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4471
qualitative
journal
Bockie, Simon. Death and the Invisible Powers: The World of Kongo Belief. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1993. Church Offering Case
Death and the Invisible Powers Pages 92-93 1993
1993
M
A man from a strict Christian sect stopped breathing and his body became cold while his wife wept beside him at the hospital. His wife spent most of the night weeping with red and swollen eyes. When he awoke, he asked why she was crying and explained he had been in a strange but peaceful world. He had been walking very fast without knowing his destination on a very wide road that was difficult to walk because of the many people going in the same direction. He did not speak to any of them. After walking for a long time, he found himself in front of a huge door with Jesus standing in the middle. Jesus greeted him and said he was expecting him that night, but unfortunately could not let him in because his record of monthly church offerings (kalati kia minkayilu) was not up to date. Jesus ordered him to return and pay his dues to the church before being admitted to this new world. The religious sect to which he belonged was very strict regarding church offerings. He was disappointed to leave the paradisal atmosphere but had no power to argue with Jesus. Looking back, he saw his wife weeping. While it had taken hours to reach the door, it took less than a minute to return to the hospital room. He urgently requested his wife to get his monthly offering record. A prophet named tata Aaron Wanimbu from the same sect, who lived near the hospital, accompanied the wife to get the record and paid the outstanding dues with his own money. After receiving the updated record showing payment, the man died within minutes, to everyone's amazement.
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Hospital
8
10
28
Suggestive Evidence
10
Stopped breathing, body cold, hospital setting
Specific encounter with Jesus, church offering requirement verified
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7/21/2025
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