Paul and Lisa Carden, Centers for Apologetics Research
The Centers are a unique international network of evangelical cult research and education agencies whose main goal is to equip Christians in the developing world for discernment, the defense of the faith, and cult evangelism. While a number of ministries seek to fulfill this biblical mandate in North America, there are next to none in the developing world, where many cultic movements are growing most quickly and with the least resistance. It is this need that the Centers were founded to meet. In Africa, CFAR is focused on helping women who are vulnerable to abuse at the hands of ‘church workers’…
Women and girls in Africa are easy prey for cultic groups. False prophets and rogue “pastors” easily take advantage of their lack of biblical discernment—taking them spiritually captive, and exploiting them financially and sexually. A member of CFAR’s Southern Africa team, explains:
“To gain trust, the ‘man of God’ will make a woman feel that she is lacking something that only he can provide. He seeks to render her helpless and make her hang on his every word—since he makes no mistakes! He perverts Scripture to suit his desires, and creates the illusion that God can only speak to her through him. Once her trust is gained, he preaches “love” by force, demonstrated through a sexual relationship (one of the conditions of the “help” rendered to her).
Through classes, literature, radio, and local-language DVDs, CFAR is inoculating these women against Scripture-twisting and spiritual manipulation—and giving them a firm grasp of biblical truth. As one rescued woman said, “I have been set free from all the fears that I had; indeed, when you get to know the truth, it sets you free.” Please continue to pray for this aspect of CFAR’s ministry, and for God’s protection over these women who are vulnerable to the approaches of these false teachers. For more information, go to the CFAR website at: www.thecenters.org