MBARARA – Born again pastors from Ankole region have launched a poverty eradication campaign, a move they say is intended to draw preachers and believers attention to wealth creation.
They agreed to team up with the government through Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) to ensure they engage themselves in productive activities geared towards improving their livelihoods.
Bishop cylus Tayebwa of King of Kings church in Kamukuzi who doubles as the coordinator of the campaign said during the launch on Tuesday 15, that they have for long time concentrated only to preaching the gospel soul healing and neglected the gospel of prosperity that has left not only believers but even pastors impoverished turning some into beggars.
“At first we believed in the false teaching of some of the historical pastors that would preach miracles, people could remain confined in church waiting for miracles. This gospel of take it, claiming other peoples’ buildings, Visas without working had for long kept us in poverty, this time as Pentecostal churches we have to wake up,” he said.
He added, “I strongly believe that since we have chased demons in our churches now we can embark on the struggle to chase poverty with in our homes and to do this we have to partner with those government officials who are already in the field (OWC) to ensure we also benefit.”
He, however, noted that People of bad intentions with un-Godly values have infiltrated the church like those spreading homosexuality and the propagators have a lot of money and are targeting poor churches and leaders.
“It might be very difficult for some poor preachers to resist this temptation but when they are financially stable it becomes easily to be rejected,” Bishop Tayebwa said.
He said this campaign is an initiation of Pastor Jackson Senyonga who has already given the region Shs10 million to kick start.
Bishop Tayebwa said they are now going to mobilise all pastors to come with projects that will be supported through partnerships they have already made with government agencies like Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
Pastor Evary Baturaine, the secretary for born again churches in Ankole region said in some churches you can collect as little as Shs50,000 a month.
“These Christians, as well as pastors, have children, they need basic needs, confining them in churches anticipating for miracles in un-Godly, true we believe in miracles but these don’t stop us from working. We need to empower our believers economically; the bible and teachings of Jesus teach us about work, prosperity. We need to stop this gospel of making our believers beggars, “he said.
Col. Joram Bashaija deputy coordinator Operation Wealth Creation Ankole region said the move by pastors to realize the truth in fighting poverty makes them reliable partners and will work with them to see this campaign becomes a success.