‘It’s okay for Christians to fear’
…Pastor McNay Nkashama
By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher/ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY AUTHOR
Fear is part of men’s humanity. It’s therefore normal for Christians to exhibit fear especially in wake of an impending danger, says Pastor McNay Nkashama, chairman of Global Impact Center currently based in the U.S. and Africa.
A seasonal lecturer at the Brooklyn Center Minnesota Spiritual Life Church Bible College, Pastor Nkashama scowled at what he observed to be a mistaken belief among Christians that they aren’t supposed to exhibit signs of fear once saved.
For Nkashama, such a view is deadly wrong, because he believes fear is just part of men’s humanity as a whole including Christians.
“I’m sick and tired of this 21th century Gospel that is [being] preached today that makes you feel that if you react as a normal human being, you are less of a child of God,” he exclaimed.
“No! Fear is part of the reminder that we need God. When you are afraid that things might not go well or might quickly go sour, it doesn’t mean you are less of a child of God,” he continued
He said fear is a reminder that Christians constantly need to hear the voice of God; “It’s a reminder that we constantly need to hear his voice to reassure you.”
He added: “And it doesn’t matter how long we have been closer to the environment of God’s praises, fear reminds us that we constantly need Him with us.”
He spoke during a fortnight ago at the Agape Love Church’s 2022 Revival in St. Paul, Minnesota, titled: ARISE and STEP OUT OF FAITH.
Nkshama further cited the frightful boat experience involving Peter and the rest of the disciples while the Messiah was away on a mountain praying. The sea waves had buffeted their boat, making them cry out for help.
He quoted Matthews 14: 26, 27, when the disciples felt “terrified.” “It’s a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Nkashama then wondered “how could people who had Jesus close to them” be so afraid?
He concluded it is because they too, were human and the experience should remind today’s Christians that “you can’t do anything unless Jesus helps you.”
He maintained that even Christians who are closer to God can themselves experience fear, noting that “Fear is not necessarily the absence of faith.”
Fear, he said, is a reminder that we are not in control; a reminder that we need assurance from God.
Nevertheless, amidst our fear, he advised that Christians should learn to listen not just to any “voice” but the Voice of God and take heart as Peter and the rest of Jesus’ disciples demonstrated.
There are two responses to fear when you hear the voices of God, he emphasized. Either you act like Peter and respond to the call and move in faith or you remain in your fear and drown!
He disclosed that fear can do two things: firstly, it can push you to jump out of the boat and head toward the Voice of God [as with Peter] or you could stay paralyzed by fear and die in the boat.
Evangelist Nkashama encouraged members of the audience to take heart and step out of whatever “boat” they might find themselves, by faith, even when their boat is swaying by the waves.
Agape Love Church is largely made of Asian-Americans. Many received deliverance during the crusade.
Meanwhile, Agape Love Church Pastor Song Lee is expected to join a USA-pastoral delegation that is headed to the Democratic Republic of Congo for one of the biggest crusades there in decades. That nation’s head of state is also expected to grace the event.
The Congo delegation consists of several senior pastors from Spiritual Life Church such as Dr. Joe and Dr. Judy Fornara-president and founder of SLC/Seminary & Bible College, as well as the institute’s Dean Pastor Nancy Sky. Liberia’s leading evangelist Dr. Christian Dagadu who has run large crusades in Liberia and Sierra Leone for over 25 years, will fly in from Liberia.
Spiritual Life Church also runs several church missions in Africa and currently has about four bible colleges in Liberia alone, the largest located in Monrovia.