A peek at the system churning out super-rich pastors

The Citizen
July 8, 2021


Nigerian megachurch pastor, Dr David Oyedepo

These are by no means inconspicuous, as they are often seen donning flashy attires, living in luxurious mansions, and driving expensive cars. They are usually flanked by half a dozen or more security men with dark glasses, and some even own multiple private jets. They are important people, and they want you to know it.

The world has a new breed of preachers – the superrich pastors.

These are by no means inconspicuous, as they are often seen donning flashy attires, living in luxurious mansions, and driving expensive cars. They are usually flanked by half a dozen or more security men with dark glasses, and some even own multiple private jets. They are important people, and they want you to know it.

The richest of them is Kenneth Copeland. Living in a $20 million mansion, and owning a $36 million jet, Copeland is the poster boy for superrich preachers. In fact, with an estimated net worth of at least $300 million, no one else comes close. While names such as Creflo Dollar, TD Jakes, TB Joshua, Joel Osteen, and Benny Hinn are more recognizable, those in the know understand who the true prosperity gospel patriarchs are, and Copeland ranks very highly.

The second name in the list of who is who among the superrich pastors is possibly the most interesting one, and that is the Nigerian megachurch pastor, Dr David Oyedepo. A university lecturer-turned-preacher, Dr Oyedepo presides over a ministry with branches in 65 countries. He is a founder and president of Covenant University, Landmark University, Faith Academy, and over 150 secondary schools, and presides over one of the largest churches in the world, with an auditorium that can sit at least 50,000 people. He has a net worth of $150 million.

It is difficult for those beyond Pentecostal circles to understand how powerful these preachers are. In a world full of misery and pain, these preachers offer a remarkably appealing alternative, so it’s no wonder that many respond to their message. However, at some point we must ask, how does a person who calls himself a full-time minister amass that kind of wealth?

To start with, it is important to recognize that there is a reason why this has become almost an exclusively Pentecostal (or Charismatic) phenomenon. It comes down to their understanding (or possibly misunderstanding) of certain doctrines.

Firstly, proponents of prosperity gospel preach that faith is a ticket to wealth and health. Thus, believers are called upon to exercise their faith by giving generous gifts as ‘seeds of faith’. While giving is nothing new, one doesn’t need to be a theologian to understand that Jesus’ apostles were quite poor, and often needed assistance. Have these modern preachers uncovered something that the apostles didn’t know? Something is not being said and, as a result, millions give sacrificially to people who only get richer and richer.

Secondly, since Pentecostals believe that God works miracles through prayers, they believe that there are some who have been ‘anointed’ to do more of that. That is, they have special divine unction to overcome obstacles of life. Thus, the anointment is the Pentecostal holy grail – and one of the ways of achieving it is by giving to those who are already uniquely anointed. So, if you have thousands of followers who consistently offer gifts to you to tap into ‘your’ anointing, it is only a matter of time before you start to swim in immense wealth.

Thirdly, beyond the two doctrines, many of the megachurch pastors are voluminous writers, a fact which helps to take their message far and wide. It is also a powerful way to create wealth. Often, they use their churches as exclusive distribution networks that guarantee millions of sales. For example, Bishop Oyedepo has published over 70 books, which are exclusively being sold in hundreds of churches across 65 nations. That’s a money-spinning sweet spot. While there is nothing wrong in getting royalties for one’s work, there is a problem in using one’s community as personal property.

Finally, there is a reprehensible lack of financial accountability in many Pentecostal churches, especially the non-institutional ‘ministry’ types. As generous as people are, they are never informed how the collections are used. Often, that is a loophole that unscrupulous ministers use to enrich themselves. I know of two cases in Tanzania where people contributed to the building of churches while no one knew where the sites were or where the money went! While many red flags are being ignored, sometimes the answers are not so direct.

For example, how do you explain a situation where a preacher who has four jets (a true story) asks his followers to send donations for him to purchase a fifth one? To many, that is a red flag, but what good is a prosperity preacher who doesn’t show off his blessings? The more people see and believe that God is working through him, the more they will want to tap into that stream of blessings by sending him money! You have to think like a Pentecostal to understand the system.

Now, we should not generalize that all pastors are unscrupulous swindlers, or that all givers are mindless zombies. That is simply not true. Moreover, we should not generalize that all millionaire pastors are corrupt. Many may simply be beneficiaries of the system that created them. However, we have to point out that there is something wrong with a system that is designed to enrich ministers while ignoring suffering members.

That system needs to be changed.

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/oped/a-peek-at-the-system-churning-out-super-rich-pastors-3465350

God has 'removed' coronavirus, Tanzania's president claims

TOM ODULA
AP
June 9, 2020

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s president is again claiming the country is free of the coronavirus because of the power of prayer — six weeks after his government stopped publicly updating virus data.

“Corona in our country has been removed by the powers of God,” President John Magufuli declared at a church service on Sunday. He praised the congregation for not wearing face masks, amid cheers from the faithful. He has warned that masks not approved by the government could be infected with the virus.

Tanzania’s number of COVID-19 cases has been stuck at 509 for six weeks as health officials, opposition figures and some neighboring countries worry that cases in the East African nation continue to climb. Opposition figures have estimated that cases could be in the tens of thousands.

While many African countries have been praised for their response to the virus, Tanzania’s Magufuli believes the pandemic has been greatly exaggerated and is being used by unnamed forces to sabotage the economy.

The president has questioned, even fired, health officials and refused to limit people’s movements, and he has claimed his son was healed of COVID-19 by drinking a mixture of ginger and lemonade.

“When I came to power they said we have cases of the Zika virus and I fired the person who announced that ... Since I fired him five years ago, Tanzania has not had cases of Zika,” Magufuli said at a teachers’ conference Friday in the capital, Dodoma.

“Then they said we have Ebola knowing that tourists will not come to a country which has Ebola and people will not work here if there is Ebola,” he said, adding that no one had died of that virus.

“Now we have corona. They said bodies will be lying on streets in Africa. But they did not know God loves Tanzania,” Magufuli said. “We prayed for three days and the coronavirus is finished.”

He said only four people are sick with COVID-19 in the country of nearly 60 million people.

The U.S. Embassy last month released a security alert asserting that hospitals in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, were overwhelmed with virus patients.

Opposition politician Zitto Kabwe later asserted that Magufuli had de-congested hospitals in an effort to show a low number of infections.

https://apnews.com/fcaaa816cd9ba159c840b5366107da50

Tanzanian albino children mutilated for witchcraft to return home from U.S.

Ellen Wulfhorst
FaithWorld
October 1, 2015

Mwigulu Magesa

Shy, soft-spoken Mwigulu Magesa, missing an arm from a brutal attack in Tanzania where albinos are targeted for their body parts, wants to be president some day and knows exactly what he will do when he takes office.

“If someone does such a thing like chopping a body part of a person with albinism or killing a person with albinism, he is sentenced to death the same day,” the 12-year-old boy said in Swahili through an interpreter.

“By hanging them,” he added in a stronger voice.


For now, Mwigulu’s days are filled with more cheery thoughts as he and three other Tanzanian children wrap up a summer in New York being fitted with prosthetic limbs and learning the simple childhood joys of splashing in a pool and playing backyard soccer.

But in the next few days Mwigulu, along with Pendo Noni, 15, Emmanuel Rutema, 13, and 5-year-old Baraka Lusambo will return to Tanzania, where people with albinism live in danger.

Albino body parts are highly valued in witchcraft and can fetch a high price. Superstition leads many to believe albino children are ghosts who bring bad luck.

Some believe the limbs are more potent if the victims scream during amputation, according to a 2013 United Nations report.

Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting about one in 20,000 people worldwide who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes. It is more common in sub-Saharan Africa and affects about one Tanzanian in 1,400.

United Nations officials estimate about 75 albinos have been killed in the east African nation since 2000 and have voiced fears of rising attacks ahead of this year’s election, as politicians seek good luck charms from witch doctors.

The government has banned witch doctors to stop the body parts trade but when these children go home, they face a future that can be bleak.

They may attend schools deemed “safe” but may live in one of a handful of government centers plagued by overcrowding, food shortages and little opportunity to work, said Ester Rwela, a social worker with Under the Same Sun, a charity that advocates for people with albinism.

The Canada-based charity works to provide protection, support and education for people with albinism.

Rwela accompanied the children to New York, where they have been cared for by Elissa Montanti, founder of the Global Medical Relief Fund which aids children injured in disaster or conflict.

The Fund has helped nearly 200 severely injured children and, while she has bid sad farewells to them all, the little ones from Tanzania have really touched her, she said.

“War is one thing, stepping on a land mine is one thing,” Montanti said. “But this is so deliberate. It is one human to another, causing such incredible pain that I can’t comprehend it.”

The children have been shielded as much as possible from harsh truths, spared news of other attacks and the disadvantages and discrimination that lie ahead, Montanti said.

Baraka, for one, does not know his father is accused of involvement in his attack six months ago and is under arrest in Tanzania.

Many attacks on albino children involve parents or close relatives, Rwela said.

Emmanuel can recount his ordeal in hesitant English but has a severe speech impediment. His attackers chopped off one arm and the fingers of the other and tried to pull out his tongue and teeth.

He stutters as he describes the attack by strangers wielding machetes and a hammer as he played outside. He spent five months recovering in a local hospital.

Courtesy of the Philadelphia Shriners Hospital for Children, he has been fitted with a hook for one arm and a toe was grafted on his other arm to help form a grip.

Like many with albinism, Emmanuel has poor vision. He holds books and papers inches from his face as he reads and helps Baraka practice writing his name in block letters.

Montanti said she made sure their time in America was filled with good memories as the children, sensitive to light, donned sunglasses, hats and plenty of sunscreen to play in the sun.

Mwigulu piped up that his favorite pastime was swimming, and Baraka lost his first baby tooth.

Emmanuel, blushing as the others giggled, said he liked seeing the topless women in Times Square who pose for pictures and solicit tips.

“They’ve had a wonderful summer,” Montanti said. “It’s safe, with a lot of love, activities and a lot of laughing.”


http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/10/01/tanzanian-albino-children-mutilated-for-witchcraft-to-return-home-from-u-s/

Tanzania arrests 32 witch doctors over albino murders

Fumbuka Ng'Wanakilala

DAR ES SALAAM

March 6, 2015

(Reuters) - Police in Tanzania said on Friday they had arrested 32 witch doctors this week as part of a campaign against ritual killings of albinos.

Activists say attackers have killed at least 75 albinos in the east African country since 2000 to use their limbs and other body parts as charms meant to guarantee success in love, life and business.

President Jakaya Kikwete last week vowed to stamp out the practice he said brought shame onto the east African country, and albino campaigners called on authorities on Friday to execute people convicted of the murders.

"The witch doctors were arrested in possession of different items, including potions and oil from an unknown source," the police chief in the north-western town of Geita, Joseph Konyo, told reporters.

He did not say whether they had been charged, or caught with anything relating to albinos, whose condition means they lack pigment in their skin, eyes and hair.

Seventeen people convicted of the murders are currently on death row, including four sentenced to death on Thursday -- but Tanzania has not carried out an execution for two decades.

"We want all those convicted of killing persons with albinism to be hanged without delay in order to send a strong message that these attacks will no longer be tolerated," the chairman of the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), Ernest Kimaya, told Reuters.

"We made this appeal directly to the president during our meeting with him this week and he expressed his commitment to us that the government will expedite the process of carrying out executions of death row inmates convicted of such killings."

Kimaya said the members feared the attacks, recently on the rise, would become even more frequent in the build-up to October elections, as some politicians turned to witch doctors to try to increase their chance of winning.

"It is true that there is a link between elections and a rise in attacks on persons with albinism. It is something that we are aware of," Kimaya said.

Similar beliefs exist in other African societies about albinos. But activists say attacks are particularly prevalent in Tanzania.

Home Affairs Minister Mathias Chikawe told Reuters the president had to give a written consent for an execution to be carried out.

(Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by George Obulutsa)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/06/uk-tanzania-albinos-idUKKBN0M213720150306