By Anthony Wonder Muhumuza

OPINION | A week ago I attended the annual gathering of winner’s worldwide at Canaan land in Otta Ogun state Nigeria hosted by my spiritual father Bishop David Oyedepo. It was indeed one of those conferences that leaves you fired up to take charge in every sphere of life.This church had over 200,000 thousand people in attendance daily on ground and millions online.

The church owns two universities Covenant University and Landmark University each is 5 times bigger than Makerere University. The church runs its own power plant and has never seen a blackout in 18 years. There are about 6 branches of banks some international on the church facility among many things. The church campus is so big if you attempt to walk from where you are staying to the church it could take you 40 minutes on the same property.
The church owns several square miles of property. The Prophetic theme was taken from Daniel 7:27 (KJV); And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.


The theme was; I have dominion. I returned indeed fired up and ready to scale new heights. After hours I arrived at Entebbe airport and the first thing that hit my eyes among many were the headlines below that I believe run on different days but in the same week. My spirit was immediately disturbed. I wondered what kind of news is this. I have come with the grace to break records financially and someone is waiting for me to regulate me.

I left people with theological training 18 years ago, they are stuck where I left them. Some can’t even evaluate their progress. Much as I attended two bible schools and got certificates, I do not attribute any of my progress in pastoring to any bible school but to my personal experience and lessons with The Lord Jesus and ofcourse mentorship from people that inspire me.

In fact one of the bible schools, I tore the certificate after I left because it was going to be a hindrance to me.
Let me tell you a little about my journey.
I finished university in 2004 but have never picked my certificate from MUBS. Reason is I don’t need it. I went straight into full time ministry serving with other pastor’s at different times. I have never earned a salary in my life yet I have been one of the most highly motivated workers you will ever find.

I have gone without food walked to and from church 10 miles everyday for years sometimes. All this was with an understanding that God blesses faithfulness.

In 2011, I founded Amazing Grace Faith Church by the leading of God. As many visionaries, few people believe you and support you at the start. In my case it was my young wife who had a fair job. She personally allowed God to use her to fund 80 percent of all operations at the start. That was a big sacrifice on our side. That meant we couldn’t live where we wanted to live or eat what we wanted to eat. Church was first and church will always be first.

I recall our weekly budget for church was 60,000shillings a week in 2011. Weekly collections or offerings that the government seeks to regulate were around 10,000 a week. So we were in a deficit of 50,000 every week and money had to come in by faith. It was so hard a task.

In 2013, we went “downer”. A few mistakes here and there caused us to sink into a very terrible financial situation. I was 38 million in debt. All because of church operations. At the verge of collapse I met a man who was Pastor at winner’s chapel by that time by the names of Pastor Aleyideno Wonder. He introduced me to a man and a book Understanding Financial Prosperity by Bishop David Oyedepo reported by Google to be the richest pastor in the world.
Just by reading that book and applying the wisdom, 38 million debt was paid in 3 months all other factors constant except the light I had received. Then suddenly I began to sore. Between 2015 and now I have seen our weekly budget sore from 60,000 a week to 12 million a week with ease.

My question is where was government when I walked to and from church as a pastor because I had sold my car to pay church rent. Where was government when my children delayed to start school because I had to attend to church first. I think government should regulate people it pays and sponsors and leave us men of faith alone or else….

Let me tell you; there is a breed of men of God you haven’t seen yet. We have been backed in God’s oven we delight in sacrifice. Yet we know our authority. There is absolutely nothing you can do to subdue us. Continue with your wicked schemes. If you end in peach we are not sent.

I have not yet even scratched the surface of prosperity but yes I drive an S Class Mercedes Benz that I didn’t pay a coin for. Just delivered by a church member. My plans are unbelievable not only for the church but also for me as a person. I’m going to make your current rich Ugandans look so average. We are going to redefine the word rich because it has been used on wrong people in Uganda. We are talking about rich with global relevance. For your information we don’t have a Ugandan billionaire and that is about to change. And I am speaking for my self and those I lead and many others that understand this mystery.
So as anyone thinks of regulating my wealth think of an impossible mission because my source is no longer with men. I serve a God recorded in 1 Samuel 2:6-9 King James Version (KJV)
6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
I wouldn’t advise anyone to imagine anything against our prosperity or think of putting stumbling blocks to our calling because they shall be referred to as people that used to be…..

Because we have dominion and we are absolutely unstoppable..

The writer is the founder of Amazing Grace Faith Church, Uganda.

http://ugchristiannews.com/my-take-on-government-move-to-regulate-pastors-wealth/

Lalasticlala

Not that i agree with everything he said but i think it is time kingdom minded believers aspiring for governance in Nigeria to get ready for a possible pushback of any government that intends to tax Nigerian churches.

Yes, regulations mandating churches to give certain levels of income based on stakeholders agreement to charities of their choice may be permissible. Even, regulations mandating transparency and accountability to members on financial matters is acceptable. Conferment of voting rights for members in the church on certain procurements like jets etc is equally acceptable.

However any form of taxation to be given to Federal government must be rejected completely. We will not pay church tax to a govt who mismanages funds and would use it to subsidize hajj and islamic activities while barring christians from freely operating in the north. They would also not deceive us with mosque tax as muslims give less than a tenth of what christians give in churches. Already, Christian dominated regions produce 90% of the Nation's wealth and individual christians will not bear more burden by being made to pay any other indirect tax to govt.

Dem no go gree.

The unseen battle is real. A theiving govt that siphons money involuntarily collected as tax and natural resource proceed is trying so hard to regulate money voluntarily enthrusted to pastors who are even helping out the govt.

Christian=Christ like

Church=body of Christ

Tithe=Christ didn't pay or accept tithe but the church does.

Tax=Christ paid tax but the church doesn't want to pay.

spongeisback:
Christian=Christ like

Church=body of Christ

Tithe=Christ didn't pay or accept tithe but the church does.

Tax=Christ paid tax but the church doesn't want to pay.

Christ didnt pay tax from collections and contributions
Next!

Of course he didn't. Because unlike you gospel merchants he didn't fleece his sheep but He still PAID tho because he know the government needed the money what they needed it for was NON of his business.

Give unto Caesar doesn't only apply to members.

Don't quote me AGAIN.

felixomor:

Christ didnt pay tax from collections and contributions
Next!

spongeisback:
Of course he didn't . Because unlike you gospel merchants he didn't fleece his sheep but He still PAID tho because he know the government needed the money what they needed it for was NON of his business.

Give unto Caesar doesn't only apply to members.

Don't quote me AGAIN.

You already exposed yourself by the bolded statement

So dont expect the church to.
Besides its not your "fleecing"
Stop taking panadol for another people's headache

spongeisback:
Christian=Christ like

Church=body of Christ

Tithe=Christ didn't pay or accept tithe but the church does.

Tax=Christ paid tax but the church doesn't want to pay.

Christ paid personal tax not "church income tax". What Christ paid was a statutory tax levied by the govt of ceasar on individuals which is no difference to radio and television tax levied by the Nigerian Local governments There is no record anywhere that Jesus paid tax on revenue collected from his worshippers. And yes there is sufficient proof that Jesus collected offerings because Judas was acknowledged to be the treasurer.
Lalasticlala

HigherEd:

Christ paid personal tax not "church income tax". What Christ paid was a statutory tax levied by the govt of ceasar on individuals which is no difference to radio and television tax levied by the Nigerian Local governments There is no record anywhere that Jesus paid tax on revenue collected from his worshippers. And yes there is sufficient proof that Jesus collected offerings because Judas was acknowledged to be the treasurer.

Thank u sir.
Taxing the contributed income of a church is like asking to business partners to pay partnership tax on the initial capital they use to set up their establishment. You are attempting to tax people who gathered their money under the watch of their God sent and personally accepted prophets not considering the fact that there is no monetary returns in sight.

HigherEd:

Christ paid personal tax not "church income tax". What Christ paid was a statutory tax levied by the govt of ceasar on individuals which is no difference to radio and television tax levied by the Nigerian Local governments There is no record anywhere that Jesus paid tax on revenue collected from his worshippers. And yes there is sufficient proof that Jesus collected offerings because Judas was acknowledged to be the treasurer.

Jesus didn't collect offerings.

Offerings in standard English is different from offerings in religious terms.

Jesus received gifts from his students, many of whom were people who had benefited from his healing ministry.

It was not unusual in those days for traveling teachers like Christ to receive gifts from students and well-wishers.

BluntBoy:


Jesus didn't collect offerings.

Offerings in standard English is different from offerings in religious terms.

Jesus received gifts from his students, many of whom were people who had benefited from his healing ministry.

It was not unusual in those days for traveling teachers like Christ to receive gifts from students and well-wishers.

Difference between six and half a dozen again. Whether it's gifts or offerings it was donated by those who were blessed by Jesus ministry and he did not pay tax on it o. Moreover most pastors already pay PayE on their salaries.

HigherEd:

Difference between six and half a dozen again. Whether it's gifts or offerings it was donated by those who were blessed by Jesus ministry and he did not pay tax on it o. Moreover most pastors already pay PayE on their salaries.

How so? How are pastors taxed when the church is not taxed?

Jesus may not have paid tax from the donations he got, but then, He Himself said we should give to Caesar what is Caesar's.

If the government eventually taxes the church, then they should have no problems adhering.