Famed German Pentecostal evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke does not take offerings at his crusades.
Bonnke who is holding crusades in Nigeria warned members of the public and, especially, participants at his ongoing Farewell Crusade holding in Lagos, that he does not collect offerings during his crusades.
“We are here to bless you; we have brought you gifts of salvation and deliverance; we are here to give and not to take anything from you” adding that;
“Anyone who asks you to give offering for this crusade is a thief and should be reported immediately.”
In Kenya, many pastors are infamous for asking gullible congregation to send money through M-pesa in order to receive certain blessings from God.
Preacher are known to scramble for TV airtime on Sunday so as to vaunt who has the biggest congregation, state of the art Churches and their extravagant lifestyles oiled by struggling brethren.
In one such incident at a Church in Embakasi, an infuriated pastor made his flock to stand during the entire sermon because they gave out little money during offering.
“Do you think the peanuts you give can buy the seats you eagerly seat on? In fact, stand up and whoever likes can leave,” he scoffed.
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Critics opine that Bonnke’s decision is a radical deviation from “normal practice” by many some open-air preachers who urge crusade participants to donate money for offering and other projects.
Many have lauded his decision to not raise offerings at his crusades is “an attestation to his sincerity” in only being concerned about “the salvation of souls.”
One such observer commended Bonnke’s “caring heart” for refusing to succumb to what he called “the temptation to exploit the crowd,” who he said would have given “generously” if asked.
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