The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has received scathing criticisms from activists who reacted angrily to the manner in which the church is raising funds for its multi-billion naira auditorium.
At the just concluded 61st annual convention at the expansive Redemption Camp, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Enoch Adeboye, the church’s General Overseer, announced plans to build a new auditorium stretching three kilometres in length and breadth.
On the eve of final day of the week long programme, Mr. Adeboye appealed for donations for the new auditorium which would quadruple the church’s present auditorium which has an estimated capacity of about one million people.
“We need N1 billion from ten people. If you are one of them, please see my personal Secretary after we finish today,” Mr. Adeboye announced to the congregation.
“We also need N100 million from those who can afford it, if you are in that category. Please see my personal Secretary as well.
“Nonetheless, we need everyone’s involvement. If you can afford N50 million, N20 million, N5 million, N1 million to as low as N100, kindly make sure you participate.”
After the announcement, Mr. Adeboye sought to know the members who were “willing to join hands with our Father in the Lord to build a new auditorium to God’s glory.”
Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), said there was no way someone without a criminal record could afford such a donation.
“It is most inappropriate because there is no where the progenitor of such a faith did such a thing. Jesus Christ never cajoled people to make unwarranted donation to the church,” said Mr. Adeniran.
“Nobody in one lifetime with no criminal record can donate such an amount,” Mr. Adeniran added.
Abiodun Aremu, Secretary of Joint Action Front (JAF), said that the church is already neck deep in corruption and vanity.
“Church leaders are fraternizing with corrupt political leaders. The church is being used as an agent of exploiting the poor.
“When we call for a revolution, one of the institutions where the anger of the people would be visited is the church,” Mr. Aremu added.
When, on Saturday, the RCCG’s General Overseer asked those willing to donate to indicate their interest, hundreds of hands went up in the air.
The church divided prospective donors into three groups – Category A Brethren would pay N1 billion; Category B Brethren would pay N100 million; and Category C Brethren would pay N50 million and below.
Categories A and B are expected to meet with Mr. Adeboye’s Secretary.
Church members and supporters of Mr. Adeboye defended such mode of raising funds for a church project stating that the donations were voluntary.
Some of the church’s pastors approached by PREMIUM TIMES declined comments.
“I don’t think I would like to contribute to it,” one of the pastors said.
In his Jimi Disu’s blog, the journalist stated that such a method of raising money to finance church’s projects sets a “dangerous trend.”
“I should not bother myself with how a church raises money to finance projects but a dangerous trend is being set and we are made to believe if we cannot ‘donate’ a certain amount of money, we cannot see Daddy G.O’s personal Secretary,” said Mr. Disu.
“Such ‘privilege’ is for those that can donate handsomely for the work of God,” he added.
Mr. Adeboye is renowned for some of his ingenious ways of raising funds to finance projects in the RCCG.
Last year, he called for a fresh set of “covenant partners” after the life span of the old set, entered in 2002, expired.
Mr. Adeboye said that the life span of the new set of partners would be for three years.
“I thank God for all my partners and I say, thank you for the past ten years.
“Now the Lord says to me, the new set of partners will be for only three years. He said after three years, we can review,” Mr. Adeboye said.
The 2012 set of “covenant partners” were divided into ten groups – the lowest cadre, Group One would contribute N100 monthly, while the top most, Group Ten, would dole out N2 million and above every month.
Mr. Adeniran said that religion being the opium of the masses, people would be hoodwinked into believing that what the pastor said is from God.
During last week’s convention, Mr. Adeniran said that a member of his staff lost his 65 year old mother to a stampede that ensued during a worship session.
“Adeboye is fond of discussing miracles in his church, he never discusses misfortunes.
“It is a lopsided ministry, a ministry that cajoles people to bring what they have to the church,” Mr. Adeniran added.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/142649-pastor-adeboye-under-fire-over-multi-billion-naira-3km-auditorium.html

I dhe suspect dis baba D guy be like apc man

From whom will such an amount of money comes from if not politicians?Are we not encourage them to steal?I think it is high time we made it cear that stealing is corruption.

when God wants to bless people, he gives them a vision greater than them. God wants to raise billionaires that's why he's given a command to build a multi billion dollar house for him... at the end of this project God will be raising billionaires.
if solomon could build a temple made of all gold, and at the end isreal was so rich that one could pick silver and gold on the streets.

i know that at the end of this God will bless his children of which i am one of them.






MINET16

Ignorant Fools....When would they all wake up from there slumber?
I get that people are generally foolish but I don't get the audacity of a pastor to continue using there foolishness for his enrichment .
Well...May The God you people serve help you

Church business

..

There's God

God said his judgement will start from the church so its not my job to judge them whether they are right or wrong.


www.

If I work very hard for my money I don't think I can donate a 100 million naria but if I am a thief I can

I think too manys pentecostal churches in Nigeria are just money chasers. On my own scale of reasonably trustworthy, and socially responsible churches/ religions in Nigeria

The Catholic and Anglican churches in Nigeria come first for their activeness in charity and peace initiatives.
Followed by churches like the celestial church of God for their lack of money loving
Then I also respect the muslim community alot, they too are active in charity and help of the poor.

on the other hand we have churches like RCCG, Mountain on fire, winners, etc. I have never seen a hospital or orphanage built by any of these churches, and all i get from them is noise noise noise, proselytism, overly fanatic christian point of views, hypocrisy, money *loverment, and too much political *huggerment. I mean, on an individual basis the people are the same in all of them, but on a church/ religion wide basis the way their leaders behave are very different.

Do your own and leave judgement to God Almighty to judge.

AfricanGod2:
i'm just waiting to hear Osibanjos asset total, so i will know how wealthy rccg pastors are.

Don't forget he practices law and he's a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). So I would advise you not to use his net worth to judge his fellow Pastors!

when church donations become bidding process.. Smh

Erastus Akingbola comes to mind.

I'm ready to donate 1 billion if Pastor can pray for me to make 2 billion naira and it cam to pass

religion has caused more harm to the world than any other thing; corruption is learning.

#proudcatholic

I WILL REWARD U. VOTE AYIMA FOR MR NAIRALAND. www.nairaland.com/Ayima.

They push people to commit a lot of crimes that's why I stopped going to church

.

OREMUSSANCTUS:
I dhe suspect dis baba
D guy be like apc man

Heheh!.. Speaking I'll of a man of God.. At your own peril

CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE BOLD TO CALL THEIR LEADERS TO ORDER.
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR ALL MEN INCLUDING THE GO OF RCCG. WE ALL LIVE BY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

READ JOHN 4:20 AND BEYOND. THIS IS A BIG WASTE AND MISPLACED PRIORITIES.

WE HAD CHRISTIANS BRETHENS ( AND OTHERS) BEING DISPLACED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF NIGERIA BY BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS. I AM YET TO SEE WHAT RCCG (AS A CHURCH) AND OUR SO CALLED GO DID ABOUT IT.

WHY MUST THE AUDITORIUM BE IN LAGOS, THAT IS ALREADY CHOKED UP WITH MEGA CHURCHES, WHY DONT THEY ESTABILISH SAME IN THE NORTH OR OTHER PLACES OF NEED..

THE ALMIGHTY GOD THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH DOES NOT LIVE IN BUILDINGS CREATED BY MAN - ACTS 7:48, 17:24

THE ALMIGHTY IS MORE INTERESTED IN MAN SOWING SEED IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS IN NEED THAN FOR ONE TO BE SEEKING EARTHLY REWARD / PRAISE FOR HAVING THE BIGGEST CHURCH AUDITORIUM OR CONGREGATION IN THE WORLD - MATTHEW 25:21 - 46

THESE WILL ALL SUFFER ROT AND CORRUPTION - MATTHEW 6:19. THEY WILL ALL COME AND PASS AWAY - MATTHEW 24:35





MINET16 [/quote]

This is a man of God.... #TAlkNOT