In my autobiographical book, “Come Out of Her, God’s People,” as a former denominational minister of 25 years, I expose the dark side of the ministry with an array of “pulpit pimp” and warlock horror stories. Here is a sample of the account of the first one: the late Rev. Lester. He died of complications due to AIDS, buried in Potter’s Field. Rev. Lester was my first pastor:
When I first joined Harriet Tubman, I had heard that Rev. Lester was a native Caribbean. Once I started to work for him in the ex-offender project, our intimacy on the program planning level opened the door for communication on deeper, more spiritual subjects. So one day at the conclusion of one of our staff meetings, I decided to seek Rev. Lester’s advice about a particular Baptist client. I recall that I presented him with a scenario regarding an anonymous churchgoer who believed her husband cursed her with a spell. It was my personal assessment that the cheating client was suffering from guilt feelings and fear that her own adulterous indiscretions would soon be uncovered by the husband that she feared.
To my utter amazement, Rev. Lester advised me to purchase a live chicken, cut its throat and use its blood in a ritual of prayers, scriptures and other incantations. Once the lines of communication were opened to discussions of this kind, my pastor also expounded upon the use of human hair, pubic hair, nails, excrement and urine. Often times, Rev. Lester recommended cutting pages out of the bible, throwing them into the local river wrapped around a personal item of the client, or some other strange practice. Sometimes he suggested that the client repeat one of the psalms 7 times. A few times, he advised that the client bathe in various oils and herbs.
I ignored my pastor’s advice either personally or in my treatment of a client. Notwithstanding, I was fascinated to listen to Rev. Lester expound on occult subjects. I considered him to be a powerful indigenous faith healer. Now that I look back, I realize that he was a false prophet but in 1979, I didn’t know what a false prophet was. Once I entered the ministry in 1981 and became a serious student of the gospel of Jesus Christ for myself, I realized that Rev. Lester was more knowledgeable of occult practices than of biblical doctrine.
COME OUT OF HER GOD’S PEOPLE Click link
- Click cover for ebooks & title link above for softcover
pamsheppardpublishing 