Seminar In the Ladies' Hostel
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VENING DEVOTIONS have been a tradition in PATC dormitories. Lately, an idea
came up that instead of the usual exhortations; there should be a seminar,
where students can actually participate and at the same time learn. Dr.
Trudy Pratt, our part-time lecturer from the United States has taken this
initiative upon herself. She has availed herself so much for the work of the
Lord. She is a very talented and Spirit-filled teacher and preacher. She
asked students to write down questions about things or issues they do not
really understand in the Bible.
The first session of this seminar was on Sunday 18 December, 2005. Question one was from Acts 2: 42-47. “Can we have the same experience that the Christians in the early Church had? If not, why? Sister Jessena Harris gave an answer, Yes & No! Yes, she said, because if we are truly Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, we can. No, she lamented, because the Church has began to compromise with the world. Things that are not supposed to be seen in the Church, that we specialize on. Sister Christabelle Korley said that the problem comes from the youth. Sister Emem Ibok objected that the problem is from both the elderly and the youth. Sister Faith Barnes said that when it comes to sharing things, people get scared of doing that. The lender might feel superior and the person receiving the things might feel inferior, so at the end of it all, no sharing. Sister Helen Payne suggested that we should lay much emphasis on LOVE.
Considering v. 47, Dr. Pratt said that it can actually happen. She gave a story about how she and her husband went for evangelism in a virgin site. On the first day they worked all day without any result. The same thing happened on the second day. Then they decided to change their outfit, from suites and dress to jeans/T-shirt and track suites. They decided to stop by a basket ball court where 9 boys were playing. Her husband walked up to them played the ball with them. Thereafter, he invited them to church. He promised that if they come he will give each person a candy, but if he brings a friend he will give the same person a dollar bill. That was how they started the church. She said this to say that we have to get to the level of the people, not compromising with the world, that we will always derive the result in that passage.
Question 2: Can a Christian be possessed with a foreign spirit. Dr. Pratt said that it is possible. For example David was possessed with the spirit of adultery, Saul was possessed with an evil spirit, Peter with the spirit of anger, and Paul was troubled with carnality. Actually, it is possible.
This
seminar is designed to make us improve in our Christian life. To make us
more matured; to help us to be able to answer certain questions when we face
them. So far, we are satisfied with the seminar, and we are praying that God
will continue to give us the enlightenment to solve issues and questions
that we have in preceding sessions.
By Emem Ibok, pictured above.
20-Jan-2006 ® www.PanAfricanTheologicalCollege.org