Ben Okello | Apostle in Homa Bay, Kenya

  Transcript:  Evanglist Daniel King (00:00): Welcome to the Evangelism Podcast. I’m Daniel King. I’m excited about telling people about Jesus. Today, I have a very special guest with me from the nation of Kenya, from the city of Houma Bay. Ben Okelo. Thank you for being on the Evangelism Podcast. Apostel Ben Okello (00:28): Thank you so much, Evangelist Daniel. I’m so excited. Evanglist Daniel King (00:31): It is wonderful to have you here in my studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The last time we were together was in the nation of Uganda. Apostel Ben Okello (00:41): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (00:41): We did two crusades together, which you helped to organize. Yes. One in Masindi and one in Kehihi. And you remember how difficult it was to get to Kehi. Apostel Ben Okello (00:54): To Kehi, yes. Evanglist Daniel King (00:54): Where is Kahihi? Apostel Ben Okello (00:56): Kehi actually is in the western part down south of Uganda, bordering Congo and Uganda. It’s just right by the Congo Uganda border. Evanglist Daniel King (01:06): I remember we went in a very small bus that was very full of people. Apostel Ben Okello (01:12): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (01:13): And our bus driver, his name was Jack, he was a professional bus driver. He said, “I am a professional bus driver.” Yes. But he was not a good bus driver. And he ran us off the road almost many times. And we were praying in tongues the whole way, just saying, “Angels help us to get to where we are going.” And then I remember in that crusade in Kahi, there was a woman who was demon possessed. Apostel Ben Okello (01:41): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (01:42): And she was so crazy. No one could control her. They put chains on her legs and she could only walk with very small steps. Apostel Ben Okello (01:50): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (01:51): And she was so crazy that one night she jumped up and took her little steps over to the sound system and started to pull the sound cords out the microphone cords out of the back of the sound system. And then when we tried to stop her, it took six strong Apostel Ben Okello (02:11): Men Evanglist Daniel King (02:12): To restrain her because of these demons. Apostel Ben Okello (02:14): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (02:15): You remember Apostel Ben Okello (02:16): Her? I remember very well, yes. Evanglist Daniel King (02:17): And they were holding her back and she was demon possessed. But then when we gave the altar call, she raised her hand and said that she wanted to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Apostel Ben Okello (02:30): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (02:31): And when she prayed the prayer of salvation, she was set free from those demons. Apostel Ben Okello (02:35): Demons, yes. Evanglist Daniel King (02:36): And she was in her right mind suddenly, and then they cut the chains off of her feet. Apostel Ben Okello (02:42): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (02:43): It was a very visible miracle and everyone rejoiced because they cut the chains off her feet and the next day she came to the pastor’s conference and she was in her right mind. Apostel Ben Okello (02:54): Well dressed. Evanglist Daniel King (02:55): She was dressed in a beautiful Apostel Ben Okello (02:57): Dress. Evanglist Daniel King (02:57): She had her hair combed. Apostel Ben Okello (02:59): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (03:00): And before she had been rolling around in the dust and Apostel Ben Okello (03:03): Dust Evanglist Daniel King (03:04): Controlled Apostel Ben Okello (03:04): By these Evanglist Daniel King (03:04): Demons. So that was a great Apostel Ben Okello (03:07): Miracle. I don’t know if you still remember then as you are preaching also, I don’t know if it was the last night or the second last night that the whole hospital, because you know we did a crusade by the district hospital where there are a lot of sick people. And as you’re preaching, sick people left their words and they’re coming and healing so many healings that took place in that crusade just because of what happened previously with that woman. People believed the gospel and they got really chained and healed. I don’t know if you remember that. It was a great powerful crusade. Evanglist Daniel King (03:41): It was a very good crusade. Apostel Ben Okello (03:43): Yes. So Evanglist Daniel King (03:43): Beautiful. Apostel Ben Okello (03:44): Yeah. Evanglist Daniel King (03:44): Okay. So let’s talk about your ministry. You live in Houma Bay. Apostel Ben Okello (03:49): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (03:50): And tell me what you’re doing for God. Apostel Ben Okello (03:52): Yeah. We are live in Houma Bay. Houma Bay was actually not now, but it was the second poorest town in the whole Republic of Kenya. Evanglist Daniel King (04:02): And of course my wife loves Homa Bay. Apostel Ben Okello (04:04): So much. Evanglist Daniel King (04:05): Because she lived there for almost a year. Apostel Ben Okello (04:08): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (04:09): And she ministered at many of the churches in Homa Bay, the Bible school. School, Apostel Ben Okello (04:15): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (04:15): And so we love Houma Bay very much. We must come and visit Apostel Ben Okello (04:18): You. You have to come and do a crusade there. I think you need to come soon. Evanglist Daniel King (04:22): If only someone would invite me, do you know anyone who can invite Apostel Ben Okello (04:25): You? Already. Ben Okello is here inviting you specially. Yeah. And Houma Bay has really changed and transformed so much with the power of God and part of the gospel because as you know, and Jessica knows very well that Homa Bay was second, actually the first, second poorest, but number one in HIV. Three out of 10 people in Homabe is infected or was infected by HIV and AIDS and so many deaths. And by the power of the gospel and preaching the gospel, we have seen a tremendous change in Homabi. Literally, God has really transformed the city. Evanglist Daniel King (05:04): And tell me about your ministry. You’re doing many different things for God. Apostel Ben Okello (05:08): Yes, we have. I’m a pastor and as you know, I began pastoring 26 years ago, five people. Our church has grown so much now to thousands. And out of this church, we have planted churches different places. And so I’m doing pastoring, I’m training men and releasing them into the arvest field and also as a crusade director and a crusade organizer. So we do all these things. Evanglist Daniel King (05:34): So where are you doing crusades recently? Apostel Ben Okello (05:37): Recently we have done crusades especially around the lake region. That is the nations around the lake region that is Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. And the recent one was in Burundi. Okay. Yeah. Evanglist Daniel King (05:53): We have been there. Apostel Ben Okello (05:54): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (05:55): I actually met my wife Jessica in Goma Congo. Apostel Ben Okello (05:58): Congo, yes. Evanglist Daniel King (06:00): Right on the border of Rwanda and Congo. It’s right next to the lake. Apostel Ben Okello (06:03): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (06:03): In fact, and they have a volcano in Goma and the lava goes right down into the Apostel Ben Okello (06:10): Lake. To the lake, yes. Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (06:12): And so I know I’ve eaten fish from the lake Victoria. Apostel Ben Okello (06:15): From the Lake Victoria. We love Lake Victoria. The lake regions is where actually so many demons and just like I always make people laugh. Jesus cast out demons and they ran into the lake. When you get around the lake, you have so many demon processed people, a lot of prostitution. And so we are reaching out to these people with the gospel of Jesus. Poverty actually makes people go into fornication, immorality and it’s too much. And so we do that a lot preaching and reaching out to people around the lake. Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (06:52): Wow. Tell me some of the miracles that you’ve seen God do. Apostel Ben Okello (06:56): We have seen a lot of miracles. We’ve seen the blind sea, the lamb walk, the dead race, and witches are always surrendering their chants and the artifacts at the feet of Jesus. As the gospel is preached, we’ve seen the power of God. And you as an emange, I know you do a lot of work and you preached a lot in different places. You know this third world countries, people believe the gospel to death because there is no option. They’ve just got to believe the word. Evanglist Daniel King (07:26): I think that Africa is much closer to the supernatural than America. Yes, that’s true. We tell the story about this woman who is demon possessed, and here in the United States, people think, “Oh, I don’t know if demons are really real.” But in Africa, they know demons are real. Apostel Ben Okello (07:45): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (07:46): They go to the witch doctor and the witch doctor does incantation- Incantation. And gives them beads to put on themselves and curses and Apostel Ben Okello (07:55): Take Evanglist Daniel King (07:56): Curses off. And so they need the power of the Apostel Ben Okello (08:00): Gospel. Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (08:01): Talk to me, how does the message of the gospel set people free from the power of the Apostel Ben Okello (08:07): Devil? Yeah. You know in Africa, just like you’ve said, people believe in witches. They’ll believe in supernatural. And honestly speaking, there is power. So it depends on which power you are hanging yourself on. The real power of demons, because the witches can perform miracles, they can do all these things. They can put a cast on people. They can kill. They can even command eagles to fall and ride on the back of the crocodiles, on the back of hippopotomases. And witches also causes accident. They kill people, darkness all over the nation. I don’t know if you remember Masindi was one of the places you preach, how darkness witches were ruling the places. So when people, and demons oppresses people. So as much as they exercise those authority, it’s authority that oppresses people. So when the gospel of Jesus is preached, the liberation happens, deliverance happen and people get free from those demons. (09:15): And when you ascribe to witches, you keep on paying. It’s like you pay some. You have to pay. You keep on going there and giving, giving, giving to witch doctors. And people get tired of that because you have to pay for those powers to remain afloat. So when the gospel is given and is given free, the freedom that the gospel brings, brings freedom and it’s a total freedom. So people love – It doesn’t Evanglist Daniel King (09:40): Cost money for the Apostel Ben Okello (09:40): Gospel. It doesn’t cost – It’s Evanglist Daniel King (09:42): Free. Apostel Ben Okello (09:42): It’s free, yes. Evanglist Daniel King (09:44): The witch doctor costs lots of money. Apostel Ben Okello (09:45): Money, yeah. Evanglist Daniel King (09:46): But Jesus is free. Apostel Ben Okello (09:48): Free, Evanglist Daniel King (09:48): Yes. And he sets people free for the Apostel Ben Okello (09:49): Power of Evanglist Daniel King (09:50): The Apostel Ben Okello (09:50): Devil. I don’t know if you remember that there was a man that gave Jack the crazy driver two cows because what God did to him and he said, “I’ve been giving witches cows and cows all my life. And the more you give, the more you become oppressed. And now I have received the freedom of Jesus. I’m going to give my cows to Jesus.” And you guys give to Jack, he said, “You’re going to get married, so you take the cows. We can’t carry the cows back to America.” Wow. Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (10:23): I don’t remember that. That is wonderful Apostel Ben Okello (10:26): To get the cows. (10:27): Yeah. They gave to Ana. Yes, it was two cows. And so what the gospel does, it brings liberation. And I will tell you that the Americans don’t believe so much in demons. They don’t believe in the power of God because there are a lot of things that is in this country. So they think it’s just by might, it’s things just by power. Why should I seek Jesus and have one, two, three, have all these things? Africans don’t have that. If you only have a witch doctor or you have Jesus, so you choose which one you’re going to be. There is no any other alternatives. Evanglist Daniel King (11:07): I remember a story about Jack the driver, and I’ve told it many times because I use it as an illustration now. So as we were driving, Jack, he introduced himself said, “I am a professional driver.” But even though he was professional, he was not a good driver. And he thought that a good driver must go very fast. And so he was driving very fast and we came to this part of the road where you had to go (11:38): Down a ravine. So there’s a cliff on the side and then you have to cross a river and go up the other side. As we’re going down, there’s traffic coming in the other direction and a dump truck was coming this way and we’re going this way and there’s not room for both. And so Jack had to back up the car. And so he kept backing it up farther and farther and we looked out the back. We’re right on the edge of the cliff. On the cliff, yes. Jack, stop the car. And he looked back and says, “It’s okay. I am professional.” (12:18): And he keeps going back and back, back. And finally, we are so close to the edge. I told Jessica, I said, “If we die, I don’t want you to die. Open the door right now and get out, even though he is still backing up.” And so she opened the door and jumped out and I was in the back corner. I knew I might fall to my death, but at least Jessica would survive. And when she opened the door, finally he stopped and he looked so hurt because we did not trust him to be a good driver. And we went back and looked and the back tire was only a couple of inches away from the edge of the cliff, very close to falling (13:03): Off. And so then I was in the pastor’s conference and I wanted to talk about sin. And I remembered this joke one time that someone had used in their sermon and they told a story about a man who was hiring bus drivers and three men came to apply for the job. And the guy who was hiring, he says, “Prove to me that you are a good bus driver.” So the first guy, he jumps in the bus and he’s such a good driver, he can get only two feet away from the edge. And then the second guy, he jumps in and he drives and he is right along the cliff and he can get with only six inches of the edge of the cliff. And then the third guy, he says, “I don’t want to fall off the cliff.” So he stayed as far away from the cliff as he possibly could. (14:02): And I use this as an illustration to talk about how we need to stay far away from sin. Apostel Ben Okello (14:08): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (14:08): Because some people, they don’t want to sin, but they want to get close. Close. (14:13): And so they go, they look at there’s something bad and they look a little bit and then they get a little bit closer, a little closer. But if you want to stay away from sin, you need to stay as far away as you possibly can. And so I asked all the pastors, I said, “Of those three drivers, who was the best? The one who was two feet away, the one who was only six inches away or the one who stayed far away?” And of course the right answer is the third driver, but I look over there and Jack is sitting in the front row and he’s holding up two fingers. He thinks the second driver was the best driver. I said, “I am not driving back with you, Jack.” With you. Apostel Ben Okello (14:53): Yes, you did. Evanglist Daniel King (14:55): And we took a different bus to get back. Apostel Ben Okello (14:58): Yeah, I remember. Evanglist Daniel King (14:59): But the point is, stay far away Apostel Ben Okello (15:02): From Evanglist Daniel King (15:03): Sin. From sin, Apostel Ben Okello (15:03): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (15:04): Don’t look at it. Apostel Ben Okello (15:05): Yeah. Evanglist Daniel King (15:06): Don’t touch it. Apostel Ben Okello (15:07): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (15:07): Don’t get even close to it because if you play with sin, sin will take you farther than you want to go. It will keep you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more Apostel Ben Okello (15:19): Than Evanglist Daniel King (15:19): You want to pay. Apostel Ben Okello (15:20): That’s true. Actually, when you say that, I remember what happened with Lord, because the Bible tells us that Lord pitched his tent close. Actually, he didn’t pitch his tent in. He pitched his tent actually by the entrance. It was close. And soon or later, he found himself in. So the more you get close to sin, the more you find yourself in sin. So I believe with the whole of my heart and what you’ve said is very, very important to stay away from anything that really brings contamination. Evanglist Daniel King (15:53): Amen. Apostel Ben Okello (15:54): Amen. Evanglist Daniel King (15:54): So you have come from Kenya here to the United States as a missionary. Apostel Ben Okello (16:01): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (16:01): You are traveling, you are preaching at churches. Apostel Ben Okello (16:04): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (16:05): You are ministering while you’re here. What are you seeing God do here in the United Apostel Ben Okello (16:09): States? I have preached two churches now. I preach in one church on Sunday and what a wonderful, wonderful works of God that happened in that church. I didn’t know that that church was long, far away from presence of God and I’m not demeaning them. That church was really far away. I mean, they were just doing church every day, every day, just two songs as someone, let’s go home, let’s eat, as the Americans do. And so I didn’t know how dead that church was until I preached and the Lord gave me a message and I preached. And that day people cried in the altar, I mean, until 1:30. And they kept on coming and said, “Thank you for coming. We missed this for a long time.” And that was that church I saw great revival, miracles, healing, prophecies. And then we went to the next church, that was in the evening and the Lord moved healing and miracles and God did great works Evanglist Daniel King (17:17): There. I’m so glad that you’re bringing the fire from Africa here to the United States. Yes. We need some more good preachers from Africa to come over here. Praise God. Because God is working in Africa in such a tremendous way and the church is growing by leaps and bounds and Africa knows how to pray. Apostel Ben Okello (17:35): Weak. Evanglist Daniel King (17:36): They’re all night prayer meetings. Apostel Ben Okello (17:38): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (17:39): And I think here in the United States, we need to learn from the Church of Africa. Apostel Ben Okello (17:43): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (17:44): What are some of the things that you see that God is doing in Africa right now? Apostel Ben Okello (17:49): One of the thing that is really great is that the African church is growing rapidly. The revival that used to be in America in all those countries is actually it’s time for Africa. The African church is growing into thousands, into prayer services that never ends. In our church right now, from April to now, we have been having endless prayer. It’s like a prayer chain where people pray one hour, one hour, one hour throughout the day, throughout the night. And it keeps on going on and going on. And people never get tired. I know you know church in Uganda, Robert Kayanja, you went there and taught in their school. They have 77 days of glory of prayer that is every night prayer and it’s all over Africa. You go to Nigeria, you go to Kenya, thousands of conferences and people are filled and people are saved, miracles. (18:50): We are seeing tangible miracles now, right now in Africa. And the church in Africa is growing in leaps and bounds. The move of God is in Africa. Evanglist Daniel King (19:00): Amen. Apostel Ben Okello (19:00): Amen. Evanglist Daniel King (19:01): Well, let’s finish with a prayer for everyone who is listening. I want you to pray that those who are listening will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to be effective evangelists, to see miracles, signs and wonders. Pray for us. Apostel Ben Okello (19:19): Thank you so much. I want to pray, but I also want to say thank you so much Evangelist Daniel, because I’ve seen your heart, your kindness. You do a lot for God and it’s very hard to find people like you. And I’m not just saying because I came to your podcast, I was speaking to my friends that I don’t know very few people that do what Evangelist Daniel and Jessica King do for God in nations and the love you have for people and for God. And I pray that everyone that is listening to this podcast, this is a real thing. What Daniel is doing is a real thing and keep it up. Let’s pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you Lord for this podcast. I thank you Lord for your sermon. And I thank you Lord for everyone that is listening. If there is anyone that is sick, anyone that is oppressed, anyone that is bound and is listening to this podcast this day, I pray Lord that your hand be upon them. (20:18): I pray that the healing miracle working power of our Lord Jesus be upon them. Even them that are bound, I pray Lord that there will be a release. I decree and declare by the one of the Lord those who are back sliding that you will bring them back to saving grace of our Lord Jesus. I thank you Lord for great things that you are doing. Lord, I thank you for the miracle signs and wonders that you are doing through this podcast. In Jesus’ name, I praise you. Amen. (20:49): Amen. Evanglist Daniel King (20:49): Amen. Apostel Ben Okello (20:49): Amen. Evanglist Daniel King (20:50): Well, Brother Ben, Pastor Ben, thank you for being on the Evangelism podcast. Apostel Ben Okello (20:56): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (20:56): And if someone is listening and they want to come to Kenya, come to Houma Bay, they want to do crusades with you, how can someone get in touch with you? Do you have a Facebook page? Apostel Ben Okello (21:09): Yes, I have a Facebook page. Ben Okello. Evanglist Daniel King (21:14): Spell your last name. Apostel Ben Okello (21:17): O-K-E-L-L-O. Okello. Okello. Yes. I think Ben Okello. And what’s the Evanglist Daniel King (21:24): Name of your church? Apostel Ben Okello (21:26): Mountain of Solutions and Answers. Evanglist Daniel King (21:29): Okay. Apostel Ben Okello (21:30): In Evanglist Daniel King (21:30): Homa Apostel Ben Okello (21:30): Bay, Kenya. Yes. All Evanglist Daniel King (21:31): Right. Wonderful. Apostel Ben Okello (21:32): Yes. Evanglist Daniel King (21:33): Well, thank you so much. It’s so wonderful to have you on the Evangelism Podcast. Apostel Ben Okello (21:37): Thank you so much. Amen. Evanglist Daniel King (21:40): Okay. That’s so good. Powerful and anointed. Pastor Ben, tell me about your family. My son is 19