Obeah worker says Pathways Church incident is a ‘disgrace’
Sunday’s alleged sacrifice of two persons inside the Montego Bay- based Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries church is a disgrace and humiliation upon the nation, according to Ruben Williams, a St Thomas- based obeah man.
He said the alleged rituals conducted by the church reminded him of witchcraft.
“It is a disgrace and a evil take of human life. He ( the pastor) tries to convince people he is a God but him just full of trickeries,” he said. The church’s head, Dr Kevin O. Smith, and members of his congregation were arrested on Sunday night following the incident. They have been charged under the Disaster Risk Management Act but lawmen have hinted that other charges are possible. Another person was shot and killed in the incident after he reportedly attacked the police who were called to the scene. Three other persons were taken to hospital for treatment.
Williams said he is convinced leaders of the church were trying to create their own cult and not following the orders that govern the religious group.
“They shouldn’t have killed the woman and the man because the spirits usually require virgins. Usually, if they (spirits) require an animal you cannot give them a human instead. It’s a waste of life … it’s a cruel act,” he said. Williams suggested that the church members have been brainwashed by Smith, who he believes preyed on the poor.
“There are times when these socalled pastors will go to the house of the poor and give them food and trick them and they will think the pastor is God sent. But they are merely working with the devil,” he said, adding that the church leader “lost focus”.
“When you are in this type of world you have to be smart because you will think you are high and mighty. He lost focus and believed he was a god,” Williams said.