Tahupotiki wiremu ratana biography of abraham

Ratana was raised by his foster mother Ria Te Ra I Kokiritia Ai Hamuera and was baptised into the Methodist Church. His aunt, Mere Rikiriki, ran the "Holy Ghost Mission" and had a reputation for faith healing. There was also a strong prophetic tradition within the Maori culture.

In 1881 a local Christian leader, Te Potangaroa, prophesied that a church would be raised up that would be just for the Maori people.

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People recognized as having a prophetic gift were called "the mouthpice of God" by the Maori. Ratana's aunt prophesied several times that Ratana would receive a sign from God and become a Maori spiritual leader. Ratana struggled in his early life with "hearing voices" which some people thought was mental illness and others the hand of God