No light, no
job, no fuel, no money to spend anyhow
except for specific reasons due to the economic crisis in the country.
According
to investigations carried out by Saturday PUNCH:
job, no fuel, no money to spend anyhow
except for specific reasons due to the economic crisis in the country.
According
to investigations carried out by Saturday PUNCH:
“Churches
are experiencing the impact of the economic crisis and the attendant cash
crunch with considerable drop in tithes and offerings by members. Beyond the
drop in churches’ cash inflow, our correspondents learnt that there has been
increasing demand on the church leaders by their congregation for financial
support towards feeding, accommodation and children’s tuition.
are experiencing the impact of the economic crisis and the attendant cash
crunch with considerable drop in tithes and offerings by members. Beyond the
drop in churches’ cash inflow, our correspondents learnt that there has been
increasing demand on the church leaders by their congregation for financial
support towards feeding, accommodation and children’s tuition.
Pastor Dayo
Ajisafe, The founder of True Vine Bible Church, Akure, stated that the
attendance on Sunday services in the church had dropped from 500 to between 200
and 350 members, while an average of 90 members attend midweek services. He
blamed the development on irregular payment of salaries to workers in the
state. Ajisafe said, “We used to have as much as N350, 000 as offering on
Sundays in our services and as much as N1m as tithe monthly. But now, we hardly
get N150, 000 as offering and N400, 000 as tithes monthly because most our
members are civil servants and little comes from businessmen and women.
Ajisafe, The founder of True Vine Bible Church, Akure, stated that the
attendance on Sunday services in the church had dropped from 500 to between 200
and 350 members, while an average of 90 members attend midweek services. He
blamed the development on irregular payment of salaries to workers in the
state. Ajisafe said, “We used to have as much as N350, 000 as offering on
Sundays in our services and as much as N1m as tithe monthly. But now, we hardly
get N150, 000 as offering and N400, 000 as tithes monthly because most our
members are civil servants and little comes from businessmen and women.
Pastor Festus
Oyewunmi of Arise and Build Bible Church, Ibadan, shared similar experience. “They
want the pastor to dip his hands into his purse and pay for their transport and
feeding for a whole month, especially in smaller churches in places like
Ibadan.” Also, the Senior Pastor at the Worship Centre and Apostolic Church,
Oregun, Lagos, Seyi Adeyemi, described the church as part of the society,
saying, “the church consists of people who engage in various economic
activities and if they are being impacted by the economic situation in the
country, it will affect their ability to meet their obligations in terms of
tithes and offering, which are the major sources of revenue for a church that
does not engage in commercial activities.”
Oyewunmi of Arise and Build Bible Church, Ibadan, shared similar experience. “They
want the pastor to dip his hands into his purse and pay for their transport and
feeding for a whole month, especially in smaller churches in places like
Ibadan.” Also, the Senior Pastor at the Worship Centre and Apostolic Church,
Oregun, Lagos, Seyi Adeyemi, described the church as part of the society,
saying, “the church consists of people who engage in various economic
activities and if they are being impacted by the economic situation in the
country, it will affect their ability to meet their obligations in terms of
tithes and offering, which are the major sources of revenue for a church that
does not engage in commercial activities.”
According to
Pastor Emmanuel Oyegoke of the Gospel Faith Mission International, Ikorodu,
Lagos, the message for the people at this time is to look unto God. He said,
“There is no cash flow, there is inflation, there is no fuel, no electricity
and there is hike in transport fare. So, it is affecting the purse, businesses,
and the health of the people. Some members of my church stay home because of
the situation.
Pastor Emmanuel Oyegoke of the Gospel Faith Mission International, Ikorodu,
Lagos, the message for the people at this time is to look unto God. He said,
“There is no cash flow, there is inflation, there is no fuel, no electricity
and there is hike in transport fare. So, it is affecting the purse, businesses,
and the health of the people. Some members of my church stay home because of
the situation.
Oyewunmi said,
“The church is a component of the society. So, what is happening in the society
will affect the church. Before, members would pay little, but now, they are not
ready to pay anything. In fact, they are looking for ways to get something from
the church. “They want the pastor to dip his hands into his purse and pay for
their transport and feeding for a whole month, especially in smaller churches
in places like Ibadan.” He added, “If the
income of a church reduces, its ability to assist more people will also be
curtailed. Be that as it may, people are still expecting more from the church
in spite of what is going on. So, most churches now provide transportation to
assist members get to church.”
“The church is a component of the society. So, what is happening in the society
will affect the church. Before, members would pay little, but now, they are not
ready to pay anything. In fact, they are looking for ways to get something from
the church. “They want the pastor to dip his hands into his purse and pay for
their transport and feeding for a whole month, especially in smaller churches
in places like Ibadan.” He added, “If the
income of a church reduces, its ability to assist more people will also be
curtailed. Be that as it may, people are still expecting more from the church
in spite of what is going on. So, most churches now provide transportation to
assist members get to church.”
According to
Pastor Emmanuel Oyegoke of the Gospel Faith Mission International, Ikorodu,
Lagos, the message for the people at this time is to look unto God. He said,
“There is no cash flow, there is inflation, there is no fuel, no electricity
and there is hike in transport fare. So, it is affecting the purse, businesses,
and the health of the people. Some members of my church stay home because of
the situation.“We have told our members to turn to God at this time. You can
read it on the faces of many people that they have issues they are passing
through.“The cash inflow has dropped. It is when you receive salary that you
will pay tithe. The people are just living by faith. If you see anybody in
church today that is still paying his tithe and offering the way he used to,
you should know it is by faith.”
Pastor Emmanuel Oyegoke of the Gospel Faith Mission International, Ikorodu,
Lagos, the message for the people at this time is to look unto God. He said,
“There is no cash flow, there is inflation, there is no fuel, no electricity
and there is hike in transport fare. So, it is affecting the purse, businesses,
and the health of the people. Some members of my church stay home because of
the situation.“We have told our members to turn to God at this time. You can
read it on the faces of many people that they have issues they are passing
through.“The cash inflow has dropped. It is when you receive salary that you
will pay tithe. The people are just living by faith. If you see anybody in
church today that is still paying his tithe and offering the way he used to,
you should know it is by faith.”
Some Christians
also confirmed the situation.
also confirmed the situation.
A communications expert, Mr. Williams Ogundeji, said he sometimes
stayed away from church to avoid the attendant financial obligations. A member
of a pentecostal church in Plateau State, who identified herself simply as
Gloria, said apart from not being able to pay her tithe and offering, she had
been having difficulty in transporting herself to church.”
stayed away from church to avoid the attendant financial obligations. A member
of a pentecostal church in Plateau State, who identified herself simply as
Gloria, said apart from not being able to pay her tithe and offering, she had
been having difficulty in transporting herself to church.”
This is indeed a trying
time for Nigerians and our churches as well.
time for Nigerians and our churches as well.