Dr. mensa otabil, Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah and Matthew Ashimolowo
To make a special call on Christians to give out specific and huge amounts of money as offering is an accepted practice and an important part of the Christian ministry, Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of Gospel Light International Church, has stated.
The Christian leader made the statement in reference to the hullaballoo generated over reports that attendees at the 2017 Greater Works Conference initiated by Pastor Mensa Otabil’s International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) were being asked to pay specific amounts of money as ‘faith offering’ so as to receive specific miracles expected to happen over specific short periods, sometimes within 24-hours.
“I believe people who do not understand Christianity and the whole ministry of special offering ought to be cautious in their public utterances and criticisms on this matter. The ignorance is sad and it is even sadder to hear some church leaders who go public to condemn what happened and even call on the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to arrest Dr Otabil.
“Those who do not believe in faith offerings and would not take time to learn from the Bible that faith offerings are very biblical and directions from God should stop using their lack of faith to discourage others from practising their faith,” Bishop Addae-Mensah stated.
He specifically mentioned the names of Nicholas Osei, popularly known as Kumchacha, leader of Heaven’s Gate Ministry International, and Prophet Isaac Owusu-Bempah as examples of persons who have publicly chastised Dr Otabil and ICGC over the issue.
“Ministry goes beyond celebrity status and if you are bereft of revelation, you begin to question certain things. Sometimes lack of appreciation for leaders and lack of knowledge makes people say certain things. How can you say the BNI should arrest Dr Otabil? I can tell you that I have paid faith offering before and received an unexpected miracle, so some of us believe in this faith thing and we know it works. The money from Greater Works would not be used by Dr Otabil to enrich himself.
The money goes back into God’s work. This was a conference which attracted some hundred and fifty thousand persons from Ghana, Africa and Europe. The church played host to several of the international guests. Think about the cost of that and then add the cost of the event logistics and the cost of other things that goes into organising such a conference. Even the workers alone for the conference and I am talking about ushers, protocol, security, drivers and what have you were around 5,000. It was not a small conference and I tell you when over one hundred and fifty thousand Christians gather in one country and are united in prayer for days at one event venue, certainly, heavens would open and pour some blessings and protection on the country,” Bishop Addae-Mensah added.
He disclosed that it is on record Dr Otabil’s church is the biggest donor to the Children Cancer Unit at Korle-Bu, the church started Central Aide several years ago and has since sponsored the education of thousands of persons.
“In those days, Mensa Otabil did not even have a car; he started Central Aide to support the academic education of people. Then later he had an old green Fiat we used to push before it starts. Central Aide is still there and all these things cost money.”
Foreign Currency
On the subject of requesting for the faith offering in foreign currency, specifically United States dollars, this was how Bishop Addae-Mensah explained it:
“Let us not forget that the conference had a lot of international guests who may not be familiar with our local currency. The preacher himself that was led by God for that exercise is not from here. That may be reason it was mentioned in US dollars and then its equivalent in our local currency.”
He gave an example of how there are local hotels in Ghana but because they are patronised by foreign guests, they often advertise their rates in US dollars.
Matthew Ashimolowo
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo was actually the person who made the special altar call for the faith offering and asked that the money should be paid into a particular bank account for the church.
“Matthew Ashimolowo has a special unction on him and many of us can testify to this. He has a supernatural unction for financial and business breakthrough and when such a person says he has been directed by God for people to make special faith offerings for financial breakthrough, why do you doubt?
“The Bible teaches us in 2 Chronicles 20:20 to believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. There are also several examples of God requesting for specific types of offering and from specific persons.”
No Seed, No Harvest
Bishop Addae-Mensah explained that there cannot be a harvest without planting of seed. “If you want to harvest, you sow a seed and even if you want a child, you have to put the seed in a woman for it to grow.
Making money has the same law; you do not pray to have money. You give an offering, you sow a seed of faith before you have money and you have to sow on a fertile soil. This principle is working for those who are willing to use their faith to make money. But what is happening now is that lack of knowledge and lack of revelation is making people say the wrong things,” Bishop Addae-Mensah stated.
By Halifax-Ansah-Addo