Pastor Danny Nalliah of Catch The Fire Ministries.
A CONTROVERSIAL pastor who claimed the Black Saturday bushfires were a consequence of Victoria decriminalising abortion will speak at a Portland church this weekend.
Pastor Danny Nalliah will appear at the Portland Church of Christ for three talks, after being personally invited by Pastor Mark Saunders.
Mr Saunders’ wife and church deacon Letitia Saunders said Mr Nalliah would be speaking about his experiences and spreading the Christian word.
“He’s got a lot to share,” Mrs Saunders said.
“He’s been a very good pastor around the world.
“In the days we’re living in now, the world in such a mess and we need more encouragement as Christians to stand up for what we believe in and to help other people know there is a way and that Jesus is the answer,” she said.
Sri Lankan-born Mr Nalliah is the evangelist leader of the Catch The Fire Ministries and the leader of the Judeo-Christian-based political party Rise Up Australia.
“He’s an international speaker (with) a Christian perspective,” Mrs Saunders said. She said the sessions with Mr Nalliah were open to everyone. “We want people from all different denominations,” she said.
“A lot of people need encouragement and need a word of comfort in the life they’re living these days.”
Mrs Saunders said she was aware of some of Mr Nalliah’s past controversies and admitted she did not agree with everything he said.
In 2008, Mr Nalliah linked the Black Saturday bushfires to the decriminalisation of abortion and suggested in 2011 that the Queensland floods were “God trying to get our attention” as a result of “Kevin Rudd speaking against Israel”.
While a candidate for the Family First Party, Mr Nalliah asked his parishioners pray that God would pull down “Satan’s strongholds” including bottle shops, gambling venues, mosques and temples, leading to Mr Nalliah being asked to leave the party.
“We don’t want any controversy,” Mrs Saunders said.
“I haven’t met the man ... but he certainly won’t be talking about anything that will cause any rows or problems. He has gotten in trouble before and we don’t want that.”
Mr Nalliah will speak at Portland’s Church Of Christ tomorrow at 7pm and on Sunday at 10am and 7pm.