Kingdom Church in Camberwell, a district of south London, England was fined for holding loud prayer services in the middle of the night.
The Church held weekly ‘healing and miracle’ services aimed at training parishioners to be ‘wise to the wiles of the devil’ in the early hours of the morning.
This preaching brought complaints from neighbors and a £7,740 fine by Camberwell Green Magistrates for ‘anti-social behaviour’.
According to the church, the overnight vigils are “demon-fighting” services meant to protect innocent worshippers from witchcraft and spirits that “usually roam” in the wee hours of the morning
Kenya-born Bishop Climate Irungu who heads the church explained that, the services are necessary because “that’s when demons are active.”
Bishop Irungu told the Mirror that they were loud as the area is largely industrial rather than residential, adding that he would appeal the fine.
“We are based in an industrial area but there are new flats that have now been turned into residential houses. During summer, most people leave the windows open and they must have heard our church members praying and singing as the vigil went on. I do not deny that we made some noise – we did. It is a big fine and we will be appealing against it. But we have spent nearly KSh 1.5million to reduce the noise,” the preacher said.
Its website states: ‘It is a well-known time that witchcraft and negative elements begin to work in the early hours of the morning.
‘Programming yourself to be alert and in prayer at this time sets you on the path to being alert and wise to the wiles of the devil.’
The Bishop alleges that since the case took to social media last month beginning, he has received a lot of hate mail from people who mock him for those beliefs.
This story is raising questions about the belief in evil spirits and their activities.
Uganda
Midnight prayers in Uganda have also created public and institutional debate where, authorities have called for a total ban on such christian arrangements. Complaints have been that, the prayers are noisy and a great target for terrorists.
However, the church continues to urge that the fight against terrorism should not infringe on religious rights.
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Photo – Neighbours of the church, the corner building pictured above, in south London complained over loud services disrupting their sleep.
aaron@ugchristiannews.com
