The International Transformation Network is a voluntary association devoted to what it calls nation transformation. Its members are actively involved in installing a right-wing Christian agenda in governments around the world. One of the more controversial campaigns associated with ITN is the promotion of a piece of legislation in Uganda known as the “Kill The Gays Bill,” which was inspired by American Evangelical groups. If passed, this bill would extend the death penalty to certain acts of homosexuality, which are already illegal in most of Africa. According to Talk To Action, a website that tracks religious fundamentalism in America, the ITN has endorsed church-based, government-backed death squads in Latin America and Africa.
The influence of ITN in politics doesn’t end overseas. Here in America, Sarah Palin is being endorsed by the New Apostolic Reformation, which includes the ITN; and here in Hawaii, there is an active branch called "Transformation Hawaii." The Hawaii group, which functions as a chartered member of ITN, is chaired by Cal Chinen. The group also claims Lt. Governor Duke Aiona as a member. Another major player in the organization is Francis Oda, the CEO of Group 70, who serves as chairman of the Global ITN. Chinen, Oda and Aiona all traveled to the 16th world conference of the ITN in Argentina. Also at the conference, was the First Lady of Uganda, Janet Museveni.
Aiona is well-known in the islands for his opposition to the same-sex marriage movement. In a July 7 interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, he said, “We need to have a constitutional amendment which will definitively define marriage as being between a man and a woman. We don’t have that in the state of Hawaii, but that’s where the debate needs to go for this to finally end.”
At the ITN 18th World Conference held in Argentina in 2008, ITN CEO Ed Silvoso gave a speech, during which he compared his opponents to rats that would be exterminated.
Aiona was a high-profile participant in E Pule Kakou, a week-long prayer event sponsored by Transformation Hawaii. The mission of this movement is "to see every family in Hawaii pray together" and "to see the Kingdom of God fill, bless, and transform the entire state of Hawaii in marriages, families, communities, schools, business and government." Organizers claim over 350 churches and 400,000 people watched the Thanksgiving prayer event in 2008, which was on nine different cable channels.
During this week-long event, there were several proclamations of miracles. A man was revived from the dead, Thanksgiving dinner turkeys were multiplied, and a man was cured of a terminal blood disease. The man revived from the dead had drowned an hour beforehand, and as the doctor came in the room to sign the death certificate, the man sat up asking what was going on. The Feed the Sheep Thanksgiving turkey donation program started with 200 turkeys, 240 families to feed, and somehow ended up with a surplus of 10. The man with the terminal blood disease had been pretty much given a death sentence, but then the wife asked the church to assist her in her prayers. The next day, his disease was gone and he praised God for his recovery.
In 2009, ITN held an international conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikoloa and Aiona delivered a blessing, stating, “We’re one body of Christ, we’re one church and we’re all here to disciple the nations, here in Hawaii and everywhere else.”
Youth News contacted Aiona, who is now a candidate for governor in the state of Hawaii. Among the questions asked was his opinion regarding the miracles that occurred during E Pule Kakou, and the prosecution of homosexuals. He has not gotten back to us.
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