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Five centuries ago, Martin Luther reformed the Christian church to prevent the marketing of religion. But in Africa, the debate over blending God and money is a very timely one.
Every miracle grows from a seed – at least that's the main tenet of the "prosperity gospel" as preached in an online video by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Nigeria. According to the pastor, a believer seeking God's help should first consider which seed is the most likely to produce his hoped-for crop. Someone who is in financial dire straits or is praying for a miraculous recovery from a disease must sow this "precious” seed. But Pastor Chris, as he calls himself, is actually talking about money.
"All giving is a demonstration of our faith in God and his word," he says. To the believers who give generously, the preachers of the prosperity gospel promise wealth, health and good luck. Those who sow a lot will reap even more later, they say.
Pastor Chris is the founder of one of many African churches that celebrate wealth. His "Christ Embassy" is one of the most successful, with two million followers on the social media platform Facebook. Three satellite TV-channels broadcast his sermons, miracle cures and exorcisms to Nigeria, South Africa ad Great Britain. And the pastor's acolytes are pretty generous. In 2011, Forbes Magazine estimated his wealth to be between 30 and 50 million USD (26 - 44 million euro). Wealthy preachers often live in luxury, as proof of the power of their prayers. But heavenly intervention is not responsible for this kind of success - all of the money comes out of the pockets of the faithful.
Blessed are the rich
Using faith as a money-maker is an age-old tradition. 500 years ago, the Catholic Church allowed sinners to redeem themselves by buying so-called "indulgences". The money was then channeled to the Pope in Rome. Martin Luther criticized the practice and started the Reformation of 1517, spliting Christianity into two and leading to the founding of Protestantism. The division persists to this day, although indulgences were abolished in 1562.
The prosperity gospel took over the practice of selling the blessing of the church. Critics say that this is tantamount to modern indulgences. Zambian pastor Conrad Mbewe, a 55-year-old Baptist who has a blog on Christian faith, sees an increase of people who go to the church hoping only for wealth, instead of building their relationship with God. "Rather it's that attraction that if they do so, they will get the money. It's superstition that is moving them,” Mbewe told DW.
In Luther's time it was difficult to check whether an indulgence was really saving souls from purgatory, Mbewe pointed out. But today anyone can see that the faithful who trust prosperity preachers are not getting rich. "A lot of people are embittered because they have parted with the little money that they had and it has not multiplied. Consequently, the name of God is getting a lot of bad publicity from these bitter individuals."
A global movement
The prosperity theology propagated mostly by Pentecostal churches is not a purely African phenomenon. In Latin and North America, as well as in Asia and Europe, there are self-appointed prophets and apostles who trade salvation for cash. Often this brand of Christianity has elements of spiritualism and shamanism, which attribute supernatural powers to the priests and pastors. According to Mbewe, the promises made by the churches' propaganda are similar to the ones made by traditional witch doctors.
Both market themselves as all-purpose weapons against disease, poverty, unemployment and childlessness. Often they are sought out by the poor who are looking for an explanation for their place in the world through the prosperity gospel and hope for a miracle to escape poverty.
Criticism of the prosperity gospel is also growing outside the churches. In 2015, Ghanaian artist Wanlov the Kubolor published a satirical song in which he prophesized the deaths of two famous TV-preachers. For Pastor Chris Wanlov he predicted death by an overdose of skin bleach. The artist was imitating the preachers who terrorized people with their prophecies only to sell them their personal prayers as a form of salvation. His song tried to turn the tables on the preachers.
"It's a game of numbers. They just try to keep increasing their congregation and membership size," Wanlov told DW, because this increases the chance that someone has a stroke of luck. Then the preacher can tell it happened as a result of their prayers "and people will show them their gratitude financially," Wanlov said.
Indulgence selling as a modern business
"It was the same in Luther's day," Conrad Mbewe told DW. "There were no indulgences in the Bible for anybody to refer to. It is the same today. There is nowhere in the Bible where they can go and point at a verse that says if you give your money to a preacher, God will multiply it." And as was the case in those far-off times, the people selling salvation are very powerful, Mbewe added.
According to the Baptist pastor, the preachers of the prosperity gospel increasingly occupy leading positions in church circles and are enhancing their political influence. Most clerics dare to complain only behind closed doors. Mbewe says he can afford to criticize the prosperity preachers publicly because he leads his own "Kabwate Baptost Church". Others would risk their jobs. But Mbewe hopes that more spiritual leaders will grow the courage to preach against the "modern business of indulgences", as happened once upon a time in the Protestant Reformation. "Individuals like Martin Luther spent their time teaching the word of God publicly in such a way that it clearly showed the error of those who were abusing the people,” Mbewe said.
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Jonathan Mthethwa was killed by three crocodiles as he carried out a religious demonstration in Zimbabwe.
Shocked witnesses said the clergyman had “prayed the whole week” before the stunt went tragically wrong.
He had also fasted in the lead-up to the attempted miracle, which was inspired by a Biblical tale of Jesus walking on water during a storm.
Horrified members of the Saint of the Last Days Church said the pastor was completely devoured in a “couple of minutes”.
He had waded around 30 metres into what was known locally as 'Crocodile River'. At this point he had promised his congregation he would rise up above the water.
Instead he was brutally attacked by a group of crocodiles who had been hidden in the deep water.
Deacon Nkosi said: “The pastor taught us about faith on Sunday last week.
“He promised he would demonstrate his faith to us today, but he unfortunately ended up drowning and getting eaten by three large crocodiles in front of us.
“We still don’t understand how this happened because he fasted and prayed the whole week.”
He said his death was quick and brutal.
Mr Nkosi said: “They finished him in a couple of minutes.
“All that was left of him when they finished eating him is a pair of sandals and his underwear floating above the water.”
Emergency services rushed to the scene but arrived too late to save the man.
Crocodile attacks are a regular part of life in Zimbabwe, where efforts are being made to reduce the number of fatalities.
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The meeting conveyed by Arch Bishop Samuel Kleda in Buea ended on an impasse as he failed to convince the bishop in Buea to accept that Catholic schools should resume in Fako. The meeting was held yesterday in Buea between the Bishop of Buea, Archbishop of Douala and president of the Episcopal conference to get schools started.
This was after the meeting earlier held between administrators of Littoral persuaded Bishop Samuel Kleda to make a call and ask parents to send their kids to school. According to the Bishop of Buea he could not work against the wish of the parents. He insisted the government should release all the detainees and open doors for fresh negotiations and dialogue.
To him, the Catholic Church has done her best to solve the Anglophone crisis but the government has given the church a deaf ear. According to an inhabitant of Buea, sending children to school is not a way to show that the government is concerned about the welfare of the Anglophones.
“The push by this regime to see mission schools open is only for the benefits of their Francophone kids who have flooded these mission schools. It has nothing to do with love for our own people, and seeing our kids educated. Only a return to the lost Southern Cameroons State can give our educational and legal system as well as other institutions the sustainability they need to survive” says a grumbling inhabitant of Buea.
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Young teenage girl on Friday April 21, 2017 confessed during a deliverance prayer carried out in a popular Pentecostal Church in Bafoussam that she was responsible for initiating hundreds of her school mates into the kingdom of Satan.
In a deliverance session which lasted hours, the young girl "uncontrollably" made shocking revelations on how she managed to carry out the initiation ritual.
According to the young girl, she used mainly sweets and biscuits to lure her victims in to the dark kingdom. She said, she would share them to younger students and classmates and once they ate her generous gifts they immediately began to accompany her to her evil abode in their dreams at night. That is how she has destroyed the destinies of many, she said.
Some parents who have children in the said secondary school have vowed to take their children out of the institution without delay.
“I have three children in this school and I cannot let them remain here because of things like this. On Monday I am going to withdraw my children from that school immediately and put them somewhere else” says a frightened parent.
Although this commotion has raised a lot of fear in the heart of parents and the entire Bafoussam community, many still believe that the best way to handle such things is to have continuous dialogue with children at home and warn them not to collect things from anybody.
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MESSAGE TO ALL PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN, MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S LAY FAITHFUL AND PEOPLE OF GOODWILL IN THE DIOCESE OF MAMFE
DIRECT SUMMONS TO THE BISHOPS OF BUEA, MAMFE AND KUMBA TO APPEAR IN THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE IN BUEA OVER CRIMINAL CHARGES
Dear Rev. Fathers,
Rev. Brothers and Sisters,
All Christ's Lay Faithful,
People of Goodwill in Mamfe Diocese
The Lord is risen Alleluia — Yes he is truly risen Alleluia.
On Monday the 17. of April, 2017, while We, of the Diocese of Mamfe, were celebrating our Priestly Ordinations and basking in our quiet enjoyment in Manyu Division, some people totally unknown to us from Fako Division, namely, Dr. John Lyonga Efande, lkome Williams Ligange and Alianto Ngala. through their Legal Counsel, Barrister Achu Julius Ngu Tabe, dragged us to the Court of First Instance in Buea, Fako Division and caused the State Counsel of the same Fako to summon the Bishops of Buea, Mamfe and Kumba to appear in Court on Monday the 24th. of April, 2017 at 9 am prompt. The seven charges against the Bishops could be summarized in that the Bishops have refused to reopen the Catholic schools and thus supporting the illegal strike of the Anglophone Teachers. These people are requesting that the Bishops be convicted and imprisoned and pay damages of 150 Billion CFA.
Coming at the splash of the Easter Joy, I can only see this as an attempt to spread the reign of darkness and get the prince of this world attempt to spoil our Easter Graces. But as you all know, the devil is a liar and we shall not give him the opportunity. I can only talk to you at this kind of trying moment in the words of Jesus who said to his Apostles, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me"(Jn.14:1).
As the Bishop of Mamfe, I stand by the Communique which all the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province wrote saying that "We have never closed schools and our doors remain open". The Bishop of Marnfe does not live in Fako, nor does he own schools in Fako and this makes me worried that anybody can sit down in any part of the country and decide that I am a criminal and I have to go to court to prove that I am not. It is all a calculated attempt by some forces of darkness. that we shall get to know sooner than later, to humiliate, intimidate and incriminate the Church and rub the bishops in mud with wanton disregard and disrespect for God, whom these men in spite their human weaknesses, represent.
They may end up discovering that they are fighting against God himself(Acts 5:39). It is the reign of the anti-Christ and this is not new. It is a struggle between light and darkness, it is a battle between good and evil, it is a wrestle between sin and righteousness and a confrontation of truth and lies.
This is exactly what happened to my Boss who is the Son of a carpenter, Jesus Christ. He was blackmailed and dragged from Annas the High priest to Caiphas and then finally put before Pontius Pilate who unjustly condemned him to death. Shame to death! On the third day he rose again from the dead — Alleluia. Now he lives to die no more. Jesus told us to expect this when he said; "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me (Jn.15:18-21)
As a true and law abiding son of this country, I will respect the call of the law of the state and appear before the court of Fist Instance in Buea on Monday, 24. April, 2017 at 9.am prompt. I will not waste Diocesan money, which we don't have, to hire a lawyer and I will not prepare any defence because I believe in Christ who said : "Watch out! Men will hand you over to the local courts. They will whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me. You will be witnesses to them and to those who aren't Jews. But when they arrest you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the right words to say. It will not be you speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you."(Mtt.10:17- 20).
I therefore call on all Christians of Mamfe to do the following:
1. Stay calm and restrain from any acts of violence, be it verbal, physical or even psychological, that will only make the situation worse. This is a call I made to all the Motor Bike Riders on the 31. of December, 2016 and to all the Youth of the Diocese during the World Youth Day on the 9. of April, 2017 and I am repeating to all Christians of Mamfe today.
2. From the 22. of April 2017, which is the 25. Anniversary of my ordination to the Sacred Priesthood, the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel shall be recited at the end of each Mass before the final blessing, immediately after the prayer for the Diocese of Mamfe. This prayer will go on in all the churches of Mamfe Diocese as long as the case goes on. The intention is for the conversion of the claimants and their sponsors, the good conscience and fear of God in the judges, for our entire country and for the strength of the Bishop of Mamfe.
3. Christians from the Diocese of Mamfe and Friends of the Diocese who wish to witness this trial are free to come to Buea on this stipulated day and time and join in this "Gethsemane" experience which your chief pastors have been subjected to.
Mamfe Diocese has always been One Family and I pray all the people of the Diocese to remain united at this time of difficulty. Remember that if there is no cross, then our Christianity is empty and there will be no resurrection. I wish all of you once again a very happy Easter and abundance of God's blessing.
Given in Galilee, Israel, this Friday, 21. April, 2017.
+Andrew NKEA,
Bishop of Mamfe.
(This letter is valid without a signature as I can produce the original any time)
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The adultery scandal involving the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman and a Canadian-based musician, Stephanie Otobo, is getting messier. The alleged ex-mistress of Apostle Suleman, Stephanie Otobo has released yet another evidence against the cleric - This time, Otobo released her Blackberry chats with the man of This is coming just hours after she released bank statement, which shows money transferred to her from Suleman Just days after releasing bank statement nailing the cleric to the wall, The singer made a new move to convince everyone who care to listen that her claims about the founder of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
In a series of screenshots made available by Sahara Reporters, it was noticed by NAIJ.com that the cleric allegedly had a very platonic relationship with the Canadian singer. It was also noticed that the duo enjoyed each other's company as they are seen calling themselves names like 'My bad habit', 'My jedijedi', 'My love', 'Naija Jollof', and so on.
Stephanie Otobo granted an interview with Canada-based Worship Media where she released her statement of account detailing alleged transfers from Mr. Suleman.
In the video, Ms. Otobo, who says she was an ex-mistress of the cleric, alleged that Mr. Suleman transferred N900,000, N200,000, and N1 million to her account on three different occasions.
She also disclosed that the cleric sometimes transferred the money himself. In the no-holds-barred interview, Stephanie also narrated that she met Mr. Suleman through a friend who got married in 2015.
She added that her friend gave her Mr. Suleman’s contact after she asked her how she knew the person she married was meant to be her husband.
Ms. Otobo also said her friend told her that a pastor in Nigeria (Mr. Suleman) revealed to her that her then fiancé is her rightful husband.
Narrating how their paths crossed, Ms. Otobo revealed that Mr. Suleman asked for her BBM pin after she contacted him when she flew into Nigeria in April 2015. She added that after the cleric saw her photos, he asked for more. She said Mr. Suleman then proceeded to ask her to be his girlfriend.
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