Therefore, after rising from his knees in that solitary cell, he called for a ‘meeting’ in the usual manner. All the Loyalist Blanket Protesters came up to their cell doors to hear what he had to say; expecting some political poem or some morale booster. Instead, he announced, “Today I have taken the most important step of my life. I have renounced violence. I have repented of my sins. I have asked Jesus Christ into my life, and to save me – and I believe He has saved me. From this day forth I cease to be a Military Commander of the U.F.F. and wish only to be a mere volunteer in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ. I will seek to serve Him to the best of my ability. I just wanted you men to know this.”
There was a stunned silence in the H Block prison wing! After a while some made unbelieving and critical remarks such as, ‘what is the maniac up to now?’ However, today two of the men who made those remarks are born again, Bible-believing Christians serving the Lord in Belfast and have been for a long number of years. (Revelation 12:11)
When Kenny McClinton first went into prison he was semi-literate. After becoming a Christian, God gave him the patience to educate himself as his whole outlook changed dramatically. He painstakingly took correspondence courses with Emmaus Bible College. He took ‘O’ levels in English and R.S.A. exams. He did various educational courses over a long period of years with the Open University and gained a BA Honours Degree in Criminology and the Social Sciences.
After sixteen years of imprisonment McClinton was eventually released on licence in 1993. He has since then worshipped, and taught, in a number of Bible-believing churches, and views the Christian Church as a universal and international Body of born again believers, made up of all nations, colours, and former creeds; with One Head of the Church, Christ Jesus Himself. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
Employment experts have deemed Kenny ‘unemployable’ due to the high political profile he has and the manner in which he has spoken out against both terrorist violence and State oppression.
He was ordained as a Pastor in an international Missions Ministry called Moments of Faith International based in Texas, U.S.A. in 1995, and under the remit of his ordination, formed the Ulster/American Christian Fellowship Ministry. Many – both in America and in his native Northern Ireland, UK (Ulster) – have benefited from his forthright ministry and sound teachings in the Word of God. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Kenny met his present wife Wendy – a former Salvation Army Officer for fifteen years – in 1993 and they have a beautiful young teenage daughter, Abigail Catherine. Abby was saved in August 2003. They currently attend, and often minister, at many of the local Churches in Portadown. In recent years, Kenny has also had the privilege of undertaking Bible Teaching/evangelical preaching Missions out to India.
This family has been through the ‘fire’ and though the ‘water’ over the past decade especially – murder bids, death threats; slanderings; and social and economic marginalisation – yet the Lord God has never forsaken them nor failed to ‘…supply their every need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.’ Praise God! (Philippians 4:19)
Since September 11th 2001 and the terrible terrorist atrocity visited upon the great American Nation in New York, Kenny has been denied the necessary visa-waivers to come and minister in America. However, in the three years of dearth that has followed, God’s grace has been richly bestowed.
Kenny – through the accumulated writings of two decades of deep Bible study – has achieved a Master’s Degree in Theology (2002); a Ph.D. Doctorate in Philosophy (2003); and a second Doctorate in Literature (2004) with the European Theological Seminary, based in Birmingham, England.
“…Nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:28-39) (Philippians 4:13)
To talk to Dr Kenny McClinton is to talk to a man who has clearly had such a transforming experience that anybody would have to be totally bigoted to disbelieve in the power of God to perform such a miracle of regeneration. (John 3:3-8)
Even if a person’s background were entirely different from Kenny’s, after hearing his story a person would have to be kidding if he/she did not envy him and want what he has found in Christ Jesus the Son of God.
Today, the former ‘maniac McClinton’ stands before us, fully clothed, in his right mind, a completely ‘new creature in Christ.’ Behold him and give praise and all glory to the Living Lord God. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)