Churches Now Do Tax-Free Business ‘In God’s Name’

By Christelle Megne & Namondo Mbonde UB Journalism Students On Internship

Until recently, landmarks in Cameroonian townships were mostly represented by off licences. There was an average of one off licence to every 20 buildings in every given town in the country. Descriptions of residences and other locations were inevitably pegged on off licences.

This building houses the Pentacostal Assembly of the World Church (Solution Centre) in Great Soppo, Buea.The frustrated and desperate, flock in day and night for the elusive miracle.

  The same went for the villages, including the enclaved ones. So much was done to dot such drinking places in every imaginable nook and cranny of the country. Social critics referred to the proliferation of off licences as a social sedative, intended to keep the citizenry off any critical thinking and meaningful political participation.

Pastor Joseph Foabeh:Proprietor,Solution Centre, Great Soppo Buea

Today, the country's near bed-ridden economy is dictating otherwise. Heavy taxes have been imposed on liquor, with a concomitant decline in the number of off licences and bars.

An apparent decline in the purchasing power of the average boozer has naturally induced sombre reflections; the kind that sets the individual turning to God as it were.
Hence the resort to the proliferation of church houses in replacement of drinking houses.
The mushrooming of these denominations could be said to be alarming.

The Southwest Province alone counts 91 of them, according to administrative sources. This is a very modest number, when compared to other Provinces. And they are growing yet.

A crash in the cinema business meant that denizens were in, for a new kind of cinema entertainment…miracles, as professed by the proliferating Pentecostals. The unused cinema houses have all been taken over, converted to church houses. Here, Pastors and other emergency preachers practically thrill congregations with a "mastery" of the bible and what they claim is their ability to perform miracles.

Pastor Paul Nkali:Remnant Pentecostal Ministry,Small Soppo, Buea

They have also taken over the warehouses of bankrupt businessmen, converting them into thriving church businesses "In God's Name PLC".Here, they claim to cure terminal illnesses; to intercede for people desperate for contracts, jobs, husbands and children.

There is, of course, a mutual understanding, for instance, that 10 percent of every franc or other such fortune gained through their miracles, is compulsorily paid to the miracle pastor.

Pastors of the mainstream denominations are, understandably, wary by the rapidity with which their "competitors" are gaining fame and converts. Yet, few, or none of them at all, believes in the validity, nay, genuine spirituality of these latter day religious crusaders.

"Some are not churches; they are occult groups, who put the name of the church when in reality, they have nothing substantial about Christianity," Presbyterian Synod Clerk, Rev. Dr. Festus Asana told these reporters. But while some proponents of these churches view their proliferation as a call from God, the Synod Clerk thinks otherwise. To him, it is rather, a call to financial exploitation.

One of them told us: "I had a call from God; He called me to do His work. I was praying; I had a vision to create a church. I started with my family and people started coming; we started teaching the word of God… and when I started praying, people's problems were solved and they started abiding like members," Pentecostal Assembly of the world's Pastor, Joseph Foabeh said.

Rev. Dr Asana:PCC Synod Clerk

Another Pentecostal church Pastor gave a similar reason. According to Paul Nkali, "It was a call from God and an inspiration." For certain Pentecostal Christians, they leave the mainstream to Pentecostal churches because "the Bible is more exposed and because the former skip some parts, selectively preaching only those that favour them".
For Thaddeus Ifeanyi, who left the Catholic for Deeper life church, the knowledge of the Bible is more exposed in his newfound church, whereas, the Catholics "search the Bible, escaping some places and looking out only for those places that favour them".

He considers Pentecostals to be believers and Christians of the mainstream churches orthodox. To him, believers are people who go to church, and do not repeat their old sins while orthodox Christians, go to church only to later on repeat their old sins.
Asked if they were out to preach the Gospel or to simply and massively recruit people into their churches, he replied that they convince people not to join the church but Christ.

"The spirit convinced and led me to worship God in my present church" a former Anglican Church Christian now of "Living Rock Ministry", Chinyere Anokwute added.
"I felt in my spirit that the way I was worshiping God was not the right way, so I had to quit the Baptist Church for the Pentecostal Assembly of the world." Edward Manga told these reporters.

"I think moving from one church to another is not religious prostitution. Religious prostitution means living Christianity for Bahaism, Islamism and the rest" he added. He claimed that the mainstream churches do not have the Holy Spirit.

"Some of these new churches are businesses; they exploit people financially and mentally", says PCC Synod Clerk, Rev. Dr. Asana adding that worst of all, they affect people's psyche and mislead them, exploiting them financially and psychologically.
Most Christians who leave the main churches for Pentecostal churches, Dr. Asana adds, are people seeking quick solutions to their problems. People who are disappointed in one-way or the other; frustrated people, unemployed, the sick and others seeking miracles.

"Some of these Churches and groups say, 'come and get your miracles', they advertise miracles, not preaching salvation. It is not Biblical that we find quick solutions to situations, Asana says.

At the Bethany Baptist Church Buea Town, Pastor, Thomas Lifambe said most of these new churches are moneymaking, because those who create them, make themselves masters over same. Pastor Lifambe did not deny the charge that the mainstream churches selectively apply the Bible. He said that the congregation was too large to meet the needs of all Christians (sic).

Rev. Fr. Andrew Nkea, Secretary to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buea said something to the contrary. The preaching of the Catholic Church, he said, has been divided in all books in the Bible and therefore, they (Priests) never leave out any.

On the cases of people who have gone mad after attending certain Pentecostal churches, Rev. Asana went on to give an example of a Presbyterian School whose students gathered in a class with a Bible in the middle, making incantations to the devil. This group of students was dismissed.

Rev. Fr. Nkea sees the "Born Again" churches, are ecclesial communities, " because the only church is the Catholic and the sister churches are those that broke off from it". To him, Christians leave the main Church because they do not understand their doctrine and want miracles which he preferred calling phenomena.

"The ecclesial communities are created for economic reasons. I will not fear to tell you that the church is a lucrative business. If you want to get rich without effort, open a church", Father Nkea told us. To him, some people give a lot of money to the church as a means bribing God.

In such a case, he said, life becomes a bargain across the counter and relationship with God narrowed to a bargain. Nigerians, he said, have understood this strategy of making money very well. "Any Nigerian who wants the easy way out, starts a church and most of them are not for Christian but economic motives," Rev. Fr. Nkea explained.

One prominent characteristic of the Pentecostals is screaming in prayer and being generally boisterous. Another is targeting their intended "recruits" in the wee hours of the morning, when they take from street to street, neighbourhood to neighbourhood, preaching repentance to "sinners". They are often undaunted by the fact that they are disturbing the public peace. Fr, Nkea says of this:

"The shouting and crying in most Pentecostal Churches is a sign of disorder and God is a God of order. Where there is disorder, it shows that there is no God," Fr. Nkea noted.
An administrative source we talked to indicated that government was planning to take measures to reduce the alarming growth of these churches.

"The government is intending to ban illegally operating churches but the decision is slow because it deals with spiritual matters", he said."The government should examine the content of their preaching before banning them", says Rev. Asana.

"There is, first of all, no universality in their worship. The content of their preaching should be checked before authorization. They should equally have technical advisers on religious matters, because it is religious criminality when some of these small groups practise scandalous things," Rev. Fr. Nkea noted.

Pastor Lifambe of the Bethany Baptist church thinks otherwise. Hear him:"The churches should operate, because they worship God and they touch every aspect, because they are in small groups".

A distinct phenomenon of the "Born Again" churches is the composition of members of their congregations. Many of them are retired prostitutes, drug addicts, husband or job seekers and ex-convicts.

On if Cameroon was likely to experience any religious intolerance and, or uprising, going by the growing trend of bigotry and fanaticism of the "Born Agains", Pastor Lifambe said there wasn't any such chance. His reason: They worship God and they touch every aspect, because they are in small groups.

But to Rev. Dr. Asana, already there is a rising conflict because of the different names such as orthodox, unbeliever and others, the Pentecostals give the main stream Churches.

Comments

[Radical For Christ]

Jesus is LORD!!!! His Mission Statement is found in Luke 3:18,19, John 10:10 and Matthew 9:11-13 (New King James Version) I firmly believe that the entire Bible- The Infallible Word of Almighty God- is an encyclopedia of RECOVERY! You might wanna call it recovery or second chance! Yeah. God gives humanity HOPE- for a new beginning. That is why the very FIRST words in the Bible (Genesis Chapter 1 verse 1) starts with these words.."In the beginning.." God is a God of new beginnings. I write first and foremost in reaction to why a greater part of the congregation in the non-denominational churches ("Born Again" if you will) are ex-prostitutes, ex-convicts, one "ex" or the other, and those seeking solutions! Yeah the Bible is for such moreso. If you are no stranger to the Bible, then you should know that the Outstanding "Characters" or personalities in the Bible are "Ex- so or so": Mary Magdalene (who was the first at the tomb to anoint the body of Christ) was an Ex-prostitute, Abraham (Whom God called His friend), Isaac, Jacob (the Patriarchs), Moses, David (A man after God's Heart), to name but these. And most amazing of all, Luke Chapter 15 records the mind-boggling story of the Prodigal Son and the uncondition and bountless Love and Mercy the Father (Analogous of Almighty God) shows the repentant son. Besides, Jesus offers an invitation in Matthew "Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest" (Mtt 11:28-30) In other words, The Master Jesus came exclusively for the Lost, needy and suffering, for Mtt 18:11 (NKJV) says the "Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost". While He walked the shores of Galilee, He hung with the lepers (outcast), held miracle crusades, fed the Hungry, interacted with Prostitutes, had lunch with tax collectors, etc. When questioned by the Pharisees why he did such- His response was "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick" (Mtt 9:11-13 NKJV)

[Radical For Christ]

Issues concerning non-denominational ("Born Again") churches are quite "delicate" and ought to be approached with equal care- as man's wisdom is limited and only an Omniscient (All-knowing) God who knows and searches every heart is aware or the "good" and the "bad". He is the Righteous Judge.
@ Mbu B I love your comment on God's sovereignty! He alone is perfect! It's time the "Church" (according to Fr. Nkea and in ref to the RCC) understood that there is only One Lord, One faith and One Baptism according to Eph 4:5 (NKJV).
@ Mona, I must commend your comment. Testimonies are powerful tools against the enemy (Satan) and have the power to light a brethen's "gloomy day"- stir up faith if you will. Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) says "And they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.." Besides, the RCC strongly believe in their dogma (which they consider a legacy handed them by Jesus) and the logic is that any other that does not resemble theirs is debunked (of which is myopic)
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Bible-believing Church. So long as it is a Bible-Believing, it is in line with God's will and that is the essence. It does not matter whether they sing and shout. What matters is whether they do worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23) All I know is that the Holy Spirit takes absolute control and does lead the praise/worship. The Bible says to "Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord all the lands! (Psalm 100:1 RSV) The Holy Spirit is the Teacher ( 1 Cor 2:13) Let Him teach you and guide you in ALL truth.
Summarily, it's all about God and mankind's "quest" or desire for an intimate relationship with Him- as was between God and Adam in the Garden of Eden before the fall! There is a vacuum in us which only God can fill. I call it the "God Space" nothing short of God can fill it- not sex, not drugs, not crack not boyfriend/girlfriend, money, fame, notoriety, not even CHURCH etc. if you go to any church (no matter which- RCC, PCC, CBC, non-denominational etc) you may be dissatisfied because they are NOT the answer! JESUS is! NOT the Priest, Pastor nor Deacon.
The Lord is near to the Broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. It's about a yearning to know Him and experience the fullness of life, living according to His will and purpose for your life. Yes! your life does have a purpose. There is a special reason for your existence (Eccl 3:1)
Jesus said in Matthew 12:25 that "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Solomon writes in Ecclesiases 3:14,15 (NKJV) "I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past."

[Radical For Christ]

These are great sites you wouldn't want to afford missing out on. I mean you can watch Live Broadcasting:
-http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2.html
http://www.bennyhinn.org/television/tiyd.cfm
-http://www.wisdomcenter.tv/
-http://www.streamingfaith.com

[Stone]

Thanks for the sites Radical For Christ. I know I will be blessed through this sites.Thanks once more and God bless you for being a radical for his kingdom

[Ma Mary]

Check out THE AGE OF REASON by Thomas Paine. Free on the internet.

[epizi]

Dear Brethens,
Like I said sometimes in an Advanced Levels religious studies lecture, the proliferation of new religious movements,sects and secret society is a call for concern.First not only because they have different appraoches to a said issue,but the ambiquity surrounding their operations,existence,management and survival is a question that must be address carefully.Ofcourse when an institution runs through ages, recognises what it takes to survive, then later sees others surving they may need to raise thesame doubts the author of this article sticks to.More troubling, I must say, is not that there are not well willed groups out there(I dare not called them churches)but how daunting it is to draw clear cut lines between the secrecy of what they abide to and the sacredness they purport to mankind.I tell you, there are many who have come in this way and before long the real motive seems deeply embeded in material gains as well as strong secret linnings.

However my view about this is that for once when we address such issues publicly like the author of the comment above (radical for christ) just did, we must be clear of our opinion so well express by avoiding using alot of quotations since our views whether referenced by verses is not necessarilly unique.It is not a sermon, for most cases that have been imposed to be considered the truth. Moreso I wonder if we track the ongoing evolution in christain living,alot of names and adjective out there to decribe our first impressions.Just right here we have a said Radical for Christ,elsewhere there is Giants in the Lord, heretically we here of Bishop titles awarded indiscriminately. Mortal man, trace your mortality, hold less strong to the debates of the world because no one holds the truth,therefore when the government address issues of the state, churches clarify issues living ,then left on you to address issue of your personal evolvement while spiritual atainment left just for God to judge.

I will be back!!

Save Me

[Abaka Lawrence Enoh]

WE have fallen short of the glory of God.What I will advice the government to do, is to ask the pastors or preachers to present thier theological credentials which might be use as a parametre in determining thier knowledge of the scripture.
I know so many victims who have been bankrupt by Nigerian fake pastors in kumba and Vanish in thin air.. My friend who is a pastor has been detain twice for a case of rape, I am not afraid to tell his name if you ask I will tell you.
Catholic Church, Pressbeterian Church,Moslems,Baptist do not make poblicity because the scription is not for sale... We claim to God that we are inteligent, so he has put infront of us good and bad to choose.
What, most pentacostal churches are practising is call "Religious harrasment and biblical terorism" They most be call to other.. girls are most of thier victim.

Abaka Lawrence Enoh
Aalborg University
Denmark.