Pastor Sprays Insecticide in Followers' Faces to 'Heal'

Government panel in South Africa investigating 'Prophet of Doom'
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 21, 2016 12:35 PM CST
Pastor Sprays Insecticide in Followers' Faces to 'Heal'
The "Prophet of Doom" at work.   (Mountzion General Assembly)

A South African pastor is under fire for his crazy-sounding manner of healing his flock: He sprays insecticide into their faces. Lethebo Rabalago, 24, of Mountzion General Assembly says spraying an insecticide called Doom on his followers can cure them of cancer, HIV, and other ailments. Known as the "Prophet of Doom," Rabalago is seen in Facebook photos doing just that, reports Times Live. In one case, he sprayed the eyes of a woman with an eye infection, and he insists she was "just fine because she believed in the power of God," he tells the BBC. In another, he sprayed the face of a woman with an ulcer and "she received healing and deliverance," the church says. Among those not happy with all this? The maker of Doom.

"[We] want to make very clear that it is unsafe to spray Doom or any aerosol onto people's faces," says Tiger Brands. A government commission has also declared the practice to be dangerous and is asking "everyone whose rights and beliefs have been violated" to lodge a complaint. However, because Rabalago's followers are consenting adults and no regulatory body for churches exists in South Africa, a government official says no legal action can be taken, per Eyewitness News. Rabalago tells eNCA that he prays over the insecticide before using it. "God can use anything … God can use even poisonous things to deliver people," he tells Eyewitness News. (This woman wants her parents prosecuted because they chose faith healing over actual treatment.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X