Calvary Bible Church overseer, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel, says that he’d rather empower people than merely give the poor money to keep soul and body together.
Emmanuel said those interested in giving to the poor should continue to do so. They, he said, must, however, realise that such generosity will not eradicate poverty. He said that God will protect those who give to the poor from falling into poverty but such givers must “give up” if they want to be uplifted.
“‘He that gives to the poor shall not lack’ doesn’t mean that the poor will not remain poor,” Emmanuel said while preaching at the Day 2 of Kingdom Wealth Conference, according to reporting by Church Gist.
“It is your responsibility to ensure that for every money that comes into your hand, a portion belongs to the poor. But to think that your welfare will prosper people, you lie!
“The solution to poverty is not welfare. You give downwards so that you will not go under. You give up so that you can go up. So if you give to the poor, it’s only to guarantee that you will not be poor but it doesn’t also guarantee that the poor will never be poor again.”
The pastor also addressed those who complain about churches not giving enough to the poor.
IN PICTURES: Pastor Olumide Emmanuel
He asked “If you come to church now, there’s no AC (air conditioning), there’s nothing, and we say ‘sorry, we gave the money to the poor, so just manage, manage candle,’ won’t you complain?
“The solution to poverty is empowerment; preach the gospel to the poor. Giving to the poor is your covenant obligation but that does not prosper the poor. Welfare is a temporary relief measure so that things will not get worse.”
The pastor also had words for worshippers who continually depend on church generosity.
“For you to now sit down and you are a welfare candidate every month, and you are not even ashamed to say ‘don’t give me, if I perish, I perish,’ that’s why you are still begging after 11 years,” he said.
Emmanuel also said that he was no longer interested in mentoring anyone for free.
“If I mentor you for two years and your life does not change, I will excommunicate you by myself because you are a disgrace to the grace,” he said.
The pastor also encouraged his listeners to give worthy offerings. He said a Sunday offering should be the cost of one meal multiplied by seven days.