and other multiplied religious activities in a chain
fashion. They leaders fail to delegate others for fear of losing control or
making mistakes. The point is that if you drive yourself to death, others will
still take over from you, gain control and make the same mistake you are
afraid of, correct themselves and continue the ministry. God demonstrated
the indispensability of rest by resting Himself.

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 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made;
and He rested on the seventh day from all his work which he
had made. Genesis 2:2

If God, the originator and owner of the work, who called us to work with
Him rested, why should His minister work himself to death? If the owner of
the vineyard had to rest after work, why should the labourer not rest?
Refusing to rest is not a mark of spirituality or seriousness with God.
Rather, it is a disobedience to divine pattern and disregard to divine
example. God clearly instructed the Children of Israel thus:

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it
thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter,
thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the
seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day
(Exodus 20:9-11)

Rest Brings Refreshment

God stated clearly why his servants in Israel should rest after work. The
aim is that they may be refreshed. He declared a compulsory public holiday
and commanded the His followers to halt all works and rest and be
refreshed. God knew that the human body needs rest to function well. He
told Israel thus:

Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou
shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy
handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. (Exodus 23:12)

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The fact is that even lifeless machines like motor vehicles, computer
systems, grinding machines, bulldozers and caterpillars need rest, refueling
and maintenance. Immediately this natural law of work and rest is not
obeyed, these machine stop functioning optimally. Efficiency reduces, they
breakdown often and eventually pack up. The human body is a
supermachine. When a christian engages his body such that he has no
regard to the law of work and rest, he breaks down often and may
prematurely packs up. The human body requires adequate rest to function
optimally and fight diseases.

(b) The law of “eating to live”

Many gospel ministers are yet to realize the value of balanced and
adequate diets in keeping the body active and effective. A malnourished
body is a like well-trained unarmed soldiers at battle front. Despite all their
trainings, the enemies beat them hands down because of inadequate
armament! The human body is well armed with garrisons of soldiers to
combat every intruder and assault. These in-built soldiers, called immune
system, obtain their armaments from nutrients derived from balanced
diet. As earlier mentioned, balanced diet is the proper fuel that drives the
human machine. Whatever is consumed as food must possess the potential
to provide the necessities for life sustenance. Food should keep the body
alive. Whatever is ingested as food must not be harmful to the body, either
directly or indirectly.

Believers today are very careless about what they ingest as food. Today we
have various denominational worshippers who indulge in all manner of
junk food and drinks, irrespective of the antinutritive constituents. For
instance, those who eat foods laden with excess cholesterol are not eating
to live. They are rather eating to die! It is not uncommon to see believers
consuming foods that have been contaminated by excreta of rodents and
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infectious agents such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and ova of helminthes
(worms). A contaminated food is like an adulterated fuel in a sound engine.
How smooth will it drive the engine! Eating deadly things shall harm if they
are eaten in disobedience to divine principles of healthy living.

Sin, sickness and death came into the earth through disobedience to this
law of eating to live. Eve became excited by the appearance of the deadly
fruits in Eden, coupled with misinformation and enticing advertisement by
the Serpent. She consumed fruits not originally created to serve as food.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
it was pleasant to the eyes, and the tree to be desired to make
one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat. (Genesis
3:6)

It is not everything that is well prepared, packed and presented through

captivating advertisement that is fit for healthy consumption. Not all the
good and fine trees in Eden were meant for food. Adam was warned that if
he dares to ingest certain apparently good fruits in the garden, he will
SURELY die.

…dress it and to keep it…thou shall not eat of it: for in the day
that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die. (Genesis 3: 15-
17)

Many contemporary christians do not select what they eat. They ingest
whatever they come across as food. It is surprising to see the extent
whereby religious people indulge in alcohol consumption, tobacco and
cannabis smoking and drugs of abuse. The claim is that these are part of
God’s creation. They fail to realize that everything was not created to be
consumed as food. Hence, christians today are plagued and afflicted by

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liver, heart, brain, kidney disorders and other ailments.

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.
3. Carelessness with “thorn and thistles”

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the
voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the
ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of
thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee;
and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Gen 3:17-18

“Thorns and thistle” as harmful living organisms that were not part of the
original arrangement to grow upon the ground, which began to come forth
because of the divine curse upon the ground for man’s sake. While the
believers awaits their final evacuation from the cursed earth prepared for
destruction, they must carefully identify and avoid these “thorns and
thistles” upon the earth. Some of them are in form of microorganism and
grow everywhere in our environment. They invade and infect food, water,
air and are no respecter of persons. They are thorns in the flesh of their
victims! Some common identifiable “thorns and thistles” in our
environments capable of assaulting the body include the following:

Bacteria
1. Salmonellae typhi
2. Staphylococcus areus
3. Streptococcus species
4. Escherichia coli
5. Clostridium species
6. Vibro cholera

Viruses
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1. Rota virus
2 Influenza virus
3 Hepatitis B and C
4. Herpes zoster
5. Varicella zoster
6. Human papilloma virus (HPV)
7. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
8. Ebola virus
9. Corona virus

Protozoa
1. Plasmodium species
2. Amoebae
3. Chlamydia
4. Toxoplasma

Fungus
1. Candida albicans
2. dermatopthytes

Helminthes
1. Intestinal worm (Ascaris)
2. Guinea worm
3. Liver fluke
4. Wucheruria bancrofti
5. Hookworm
6. Strongyloides
7. Echinococcus
8. Larva migrans

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When christians are careless with their foods, water and environments,
these microorganisms, with the assistance of certain agents called vectors,
inflict harm and cause ill-health. When these organisms invade and infect
the human body, they destroy the working mechanism of the body. Their
work is to steal the nutrients that are taken in by their host, kill the
immune competent cells in the body and destroy the host! Carelessness
with these agents of diseases can terminate the believer’s life prematurely.

Immediately these organisms gain access into the body, everything must be
done to get rid of them. However, it must be borne in mind that carefulness
and prevention is better than cure. Clearing and cleaning the environment,
proper handling of foods and water and good personal hygiene can reduce
the activities of these destructive “thorns and thistles” to their tolerable
minimum. It must be emphasized that it is a sin for believer to carelessly
refuse to check the activities of these disease agents.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to

him it is sin. (James 4:17)

A Christian who is careless about mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats and bed

bugs does not demonstrate godliness, because “cleanliness is next to
godliness”. This carelessness can brings blasphemy to the Name of the
Lord and His gospel.

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 CHAPTER 4

Health Problems That

Commonly Confront the Gospel
Ministers on Duty

The Gospel Ministers Routines and Predispositions

In the years of my working as a minister of the gospel and as a medical

doctor, I have been consulted and have treated many categories of people,
including believers and ministers of the gospel. Individuals in certain
profession have been shown to be more predisposed to certain disease
conditions. The gospel ministry has common characteristics and routine
that is observed by all ministers. These include prayers and fastings,
counseling sessions, prolong speaking on standing position, vigils, busy
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schedules, stressful activities, journeyings and above all, burden of care of
members and the assemblies (2 Corinthians 11:26-28). These routines of
the gospel ministers predispose them to certain disease conditions. The
gospel minister must be aware of these predispositions and promptly take
actions to prevent these diseases.

Commonest Health Challenges of the Gospel Ministers

Health challenges commonly faced by the gospel ministers are listed below.
This list is not exhaustive. Rather, it represents the list of the commonest
health conditions that confront gospel ministers in our environment.

1. Hypertension
2. Peptic ulcer
3. Anxiety disorder: panic, phobia
4. Personality disorder
5. Arthritis
6. Diabetes Mellitus
7. Infertility
8. Malaria and typhoid fever

Some ministers are more predisposed to some conditions than others. This
may be due to certain factors such as:

 Environment
 Persecution
 Domestic burdens
 Size of congregation
 Availability of helpers
 Cooperation of co-workers
 Pre-existing illness

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  Family history
 Literacy level

Letting the Sleeping Dog Lie!

Being predisposed to a disease is not the same thing as developing the

disease. A dangerous bulldog is completely harmless as long as it is quietly
sleeping. But what harm it can cause can be imagined if the bulldog is
carelessly awakened. The above listed medical conditions are like sleeping
bulldogs. Despite predispositions, a minister can totally avoid the
precipitating factors of these diseases. This is like letting the sleeping dog
lie. This can be achieved by identifying the precipitation factors (factors
that can provoke or stir up the disease condition) and carefully avoiding
them. Some of the precipitating factors include:

 Sedentary lifestyle
 High fat diets
 High salt intake
 Prolong fastings and starvation
 Low fiber diets
 Alcohol consumption
 Sleeplessness
 Physical and emotional stress
 Junk food consumption
 Self and improper medication

Commonest Health Conditions Presented to Ministers by

the Followers

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One aspect of Christ’s mission on earth is healing the sick. Hence, the
minister’s ministry includes ministering to the sick for healing. The
members of the congregation are aware of this fact, hence they continually
present various sicknesses and diseases before gospel ministers for
solution. In fact, the minister’s ability to remove sicknesses is a yardstick
for rating gospel ministers nowadays! The means by which the sicknesses
are removed does not really matter to the people. All they care about is
healing from their minister. A lot of ministers are aware of this and are
really taking advantage of it, while others are put under pressure by their
members.

Most of the diseases presented to the ministers are those considered “not
treatable by the hospital” or “not hospital sickness”, either by the people or
by their prophets and ministers. On the contrary, many of these disease
conditions, considered not treatable medically, are actually medical
emergencies that require prompt attentions.

Below is list of the common disease conditions in our environment, usually

presented to gospel ministers for solution. Most of the times, the survival of
the patient usually depends on the minister’s ability to do the right thing,
namely, guiding the people right. Helping them to take the right decision of
prompt consultation of health professional where necessary, after offering
prayers. This may not be necessary if the patient has received
instantaneous divine healing, but not just hoping to be healed.

The disease conditions include the following:

 Severe malaria, especially in children

 Febrile convulsion
 Neonatal tetanus
 Transient ischemic attack
 Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
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  Diabetic coma
 Diabetic cataract
 Glaucoma
 HIV/AIDS: wasting, encephalopathy
 Anaemia in pregnancy
 Malaria in pregnancy
 Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
 Status epilepticus (acute epileptic attack)
 Premenopausal syndrome
 Psychotic disorders: depression, schizophrenia
 Heart diseases: Heart attack and heart failure

Most of the conditions listed above usually present in a manner that make
the people conclude that it is a sudden witchcraft or demonic attack. Some
ignorant ministers often labour to cast out a demon that is not there!
These usually result in unnecessary delays, treatment sequel and avoidable
deaths.

Note that the names of the disease written above are unfamiliar to the
average gospel minister, except those who are medically inclined. You need
to be a medical professional to be able to identify the diseases mentioned
above. The diseases, therefore will not present the way they are named
above, but as common life threatening symptoms which the members will
mention, or the minister will see. These are called presenting complaints
in medical practice. Ministers will therefore be confronted with these
problems in the following modes:

 Sudden collapse
 Unconsciousness
 Fainting attack
 Paralysis or weakness of one side of the body
. 30
  Convulsion
 Prolonged obstructed labour
 Inability to get pregnant and sustain pregnancy
 Irrational behavior and mental derangement
 Difficult breathing
 Sudden severe pain
 Severe weight loss or body wasting
 Sudden blurring of vision
 Moving or crawling sensation
 Hearing voices
 Seeing objects and people that others cannot see

These symptoms point to treatable medical conditions. There is need to be

investigated by professionals so as to get to the cause of a particular
manifested symptom before it can be properly treated.

Section Two
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SOME MEDICAL CONDITIONS
THAT
GOSPEL MINISTERS
MUST KNOW

. 32
 CHAPTER 5

Adding Knowledge to Your

Faith

he intension of this chapter is not to teach intended readers of this piece

medicine, or make them become physicians. It is intended to bring to the
knowledge of the gospel minister some basic information about the common
health challenges and disease conditions that commonly ravage the minister
and their followers. Many of these disease conditions ordinarily hold forte in
some congregations. Yet the people ignorantly attribute them to witchcraft
activities.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge; 2 Peter 1:5

Ignorance is the worst situation a gospel minister can find himself. It can make
a well-anointed minister of God to act like a fool! Certain basic health
information must be handy for the minister who wants to excel in the work of
the ministry. He must have basic knowledge of the common ailments that
afflict believers and ministers in their environment. A combination of faith and
knowledge prepares a servant of God for a perfect ministry

. 33
While the possibility of some disease conditions being demon-motivated or
witchcraft-instigated is no ruled out, ministers should know that many of the
disease conditions that afflict believers are without any demonic component,
but rather a consequence of ignorance. Even a highly anointed gospel minster
can be destroyed by sickness for lack of knowledge!

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: (Hosea
4:6)

When a servant of God acquires the right knowledge, he becomes thoroughly

furnished, and handles health issues excellently and to the glory of God. God
hates ignorance and delights in a servant that acquires knowledge.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15).

At this juncture, it is necessary to briefly consider some important information

on some health and medical conditions. In discussing these medical conditions,
emphasis will be laid on the ones that are common among present-day
believers and gospel ministers, especially in our environment.

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 CHAPTER 6

P EPTIC ULCER DISEASE

eptic ulcer is a wound on the upper part of the digestive tract resulting
from excess acid secretion by the stomach. The stomach normally secretes
acid for the purpose of burning the food that is ingested. The stomach serves
as a reservoir for the all manner of foods swallowed. In the stomach acid is
secreted to burn the ingested food substances in a process called digestion.
Sometimes this secretion of acid takes place even in the absence of food,
resulting in the burning of the stomach or upper part of the intestine known as
duodenum. Hence, peptic ulcer can either be gastric (stomach) or duodenal
(intestinal) ulcer.
Peptic ulcer disease usually manifest in the following manners.
 Burning pain on the upper part of the abdomen
 Severe heart burn
 Vomiting
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  Palpitation
 Restlessness
 Hematemesis (vomiting blood)
 Black tarry stool

Conditions that Predispose People to Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease has been found to be common among individuals that are
associated with the following conditions.
 Genetic factors may be important with the observation that up to 50% of
children with peptic ulcer disease have a first-degree or second-degree
relative with peptic ulcer disease.
 Blood group O individuals have a higher incidence of peptic ulcer disease.
 Emotional stress has been described as a factor that predisposes the
individuals to peptic ulcer disease
 Alcohol has been documented to produce inflammation, erosions, and
hemorrhage in the gastric mucosa in animal and adult human studies.
 Caffeine taken to keep awake also predisposes to peptic ulcer disease.
 Infection by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
 Drugs such as corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethazone), certain pain
relievers called NSAIDs (aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen, piroxicam, etc)
disrupt the protective barrier of the stomach and intestines, making the
mucosa more vulnerable to injury.
 Serious systemic illness, burn, severe infection, low blood pressure,
respiratory failure, and multiple traumatic injuries, increase the risk for
secondary (stress) ulceration. These serious disease states predispose the
patient to stress ulceration due to decreased blood flow to the digestive tract

. 36
 mucous membrane, increased gastric acidity, and breakdown of the
protective mucosal barrier.

It should be noted that apart from the first two factors mentioned above, which
are not modifiable, all other predisposing factors of peptic ulcer disease listed
are modifiable. That implies that something can be done to prevent it.

Why Gospel Ministers Commonly Develop Peptic Ulcer

Disease
Most gospel ministers are faced with situations that highly predispose them to
peptic ulcer disease. Peptic ulcer is also called stress ulcer because of its
association with physical and emotional stress. Many preachers of the gospel
and kingdom workers embark on protracted starvation, either because they are
fasting or too busy to eat their meals, especially breakfast. This regular spiritual
exercises, coupled with practical starvation, exposes the mucous lining of the
stomach and the upper part of the intestine (called duodenum) to be “burned”
by acids that were meant to burn and food for digestion.

Some Conditions That Worsen Peptic Ulcer Disease

(Aggravating Factors)
1. Certain foods are also known to worsen peptic ulcer and therefore cause
distress to those ministers who have developed peptic ulcer but indulge in those
foods. Some of these foods include:

 Spices
 Carbonated drinks like coca-cola, sprite etc
 Alcohol-based beverages
 Oily soups and stew

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These foods/drinks are not very compatible with peptic ulcer disease. They
either precipitate in predisposed persons, or worsen the bites of peptic ulcer.
This is because they promote increased acid secretion by the stomach.

2. Self-medication, on-the-counter and “mix for me” treatment are very

common cause of relapse of peptic ulcer disease. After a stressful day, many
ministers simple swallow tablets of “pain killers” for their stomach stress and
stomach discomfort. Little do they know that the so called “pain killer” are
actually pain inducers! Most of those drugs they acquire, or that are “combined”
for them at the patent medicine shop may relieve pain from other sources but
worsen pain due to peptic ulceration. Usually, when the stomach pains worsen
after some hour, they conclude that it is a demonic or witchcraft attack. Some
of the culprit drugs have been mentioned earlier.

As the ulcer crisis persists due to these medications. Some abandon them and
resort to the so called “native” treatments. They resort to drinking roots and
herbal extracts sustained in alcohol. The effects of this act on the ulcer pain
can be imagined.

Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer

The clinical symptoms of peptic ulcer disease include burning pain on the
upper part of the abdomen. The pain is continuous in nature. It is worsened or
aggravated by spices like pepper or ginger, carbonated drinks like Coca-cola,
and relieved by milk. It may be associated with heart burn, headache,
confusion, loss of appetite, vomiting (including blood) and restlessness.
Sometimes the pain of peptic ulcer is exacerbated by hunger and relieved by
food.

 What gospel ministers should do

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Most peptic ulcer cases are presented to the gospel ministers because they are
thought to be spiritual poisoning or witchcraft affliction, because of its
characteristic chronicity and persistence. Vomiting of blood or acute
restlessness may be the reason the individual is rushed to the man of God for
spiritual intervention. As a minister of the gospel, always remember that divine
healing comes from God and not man, and that peptic ulcer affects the body
and not spirit. They should remember that there is a physical internal wound
that should be properly nursed to heal. Therefore, doctors who are trained to
physically minister to the body should be allowed their ministry. The gospel
minister should do the following:
 Enlighten the person that peptic ulcer is not a demonic sickness or
witchcraft poisoning.
 Advise the person to avoid alcohol, aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen
and alcoholic herbal concoction and self-medication
 Counsel the person to cut down stress as much as possible
 Offer prayers of faith
 Refer the person to the hospital for proper assessment and treatment

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 CHAPTER 7

HYPERTENSION

Hypertension refers to sustained increase in blood pressure above what is

considered normal for age and gender. The World Health Organization has
given an upper limit of normal blood pressure as 130/85 mmHg. Blood
pressure here refers to the force which the heart uses in pumping blood round

. 40
the body. Pumping pressure of blood increases when there are resistances to
flow of blood to the peripheral tissues and organs of the body. The more the
peripheral resistance, the more work the heart must do to pump blood round the
body. Increase in the volume of blood, narrowing of blood vessels and release
of certain chemicals are some of the causes of increase pump pressure of blood.
The average value of blood pressure is given as 120/80mmHg. Hypertension is
no respecter of persons. It affects persons irrespective of age, gender, status or
race. However, some people are more predisposed to developing the disease
than others. Prevalence of hypertension increases with age. The rate of age-
related blood pressure increase, and the prevalence of hypertension vary among
countries and among subpopulations within a country. Hypertension is one of
the commonest causes of death among African adults.

Types of Hypertension

There are two types of hypertension: essential, primary or idiopathic

hypertension and non-essential or secondary hypertension. More than 92%
of hypertensive individuals are affected by primary hypertension. As the name
implies, essential hypertensive has no known cause. It tends to be familial and
is likely to be the consequence of an interaction between environmental and
genetic factors. Prevalence of essential hypertension increases with age.

Non-essential or secondary hypertension constitutes the remaining less than

10%. It is caused by other disease conditions like diabetes mellitus, kidney
disease, heart disease, hormonal disorder, prostate enlargement and certain
drugs.

Predisposing Factors

The concept of predisposing factors had been explained and distinguished from
precipitating factors. Certain conditions make some individuals to have a
. 41
greater tendency to develop hypertension than others. These conditions include
the followings:

 Family history of hypertension

 Diet: high salt intake, high-fat diets
 Sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise
 Environmental factors: stressful environment, poor
infrastructures
 psychosocial stress
 low levels of physical activity
 Obesity and weight gain
 Alcohol consumption
 Drugs like steroids

Hypertension has no particular symptom. It is the complications that have

symptoms. It is therefore described as a silent killer. However, there are non-
specific symptoms that signal abnormally high blood pressure. These symptoms
are also associated with many other disease conditions, hence, they are not
specific for hypertension. These symptoms include the followings:

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 Headache not relieved by paracetamol. Characteristically, the so called
“hypertensive headache" occurs in the morning and is localized to the
back side of the head (occipital region).
 Inability to sleep (insomnia)
 Dizziness
 Palpitation (being conscious of your heartbeats)
 Blurring of vision
 Restlessness
 Chest pain
 Nose bleeding
 Easy fatigability. That is, feeling easily tired on attempting to climb
steps or very little exercise.
 Transient disturbance of speech or vision. Cannot speak clearly as
usual
 Loss of skin sensation (paraesthesia) and disorientation,
 Fits and loss of consciousness

. 43
Hypertension affects virtually all the organs of the body. When blood is
pumped to organs with a sustained high pressure, it damages the tiny blood
vessels that supply blood to those organs, resulting in diverse complications.
The commonest complications of hypertension are as follows:

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke characterized by

 Sudden weakness or paralysis,
 Sudden collapse,
 Deviation of the mouth and face,
 Inability to speak.

CVA may be due to sudden rupture of the tiny blood vessels that supply
blood to the brain. It may also be due to block of blood flow to the brain.

Heart failure characterized by

 Legs and abdominal swelling,

 Difficult breathing,
 Cough producing frothy sputum,
 Pounding heart beats,
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  Tiredness,
 Inability to lie flat.
This is due to pooling of water in the limb, abdomen and lungs because the
heart is too weak to pump, having been overcome by sustained resistance due to
high pressure of blood.

Kidney failure characterized by

 Generalized swelling,
 Inability to make and pass enough urine,
 Puffiness of the face,
 Paleness,
 Hiccups.
This is due to destruction of the tiny blood vessels supplying blood to the
kidney and destruction of the urine making mechanism of the kidney. Waste
products are not removed from the body.

Lung disease characterized by

 Recurrent cough,
 chest pain,
 difficult breathing
Eye disease characterized by
 Blurring of vision,
 Seeing sparks.
This is due to destruction of the tiny blood vessels supplying blood to the
eyes, resulting in tiny bleeding into the image mechanism of the eyes
(retina), so that images formed are not clear.

Impotence characterized by
 erectile problems,
 reduced libido,
This is probably due to relative constriction of the vessels.

. 45
Daily living and general lifestyles that favorably affect blood pressure have
implications for both the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Lifestyle
modifications are indicated for individuals who have tendency of developing
hypertension and as a support to drug therapy in individual having
hypertension.
Lifestyle modifications necessary for prevention and proper control of
hypertension include:
 Weight reduction
 Dietary salt restriction.
 Adapt dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH): Diet high in
fruits, vegetables and low-fat dietary products.
 Withdrawal from alcohol consumption.
 Physical activity e.g. brisk walking|
 Stop smoking.
 Increase potassium intake.
 Treatment of other associated risk factors

Ministers and christian workers are advised to regularly check their blood
pressure and see a doctor for any value above 140/90mmHg. Those on

. 46
antihypertensives should take their drug consistently based on physician’s
prescriptions

 What the gospel minister should do

Hypertension is usually symptomless. It is the complications that produce
symptoms. That is why it is usually referred to as a silent killer. The role of the
minister is to help achieve early diagnosis and prevention. The gospel minister
should do the following:

 Arrange for regular blood pressure screening of followers by a

professional.
 Encourage followers to go for regular blood pressure check
 Organize health education programme on hypertension.
 Discourage followers from abandoning their blood pressure
medications.
 Support follows to enable acquire their medications.
 Encourage follower to cut down stress
 Advise followers to cut down stress and salt intake.

. 47
 CHAPTER 8

D IABETES M ELLITUS

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a multisystem disease with great health

consequences. It is characterized by elevated blood sugar level above normal
due to relative or absolute lack of a hormone called insulin in the body. It is a
chronic disease that affects carbohydrate, fat, and protein utilization by the
body. It is classified into type 1, type 2 and gestational (occurring only during
pregnancy). There is an interplay between genetic and environmental factors.

When carbohydrates are digested, they are absorbed into the blood in the form
sugar called glucose. Glucose must leave the blood and enter into the cell for it
. 48
to be used for energy generation by the cells. There are specialized channels
through which glucose enter the cells (like doors). The opening of these “doors”
to allow glucose enter the cell is controlled by insulin. In diabetes mellitus
where there is lack of insulin, the glucose in the blood cannot enter the cells
because the “door keeper” is unavailable. Glucose remains in the blood
unutilized. More glucose arrive from more digestion of carbohydrates, until the
normal blood glucose level is exceeded. The result is that the cells are starved
of glucose while there is high level in blood. Starvation in the midst of plenty!

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is more commonly classified into type 1, type 2 and

gestational diabetes. There are other classifications.

Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or

Juvenile onset diabetes mellitus. In this type, insulin is functionally absent
because of the destruction of the specialized cells of the pancreas, the organ in
charge of producing insulin in the body. Type 1 DM occurs most commonly in
juveniles but can occur in adults. The onset is often before 40 years. Since
insulin in is either completely absent or too little, individuals suffering from
type 1 DM depend on insulin from external sources for survival. Individuals
with type 1 DM, generally, are not obese, but may rather lost weight and may
present initially with sudden collapse and loss of consciousness that is often
attributed to a demonic attack.

Type 2 Diabetes is also called noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus

(NIDDM) or maturity onset diabetes mellitus. Most sufferers are affected by
type 2 DM. It is commoner in adults above 40 years. It is strongly associated
with obesity and weight gain. It is due to relative lack of insulin. In this case,
there is insulin circulating in blood but it cannot play the “door opening” role
because key-like substance called receptors are either absent or defective. It is
. 49
comparable to a situation where a door keeper is at the door to open but there is
no key, or the key is spoilt. The insulin receptor defect has been attributed to
certain factors including genetic and excess fat.

While the type 2 diabetes mellitus traditionally has been thought to affect
individuals older than 40 years, it is being increasingly recognized in younger
individuals, particularly in highly predisposed racial and ethnic groups. In some
areas, more type 2 than type 1 diabetes mellitus is being diagnosed in teenagers
and young adults. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is observed even in some obese
children. Almost all cases of the disease in older individuals are type 2 diabetes
mellitus

Symptoms and Signs of Diabetes Mellitus

1. Excessive urination: This is because glucose in blood drags water from the
cells into the blood. This is known as osmotic dieresis. Urination occurs more
at nights than day
2. Excessive thirst due to excessive loss of fluid (dehydration).
3. Excessive eating: There is weight loss with a normal or increased appetite
4. Fatigue and weakness
5. Muscle cramps
6. Blurred vision
7. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Nausea, abdominal discomfort or pain, and
change in bowel movements (from diarrhea to constipation and vice versa)

8. Patients may maintain their normal weight or exhibit weight loss, depending
on the interval between the onset of the disease and initiation of treatment.

. 50
9. Nerve problems: It presents as numbness and tingling in both hands
and feet, in a glove and stocking pattern.
10. Boils, abscess formation forms of skin infection and other
11. Chronic ulcer (long standing wound) that refuse to heal.
12. Recurrent urinary tract infections
13. Recurrent chest infections

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of illness and death in our
environment, due to its effects on the kidneys, blood vessels, eye, terminal
nerves and other vital organs. These complications are also the major sources of
expenses for patients with diabetes mellitus.

 Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults in our

environment.
 Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney or renal diseases.
 Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of nontraumatic limb amputations
even in the United States of America.
Summarily, complications of DM include
 Sudden collapse,
 Numbness,

. 51
  Hypertension,
 Poor vision,
 Blindness
 Kidney failure
 Chronic leg ulcer.

Diets in Diabetes
One major problem of the diabetic is derangement in the normal regulation of
nutrients. This often pose a great challenge to the diabetics on what to eat,
and what not to eat. In the past, most diabetics were advised to eat only
wheat meals or unripe plantain and bean, cooked without oil. The people
were asked to completely avoid fish, meat, eggs, yam, rice, cassava, guinea
corn, maize, millet and banana. They were also often barred from fruits like
orange, water melon, guava, apple, pawpaw and pineapple because they
contain sugar. That any attempt to eat them would hurt the diabetic. This
situation usually compounded the diabetic’s health condition, because of
having to battle with the psychological trauma of separation from the family
meals, continuous subjection to unpalatable dishes, and coping with
imbalance diets. The usual end results are depression; worsened immunity
profile characterized by diverse kinds of infections, and worsened health
condition.

It must be emphasized here that, just as any other persons, the diabetic needs
balance diets to live a healthy life. Therefore, the foodstuff that provide the
necessary nutrients must be deliberately selected and properly prepared into
balance diets for diabetics

For those with diabetes mellitus, foods and drinks may be classified into three
major classes, namely:

. 52
 Foods and drinks to be used with utmost caution. These include sugar-
based drinks: such as lucozade, the so-called fruit juices, soft drinks, malt
drinks; alcoholic drinks: gin, beer, brandy, etc; refined carbohydrate-based
foods such as certain noodles; fatty and oily foods and sweets. The diabetic
should handle these sets of foods and drinks with utmost caution, partly
because of their ability to raise blood sugar level almost suddenly, and their
ability to alter physiochemical state of the body negatively.

 Foods and drinks to be used moderately. That is, these foods and drinks are
used, but with moderation. As long as a diabetic is consistent with taking
the prescribed medications, the person can live healthily with these sets of
foods. These include complex carbohydrates-based foods and drinks, such
as gari, rice, yam, wheat, plantain, guinea corn, maize, millet, potato, bread
etc; Meats (especially white meats): like chicken, beef, goat, etc
 Foods and drinks to be used freely and liberally. This includes vegetable,
fruits and nuts. Sea foods like fish, bivalve, periwinkle, lobster, etc.

. 53
 Fats, oils and

Meats and other

Milk
Proteins

Vegetables Fruits

Bread, grains, other

 What the gospel minister should do

The diabetic condition in which victims are usually rushed to the gospel
ministers is diabetic coma. Here, the individuals usually collapse suddenly, loss
consciousness or in a state of stupor. Diabetic coma is a medical emergency.
The victims are usually rushed to the gospel minister on the ground that they
are stricken by assigned ghost. The minister’s action here will contribute
significantly to the outcome of the condition. The gospel minister should act
thus:
 Call an ambulance or anybody that can help in conveyance
 Prevent giving anything to the unconscious by mouth to avoid choking
and aspiration.
 Reassure the relations that diabetic coma is not a demonic attack or
ghost strike
 Offer brief prayers of faith. Avoid prolonged deliverance session here!

. 54
  Dispatch the person to the hospital promptly for medical attention
 Mobilize the Church to pray, care and support the person while on
admission in the hospital

CHAPTER 9

MENTAL ILLNESS

Mental illness refers to any of various disorders or diseases characterized by

abnormal patterns of thought and behavior. Thesaurus describes it as any
. 55
disease of the mind; the psychological state of someone who has emotional or
behavioral problems serious enough to require psychiatric intervention, and is
so abnormal as to cause suffering to self, or other people. Mental illness is
usually characterized by impairment of thought, mood, or behavior. It is
primarily disease of the brain. The brain is an organ in the body, just as any
other organ, like the liver, kidney, eye and ear. Scientific research has proved
over and over again that chemical imbalances in the brain can lead to cases of
mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Regrettably, many, if not most
ministers and preachers see every mental illness as demon possession. The
earlier this error is corrected, the better for the ministry and soul building.

There is nothing as distressing as trying to cast out a non-existent demon. It

makes the people loss confidence in the deliverance minister and look
elsewhere for the solution to their problems.

In many denominations and religious houses, “spiritual rooms” are equipped

for individuals with mental illness, where they are chained, starved, beaten
and tortured mercilessly, with the intention of driving away the evil spirit
responsible for the madness. This is usually referred to as spiritual arrest and
interrogation of insanity spirit! Many of the patients with mental illness die in
the process of torture and starvation.

How to know that a Christian Worker is developing a

mental illness

Recognizing early warning signs of mental illness is very important. It can help
in prompt intervention, hence preventing full-blown psychotic condition.
More often than not, other members of the religious group, family, friend
and leaders who are observant, or even the sick individuals themselves, can
. 56
recognize that something seems to be wrong about the thinking, feelings, or
behavior of the mentally sick. If the person is carefully and keenly observed,
the following early warning signs are recognizable.
 There is a recent unexplained withdrawal and loss of interest in activities of
the group he or she is usually very committed to, such as choir, prayer
band, children church, and others.
 An unusual drop in functioning, especially at church meetings and at work,
finding difficulty to perform familiar tasks.
 The person has obvious problem with concentration, memory, or logical
thought.
 The individual displays an exaggerated sensitivity to sights, sounds, smells
or touch, and avoids over-stimulating situations. He may surprisingly
complain that the loudspeaker is too loud, the bulbs are too bright, and
prayers are too loud, and wants something to be done about it immediately
to avoid people from leaving the church.
 The person appears to have loss of initiative and lacks the desire to
participate in usual activities of interest.
 He or she has vague feeling of being disconnected from oneself or one’s
surroundings, has a sense of unreality, often interpreted as celestial visions.
 He or she suddenly claims unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal
powers to understand meanings or influence events. He claims to know all
the witches and wizards in the church and request for a special session to
expose them. He makes illogical claims of spiritual insight and manifests
typical childhood thoughts as an adult.
 The person is abnormally afraid or suspicious of other co-workers and
members in the church
 He or she displays uncharacteristic, peculiar behavior.

. 57
 He or she manifests dramatic sleep and appetite changes or unusual
deterioration in personal hygiene.
 Exhibits abnormal mood swings. May frown when others are laughing, and
laugh uncomfortably more than the extent of amusement.

Note that one or two of these symptoms cannot predict a mental illness. If the
individual is not treated properly, these early symptoms may progress to a full
blown psychotic episode. The individual may then develops the following:
 Irrational beliefs (delusions)
 Serious disturbances in perception (hallucinations)
 Disordered thought and speech
 Becomes out of touch with reality.

A mental illness can develop very gradually and may go untreated for long
periods of time. The individuals do not normally seek medical attention due to
obvious reasons:
 Do not want to be seen as being mad. Fear of stigmatization.
 Most do not usually realize they are sick and require treatment. They
lack insight and repel those trying to “impose” treatment on him or her.
 Others around usually see it as demon possession that require only
spiritual deliverance.

Possible Causes of Mental Illness

Mental illness is not always due to demon possession. Researchers have
shown that mental illnesses may arise from a combination of biological,
psychological, environmental and other factors.
All these factors can result in disruption of the flow of certain chemicals called
neurotransmitters in the brain, responsible for transmission of information

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and coordination of behaviour. These disruptions lead to incorrect
coordination of information in the brain, which translate into impairment of
thought, mood, or behavior of the individual.

Biological factors
 Genetics. Some mental illness run in the families and parent pass the trait
to the children through gene.
 Infections by pathogens. Certain infections have been linked to brain
damage and the development of mental illness or the worsening of its
symptoms.
 Brain defects and injuries. During the process of birth, some individual
suffer brain trauma, and some evidence suggests that a disruption of early
fetal brain development or trauma that occurs at the time of birth can lead
to mental illness later in life
 Substance abuse such as alcohol, cocaine, heroine and marijuana have the
potential to disrupt flow of information in the brain leading to mental
illness such from anxiety, depression and mania.

Environmental factors
Certain stressors can trigger mental illness in a person who is susceptible.
These stressors include:
 A dysfunctional family life, such as domestic violence, partner
unfaithfulness and in-laws persecution.
 Living in poverty, feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger or
loneliness
 Exposure to toxic a chemical such as lead and other dangerous chemicals
 Stressful life events such as divorce, death of loved one, rape and kidnap


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 TYPES OF MENTAL DISORDER

DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
Depression or depressive disorders are mental illnesses characterized by a
persistent feeling of sadness or despair and/or a loss of interest in things that
once were pleasurable. Disturbance in sleep, appetite, and mental processes
are common characteristics. This may result in unusual withdrawal tendencies.
Sometimes the person secludes self to some kind of solitary place without
informing anybody, claiming to be observing some spiritual exercise or having
some mountain top experience.
Although every person experiences some feelings of unhappiness and sadness
occasionally, this disorder give rise to depressed feelings that dominate
everyday life, and cause physical and mental deterioration.

Depressive illness may be caused by external stressors and significant life

changes, such as other chronic medical problems, death of a loved one,
divorce or estrangement, miscarriage, or loss of a job. Sometimes, this
disorder resolve by themselves. Occasionally they may evolve into a major
depressive disorder. Individuals experiencing a major depressive episode have
a depressed mood or a diminished interest in activities or both.
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In addition, five or more of the following symptoms will occur on an almost
daily basis for a period of at least two weeks:
 Significant change in weight.
 Sleeplessness or sleeping too much.
 Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
 Fatigue or loss of energy or easy tiredness
 Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt. May confess to a crime
never committed
 Diminished ability to think or to concentrate, or inability to take a definite
decision.
 Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide ideation and attempts.

Generalized
Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is the most common of the anxiety disorders. It

is characterized by unrealistic or excessive anxiety and worry about life
circumstances for at least six months. This excessive worry gives rise to
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myriads of organs disturbances which usually manifest as psychosomatic
symptoms. Psychosomatic symptoms refer to psychological disturbances
manifesting physical symptoms. The minister may attribute his symptoms to
spiritual attack which worsens his or her worry and anxiety.

Such Man of God often complains that he “can't stop worrying,” which may
revolve around valid concerns about lack of money, frustrations in ministry,
hindrances to missions, sponsorship for radio or television program, jobs,
marriage challenges, health condition or the safety of children.
At least three of the following disturbances are manifested in GAD:
 Restlessness
 Easy tiredness.
 Difficulty in concentrating.
 Irritable and touchy
 Muscle pull and tension.
 Inability to sleep well.
The psychosomatic symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in
functioning. These include symptoms like
 trembling,
 muscle aches and twitches,
 clammy hands,
 dry mouth.
The person may also report
 Palpitations (fast a and pounding heart beat),
 dizziness,
 difficulty breathing,
 urinary frequency,
 difficulty swallowing

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  abdominal pain and diarrhea
 Stress-related disorders: persistent headaches and indigestion.

Take note the above listed symptoms are nonspecific and may not restrict
sufferer’s routine religious and spiritual activities. Hence, the minister may
continue to suffer from GAD unabated.

PERSONALITY
DISORDERS
Personality disorders are mental health conditions that affect how people
manage their feelings and relationship with other people around them. An
individual affected by this condition differs significantly from an average
person in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others.
Personality disorders are somewhat common, affecting about 1 in 20
individuals of all races. It is very common among religious preachers and
workers, and their manifestations are often not recognized as being due to
mental illness or requiring any medical intervention.

Characteristics of Some Personality Disorders

Although it is not within the scope of this book to delve into details on this
subject matter, it is, however, necessary to highlight some characteristics of

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some of these mental health conditions. Personality disorders are commonly
classed into three groups usually referred to as clusters.

Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a pattern of irrational

suspicion and mistrust of others. When a minister has this disorder, he
exhibits a form of self-righteousness and believes he is being persecuted by
loved ones for righteousness sake. He is very suspicious of other coworkers
and strongly believes they are living in sin. He hardly assigns responsibilities
to others because he no longer trusts their ability and faithfulness. He is very
judgmental and difficult to work with. All these happen as recent changes in
the life of the individual. He or she was never like that.

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by lack of interest and

detachment from social relationships. The believer strongly resents social
relationships and withdraws from existing ones. He or she is most likely
unmarried and repeatedly complain that cannot get any faithful and trusted
person to get married to. He prefers to remain as such, despite advancement
in age. He or she lacks interest in making or sustaining relationship to that
effect. The person withdraws from those who always appear cheerful and
happy, seeing them as being carnal andmworldly. He or she has apathy and
restricted emotional expression.

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by distorted cognitions

and perceptions. A christian worker suffering from this disorder among the
followership usually accuses everyone, especially other workers, of being
possessed of familiar spirit and witchcraft. The person lays claim of certain
supernatural knowledge and visions that set confusion among the brethren,
and strongly accuses others wrongly. He or she claims to be able to read

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thoughts of others and is preoccupied with odd daydreams and strange
beliefs, referring to them as “spiritual insight”. They are very fond of using the
words “God told me”, “God said I should tell you”, “God showed me”, God
asked me”, “God took me to”, which must never be disputed. Yet the claims of
spiritual prowess, strength and insights are totally unfounded and
controversial. The sufferer is not aware or bother about how his or her
behavior impacts on others. This may invite shunning, abandonment and even
hatred of other christian workers around. Sometimes, a gospel minster can be
seen exhibiting these behaviors. He may not be deliberately exhibiting those
acts and characters, but may be suffering from addressable medical condition.

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern

of grandiosity. The gospel minister or worker suffering this is arrogantly
preoccupied with fantasies of his successes, beauty, or achievements. He sees
self as admirable and superior, and therefore entitled to special treatment. It is
a mental disorder in which an individual have an inflated sense of his own
importance and a deep need for admiration. He believe that he is superior to
others and have little regard for other people's feelings.

Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive

psychological need to be cared for by other people. Here, the believer
becomes abnormally dependent on others for virtually everything, which must
be provided. He gradually deserts his secular job or business and morbidly
demands, to be well cared for by people around him. His messages depravedly
shift to emphasize the pervasive need of a new car, new suits, new
accommodation, and so on, even when he realistically cannot afford these
things, or obviously does not have need of them.

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In general, personality disorders are mental health conditions that result in
character and behavioral derangement in individuals that were previously
well-comported and well-behaved. When a gospel minister is affected, it
impacts negatively on his relationship with others and ministry. Of course, the
work of the ministry and the workers in the ministry are grossly impacted.
Generally, there is a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others without
justification, inward fear of losing control of the ministry. It is manifested by at
least four of the following:
 The minister suspects others to be exploiting, harming, or deceiving
him and exploiting the ministry.
 He doubts the loyalty or trustworthiness of other ministers and
workers.
 The affected minister fears that information given to others will be
used maliciously against him.
 Benign remarks by others or benign events are interpreted as having
demeaning or threatening meanings.
 The minister persistently bears grudges.
 He perceives attacks that are not apparent to others, and is quick to
react angrily or to counterattack.
 He repeatedly questions the fidelity of his spouse, the faithfulness of
his deputies and close associates and may make an unimaginable out
of his fears.
 The minister is often hyper vigilant and constantly looking for data and
scriptures to support his nonexistent fears and make these the centre
or theme of most sermons.
 He is often argumentative and hostile.

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 The members and other ministry workers usually do not suspect the minister
as having any medical condition. They see his predicament as deliberate. A
Christian worker once observed thus:

“Our overseer and pastor behaves and talks anyhow these days.
He does not appreciate anything anybody does except himself. He
only concentrates on himself. He now dominates the pulpit and
corrects every sermon that others preach and sees faults. He
recently suspects many people to be witches and wizards. He
walked out of the Elders Council meeting for daring to blame him
for what he did. Many have deserted the church in the past six
months, including the Assistant Pastor. I will take my decision
immediately I find a place whose overseer can be the way our
pastor used to be”.

The perceived spiritual degeneration of the Man of God might have resulted
from the psycho derangement which might be genetic or acquired. This man of
God will bounce back if he sees a specialist doctor, aside from prayers.

 What the gospel minister should do

Subtle mental disorders are fairly common among religious followers in our
environment. High index of suspicion is required to detect and discern onset
of mental derangement. Overt psychosis is very easy to see by the aggressive,
irrational behavior of the individual. For overt psychosis, the gospel ministers
are usually the first to be consulted for deliverance. The following are
recommended

 Restrain the person, especially if aggressive, to avoid injury to self or

others.
 Remove all dangerous and sharp objects from the reach of the person
to avoid suicide or of harming others.
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  Avoid flogging or starving the person.
 Discourage others from making conclusions of demonic possession.
 Offer prayers of faith
 Invite a physician to see or convey the person to the hospital
 Mobilize the Church to pray, care and support the person while on
admission in the hospital.

For reported, observed or suspected, non-violent, behavior-deranged cases,

the gospel minister should do the following

 Relieve the person of responsibilities involving dealing with the public.

 Have regular meeting with the person for observation
 Discourage others from engaging the person while under observation
 If no improvement in behavioral pattern and mental derangement is
suspected, involve a physician as soon as possible.

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 CHAPTER 10

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

eart failure is a disease state in which the heart cannot pump blood enough
to meet the needs of the body. The termed congestive heart failure (CHF) is
often used to depict the swelling or water retention that generally
characterizes the condition.

Heart failure does not imply that the heart is no longer working. Rather, it
means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal so that blood
moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pump pressure in the
heart increases. Consequently, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and
nutrients to meet the needs of the body tissues and organs. The heart
chambers may respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the

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body, or by becoming stiff and thickened so as to improve the pumping force.
Initially, this response helps to keep the blood moving. But later, the heart
muscle walls may eventually weaken and become unable to pump efficiently.
This result in reduced quantity of blood flowing through the kidneys. The
kidneys may respond by causing the body to retain water and salt. This is
followed by fluid buildup in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs, liver and other
organs, so that the entire body becomes congested and swollen

Conditions that can Cause Heart Failure

Heart failure is caused by many conditions that damage the heart muscle,
including:

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  Any disease that causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. The
heart becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients.
 A heart attack which damages the heart muscle, resulting in a scarred
area that does not pump or function properly.
 Damage to the heart muscle from causes such as from infections,
alcohol or drug abuse.
 Conditions that overwork the heart such as high blood pressure, thyroid
disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart defects present at birth can
all cause heart failure.

Features of Heart Failure

Initially, heart failure may not manifest any significant symptom, or may just
manifest mild negligible symptoms. As the condition progresses, it manifests
more serious symptoms. The symptoms of heart failure are as follows:
 Lung congestion which give rise to shortness of breath when embarking on
a normal non-strenuous activity or exercise; Difficult breathing at rest,
which worsen when lying flat in bed; Dry, hacking cough or wheezing or
cough productive of frothy sputum.
 Fluid and water retention resulting in swollen ankles, legs, abdomen, and
weight gain. There may be an increased need to urinate at night. Bloating
of the stomach may cause pain, loss of appetite and nausea.
 Dizziness, fatigue, and weakness due to reduced blood flow, oxygen and
nutrients to major organs and muscles.

 Rapid or irregular heartbeats due to an attempt by the heart to pump

enough blood to meet the body needs.

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Signs and Symptoms of heart failure

Those likely to come down with Heart Failure

 A very busy brother above 45 years of age with history of hypertension,

who has not been on any medication and does really bother about
seeing any doctor about it because he was able to go about his normal
business.
 A very busy minister who was once diagnosed of severe uncontrolled
hypertension, but has not really been able to see the doctor again for a
very long time because the burden of ministry.
 An elderly brother or sister who was once diagnosed of severe
hypertension but has not been able to continue taking his or her
medication due to lack of money to procure them, or because the
medicines were becoming monotonous.
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  A pregnant woman who has been attending antenatal at a prayer house,
or seen by traditional birth attendant without proper nourishment, with
repeated attacks of fever. This is a victim of anemic heart failure!

Note that persons suffering from congestive heart failure are rarely taken to
the hospital because it is usually regarded as an attack by Satan (demonic
spell, magic charm or a curse). This is because of the characteristic generalized
swelling and puffy appearance of the sick person due to fluid and water
retention.

 What the gospel minister should do

Heart failure cases usually come to the gospel minister as persons who have
been chronically sick, but suddenly develop difficulty in breathing with general
body swelling, especially the foot and ankles. It is often believed to be demonic
strangulation as a result of spiritual poison or charm . The gospel minister
should do the following:

 Support the person in angle 45 since as the person will not be able to
lie flat.
 Dissuade the relations from abandoning the victim for fear of being
affected by the same charm
 Offer prayers of faith
 Encourage the person to go to hospital for medical attention

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 CHAPTER 11

MALARIA

Malaria is the most common parasitic disease that afflicts humans today. It is
the greatest killer of children under 5 years of age and a major attacker of
pregnant women in our environment. The disease is caused by tiny parasites
called Plasmodium, which are carried about by female anopheles mosquitoes.
These tiny animals enter the body during bites of the mosquito. The disease is
generally characterized by:

 Fever and chills

 generalized body pains
 headache
 nausea and vomiting
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  diarrhea
 generalized body weakness
 restlessness
 drowsiness
 loss of appetite

Young children manifest this disease in many different ways, but the classic
picture of malaria, with periodic fever, shivering, and sweating may not be
seen in the very young.

It is lack of wisdom to embark on protracted prayer and fasting for days or

weeks to be healed of malaria when the believer can simply take antimalarial
drugs and get cured of the infection.

Complications of Malaria and the Implications

Cerebral malaria: Most of the mortality of malaria is due to this complication

of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It is an acute illness that is mostly seen in
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children aged 6 months to 3 years. It is caused by the effects of the malaria
parasites on the brain. It is characterized by sudden collapse and loss of
consciousness in a previously very feverish person. Early diagnosis and prompt
treatment with a drug to which the parasite is susceptible is important to save
the life of the child.

Expectedly, cases of cerebral malaria are often brought to gospel ministers

first because the sudden convulsion and loss of consciousness are usually
attributed to demonic or witchcraft attacks, while the fever is usually believed
to be coven monitored heating of their victim in a demonic oven! Some
ignorant ministers keep the child in the prayer room and bind a non-existent
witchcraft spirit till the child die of high parasite load and associated
complications.

Anemia
This is common in malaria as to be considered a part of the disease. This is
mostly due to the destruction of the blood cells by the malaria parasites.
Malarial anemia can be quite severe, sometimes causing death, especially in
children below 5 years and pregnant women. The patient usually become
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bloated and pale and are usually suspected to be suffering from
magical spell or curse and are not usually taken for medical intervention.

Repeated frequent seizures

Even without cerebral malaria, individual, especially children, can suffer
prolonged, frequent convulsions, which can lead to prostration and death.

Febrile convulsions

Seizures are common, and may occur at the onset of the disease, even before
high fever sets in. This is why suspicion of malaria is not usually done, but
rather believed to be a familiar spirit attack. Repeated convulsion can leave
the child with sequels such as mental retardation and brain deficit.

Childhood malaria and malaria in pregnancy need prompt medical attention to

arrest the parasites multiplication the complications thereof. Even when there
is a suspected spiritual component of the disease, the body should be given
the necessary medications. This is one situation that faith without work can
result in death!

 What the Gospel minister should do in convulsion

Malaria cases that the gospel minister will be called to see are those ones
associated with convulsion and sudden collapse. Febrile convulsion are
common in children under 5 years, while cerebral malaria convulsion are seen
in both children and in adults. It is usually attributed to attack by wandering
evil spirit or familiar spirit attack. Hospital is usually not the first option.
Convulsion in malaria is a medical emergency. The gospel minister should do
the following:

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 Prevent the use of spoon, wood or any object in mouth
 Prevent administration of any substance to the unconscious by mouth
to avoid choking
 Completely expose the child and mop with tepid water to bring down
the temperature
 If the child regains consciousness after convulsing, request that the
child be given paracetamol
 Offer prayers of faith
 Dispatch the child to the hospital for proper assessment and treatment

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 CHAPTER 12

HIVDISEASE

uman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, popularly called Acquired

Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one common condition that is
prevalent among religious organizations, especially those who attribute or
associate every clinical symptom and sign to witchcraft attack. AIDS is a series
of medical disorders that result from HIV infection. HIV is a slow growing virus
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that destroys the immune system, therefore exposing the body to all manner
of assaults from pathogenic organisms and infective agents.

What HIV does to the body

The immune system is an in-built mechanisms that enable the body to combat
assaults from invading disease agents. They are stationed in blood and tissues
as antibodies and white blood cells. They regularly carry out surveillance of the
entire body and pick up foreign invaders for destruction. When HIV enter the
body, they find their way into the blood stream, where the white blood cells
are found. They invade, multiply in, overpower and destroy the special white
blood cells called CD4. The WBCs gradually reduce in number and strength
until the can no longer protect the body against diseases. Diverse disease
causing organisms that were previously checked by the immune system begin
to have their heydays, operating unabated, until the entire body systems
collapse!

Transmission of HIV
 How HIV is not transmitted
HIV is not transmitted through
 Saliva
 Mosquito bite,
 Physical contact (such as shaking hands, hugging, and touching) sharing
spoon, cup
 Seating with an infected person.
 Eaten or drank as poison
 Matched in the form of a charm.
 Witchcraft

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  How HIV infection is acquired
 HIV is acquired as an infection through any of the following ways:
 Semen or vaginal fluid during sexual intercourse with an infected
person
 Sharing of sharps such as needles, nail cutters or clippers with infected
person
 Receiving blood donated by infected person.
 Transmission from infected mother to the child during delivery or
during breastfeeding
The Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) reported that 1.1 million people
aged 13 years and older are infected with HIV, and 50,000 people are newly
infected each year. Anyone can be infected with HIV. In 2010, it was reported
that men who have sexual intercourse with fellow men accounted for 63% of
new infections, and women accounted for 20% of new infections.

Symptoms of HIV infection

Not everyone has symptoms when first infected with HIV. Many people have
flu-like symptoms, called “acute retroviral syndrome” (ARS) or “primary HIV
infection,” within 2 to 4 weeks of being infected with HIV. Symptoms may
include fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, fatigue, muscle and joint
aches, and headache. Symptoms may last a few days to a few weeks. However,
these symptoms resemble many other infections and the only way to know for
sure if you are infected with HIV is to get tested.

When to Suspect HIV/AIDS

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The only way to know that one has HIV infection is to carry out HIV
test with the person’s blood. However, it is of utmost importance for gospel
ministers to have high index of suspicion, and be able to discern certain HIV
related symptoms. This will enable them protect themselves and others from
acquiring the infection. It will also help them counsel the individuals properly
on the need to see a doctor for prompt diagnosis and proper treatment.
Persons manifesting the following symptoms MAY be suffering from
immunodefiency, probably due to HIV infection.
 A brother or sister complaining of chronic cough, weight loss and
recurrent fever.
 A sister complaining of scanty, irregular menses following recurrent
fever and significant weight loss
 A sister or brother complaining of itchy skin rashes and eruptions,
despite attempts to care for his or her skin.
 A brother or sister complaining of painless skin nodular eruptions
especially on the lower limbs
 A young adult complaining of florid eczema, genital watts or
candidiasis
 A young or middle age person complaining of being afflicted with
herpes or shingles by evil men
 A very sick man or woman whose spouse recently died of chronic
illness attributed to witches.
 A very sick baby delivered from a chronically ill-looking woman who
claim to be suffering from typhoid-malaria or witchcraft affliction
 A very sick person complaining of multiple persisting or recurrent
symptoms including cough, frequent watery stool, vomiting blood in
stool, weight loss, moderate to high fever and so on.

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  A sudden collapse with a history of persistent or recurrent fever in a
person who was not previously hypertensive or diabetic

For emphasis, the prayer and deliverance ministers must have a high index of
suspicion if he must avoid the disaster of HIV spread.

Be Careful while waiting for the divine healing and miracle!

It is an indisputable fact that God can heal any sickness, including HIV
infection. Since it is God that does the healing miracle and not the minister, it
is God who decides how he wants to heal the sick: whether by instantaneous
miracle or through medical intervention. For those who would want to wait
for miraculous healing of HIV disease rather than seek medical treatment, it is
important to be careful not to spread the infection to others.

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 CHAPTER 12

HERPES ZOSTER

erpes zoster (Shingles) is a form of skin infection characterized by painful

vesicular eruptions (rashes) which mostly involve one side if the trunk, waist,
neck or head. It usually occur in persons with compromised immunity as a
result of disease, drugs of ageing. It occasionally occurs in health young adults.
It is viral infection affecting one or more groups of sensory nerves

Shingles results from a reactivation of the virus that also causes chickenpox.
The first thing you may notice in Shingles is a tingling sensation or pain on one
side of your body or face. This is followed by painful skin blisters which erupt
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on only one side of the face or body along the distribution of nerves on the
skin. Typically, this occurs along the chest, abdomen, back, or face, but it may
also affect the neck, limbs, or lower back. The area can be very painful, itchy,
and tender. After one to two weeks, the blisters heal and form scabs, although
the pain often continues

There are lots of myths and superstition associated with Zoster infection. It is
widely believed, even among religious worshippers that the disease always
results from a demonic spell or charm casted by an enemy. It is also believed
that if the eruptions spread round and “meet” together, the victim will be
killed without remedy!

Note the followings about Zoster infection:

 It is a viral infection and not a spell or charm
 It is mostly due to immunodeficiency state.
 It is very painful because it affects sensory nerves.
 The eruptions (rashes) can only affect one side of the area and CAN
NEVER spread to meet.
 Just like most viral infections, the infection is self-limiting
 It is treatable by orthodox Medicare
 It is strongly associated (but not always) with HIV and immunodeficiency

Most people who suffer from Zoster infection are usually admitted in prayer
houses for religious rituals called assignments, or most often treated by native
doctors with herbal concoctions. The consequences are complications such as
superimposed bacterial infection, excessive pain even after the eruptions are
cleared and death from untreated immunodeficiency disease.

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 CHAPTER 13

INFERTILITY

ne very common problem noticed among the ministers and Christian

workers is treatable inability to bear kids. Studies have shown that 10 to 20 in
100 of ministers and Christian workers suffer infertility. Medically, infertility
means not being able to achieve pregnancy after one year of trying (or six

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months if a woman is 35 or older). Women who can get pregnant but are
unable to sustain their pregnancy to delivery may also be considered infertile.

Reports have shown that about 50 per cent of persons who seek medical
intervention for infertility problem usually achieve conception and delivery.
Fifty percent of infertile couples conceive within two years of starting
treatment. Of couples that seek medical treatment for infertility, studies show
that 20 percent conceive before the treatment actually begins. One reason
may be that anxiety about infertility may have contributed to the fertility
problem, and just contacting a doctor provided the needed emotional relief.

However, most ministers and their followers usually consider infertility to be

spiritual attack and rarely seek medical attention. Rather, they often embark
on fruitless deliverance processes, binding and casting out demons that may
be non-existent!

1. Antisocial lifestyle and lack of regular intercourse:

Infertility can be caused by poor sexual or lifestyle habits that are easily
remedied. Some religious settings train their followers to regard and treat

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sexual activities among couples as sensual and carnal acts that should be
highly curtailed by Christian couples. Many Christian couples are preparing for
heaven, hence, they dare not “waste” their precious moments making love
with their partners, since it will make them derive unnecessary pleasure. This
definitely sounds spiritual, yet it is the reason why the couple cannot achieve
child bearing! A newly married Christian couple who do not give attention to
love making will hardly achieve conception, especially those who were faithful
to God and never indulged in premarital sexual activities. This is partly due to
the fact that the reproductive process, which is hormonally controlled, was
dormant and needs effective activation. This properly conditions the
reproductive systems for reproduction

2. Physical and Emotional Stress

Physical and emotional stress suppress libido (desire for sex). Stress may cause
women’s menstrual periods to be irregular, and may reduce sperm count in a
man. Many ministers and Christian workers observe routines that predispose
them to physical and emotional stress. Protracted fasting and counseling

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sessions keeps the minister away from his wife and the process of conception.
The pastor is always praying, weeping and bearing the burdens of the sick,
widows, fatherless and unsaved. He is so unsatisfied with the situation of his
assembly that desire to touch his wife is almost non-existent. This can
precipitate a cascade of events that lead to childlessness

3. Spiritual Problem Syndrome

This refers to the situation where anatomical disorder such as tubal blockade
and retroverted uterus (the womb shifts from its usual positioning), or
biochemical disorder such as hormonal imbalances, are adjudged “spiritual
problems” that require no medical intervention. To many ministers, nothing
can just naturally happen, except caused by demon spirits and evil men.
Hence, they would not bother seeking any medical intervention, even for
conditions such as urinary tract infection, pelvic infection and discharge,
sexually transmitted diseases, because to them they are spiritual problems. In
fact, their worry is that the only doctor they know is an unbeliever and lacks
spiritual insight!

While there are no disputations that there exist cases of infertility due to
attacks by demons and demonic agents, many cases of childlessness are due to
‘”body problems” that are medically addressable. Most infertility results from
physical problems in a man or woman's reproductive system.

4. Personal Problem and “Private Part” Syndrome

There is nothing truer than the adage that a problem shared is half-solved.
Many Christian workers consider consulting a doctor on their inability to
achieve pregnancy as a mark of faithlessness and making their personal
problem a public one. Many ministers do not share their life challenges with

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anybody because they are their personal problems. Yet, one dirty linen that
anybody should not bother that it is washed in the public is childlessness. In
fact, the public has already seen that the man of God has not nursed any kid
since he got married to his wife. Hence, one important place that the minister
and Christian worker should take the challenge of childlessness for thorough
discussion and assessment is the hospital.

Some ministers and Christian workers hold the view that exposing their
“private parts” for doctors and laboratory workers to see is being casual,
carnal and an unrighteous act. Worse still, if the doctor is of the opposite sex!
In an attempt to preserve the sanctity of their “private parts”, they avoid
seeing a doctor on any issue that will involve getting them physically exposed.
Because their private parts must neither be seen nor touched by doctors, they
conceal their fertility problems to themselves, while waiting for spiritual
intervention.

5. Ignorance of the Menstrual Cycle

For everything there is time and a season for everything, including child
bearing. The female reproductive life is divided into seasons and times,
medically referred to as the menstrual cycle. Many Christians do not know
that their wives can only get pregnant within a particular two to four days in
the whole month, and that they will be childless except they have meaningful
sexual intercourse on the particular days. All sexual activity carried out outside
these particular two to four days of the month are merely for pleasure!

Interestingly, many ministers who complain of inability to achieve pregnancy

have never had sex during their wives’ fertile period. It is either they do not
have the urge during the particular days in every month, or they are deeply

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engaged in their routine church programmes and activities such as fasting and
prayers, crusades, conferences and journeys. Some even schedule their
monthly dry fasting period to coincide with their wives’ fertility period.

The diagram shows a 28 days menstrual cycle in females. Some women’s cycle are
longer than 28 days

The woman’s fertile period called ovulation period occur once a month and
last for only two to four days. During this period, the woman produces an egg
(ovum) into her tube ready to be fertilized by the man’s egg (sperm) for a child
to be formed. If the period is missed, the next chance is in a month time. Many
have consecutively missed their fertility period for more than a year!

Some Important Facts about Infertility

 Infertility is not just the woman’s problem as widely believed
 About 35 percent of all cases of infertility are due to abnormalities in
the male's system.
 About 35 percent of all cases are due to abnormalities in the female's
system.
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  In about 20 percent of the cases, the man and woman both have
fertility problems.
 In 10 percent of cases, no cause can be found.
 Age often increases the risk of infertility.
 The female’s fertility ceases between the age of 45 and 50 years

Male Infertility
Male infertility constitute 35 - 40 percent of all cases of infertility. The
commonest cause of infertility in male is a problem associated with the sperm,
which may be inadequate quantity, poor quality, or abnormally shaped
sperms. Although only a single sperm is needed to fertilize the female egg for a
child to form, not less than 20 million viable sperms must be present for the
entire process to take place. The role of other millions of sperms in getting a
single sperm to fertilize the ovum is still being investigated. Viable sperm count
below this number is very unlikely to achieve fertilization.

Multiple, and sometimes inexplicable factors can cause low sperm count.
There are generally no predictable symptoms or signs of low sperm count
other than inability to get a female pregnant. Some causes of low sperm count
include the following:

 Overheating of the testicles using excessive heat generating pants.

Although wearing tight pants or briefs is no longer considered a viable
cause of low sperm count, restrictive, tight clothing is not advisable for a
man who is trying to achieve conception with his partner. Tight underwear
or pants in the man raise the scrotal temperature, and has the potential to
reduce sperm count.
 Emotional, psychological, and physical stress from any source
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 The effects of certain drugs
 Smoking
 Nutritional deficiencies and abnormal weight gain (obesity)
 Environmental poisons

Poor quality or unhealthy sperms cannot move rapidly enough, and cannot
move in the right direction.

Note that most of the problems listed above are not spiritual and are
resolvable with proper intervention, namely:
 Medical treatment
 Lifestyle modifications, such as wearing boxer shorts,
 Proper nutrition
 Stress reduction through physical exercise or good relaxation techniques

Some other conditions that may contribute to sperm problems include:

 Under-developed testes: This usually results from infection like mump
orchitis, surgery for hernia, an injury during birth or birth defect.
 Swollen veins in the scrotum called varicocele, which is a condition
whereby the veins of the spermatic cord are tortuous, enlarged and
improperly dilated. Varicocele has been known to cause fertility problems
such as a low sperm count, reduced sperm motility, and abnormally shaped
sperm
 Undescended testes: A situation in which the testes remain in the body
cavity. Normally they descend into the scrotum before birth. This problem
usually presents at birth.
 Infections, such as gonorrhea, syphilis or tuberculosis, that block the ducts
through which the sperm travel.
 Exposure to metals such as leads, or chemicals such as pesticides.

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 Certain drugs, such as cimetidine, phenytoin, methotrexate, Axulfidine,
corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide.
 Injury to the testicles
 Chronic infections of the prostate gland

Female Infertility
For a woman to conceive a baby, intercourse must take place at the
appropriate time; around the time when an egg is released from the egg sack
called ovary. The system that produces and releases eggs has to be working
optimally. The channel through which the eggs travel (fallopian tubes) must be
clear and certain chemicals in her body called hormones must be balanced.
Any distortion in any of these processes and mechanisms will result in
infertility.

Cause of Infertility in females may be classified into

 Tubal
 Ovarian
 Uterine
 Hormonal

Tubal causes include blockage of the Fallopian tube due to

 Malformations during intrauterine development. Abnormal tubes that do
not allow normal movement of the eggs and sperms.
 Infections such as chlamydia, an ascending pus forming infection from the
uterus
 Scar tissue within the lumen of the tube

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Ovarian causes may be malformation of the eggs, partially developed eggs
within the ovary (polycystic ovary). Some women are infertile because
their ovaries do not mature and release eggs to be fertilized.

Uterine causes of infertility include closure of the uterine cavity, formation

of adhesions and septum within the cavity, uterine tumors and pelvic
infections. The fertilized egg has to travel back to the cavity of the uterus,
get implanted and grow to full baby. Any disorder disturbing this process
in the uterus results in miscarriages.

Hormonal
One very common cause of female infertility is imbalances in the female
reproductive hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that carry
information, signaling the body on the need to perform a particular or cascade
of activities. The levels of these chemical messengers in the blood are highly
regulated within limits for optimum function of the body processes. The
maturation and release of the female eggs, the process of fertilization and
implantation of the newly form child in the womb, the growth and
development of the newly formed child in the womb, the sustenance of the
entire process of pregnancy and delivery, are all hormonally controlled. Any
abnormality in the balances of the female reproductive hormones spells
danger to the process of conception and childbearing.

Hormonal imbalance is not a spiritual but physical cause of infertility. It can be

medically corrected through proper assessment and replacement. Body
solution should be given to body problem. This is why the ministers having the
problem of childbearing should subject themselves for proper medical
assessment, rather that embarking on protracted fruitless religious exercise
and rituals.
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Other factors that can affect a woman's ability to conceiving include being
overweight or underweight. Moreover, studies show that female fertility
declines after the age of 30 years. Some young ministers overlook this age
factor and get married to a sister quite advance in age. Sometimes the newly
married sister is very close to the female’s menopause. As childlessness
ensues, demons and evil spirits are seen as the cause.

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 CHAPTER 14

PREGNANCY STATES THAT DOCTOR

MUST SEE

ost pregnancies can be managed successfully by trained midwife and birth

attendants without the involvement of a doctor. Many ministers and their
wives capitalize on this fact and take advantage of their members. They
indoctrinate their members to believe that every pregnancy is a spiritual
process surrounded by legions of evil spirits and evil men, which cannot end
well except they directly take charge! These set of ministers surround
themselves with well-groomed individuals who detect early signs of pregnancy
on women and unleash prophetic threats that deter the women from
contemplating hospital antenatal care. They keep these women in a risky
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environment, compel them to undertake paid religious rituals, while the
teenage ones are prophetically assigned as house helps to pastor’s wife as part
of their antenatal care.

The lucky ones usually pull through and have a normal vaginal delivery. The
unlucky ones end up with complications involving the mother, the baby or
both, which are blamed on witches, demonic family members or certain
“covenants”.

They are certain pregnancy states that will definitely kill the woman, the baby
or both, except there are appropriate medical interventions. These conditions
are preventable only when the pregnancy is developing under the watchful
eyes of a trained medical personnel. Some of the dangerous pregnancy states
the woman MUST see a doctor are discussed below.

Because of the increasing level of ignorance and poverty in our environment,

about 90% of our pregnant women do not eat well. Either because they do not
have what to eat, or they do not know what to eat, or both. This, coupled with
high demands by the growing baby, predispose the pregnant women to
developing anemia in pregnancy.

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Although haemoglobin level of 11 g/dl is regarded as the lowest limit of
normal, most of the pregnant women tested during antenatal clinics show
haemogloboin of 7– 9 g/dl. This implies that most of our women begin and end
their pregnancy in anemic condition.

When haemoglobin level falls below 7 g/dl, severe anemic state has set in
and the woman is in great danger. At this point, the woman will start
manifesting severe symptoms and signs. These frightening symptoms and signs
of anemia usually makes many to pack out of their houses to a prayer house
for fear imminent danger.

The symptoms and sign of anemia in pregnancy include

 Tiredness
 Difficult breathing
 Cough
 Swollen limbs
 Headache
 Restlessness
 Nightmares
At this stage, the confused birth attendants, ignorant prophets and “spiritual”
midwives usually intensity religious rituals, place the already decompensated
woman on protracted fasting and olive oil meal, ban relations from seeing her,
stop them from bringing food for her and demand money for spiritual journey
to witchcraft coven where the woman is said to be bound! If the woman is not
taken for doctor’s immediate attention, she may not survive, or may miss the
baby.

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Apart from poor nutrition, other common causes of anemia in pregnancy in
our environment include
 Malaria infection
 Typhoid fever
 Respiratory tract infection
 HIV/AIDS
 Herpes
 Sickle cell disease
 Persistence fever of any cause

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When convulsion occur in pregnancy, the women are rarely rushed to health
facility for immediate attention. Rather, they are, more often than not, rushed
to the church hall or prayer house for prophetic and spiritual solution. This is
because all cases of convulsion are believed to be demonic seizure that require
deliverance from evil spirits.

Oedema (swelling) in Pregnancy induced hypertension

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Several medical conditions can give rise to convulsive state in a pregnant
woman. These conditions are physical and not spiritual, and require medical
intervention. Ministers must be on the watch to refer the person to the health
facility immediately, as delay will be very dangerous.

Commonest conditions that can make a pregnant woman to convulse in our

environment include the following
 Pregnancy induced hypertension
 Severe anemia
 Severe malaria
 Cerebrospinal meningitis
 Diabetes Mellitus
Note that these are not spiritual problems but medical conditions that are
addressable. Convulsive attack can be prevented if these conditions are
promptly addressed.

Some women who were not previously hypertensive develop hypertension in

the course of pregnancy, occurring after 12 weeks of pregnancy. This is
referred to as pregnancy-induced hypertension. This condition was formally
known as pre-eclampsia. It is characterized by excessive weight gain, leg
swelling, increased blood pressure and presence of protein in urine. Take note
that these signs are only detectable at the health facility. Most delivery centers
run by spiritualists do not have the training and facility for early detection of
this deadly condition. It is very common in first timers.

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 Chart showing Symptoms, signs and progression of Pre-eclapsia to Eclampsia

If pregnancy-induced hypertension (pre-eclampsia) is not properly handled by

medically trained personnel, it will progress to a convulsive state called
eclampsia. At this stage, the baby will rarely survive and the mother is in great
danger. Most prophetesses, consultant spiritualists and church birth
attendants usually give up at this point, seeing the woman repeatedly
convulsing in unconscious state. This is when they usually remember the
hospital address!

 What the minister should do

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Convulsion in pregnancy is an obstetric emergency. However, the gospel
minister are most often the first to be called to see. What the minister does
will then largely determine the outcome of the situation. REMEMBER YOU ARE
NOT AN OBSTETRICIAN but a GOSPEL MINISTER. Promptly acts as follow:
 Call an ambulance or any nearby vehicle for conveyance
 Prevent the use of spoon, stick or metal to traumatize the mouth
 Prevent giving ANYTHING by mouth to avoid aspiration, choking and
death.
 Assure the relations that it is not a demonic possession or spiritual
attack.
 Offer BRIEF prayers of faith. Please avoid a prolong deliverance
process to avoid complications due to delay
 Dispatch the person to the hospital as soon as possible
 Mobilize the Church to pray, care and support the person while on
admission.

Bleeding in Pregnancy
Whenever a pregnant woman bleeds through the birth canal, no matter the
age of pregnancy and amount of blood, she should see a doctor immediately.
It is only the doctor that can rule out danger, and intervene to avert any.
Bleeding during pregnancy before delivery may be due to
 Infection
 Threatened abortion (sign of miscarriage)
 Injury due to sexual intercourse
 Trauma (accident or domestic violence)
 Untimely detachment of the placenta
 Lowly inserted placenta (or placenta previa)

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Ministers should be aware of these so as to refer such women to see a doctor
immediately, as they will come seeking for spiritual solution.

In recent times, the rate of obstetric complications arising from delivery of

pregnant women outside the proper and acceptable delivery centers, has
astronomically increased. The term ‘obstructed labour’ indicates a failure of
labour to progress due to mechanical problems—a mismatch between fetal
size, or more accurately, the size of the presenting part of the fetus, and the
mother’s pelvis. Some malpresentations, notably a brow presentation or a
shoulder presentation (the latter in association with a transverse lie) will also
cause obstruction.
Researches have shown that each year, 210 million women become pregnant,
of whom 20 million will experience pregnancy-related illness and 500,000 will
die as a result of the complications of pregnancy or childbirth. Sometimes,
labour stalls or occurs much too slowly. Prolonged labour may also be referred
to as failure of labour to progress.
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Why labour may be prolonged
Labour may prolong if any of the following conditions is involved:
 The baby is very big and cannot move through the birth canal.
 The baby is in an abnormal position. Normally, the baby is head-down
facing your back.
 The birth canal is too small for the baby to move through.
 Your contractions are very weak
Prolonged labour increases the chances that the pregnant woman will need
an operative delivery.

Dangers of Prolonged labour

Labour that takes too long can be dangerous to both the baby and the
mother. It may cause:
 low oxygen levels for the baby
 abnormal heart rhythm in the baby
 abnormal substances in the amniotic fluid
 uterine infection
 Uterine rupture
 Fistulae formation

There is, in addition, damage to a wider field of pelvic tissue than that which
necrosis and sloughs to form a fistula, resulting in potential urethral and
cervical destruction, stress incontinence, vaginal stenosis, amenorrhea, osteitis
pubis and foot-drop.

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 CHAPTER 15

STROKE AND
SUDDEN COLLAPSE

Stroke and sudden collapse is one of the commonest cause of illness and
death among gospel ministers. Stroke, medically referred to as
cerebrovascular accident (CVS) is said to occur when part of the brain loses its
blood supply and the part of the body that the blood-deprived brain cells
control stops working. This loss of blood supply can be due to block of blood
flow, or sudden rupture of tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the brain to
keep it functional. When this event occurs, there is bleeding into the brain

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tissue, resulting in malfunctioning of the flooded section of the brain. Such
blood vessel rupture usually results from increase in tension within the tiny
vessels, or some other disease conditions affecting the blood vessels.

Stroke is one of the commonest causes of sudden collapse, paralysis of one

side of the body, sudden inability to talk and facial deviation in the middle
aged and the elderly. Stroke and sudden collapse is a medical emergency. The
timeliness by which the victim is given appropriate medical attention usually
determines the outcome.

Unfortunately, among very religious populations, including many preachers,

sudden collapse are mostly attributed to a strike by invoked or provoked spirit
of the dead. In the some parts of Africa for instance, only very few enlightened
people believe that sudden collapse and stroke occur naturally without any
evil spirit association. The one-sided palsy or weakness is usually attributed to
a demonic charm by an enemy, while the inability to talk is usually said to be
witchcraft afflicted tongue tie. With these notions, the last place to
contemplate is the hospital or medical attention. The victims are often rushed
to spiritualists for rituals to appease the vexed spirits. Some of the victims are
detained in prayer and spiritual cells where everyone, including medical
personnel, are forbidden access. For the stroke victim, bleeding into the brain
continues and the person’s condition worsens. The bleeding may eventually
stop but the blood clots that suppressed the brain functions remains and the
person’s condition does to improve.

Although strokes are more common in older people, people of all ages,
including infants, can have stroke. It is reported that about 25 percent of
strokes occur in people under 65 years of age. After the age of 35 years, the
risk for stroke is said to double every 10 years. In young people, strokes are

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often associated with blood vessels disorders, abuse of cocaine and other
drugs

Speech and coordination

Whether a person’s speech is affected by stroke depends on where the stroke
occurs in the brain and how much of the brain is damaged. When stroke
affects the left side of the brain, speech is affected. This is because the speech
center is mostly located in the left half of the brain, so that a stroke affecting
the left side of the brain affects speech and comprehension. Here, the right
side of the body will be affected. If the right side of the brain is affected, the
person may be able to speak and comprehend, with weakness of the left side
of the body. People usually ignorantly attribute this inability to talk to
witchcraft tongue tie so as to prevent the captive from mentioning their
tormentors.

Muscle contraction and movement

Inability to move parts of the face, limbs, particularly on one side of the body.
This is because muscle contraction and movement is coordinated in the brain
and the cells responsible for transmission of the signals for muscular
movement is affected. Because of the sudden onset, ignorant persons usually
attribute this muscle weakness and paralysis to spiritual charm or demonic
entrapment.
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 Bowel and bladder control

Stroke patients often exhibit urinary and faecal incontinence due to loss of
bladder and bowel control. At this point, most Africans attributes the
situation to divine punishment for being involved in witchcraft. We often
abandon the victim to their fate!

Health conditions that can result in stroke

Certain disease conditions are notable for interruption of normal flow of blood
to the brain, either by causing the bursting of the “pipes” or vessels that
supply blood to the brain, or blocking the routes of blood supply to the brain.
 Uncontrolled hypertension causes the pressure or tension within the
tiny blood vessels of the brain to keep increasing, resulting in rupture
 Poorly managed diabetes cause certain chemicals in blood to damage
blood vessels that supply the brain, interrupting normal blood flow to
the brain.
 Diseases of blood vessels like infection and abnormal deposition of fats
on the walls of blood vessels can block normal blood flow to the brain.
 Heart diseases can interrupt normal pumping and carriage of blood to
the brain. Clots may also form within a sick heart and carried to the
brain where they can plug the tiny blood vessels and obstruct blood flow
to the brain.
 Sickle cell crises can make the blood less fluidy, resulting in clot
formation within blood vessels. These clots can block the flow of blood
to portions of the brain.
 Blood cancer such as leukemia can also cause acute stroke.

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When blood supply to the brain are compromised by these disease conditions,
the cells of the brain are starved of oxygen and nutrients and the affected
portion of the brain tissue start to die.

Risk factors of sudden stroke

 Old age
 Obesity
 High alcohol intake
 Drug abuse
 Smoking
 Excess blood fat
 Oral family planning pills

Pointers to Stroke
Initial symptoms of a stroke can occur suddenly. The following signs are
pointers to stroke in a predisposed individual:
 Difficulty understanding or confusion, especially with simple task
 Difficulty moving arms and legs with numbness, especially on one side
of the body
 Severe continuous headache
 Vision changes either in one or both eyes
 Difficulty with swallowing
 Facial droop on one side
 Altered consciousness and poor coordination
 For emphasis: symptoms of a stroke often appear without warning!

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Complications of Stroke
Strokes can lead to complications and long-term health problems.
Depending on the promptness of diagnosis and treatment, an individual
can experience temporary or permanent disabilities in the aftermath of a
stroke.
In addition to the persistence of the problems earlier mentioned,
individuals having stroke may also experience the following:

 depression
 pain in the hands and feet that gets worse with movement
and temperature changes
 paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body
 trouble controlling or expressing emotions:
 trouble controlling bladder and bowel

 What the gospel minister should do

Stroke is an acute medical emergency. However, the gospel ministers, more
often than not, are usually the first to be called to see, and not doctors, for
obvious reasons. It is the minister’s action that will then help or worsen the
situation. A gospel minister confronted with a case of stroke should act
promptly as follows:

 Call an ambulance or someone than can help convey to hospital

promptly

 Let the relatives know it may not be a demotic attack but a stroke.

 Offer BRIEF prayers of faith and avoid prolonged deliverance here.

 Promptly dispatch the person to the hospital

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 Organize the Church to pray, care and support for the person while
on admission.

If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.

(John 13:17)

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Section Three

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 CHAPTER 16

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT
HERBAL MEDICINE

erbal medicine here refers to the use of substances from plants,

namely, roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, for treatment of
diseases. Honey, pollen, propolis, and beeswax are all created with the help of
plants derivatives. Even though they are herbs by definition, they have many
healing properties, and are therefore considered along. Herbalism is simply
using plants as medicine.

Many preachers have indoctrinated their listeners that the use of herbs for
treatment of diseases is practiced by pagans and witches, and that such
practice should be avoided by any true believer. However, a careful look at the
scriptures reveals that the use of herbs for healing is part of God’s perfect
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arrangement for man. That the use of herbs has been grossly abused by
pagans, witches and traditionalists, does not make God’s purpose of creating
herbs for mankind to be nullified. See what God revealed to Ezekiel the
prophet and John the Apostle:

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that
side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither
shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit
according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the
sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, AND THE LEAF
THEREOF FOR MEDICINE (Ezekiel 47:12)
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was
there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and
yielded her fruit every month: AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREE WERE
FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS (Revelation 22:2).

The use of herbs for healing is neither an unscriptural act nor a demonic
practice.
Today in our environment, the word “herbalist” is almost exclusively reserved
to describe a person who prepares charms, consults oracles, tells fortunes and,
in addition, manipulates herbs for rituals and healing purposes. Hence,
“visiting herbalist” is regarded and interpreted as visiting a satanic agent! This
is rather an unfortunate situation, that what was meant for God’s people has
been surrendered to, and abused by satanic agents. Medicinal plants and
healing herbs are considered fetish by many believers because of wrong
religious indoctrination.

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 HOW HERBS DO NOT WORK TO HEAL
The rejection that characterized the use of herbal medicines by many Christians
is borne out of misconceptions on how herbs work to heal diseases. There is the
need to emphasize here that herbs or medicinal plants do not work as follows:

 Herbs do not heal on the basis of a performed ritual

 Herbs do not heal on the basis spirits that possess them.
 Herbs do not heal by special spiritual powers they possess.
 Herbs do not heal because they were revealed by ancestral spirits
 Herbs do not heal because certain incantations are said on them
 Herbs do not heal because they are ordered to do so by a fetish priest
or prophet.
 Not all herbs need to be sustained in alcohol before it can work.
 The hour of the day, darkness, sighting of the moon or sitting on a
particular seat do not impart healing abilities on herbs.
 The goats, tortoise, chicken, dogs, other animals and items often
requested by the traditional healers, including the incantations,
libation, rituals and other fetish acts carried out by traditional
herbalists contribute nothing to the efficacy of these herbs.

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 HOW HERBS WORK TO HEAL
The healing properties of herbs are the chemicals they contain and not
ancestral spirits or forest spirits. Herbs are composed of several chemicals,
called phytochemicals, which when taken into the body, alters the body
physiology, neutralize toxins, inhibit or kill pathogens, scavenge free radicals
which damage the cells, activate enzymes, hence, imparting healing on the
body. Scientists have widely studied and proven the medicinal value of these
chemicals from herbs, and many have formed the basis for the manufacturing
of synthetic drugs.

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 CHAPTER 17

USING HERBAL MEDICINE

Many herbs have been mentioned in the scriptures which have been
scientifically proven to possess healing properties. Moreover, wine and oil
mentioned in the parable of the Good Samaritan are obtainable plants.

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and
wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn,
and took care of him. (Luke 10:34)

Balm were derived from plants and were notable for healing properties

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 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then
is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
(Jeremiah 8:22)

SOME BIBLICAL HERBS AND HERBAL SUBSTANCES

WITH MEDICINAL VALUE
The followings are herbs and herbal products mentioned in the scriptures
which have been found to treat ailments and disease
 Aloes (Numbers 24:6, Psalm 45:8, Proverbs 7:17, Song of Songs 4:14,
John 19:39)
 Anise (Matthew 23:23)
 Balm (Genesis 37:25, 43:11, Jeremiah 8:22, 46:11, 51:8, Ezekiel 27:17)
 Bay Tree (Psalm 37:35)
 Calamus (Exodus 30:23)
 Cassia (Exodus 30:24)
 Cinnamon (Exodus 30:23, Pro 7:17, Song of Songs 4:14, Rev 18:13)
 Coriander Seed (Exodus 16:31, Numbers 11:7)
 Cumin (Isaiah 28:25, 28:27, Matthew 23:23)
 Fitches (Isaiah 28:25, 28:27)
 Frankincense (Matthew 2:11)
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 Garlic (Numbers 11:5)

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  Hyssop ( Psalm 51:7)
 Juniper (1Kings 19:4-5, Job 30:4, Psalm 120:4)
 Mint (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42)
 Mustard (Matthew13:31)
 Myrrh (Proverbs 7:17)
 Rose (Luke 11:42)
 Rue (Luke 11:42)
 Saffron (Song of Songs 4:14
 Spikenard (John 12:3, Song of Songs 4:14)
 Wormwood (Jeremiah 23:15)

THE BENEFITS OF HERBAL MEDICINE

There are many benefits associated with herbal medicine. The components are
natural products; hence,
 They are more easily handled by the body than the synthetic chemicals.
 The ability of the body to handle herbal products better results in
fewer side effects in comparison to the synthetic drugs.
 Herbal medicines are more available and cheaper.
 They can be accessed with minimal effort.

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 THE DANGERS OF HERBAL MEDICINES
There are so many dangers associated with the present use of herbal
medicines. Currently, it appears that these dangers outweigh the benefits in
some environments. Researches have shown that the use of herbal
concoctions is one of the commonest causes of kidney failure in our
environment. Certain supplements can have adverse effects ranging from
nausea and vomiting to life-threatening conditions like liver or kidney
dysfunction. For example, in 2002 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
released a warning about potential liver damage from kava root, which was
one of the 10 most popular herbal supplements sold in the United States. Also
in 2004 the FDA banned ephedra, a Chinese weight-loss herb, after it was
linked to more than 100 deaths. Many other health complications, such as liver
and cardiac failure, strokes, movement disorders, muscle weakness, seizures,
diabetes mellitus, dermatitis, infertility, miscarriage, fetal death, have been
associated with indiscriminate use of herbal medicines. The reasons advanced
for destructive outcome of herbal medicines are as follows:

The problem of concentration and dosage

The concentrations of the active substances in herbal medicines are rarely
determined by herbalists. Hence, no standard dosing is followed by the
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consumers. The phytochemicals are blindly ingested, resulting in toxicity and
organ damage. Moreover, toxicity studies and toxic dose are not determined
for the vast majority herbal medicines. The general claim is that herbal
medicines are totally safe. This is far from the truth. Many phytochemicals are
very toxic at certain concentration in the body.

Secrecy and superstition

Most herbalists claim to have exclusively inherited or spiritually acquired the
knowledge of herbal healing. Consequently, they do not expose the medicinal
herbs, but keep them as personal or family secrets. They mutilate the herbs
and render them not recognizable before giving them out for administration.
For this reason, the herbs are not available for safety studies. They perform
rituals and incantations to make their patients believe that certain spirits are
responsible for the medicinal potency of the herbs.

Alcohol suspension
Most of the herbal medicaments are suspended in alcohol for extraction of the
active components. Coupled with lack of dosage control, the consumers are
predisposed to alcoholic addiction due to chronic consumption. Those who
have become addicted to alcohol are likely to ingest more of the suspended
drugs, hence, the toxicity and tissue damage.

Extraction and Purification

Myriads of physiologically active substances are present in any particular
herb. These substances are usually consumed along with the required
components. These “impurities” are often responsible for the unwanted
effects of these herbs on the body. Separation and purification are not
usually carried out on the herbal mixtures before consumption. For

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instance, it was reported that some Ayurvedic supplements, medications
based on Indian and South Asian practices, may be adulterated and thus
could be contaminated with dangerous heavy metals, including lead and
mercury. These substances are noted to cause serious illnesses,
exacerbate pre-existing health problems or result in death, particularly if
taken in excess or injected rather than ingested.

Herb-drug Interaction
The greatest potential risk of herbal medicine lies in possible interaction
with pharmaceutical drugs that are already taken. It may heighten the
effect of the conventional medicine, negate it or even cause it to become
dangerous. For example. Saint-John's-wort, which has been shown to
help in treating mild to moderate depression, is also known to reduce the
effectiveness of some HIV medications and heart drugs such as digoxin
and warfarin. Unlike conventional medications, herbal supplements do
not undergo rigorous scientific study using randomized, controlled
clinical trials that are designed to measure objective "end points."
Dangerous interactions have been reported between cardiac medicines
and some supplements. Cardiologists warn that anyone who takes
digoxin, diuretics, hypoglycemics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
spironolactone, or warfarin should not use supplements, without first
checking with their doctor.

The Summary and conclusion on herbal medicine is as follows

 The use of herbal medicine by believers is not unscriptural, neither
were herbs meant to be used by pagans and witch doctors for
rituals.

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 Herbs were given to man by God, to be as food and for healing.
Hence, herbs contain many chemicals that act on the body tissues
and cells to effect healing and restore health.
 Most herbal medicines are not standardized, component and
dosage wise. Hence, indiscriminate use can result in damaging and
deadly outcome such as kidney, liver and heart failures.
 Heabal medicine can interact with prescription drugs, resulting in
dangerous outcomes.

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 CHAPTER 18

EATING TO DIE

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every

tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of
it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die. (Genesis 2:16,17)

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Whether we are “living to eat”, or “eating to live”, remains a controversy.
What is well accepted is that people do eat and die, either instantly or
gradually. This well-established fact has motivated the scientists to experiment
into various aspects of nutrition for the purpose of ascertaining the usability
and safety of what we ingest as food. While the dieticians are more concerned
about the things we eat to live, toxicologists have developed processes of
discovering the things that we eat and die. It is worthy of note that many well-
prepared, well-packaged, well-advertised meals and diets are laden with toxic
substances that are injurious to health of the consumers. This is why
nutritionists have invented the concept of nutritive value, which simple speaks
of the degree of usability of foods.

It is very clear that some food stuff contain harmful substances known as
antinutrients. Some contain useful substances, but in excessive amounts than
the body requires, hence consuming them are more detrimental than being
beneficial to the body.

Plants Versus Animal

It is very important to note that the original foods stuff that God gave to Adam
were fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables. God had fixed in man the machinery
that will enable him utilize nutrients derived from plants sources. Hence, food
nutrients derived from plants sources are more easily handled by the human
body in comparison to that from animal sources

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing
seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree,
in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall
be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every
fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the
earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb
for meat: and it was so. Gen 1:29, 30

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 … and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Gen 3:18

Immediately after the great flood, there was probably scarcity of plant life due
to destruction by the great flood. God then permitted Noah to also eat flesh of
animals as food.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even
as the green herb have I given you all things. Gen 9:3

Today, intense researches and knowledge excavations has proven that man
will always have less problems and do better with carbohydrates, proteins and
fats from nuts, fruits and vegetables than those of animal origin.

Red Meat, White Meat and Sea foods

Red meat contains high level of oxygen carrying substance called
myoglobin, which is what gives the characteristic red colour to the
meat. White meat has less myoglobin. Meat classified as white meat
includes poultry (chicken and turkey), fish and other sea foods, while red
meat typically refers to beef, pork, and lamb.
The biggest difference between the two is the fat content. White meat is
a leaner source of protein, with a lower fat content, while red meat
contains higher levels of fat. Red meat also contains higher levels of
vitamins such as iron, zinc and B vitamins. The iron present in red meat
is more easily absorbed by the body compared to iron found in plant
sources.
High consumption of red meat has been shown by several researches to
increase incidence of certain cancers. High-temperature cooking, like
grilling, can form cancer-causing compounds (carcinogens) in the meat.
This is especially true for charred meats.
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One of the probable cause of the current surge in incidence of cancers in
the world, especially among the so-called rich fellows and big shots, is
heavy consumption of red meats, an act regarded as evidence of
affluence and high social status. Fish and other sources of protein are
regarded as meats for the peasant preachers and rural dwellers! These
so-called “peasants’ meat” (due to ubiquity and affordability) are
probably the richest and safest meat to consume.

Excess Salt Intake

Table salt is used to season food to make it tasty. However, excess salt intake
is one notable way people incubate death through meals. Excessive salt intake
has been well established as a predisposing factor for abnormal blood pressure
increase. It also worsens a pre-existing hypertension and kidney disease.
Studies have shown that cutting down salt intake remarkable lowers blood
pressure in hypertensive individuals.

Saturated Fat Consumption

Saturated fat is the kind of fat found in butter and pies, cakes and biscuits,
fatty cuts of meat, sausages and bacon, and cheese and cream. Eating foods
that contain saturated fats raises the level of cholesterol in blood. Many foods
high in saturated fats can be high in calories too. Having high cholesterol
increases the risk of heart disease. Diets rich in cholesterol and saturated fats
have been shown to be detrimental to cognitive performance.
Saturated fats occur naturally in many foods. The majority comes mainly from
animal sources, including meat and dairy products. Some examples of foods
with high saturated fats include the following common food stuff in our
environment:
 Butter

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  Milk and dairy products made from whole milk e.g. yoghurt
 Cheese
 Margarine and cream
 Baked goods and fried foods
 Egg yolk
Meat source of saturated fats are
 Beef
 Poultry with skin
 Pork
 lamb
 Some plant-based oils, such as palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut
oil, also contain primarily saturated fats, but do not contain
cholesterol.

Prepared dished that contain very high saturated fat include the followings
 Coconut rice
 Fried rice and cream
 Fried chicken
 Hamburger
 Meat and fish pie

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 CHAPTER 19

JUNK FOODS

Junk food is a term used for foods that taste good, contain high calories, fast
to prepare, but have little nutritional value. It generally refers to foods that
are high in sugar (such as soda pop, candy, ice cream and most pastries), high
in fat (particularly, saturated fat—such as burgers, pizza, hot dogs and most
fried foods) and high in salt. Many foods that we enjoy eating and consider
healthy could, in fact, be considered junk food. Junk foods typically contain
high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins or minerals.
Some common junk foods include
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  salted snack foods,
 gum,
 candy,
 sweet desserts,
 fried fast food,
 carbonated beverages
 hamburgers
 noodles
 pizza
 taco
 white bread,
 crackers
 Cake
 ice cream soda
 chocolate malted

Unfortunately, junk foods are the routine meals in many homes in the recent
times. Kids are continuously bombarded with these junks by parents, thinking
to be “showing love” to their kids. The African traditional dishes, which
sustained a healthy population over the years, are fast being replaced with
junk meals with no nutritional values.

In Kenya, children and young females are the worst hit by this junk food
epidemic. It is not uncommon to see children almost permanently living on
noodle, crackers, ice cream, artificial juices and carbonated drinks, because
they have refused to eat the well-prepared family meals. As they get to school
dormitories and hostels, parents load their corners with these junks foods and
they continue to live on them. The impact of this poor eating habit is early
manifestation of certain disease conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension,
peptic ulcer and cancers, menstrual disorders and hormonal imbalances, even
at tender ages.

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Dangers of Eating Junk Foods
Habitual consumption of junk foods is self-destructive. Some of these
damaging effects are highlighted below.

1. Hypertension and Heart diseases

Junk foods are high in salt (sodium), which can contribute to increased blood
pressure or hypertension. Although hypertension primarily affects adults,
children who eat unhealthy diets are also at risk of developing this condition.
One of the reasons advanced for the increased prevalence of hypertension in
young adults is high consumption of junk foods during childhood. Research
indicates that high blood pressure is on the rise due to the increase in
childhood obesity

Junk foods are high in trans fats. Trans fat has been shown to raise levels of
the 'bad fats' in blood. These bad fats in blood contribute to hardening of the
vital blood vessel and increase inflammatory process and lead to an immune-
system response involved in the build-up of fatty plaque in artery walls. They
also lower the level of 'good fat’ in blood, and add to the abdominal fat that is
mostly associated with diabetes and heart disease. Fried and processed food,
particularly fast food, contains high amounts of oxycholesterol.
Oxycholesterol boosts total cholesterol levels and promotes the hardening of
the vital blood vessels] more than non-oxidized cholesterol.

2. Obesity and Deranged Eating Habit

Junk foods consumption has been implicated in the current surge in obesity.
By combining fats, sugar and salt in innumerable ways, junk foods essentially
manipulates the nervous system and stimulate the desire to eat, leaving junk
food consumers wanting more and more even with full stomach. This induces
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junk food addiction, over-consumption and, hence, over-weight and obesity. It
has been suggested that high-fat, high-calorie foods, as present in junk foods,
affect the brain in much the same way as cocaine and heroin! When these
foods are consumed in large enough quantities, it leads to compulsive eating
habits that resemble drug addiction. Because junk food lacks sufficient levels
of good carbohydrates and proteins, the levels of blood sugar drop suddenly
after you eat. This makes you feel irritable and further increases you craving
for more junk food.

3. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Fast food consumption is strongly associated with weight gain and insulin
resistance and an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, respectively.
Research shows that a person who consumes fast foods at least twice per
week gains an extra 4.5 kg of body weight and has a two-fold greater increase
in insulin resistance than a person who consumes fast foods less than once per
week. Insulin resistance is the diminished ability for the cells to bind to insulin
in the blood to reduce sugar levels. One of major contributing factors for the
emerging diabetes epidemic is unhealthy diet full of junk and fast food. When
a healthy diet is eaten, the body gets a steady supply of glucose, which helps
maintain insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, when junk food is eaten, the
excessive stress exerted on the metabolism affects the ability of the body to
use insulin properly. Since junk food lacks fibre content, its consumption
directly results in a spike in sugar levels. Further, junk food consumption leads
to obesity, one of the main reasons for insulin resistance and development of
diabetes

4. Peptic Ulcer Disease and Digestive Disorders

Those who consume a lot of fatty junk food are bound to suffer from digestive
problems like gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). It is because junk food is deep
fried. The oil gets deposited on the walls of the stomach lining, stimulates
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increased acid production in the stomach. Spices loaded in them irritate the
stomach lining, worsening pre-existing PUD, GERD and digestion. Lack of fibre
in them hampers digestion, increasing problems like indigestion, constipation
and pile.

5. Fatigue and weakness

Junk food lacks most of essential nutrients like proteins and vitamins required
for maintenance of overall health and functioning of all the systems in your
body. Although it makes you feel full and satisfied, it fails to provide you with
instant energy, making you feel weak and tired after a while. If junk food items
make up all your meals over a period of time, you can suffer from chronic
fatigue. Junk food can lower your energy levels to an extent that it may
become difficult for you to even perform your daily tasks.

6. Depression and slow learning

A lot of hormonal changes occur in teenagers, which makes them susceptible
to mood swings and behavioural changes. A healthy diet plays an important
role in maintaining that hormonal balance. Because junk food lack those
essential nutrients, the likelihood of teenagers to suffer from depression is
increased.

Eating junk food triggers memory impairment. Recent research suggests that
bad fats (trans fats) from junk food tends to replace healthy fats in the brain
and interferes with its normal signaling mechanism. Studies have also shown
that fats from junk food slow down the ability to learn new skills.

7. Kidney disease
Junk foods contain high amount of finely processed salt which increases
salivation and secretion of enzymes that enhance cravings for these foods.
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High amount of bad fats and sodium from salt disrupts the sodium-potassium
balance of the body. Since the kidney have to filter all the toxins from the
blood, eating a lot of junk food has a direct effect on the kidney functioning.

8. Liver damage
Studies show that junk food consumption over a period of time can have
similar harmful effect on the liver as alcohol consumptions does. It has been
reported that people who ate junk food and shunned exercise showed changes
in liver enzymes within four weeks. These changes were similar to those
observed in people with alcohol abuse. The high level of trans fats found in a
number of junk food which cause liver dysfunction due to deposition in the
liver.

9. Risk of cancer
Lack of fibre is the main reason why junk food consumption is linked to an
increased risk of cancers of the digestive system. Consuming too much of fast
food that are high in sugar and fat can increase your chances of developing
colorectal cancer. Another study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center, Seattle showed that men who ate fried foods more than twice in a
month had increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

Why Many Christians Eat Junk Food

There are three main reasons why junk food is so widely consumed. Most
people could easily identify the first two, while being basically oblivious of the
third and most important reason.

 Easy and convenient

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Cooking as a household practice is fast labeled “old fashion” by the new
generation couples and households. The so-called modern ladies simple get
across to eateries and fast food centres and acquire junk meals for themselves,
rather than “waste their time” cooking in the kitchen. The kinds of meals these
“modern” women prepare in their well-furnished kitchen are fried eggs,
toasted bread, noodles, fried rice and creamed salad!

Whole foods such as vegetables and meat take time and kitchen equipment
to cook properly, while fast food hamburgers are usually served within
minutes of ordering. Over time, that convenience becomes a habit and
eventually a perceived necessity to keep up with such a fast-paced society.
Disrupting that routine requires an investment of time, and most people
prefer to stick with the faster option. It fits well with today’s hurried lifestyle.
Society is so fast-paced that it leaves hardly any time to cook a well-prepared
and nutritious meal. So, people pick foods that are quick, easy and
convenient, which are usually also the most nutrient deficient. Moreover,
Junk food is typically cheap, processed and prepackaged, making it easily
available

• Enticed by Advertisements
Marketers of junk foods embark on intense advertisement through every
means possible, to entice the entire population for patronage. They employ
television commercials, loud radio spots, Internet pop-up ads, and even
vending machines. Many of these contain subliminal messages or imagery,
aimed at luring the listeners towards these junks. The damaging effects of
these junk food items are veiled by attention catching massages and displays
that advertise them.

• Lack of Discipline
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Many people completely understand the health implications of consuming
much junk food, yet they consume it because they lack discipline. It is not
uncommon to hear someone replies “well, I can’t just help eating it”. Weak
parents, trying to be more like friends than parents, give in to their children’s
every whim, feeding their children’s taste buds instead of their bodies. They do
not realize that they are doing their children a great disservice as parents and
guardians. They are sowing the seeds of addiction to junk food, which if left
unchecked, could later result in debilitating illnesses, and even their untimely
death. However, if children are taught to eat nutritious food, they will not
leave that pattern when they get older

Train up a child in the way he should go (or on the way he should

eat): and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Prov. 22:6)

 Addiction
One reason why people cannot stop to indulge in eating junk foods is
addiction. Studies show that spree eating foods high in sugar or fat results in
neurochemical changes in the brain similar to those that develop in drug
addiction. People may also choose junk food simply because they have
developed a mild physical dependence on it. It is not uncommon to hear
someone say ’’I know it’s not healthy to eat, but I can’t just stop it. I’m
somehow use to it”. It is an established scriptural fact that you are controlled
by whatever you give yourself to.

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 CHAPTER 19

ALCOHOL
CONSUMPTION

More gospel ministers drink alcohol freely these days, and many gospel
ministers consume more alcohol these days than before. Before now,
flamboyant display and free gulping of alcoholic drinks was not a characteristic
of Christian gatherings. Unfortunately, the trend has since changed and is
getting dirtier. It is not uncommon to see gospel preachers “charge”
themselves with some alcoholic drink before mounting the pulpit to address
their audience. Hence, the pews cannot be controlled by the Holy Spirit, when
the pulpit is under the control of alcoholic spirit!

Both God and science do not encourage casual consumption of alcohol.

Whereas the scripture in the New Testament has not clearly stated “thou shall
not drink alcohol” as a prohibition, its message on the gospel ministers
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attitude towards alcohol consumption is very clear. Drunkenness is strongly
prohibited, but total abstinence is neither commanded as law nor practiced as
a rule.
The alcohol found in beverages such as beer, wine, and brandy is ethanol
(C2H5OH), a clear, highly flammable liquid that has a burning taste and a
characteristic odor. It is classified as substance of abuse alongside with
cocaine, marijuana (Indian hemp) and heroin. This classification is not directly
done by God, but by earthly authorities, after considering its impact on
humans. Jesus once said:

If ye being evil knows how to give good gifts…, how much more
your heavenly father...” Matthew 7:11

If earthly authorities “being evil” know how to classify foods and drinks,
placing sanctions where necessary to make men abstain, what do we think of
God, whose eyes are too pure that he cannot behold iniquity? Will He
applaud ministers of the gospel wallowing freely in alcoholism?

What happens when one consumes alcohol (ethanol)? Studies reported by

Paul Harvey show that after drinking three bottles of beer, there is an average
of 13 percent net memory loss. After taking only small quantities of alcohol,
trained typists were tested and their errors increased 40 percent. Only one
ounce of alcohol increases the time required to make a decision by nearly 10
percent; hinders muscular reaction by 17 percent; increases errors due to
lack of attention by 35 percent. Death usually occurs if the concentration of
ethanol in the bloodstream exceeds about five percent! For those who use it
sparingly, immediate behavioral changes, impairment of vision and
unconsciousness can occur at lower concentrations. These are exactly the

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same effect that other illicit drugs such as heroin, and even marijuana, have on
those who use those substances. Harvey noted that no good preacher of
Christ would ordain the use of these drugs in even a casual social setting, or
even to “calm the nerves” before bedtime. Is there any reason that alcohol
should not be included in this list of drugs to avoid, considering its damaging
effects?

ALCOHOLOMETER for Christians?

All Christians agree that drunkenness is a sin before God. What is yet to be
agreed upon is the amount of alcohol a Christian should or should not take.
“Drink, but don’t be drunk” is the gospel of myriads of preachers. But a
confused sister once remarked: “can I drink this brandy to my satisfaction
without being drunk?” I have witnessed where a “fine brother in the choir”
consumed five bottles of small stout without “getting drunk”. He was still
discussing and making contributions in the meeting without staggering as a
drunk. Unfortunately, he “went to be with the Lord” due to liver cirrhosis at
the prime age of forty five years! The alcohol did not overpower his brain to
make him “drunk”, but wrecked his liver and send the “fine brother” to early
grave!
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Drinkers of alcohol admit that one can only know that he has taken too much
alcohol when he is drunk. As long as you are not yet drunk and the drink is
good, you are likely going to drink more.

The question now are this:

 What amount of alcohol will a gospel minister drink to incur damaging
effects on his body?
 At what stage does an alcoholic drink changes from food drink that helps
the body to poison that damages the cells and tissues?
 Can someone please design an Alcoholimeter for Christians?
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

NOTE: The intension is not to unleash a religious law on believers, but to

convince gospel preachers to abstain from alcohol if you must stay healthy,
live and age gracefully. Not just pushing across a religious doctrine or dogma
for argument.

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Effects of Alcohol on the Gospel Minister

Can someone guess why God had given the priests and the Levites the
following command in the Old Testament?
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee,
when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die:
it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:
Leviticus 10:9

The Gospel Minister is a believer of Christ, chosen, ordained and employed by

God as a counselor, judge, teacher, priest and prophet. He is always expected
to be in the right frame of mind always. Moreover, the believer’s body is the
temple of the Living God. Consumption of alcohol can affect the body in many
different ways.

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 Surprisingly, even the producers and marketers of
these drinks consistently warn against their products!

 Effects on the Brain

The minister’s brain should work optimally because of the peculiar nature of
his vocation. He must perceive and judge things properly, without acting under
any influence, except the Holy Spirit. Any substance that can manipulate the
brain to affect perception, vision and decision making must be avoided by a
minister of the gospel, and alcohol is notorious in doing this. This is why Isaiah
noted thus:

But they also have erred through wine, and through strong
drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have
erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine,
they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in
vision, they stumble in judgment. Isaiah 28:7

Binge drinking can cause damaging effects on the brain. When alcohol is
consumed freely, its effects on the brain include:
 blackouts,
 loss of memory,
 loss of concentration
 Poor sense of judgment
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 anxiety.

Long-term drinking can result in permanent brain damage, serious mental

health problems and alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Alcohol can damage
parts of the brain, affecting behavior, and the ability to learn and remember.
Excessive drinking can disrupt normal sleeping patterns, resulting in insomnia
and a lack of restful sleep, which can contribute to stress and anxiety. Perhaps
this manipulative effect of alcohol on the brain is the major reason God
directly warn the ministers (Priests and Levites) in the Old Testament thus:

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee,
when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die:
it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:
Leviticus 10:9

 Cancers
Drinking alcohol has been reported to be the second biggest risk factor for
cancers of the mouth and throat (smoking is the biggest). Alcohol has the
potential to alter the integrity of the cells that come in contact with it. People
who develop cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol can develop liver cancer.
Here, alcohol arrests the growth regulatory mechanism of the cells, resulting in
uncontrolled growth of cell and tissues.

 Effect on the Heart and Blood Circulation

The life of every flesh is in the blood.

(Leviticus 17:110
The heart, which pumps blood round the whole body, circulates life to all cell,
tissues and organs. This act of life circulation in the form of blood by the heart
is indispensable in the optimal functioning of the entire body system. Studies

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show that alcohol consumption impacts adversely on the process of blood
circulation.
 It can cause high blood pressure (hypertension), which increases the risk
of having a heart attack or stroke.
 It can worsen pre-existing hypertension.
 Drinking alcohol can also weakens heart muscles, which can affect the
lungs, liver, brain and other body systems,
 It can cause heart failure.
 Binge drinking and drinking heavily over longer periods can cause the
heart to beat irregularly (arrhythmia) and has been linked to cases of
sudden death.

 Effect on the Process of Breathing

Drinking a lot of alcohol predispose drinkers to lung infections. When a person
vomits as a result of drinking alcohol, they may choke if vomit gets sucked into
their lungs.

 Effect on the Liver

Alcohol consumption causes fat deposits to develop in the liver. With
continued excessive drinking, the liver may become inflamed, causing alcoholic
hepatitis, which can result in chronic liver failure and death. Excessive alcohol
can permanently scar and damage the liver, resulting in liver cirrhosis and an
increased risk of liver cancer. Women are particularly more susceptible to the
effects of alcohol on the liver.

 Effects on the Stomach and intestines

Alcohol consumption can lead to stomach ulcers, internal bleeding and cancer
of the stomach. Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach (gastritis),
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impairing absorption of food and increase the risk of stomach cancer. Heavy
drinking may result in duodenal and other intestinal ulcers and cancer of the
colon. It also affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins,
resulting in nutrients deficiency syndromes.

 Effect on Fertility

Alcohol affects reproduction in both men and women in a number of ways. For
women it causes imbalances in the hormonal system that controls
reproduction. Even small amounts of alcohol can affect a woman’s menstrual
cycle and reduce the chance of conceiving. Long-term heavy drinking can
cause women to have irregular periods or stop ovulating. Periods can stop
altogether or they can have an early menopause. In men, alcohol can cause
lowered libido (sex drive), erectile dysfunction (weak erection) and impotence.

 Effect on body weight

Alcohol is high in calories; hence consumption results in unnecessary weight
gain. Weight for weight, the alcohol in a drink contains almost as many calories
as fat. Research shows that an average bottle of wine contains 600 calories,
while four pints of average strength lager contain 640.

 Effect on the skin

Alcohol dehydrates the body and the skin. It also dilated blood vessels, causing
your skin to look red or blemished. Drinking much alcohol deprives the skin of
vital vitamins and minerals. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency
to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is
linked to alcohol

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Andrew F. Smith: Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat
Doug Batchelor (2015): The Christian and Alcohol Amazing Facts Inc
Eric Schlosser: Eric Schlosser Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Kenneth M. Orel. The Real Truth-Eating Yourself to Death – The Junk Food Epidemic
Mental Health Foundation (2006): Cheers! Understanding the relationship between alcohol and mental health,
London, Mental Health Foundation.
Shraddha Rupavate (2015): Ten horrible things junk food does to your body. www.thehealthsite.com

Section Four
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 CHAPTER 20

EXAMPLES FOR ADMONITION

When I read the narrations of Roberts Liardon on his book “God’s Generals”, I
was moved by how greatly anointed men and women of God, who wrought
great exploits in God’s vineyard, succumbed to treatable medical conditions
and died prematurely. Obviously, many of them could have lived longer and
wrought greater exploits! This great work of Roberts Liardson is an opener to
many ministers and servants of God, especially those who give little or no
attention to their mental and physical well-being.

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It is important at this point to look at some of Robert’s narrations.

CASE 1: Janie John Lake

Roberts Liardon narrate thus:
“Janie was a Christian and prayer warrior and wife of the founder of
Apostolic Tabernacle in Johannesburg. As a team, they started one
hundred churches in one year in the coasts of Africa. They were
spending much of their substances to feed the poor and widows
so that they can stay alive and believe the gospel.

Paradoxically, Janie John died at the peak of their Christian

prowess and most account of Jannie’s death attributed it to
malnutrition and physical exhaustion” (God’s Generals)

It is unbelievable that this minister who spent much of her substance to feed
the poor and widows to stay alive would die of malnutrition! Deaconess Janie
John could have given her body what was needful and live longer to minister
to the poor and widows she had fed. It is not proper to so neglect the body
and starve to death.

Physical exhaustion resulted from overworking the body and not giving it the
necessary rest, which might have been driven by the zeal to conquer the world
for Christ. The body machine was eventually driven so hard without
maintenance and refueling. The overworked neglected machine “knocked”
and she died at the “peak of Christian prowess”. What a colossal lost to her
generation! Ministers of the gospel must create time and rest the body and
give it the necessary attention. While man must not live by bread alone, that
which is needful to the body must be provided so as to balance up the man:
spirit, soul and body.

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 CASE 2: John Lake
“Labour day came on a hot, humid Sunday in 1935. John lakes
had attended a Sunday school picnic and John returned home
from it totally exhausted. So he laid down to rest. His coworker
Florence encouraged him to stay home only to find that John
Lake had suffered a stroke. He remained in poor condition for
two weeks, unconscious most of the time. Then on September
16, 1935, John G. Lake went home to be with the Lord. He was
sixty-five years old”. (Roberts Liardon’s God’s Generals)

John Lake’s stroke was very likely a consequence of uncontrolled, stress-

induced hypertension. Perhaps he really had no time to ever check his blood
pressure because he preferred to spend every moment on the Lord’s business.
Perhaps his blood pressure continued to rise uncontrollably until the tiny
blood vessels in the brain busted.

Many powerful men of God still suddenly collapse today because of severe
uncontrolled hypertension. Some even collapse while preaching on the pulpit!
Such incidences usually bring blasphemy and disdain to the Name of the Lord,
who is often seen by the ignorant as the Lord not being able to save His own.
Some usually attribute the sudden collapse to a slap by a very powerful ghost.
Ignorance continues to destroy God’s servants.

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 CASE 3: Smith Wigglesworth
“Though the eyes of Wigglesworth had seen many miraculous and
instant healings, he himself didn’t receive such miracles. In 1930, as
smith was entering his seventies, he was experiencing tremendous
pain. He prayed but wasn’t relieved. So he went to a physician who,
after X-rays, diagnosed his condition as a very serious case of
kidney stones in the advances stage. An operation was his only
hope, since according to the doctor, if Smith continued in this
painful condition, he would die. Smith responded: “Doctor, the God
who made this body is the One who can cure it. No knife shall ever
cut it so long as I live” the physician was concerned and dismayed
at his response, but Smith left, assuring the physician he would
hear of his healing. The pain increased daily, now accompanied by
irritation. All night, Smith was in and out of bed, rolling on the floor
in agony as he struggled to emit the stones. One by one, the ragged
stones passed. Smith thought his ordeal would be short-lived, but it
lasted six long and painful years.

During this time, smith never failed to appear as scheduled services,

many times christening twice a day. At some meetings, he would
pray for as many as eight hundred people while in tremendous pain
himself. Sometimes he would leave the pulpit when the pain
became unbearable, to struggle in the restroom with passing
another stone. Then he would return to the platform and continue
with the service. Smith Wigglesworth went home to be with the
Lord. He left on March 12, 1947. (Roberts Liardon’s God’s Generals)

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Even if Brother Smith should die, it must not be by the torture of solvable
kidney stones. It must not be by succumbing to the torture of a
tremendous removable pain. Perhaps if he yielded to the surgery offered
him by his physician, his story in “God’s Generals” would have sounded
different! A general should not be beheaded by the enemies at the war
front. But it does happen!

Many ministers still see medical treatment as an unnecessary distraction

from their faith, refusing and discouraging others from accessing it. They
will rather labour to death than accept a caesarean section. They would
rather die with their intact skin than allow a knife cut through it to drain
pus, remove a tumor or stone. They see it as compromising their faith!
Honestly, the knowledge to open up the body and remove a diseased
tissue cannot come from Satan, because a lot of lives have been saved by
it. Satan has never been responsible for any form of life saving technique
or knowledge. Satan’s work is to steal, to kill and to destroy lives. God is
responsible for any knowledge that results in genuinely saving any life,
either spirit, soul or body.

Smith Wigglesworth suffered severe pain from kidney stones for six years
and eventually died in pain because refused to submit to surgery

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 CASE 4: Aimee McPherson
“Much of Aimee’s efforts during these years were given to
pastoring, training future ministers, establishing hundreds of
churches, and sending missionaries around the world. But in 1942,
she also led a brass band and color guard into downtown Los
Angeles to sell war bonds. She sold $150,000 worth in one hour, so
the U. S. Treasury awarded her a special citation for her patriotic
endeavor organize regular Friday night prayer meetings at Angelus
temple for the duration of World War II, gaining the expressed
appreciation of President Roosevelt and California’s governor for
doing so.

By 1944, Aimee’s health was very poor; she was suffering from
tropical infections that she had contracted during her missionary
trips. So in February of that year, she named Rolf as the new vice
president of the ministry. Rolf had proven his faithfulness and
served his mother well over the years. In fact, he was the only
person who stayed with her through both good times and bad.

Then in September of 1944, Rolf flew to Oakland with his mother to

dedicate a new church. There was a blackout in the city because of
the war, so Aimee and Rolf spent the evening together in her room
for some ministry and family talk. Huge crowds and the work of the
ministry always exhilarated Aimee, so he was in high spirits. When
the evening drew to a close, Rolf kissed his mother goodnight and
left the room.

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 Aimee had always been plagued with insomnia. She was taking
sedatives from her physician, and she had obviously taken a couple
on this night to sleep. She probably didn’t know how many it would
take, and she was scheduled to preach the next day. So she must
have decided she needed more to fall off to sleep.

According to the physicians, it was about dawn when Aimee must

have known something was wrong. But instead of calling Rolf, she
placed a call to her physician, who referred her to a Dr. Palmer in
Oakland, California. But before she could make this call, Aimee lost
consciousness.

At 10.00A.M Rolf tried to wake his mother and found her in bed,
breathing hoarsely. Unable to revive her, he called for medical
assistance. But it was too late, and on September 27, 1944, Aimee
Semple McPherson, went home to be with the Lord. She died at the
age of fifty-three.” (Roberts Liardon’s God’s Generals)

Aimee McPherson must have died of drug intoxication resulting from

overdose, due to refusal to seek proper medical attention and resorting to self-
medication. Many ministers of the gospel indulge in self-medication in attempt
to relieve their stress, sleeplessness, fatigue, fever and pain. They end up
creating a more serious health problem in an attempt to self-manage their
health challenges.

Despite her very poor health status, plagued by tropical infections (probably
malaria) and insomnia, Aimee was being scheduled to preach the next, after
spending the evening in ministry talks. Being excited by a crowd she never
wanted to miss, she mismanaged her health condition and killed herself at
fifty-three years! A bitter truth to say, isn’t it?

At this point, what Aimee needed was a hospital bed and not a pulpit; a
physician’s appointment and not a preaching appointment; a physician’s
prescription and not self-medication. I am sure the church dedication and
ministration to the crowd still took place without Aimee!

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 CAS$ 5: A. A. ALLEN
“In 1969, Allen was a sick man suffering from a severe arthritic
condition in his knee. He spent so much time recalling his humble
beginnings. According to him, that year the Miracle Magazine had a
circulation of 340,000, with mail received from ninety nations. But
the arthritic condition soon worsened, so Allen submitted to surgery
on his left knee. He suffered from so much pain that Don Stewart, a
young man, full of zeal, began to fill in during the crusades.

On June 11, 1970, Allen traveled to San Francisco and checked into
the Jack Tar hotel (now named the Cathedral Hills Quality Hotel). He
checked in at 12.56 P.M. He was scheduled the next day for a
9.00A.M doctor’s appointment at the University of California
medical Center in San Francisco, to discuss whether a second surgery
needed to be performed on his knees.

Sometime before 9.00 P.M, the same evening, Allen made a phone
call to his close friend, Bernard Schwartz. The exact conversion is
unknown, but Schwartz was alarmed and proceeded to the hotel.
When Schwartz arrived at Allen’s room, the door was locked and he
didn’t answer. Schwartz told the assistant manager of the
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problem

. 158
 and Allen’s door was opened with a pass key. At 9.15 P.M., Allen was
found dead by Schwartz and the assistant manager. The Coroner’s
report states Allen was sitting in a chair in front of his television. He
was officially pronounced dead at 11.23 P.M. on June 11, 1970. A. A.
Allen was fifty–nine years old.

His closest personal friends say that Allen detested even hated
prescribed medications. He continually stated that he wouldn’t take
the medications and preach, as the drug effects lingered with him
and he couldn’t think clearly. Medical personnel who work with
arthritic patients say it isn’t unusual for the patients to use alcohol in
medical sense. Many turn to it instead of developing an addiction to
prescribed drugs” (Roberts Liardon’s God’s Generals).

What is the use of seeing a doctor, get a prescription, acquire the medications,
but refuse to take them as prescribed? It is unfortunate that Brother A. A.
Allen, rather than taking his prescribed medications to relieve his arthritic
pains, hated and detested them, and resorted to alcoholism. Gospel ministers
today still jeopardize their health by refusing to take their routine medications
for flimsy reasons.

The prescribed medications given to Allen would have curtailed the

inflammation and pain of his arthritis, complementing the surgery. Perhaps, if
he was consistent with his medications, he would not have needed a surgery in
the first instance, not to talk of a second surgery.

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 William Branham
Time will fail me to talk about Coe, Branham, Khulman and others giants of the
gospel described by Roberts Liardon as “God’s Generals”. They wrought great
exploits and populated the Kingdom of God, yet succumbed to ailments and
health conditions that could have been addressed and treated.

Generals Taken in the Midst of Battles?

Carefully looking at the circumstances surrounding the death of these great
men and women of God, ranked as “generals” in the business of travailing and
contending for souls, can we confidently conclude that these generals passed
on, being contented that they have fought a good fight? Most of them died at
the peak of their Christian prowess, between their fifties and sixties. They
could not, like Paul, confidently declare to their followers:

“For I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is

at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my
course…(2 Timothy 4:6,7)

These “generals” died of various treatable ailments and reversible medical

conditions at the time they were not ready to be offered; at the peak of their
zeal for the work of the Kingdom, like a general taken in the midst of the
battle!

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Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Joshua, Caleb and others simply “slept”
at old age without being tortured by excruciating pain and humiliating
sickness. The early apostle died of persecution and physical tortures but not
deadly humiliating diseases. Good health goes with a price and we must
choose what we want now as gospel ministers. Paul advised the elders thus:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,

over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his
own blood. (Acts 20:28)

If the ministry must continue, the minister must stay alive. The ministry can,
however, continue after the minister’s death, only if the minister had finished
his course, raised up disciples and properly assigned and placed them for the
work of the ministry, when the time of his departure is at hand.

CHAPTER 21

TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE
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 Perry Noble
Perry Noble is the founding and Senior Pastor of New Spring Church in
Anderson. He shared his lesson and experience thus:

“I remember the very first time I ever had to deal with someone who told me
they were struggling with anxiety and depression. I did not understand and
could not relate-so, I told them what I thought was the typical "Christian"
answer to all problems…they should pray more, read their Bible more and
memorize more Scripture. Instead of lessening the load I was unintentionally
adding to it.

The person mentioned their doctor had told them about going on a certain
type of anti-depressant to help out with their struggle, and so they asked my
opinion.

In a completely illiterate and uneducated manner I told them that people with
"weak faith" are the ones that needed such medications, that godly people
did not struggle with feelings of anxiety and depression and that taking such
medication would essentially be screaming to God, "I don't trust you."

I honestly felt that way then…I don't feel that way anymore!

In 2008, I entered into the darkest time of my entire life that lasted for around
three years. It was brutal. I even gave suicide serious consideration.

However, through a series of situations in my life that needed to be changed,

along with some intense and excellent Biblical counseling I was able to come

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through the storm that had dominated me for so long. My doctor and I
considered medication during this process, and while it was strongly
considered, we both decided that, though it was not wrong to take it, it was
not the right thing for me at the time.

After a lot of prayer I decided to write a book about my battle and what I
learned about Jesus and His faithfulness.

However, as I began the writing process the feelings of anxiety and worry
began to slowly slither back into my life like a snake sneaking up on it's prey. I
remember writing a chapter in the book, driving home and having a panic
attack in my living room.

About three days later I took my daughter to a restaurant for lunch and found
myself feeling like I could not breathe and that the walls were closing in on me.

What was going on?

I thought I was done with this, that I had whipped it and that I was going to be
able to tell my story and inspire other people to do the same.

But…that wasn't the case. Anxiety was a fight, and I was losing.

I secretly held this as a badge of honor, that I was somehow a better person
because "I did not need medication" to defeat depression!

Our church did a series about stress, anxiety and depression in the Spring of
2012 and it was, hands down, one of the most talked about, responded to
things we have ever done. I shared my story about my battle and we saw so
many people finally realize that it really is ok to not be ok…but it's not ok to
stay that way.

I called my doctor and we had a long talk about my options. He spoke to me

honestly and openly about anti-depressants. When he first mentioned them I
blew him off; after all, I had defeated this one time without the "drugs for
weaklings" and figured I could do it again.

However, the anxiety in my life continued to increase to such an extent that I

distinctly remember calling him one afternoon and telling him I could not take
it anymore and that I needed something to help me.
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I can honestly say that making the decision to take an anti-depressant during
this time period in my life has been one of THE BEST decisions I have ever
made. It really has clarified my thinking, made me way less of an emotional
basket case and allowed me to make better decisions.

I'm not ashamed of the fact I am taking an anti-depressant and have done a
complete 180% turn in regards to how I used to feel about them.
I have had people push back on the issue that Christians should even consider
taking an anti-depressant…and my response is always the same…

If your liver was shutting down and you were going to die as a result and you
went to the doctor and he said, "here is a pill you can take to fix the problem,"
you would be considered negligent and insane for not taking the medicine.

The brain, just like the liver, is an organ in the body. And scientific research
has proved over and over again that chemical imbalances in the brain can
lead to cases of anxiety and depression. If you would take a pill to cure the
liver then why would you not do the same for the brain?

"But some people abuse anti-depressants," some people say! However, if the
rule for keeping things around and making them available is based solely on
whether or not people abuse them then the first things we are going to have to
get rid of are ice cream, cupcakes and buffets.

What I am saying is this…

The church has used, "pray and read your Bible more" as a "cure" for anxiety
and depression for far too long. And we have placed people who use
medication to treat the issue in a category that is way less godly than those
who do not use it.

However, as someone who has been on both sides of the issue I want to speak
definitively on this by saying that it is NOT a sign of weakness to admit your
need for medication in dealing with these issues; in fact, in many cases it may
actually be a sign of strength.

It was quite humbling for me to begin to do something I once considered to be

a sign of weakness.

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However, as a Christian and as a pastor I can honestly say that making the
decision to swallow my pride and accept the common grace God has provided
through medicine has made me a better husband, father and friend.
(Read more at www.christianpost.com/news/should-christians-take-medication-for-mental-
illness-115175/ #cX6J0B1aIh82FW5a.99).

I have decided to bring the experience of Pastor Perry Noble because I believe
it will definitely help some gospel ministers and Christian workers on this
subject of having the right attitude to healthcare, and seeking prompt medical
attention on health issues. Many preachers still consider prompt seeking for
medical care as a sign of spiritual weakness and lack of faith, an attitude that
has given rise to health complications and untimely death among God’s
people.

If Pastor Perry Noble never changed his mind about medicines, he probably
would have ended up on the streets. I know some gospel ministers who have
deserted the pulpit, roam the streets with insanity, bringing embarrassment
and shame to the congregation.

THE AUTO MECHANIC’S WIFE:

Charmed by Mr. Diabetes
A brother named Samuel, who is also an auto mechanic, once attended a
counseling session during an end of the year prayer conference. He requested
for prayers because his wife was inexplicably losing weight, urinating too
often and was completely blind. All these happened in quick succession, just
three years after they married and had of a son.

In the three to four years that passed, he had visited virtually all strong healing
centres and prayer homes that knew or heard of to seek for solution to
his
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wife’s predicament. In almost all the places that they visited, the wife’s illness

. 166
was attributed to diabolic manipulation by his wife’s uncle, who stood for her
father during their traditional marriage ceremonies. They had camped at a
popular healing centre for two weeks seeking for a miraculous healing and
deliverance from a notable prophet, since help was not forthcoming in other
centres.

I prayed for Samuel, but requested that he should take the sick wife to see a
specialist, which he did without hesitation. The history and clinical
examination revealed extremely high blood glucose level, dehydration and
cataract on both eyes.

She was quickly admitted h, rehydrated and the blood sugar controlled back to
normal range. Three weeks later, she was referred to see an ophthalmologist,
where arrangement was made for cataract extraction.

Two months later, Bro Samuel came visiting with a very beautiful well-dressed
damsel whom I could not recognize at first. She greeted me with surprise that I
could not recognize her. I carefully looked at her again, behold it was Bro
Samuel’s sick blind wife! She could see clearly. The blood sugar was controlled,
and the cataracts were surgically extracted. The entire ‘evil spirits’ and witches
that tormented Samuel’s wife and plagued her with blindness was type 2
diabetes mellitus, and not her uncle! She had to go and apologize to him.

All these things happened for examples, and have been written for the
admonition of gospel ministers, religious worshippers and leaders, not to
trivialize the necessity for proper medical attention amidst contemporary
health challenges. According to Roberts Liardon, “we must clearly understand
the stewardship of our physical body. We must understand that the physical
body is the only thing holding the spirit on the earth. We must practice a
health maintenance of our eating habits, mental attitudes, and general well-

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being. Otherwise, our physical “house” – our bodies – will breakdown and die.
If we fail to be good stewards over our flesh, our bodies die early and our
spirits have to leave”.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author wishes to sincerely thank and acknowledge the contribution of the
under listed, whose work were consulted and adapted in the course of
compiling this great and life-saving manual.
1. American Psychiatric Association, 2015. Warning signs of mental illness.
www.psychiatry.org
2. Auro, 2015. Infertility Auroh health sciences pvt ltd. [email protected]
3. Colonial Disease Digital Textbook, 2015 Malaria
4. Covariation between human pelvis shape, stature, and head size alleviates the obstetric
dilemma Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2015) 112 (18): 5655-5660
5. Crea conceptions, 2013. The menstrual cycle
6. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 2008. The Gale Group Inc. www.thefreedictionary.com
7. Guno, J. 2011. Symptoms of Malaria
8. Inhorn, M. C. 2003. Global infertility and the globalization of new reproductive
technologies: illustrations from Egypt. Social Science & Medicine 56(9):1837-1851.
9. Kirsty Sievwright (2012) From Georgetown to Ghana. gtown2ghana. blogspot.com
10. Liarson, R (1996). God’s General, Evangel Publishers Ltd, Kaduna Nigeria
11. Lucero J. (2013) Should Christians Use Herbs? The Christian Herbal
12. Mayo Clinic, Heart failure. 2015. Sandhya Pruthi (ed), Mayo Foundation for Medical
Education and Research. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-
failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142
13. Medindia, 2015. Peptic Ulcer www.medindia.net

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 14. Neilson JP, Lavender T , Quenby S, Wray S (2015) Obstructed labour: Reducing
maternal death and disability during pregnancy British Medical Bulletin Volume 67, Issue
1 Pp. 191-204
15. Perria, P. 2014. Sindrome dell'emolisi in gravidanza: i sintomi della preeclampsia
Bebeblog
16. Prado, M. I. 2014. Todo sobre el herpes zoster Biotrucos.com
17. Quimby, P. 2013. Heart Failure. Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
18. Shirole, T. 2015. Anemia in Pregnancy Medindia www.medindia.net

19. Slowik, G. 2013 Infertility Health Information Publications and ehealthMD

20. Sparks, D. 2012. Heart Failure Mayo Clinic News Network
21. The American Heritage Dictionary of Student Science, 2014 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publishing Company.
22. The Kim Foundation, 2014. What are the Causes of Mental Illness?
23. Transitional Therapy, 2015. Stress Reduction www.transitionaltherapy.co.uk
24. Wikieducator 2008, Treatment of Malaria
25. Wikipaedia the free encyclopedia. 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_failure

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