Preacher Bites Cop: Staten Island Ferry Nuisance Michael Ihedioha (a.k.a. Michael Nwadiuko) Busted on Felony Assault
Claims to fame: Nigerian-born pastor, Christ the Lord Evangelistic Association (operated out of his house); director, MerciMed African Christian organization; infamous preacher found bothering people aboard New York ferries, subways, and buses; writer of rambling, bizarre, obsessively detailed blog posts of his adventures in annoying New Yorkers; felony assault suspect
Moral apex: Arrested October 23, 2009, for biting a cop on the arm. Charged with felony assault, as well as disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and “obstructing government administration.”
silive.com tells the story best (and has a video at the link):
A preacher, who for years has tried to spread the word of God to not-always-receptive Staten Island Ferry commuters wound up in a jail cell instead of a church pew early this morning after allegedly biting a cop on the boat. …
Ihedioha’s wife, Angela Nwadiuko, got into the brawl, and was subsequently charged with “obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct.”
The part we like best: “If convicted of the felony charge, Ihedioha could be deported.”
The New York Post adds that another police officer “suffered neck and back injuries,” and that a total of five “passengers were arrested, along with the pontificator.”
Memorable quotes:
Our decision every day is to be subject to the law of the land and obey those that uphold it, because we they are minister of God. God has given us great favor with Police office, operators Captains and different city personnel. But a police officer approached us and asked that we stop preaching to the people but he chose the wrong time to do this because about 5 women coming back from Times Square Thursday night prayer meeting and another Christian sister we do not know where she came from were in that crowd, We will let you use your holy imagination to finish this story.. . .
On Sunday July 10th, 2005, I was preaching in #2 train as we were on our way to Church. A gentle man cursed me so bitterly and so harshly and would not stop for quite a while. I do not remember ever been cursed out like that in my life. It felt like someone stabbed me repeatedly. I stopped speaking and approached him to speak gently and reasonably with him but he would have none of that. God gave us a listening audience in that car, but this man had given himself over to satan and disrupted the whole service. I walked around almost that whole day feeling like I was bleeding I felt like hating this man and others like him. … [But they] are my children by faith I want them to be birth into the Kingdom of God.
. . .
We go into the City everyday KNOWING that the Lord of the Host of the Armies of Heaven is 100% behind us and going before us. We never take it for granted that there are carnivorous demonic forces that will love to chew our meat any day.
. . .
Beloved Brethren:
Well, last week’s election result is in. Jesus won the election and was preached with power in the F-train.. . .
Pray very much for this open door at the ferry it is a very sensitive one but it is also the most powerful open door ever because we have as many as 10 to 300 people sitting together in a church-pew format listening to the presentation of the Gospel at one time, total strangers. The Holy Spirit has always been faithful to come on the congregation. We have never had a visible decision for Christ on the ferry, yet.
. . .
[Angry about not being able to take advantage of a special airline discount for an ineligible second party:]
I will not bore you with what we went through with airline over the phone as we tried to explain our situation, how and what even the people that make rule expect you to do in this kind of circumstance but will not tell you in plain English. So we decided to obey God in this ( highly questionable) matter. We left the wages of unrighteousness to the Balaamites, they can have it all, even if it’s in millions. Am running for my life.
. . .
Our prayers can Depose Presidents and Heads of State
. . .
Our prayers can Heal the mentality ill
. . .
Our prayers can Bring life back again to the dead
. . .
Our prayers can Make a missing limb to grow back
. . .
Our prayers can make the most powerful nuclear bomb unable to kill a mouse
. . .
— Michael Ihedioha/Nwadiuko
Various “subway reports”, 2005
Memorable observations:
[Nwadiuko] is among the handful of evangelists who in the last few years have found the boats an increasingly opportune place to spread their message.Although no one is sure what caused the increase, many passengers find little that is heavenly about this practice. In the past year, the No. 1 ferry-related issue called into the city’s 311 complaint line involved onboard preachers.
. . .
“Can’t you get him out of here?” one man wailed [to two police officers patrolling the boat].
— “Rocking the Boat: The Man With the Bible“
New York Times
October 28, 2007
“We’re prisoners on the boat. You can’t get away from it.”
— Ferry commuter Annamay Olsen
“It’s getting to the point that passengers complain all the time. Not everybody wants to hear the word of God [so early] in the morning.”
— Unnamed ferry cop
“Praying for silence“
October, 2007
Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Nwadiuko:
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
— Matthew 6:5-6
Related posts (automatically generated):
- Curtis White III: Would You Buy Your Drugs from This Preacher?
- Michael Adamson
- OPP Nabs Monsignor for Sexual Assault of Three
- Son of Anti-Gay Activist Preacher T.D. Jakes Arrested for Indecent Exposure
This is a really sad publication indeed. Obviously put together by those who are determined to defame this man. The “suggested bible reading” is a mis-application of God’s word. The Bible commands that the gospel BE preached to everyone. Mr Nwadiuko is receiving exactly the same treatment Jesus Christ received when He came to the earth. In response to His word to many about how God loves them, they chose to spit in His face, falsely accuse Him, mock Him and eventually crucify Him. People like you may seem to have the upper hand now but I can assure you, your day of reckoning is coming. We shall all stand before Christ, to be judged for every word we have spoke on here on earth. Needless to say, I would not want to be standing in your shoes.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but reporting the facts and “defamation” are two entirely separate things. Like it or not, every Conservative Babylonian does a perfectly good job of destroying his or her own reputation, with no help from us.
By the way, you’re funny — literally: You made us laugh, long and loud, with your complaint about the Suggested Bible Readings — nobody, but NOBODY, “mis-applies” God’s so-called Word the way Christians do! What really bugs you is that the readings are so right-on (especially in the case of the pushy proselytizer you’re defending).
One more thing: It’s pretty creepy, the way you compare Nwadiuko to Jesus. Our suggested Bible reading for you would come in a variety pack, chock-full of warnings about false prophets and worshiping idols.
Meanwhile, you just keep on keepin’ on with your martyr complex (we have “the upper hand now” — what a crock!), and when Judgment Day comes, I’ll be thankful I’m not standing in YOUR shoes, when your Christ has a word with you about your pride, your judgment, and all that false-prophet stuff.