The public has expressed a wide range of opinions after Phaneroo Ministries’ lead Pastor, Apostle Grace Lubega, announced his intentions to construct a church valued at 55 million USD. During a recent sermon, Lubega stated that the church plans to build this grand structure.
However, he mentioned that he will not be borrowing money for this project because he identifies as a child of Abraham. This comment prompted cheers from the enthusiastic members of his congregation. The self-proclaimed man of God further explained that he is aware there are unemployed individuals within the church who are willing to contribute to this initiative. These are the people he seeks, believing they possess the right spirit, unlike those who are wealthy but lack a giving heart.
“I am looking for someone who is unemployed but has the willingness to donate a million dollars because I know individuals with money who don’t have the desire to give,” he stated.
Nonetheless, this declaration did not sit well with some members of the public, who have labeled the pastor as manipulative. Critics argue that he is employing reverse psychology on his congregants, making them feel guilty for not contributing, which will ultimately lead many to finance this major project.
“I always wished pastors would participate in discussions when I was in business school. Their skills are incredibly persuasive! They’re like marketing geniuses,” remarked one social media user, praising the Apostle’s persuasive abilities.
“But how much wealth did Jesus possess? Did he own a bank?” questioned another individual.
“This is foolishness. Why invest all that money in a building when your congregation often struggles to have three meals a day…and have poor living conditions? Besides, the body is the true temple of God,” asserted another.
It is important to acknowledge that pastors, particularly from the Born Again Christian movement, have faced criticism in recent years. Many have initiated projects that are viewed as exploiting their followers. One prominent example is Pastor Samuel Kakande, who constructed a massive building along Mulago road that serves as his church and houses several businesses. This project reportedly cost millions of dollars. Close to Kakande is another controversial figure, Pastor Aloysious Bugingo.
The lead Pastor of House of Prayer International Ministries launched a project nearly ten years ago, during which he collected billions from his congregation. These funds were supposedly intended for the construction of a grand church known as The Pentagon, yet the congregation has not even witnessed the laying of the foundation to date.
Surprisingly, their followers are staunch supporters of these so-called men of God, always prepared to defend them fiercely. Moreover, many churchgoers are financially struggling and consistently seek miracles for a better life.
