Where Satan’s Throne Is

by TERRELL, J.D. | Category: Focus | Feb 2007

If ever there was a continent whose riches in terms of material resources and human potential have gone largely unrealised, it must be Africa. From the historic north to the beautiful south, Africa is a rich country and yet has found so much difficulty in realising its riches. And any country's fullest riches are spiritual in nature. The Churches of God have been greatly enriched by the growth of the churches in Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi.

One of the avenues of outreach with the gospel and the truths of the house and kingdom of God, in the past half century or so, has been through radio; and now, of course, the internet is growing daily in influence and potential. Our brothers and sisters in West Africa were, quite early on in this development, keen to exploit the opportunities presented by radio, and did so for a number of years through the 'umbrella' technical facilities of a Christian broadcasting agency known by the acronym ELWA - Eternal Love Winning Africa - surely a delightful aspiration.

Then came one of Africa's recent horrors of civil and inter-tribal conflicts in Liberia, a country in which years ago there was an active Church of God. This conflict was responsible for the loss of thousands of precious lives. It also marked the end of broadcasts through ELWA whose facilities were completely destroyed by 1996. Since then many Christians, including our brothers and sisters in the West African churches of God have tried, with very limited success, to harness the resources of some local radio transmitters; always praying for the Lord to provide again a better outlet for such witness. And He has.

Between Nigeria and Ghana on the map of West Africa are seen two small states - Togo and Benin. The latter is a part of West Africa which is still greatly under the influence of 'voodoo' - a sinister form of quasi-religious witchcraft. Yet in the year 2004 a Christian pastor in Benin approached, in faith, the President of his country seeking his support for the establishment of a Christian broadcasting station in that land. The President of Benin, after enquiries, himself invited Trans World Radio (TWR), through whose facilities Search for Truth is broadcast by the Churches of God in other lands including UK, to pursue the project. The outcome is that the housing of a new 100,000 watt AM transmitter is being built there and TWR hopes by spring 2007 to restore to wide areas of West Africa, including parts of Nigeria, regular Christian broadcasts. Naturally our brothers and sisters in Nigeria and Ghana hope to revive Search for Truth broadcasts.

It was to the church of God in Philadelphia that the Lord of the lampstands wrote, ‘"He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan ... [to] come and bow down at your feet, and ... know that I have loved you.'..."’ (Rev.3:7-9). Like their brothers and sisters in Pergamum, they lived 'where Satan's throne is'. That is just where the sovereign Lord has chosen, in the midst of 'voodoo', to re-establish a Christian facility to His own glory.

We give thanks for this remarkable development in West Africa and pray that it will in due course facilitate the renewal of the broadcast witness of the churches of God in that precious part of His vineyard.

TERRELL, J.D. | Feb 2007
Focus