Arron Nyamayaro, H-Metro Reporter
CHURCH pastors have been left to see if their calling was of God or motivated by the greed to make money as Covid-19 national lockdown is still to unlock public gatherings, H-Metro has learnt.
With reports that some pastors started their own ministries after running away from facing disciplinary measures in various churches, there are reports that they some of them are posting messages begging and making false prophecies in a way to visit members for survival.
A message believed to have been drafted by one of the pastors failing to raise a meal for his family following the national lockdown is circulating on social media narrating roles played by pastors.
Responding to the letter posted, Apostle Stephen Mangwanya of New United Apostolic Church urged church members not to neglect their leaders during national lockdown as they are part of their parents.
“Christianity is relationship and this relationship join church members with their spiritual father who happen to be the pastor and their biological parents,” said Apostle Mangwanya.
“Pastors who were after milking their members and failing to build their lives have been exposed by Covid-19 and some are still devising plans to continue empting their pockets during lockdown through electronic means via social media.
“Although social media and technology has taken over this generation, church must remain relevant to communities in upholding culture and preaching righteousness to convert criminals and evil thoughts in societies.
“We are aware of pastors not anointed and called to the ministries but started their ministries in either to earn a living or after running away from being disciplined by their elders.
“True pastors with right motive in the ministry continue to receive support from their members the same way the members look after their biological parents during this national lockdown.
“If there are any members failing to support their pastors hiding under national lockdown are failing to understand roles played by their spiritual parents and I urge them not to be fooled by worldly system.
“I want to believe the letter with roles played by pastors have been written to address such church members and they do not only neglect their pastors but along with their biological parents,” said Apostle Mangwanya.
Reports were that some pastors and prophets are faking prophecies during national lockdown to find ways of visiting members they expect to look after them.
National Lockdown Level 2 is still to allow church gatherings and some are ministering to their members through social media.
Below is the letter circulating on social media and became a thing of discussion among various church leaders in the pastors’ fraternity.
A blessed morning to us all. One of our pastors sent me this and I thought to share it with you my brothers and Sisters. God loves us in spite of what we are going through. Be blessed.
THIS POST MADE ME CHANGE MY PERCEPTION ABOUT PASTORS – I HOPE IT BLESSES YOUR HEART TOO
“The lawyer is working,
The lecturer is working,
The journalist is working,
But many think the pastor is playing and needs a real job.
You think everyone else in every other profession is really busy, but when it’s a pastor, you say ‘go and look for a job’.
Well done!
We applaud professions that don’t offer real value to people but think less of those who do.
Footballers earn far more than doctors,
Comedians earn far more than teachers,
Most Pastors earn very little or nothing.
And you think that’s fine?
How has Messi helped your life or given you a new hope for living?
How has Basket mouth saved your marriage or helped deliver you from addiction?
But pastors are involved daily, bearing the brunt of helping people live a better life and yet when we see them own few things we behave as though they don’t deserve anything.
In case you don’t know, being a pastor is one of the most demanding and sacrificial work I know on earth.
I am a pastor. I have been a pastor for the past 28 years now.
I have been to police stations severally because of church members.
I have visited several hospitals and spent nights there awake because of church members.
I have travelled long distances, given up my belongings, attended to marriages at the verge of divorce, and conducted funerals all because of church members.
The last was a family who were barely 4 months in church had an accident and the woman and her baby died on the spot. When I got there, their whole family was crying to me, asking me in tears ‘pastor why?’
Who else is supposed to answer such a question? It’s always the pastor. Yet in the midst of that, we bring courage and restore hope.
But when it comes to a pastor having money, people will frown and wag their tongue against it. And yet the economy is not different for pastors o!
Everyone else cries but when a pastor does, he has no faith.
Everyone can bring their problems to pastor but no one asks if pastor has eaten, he should tell it to God.
Everyone else can be forgiven when they make a mistake, but pastors’ mistakes are unforgivable. (‘And he calls himself a pastor’ is always the line)
Everyone can be rich but not pastors, else the society will begin to talk.
You will read headlines, “members are poor but pastor is rich” but you won’t ever hear of or read when “members are rich and their pastor is poor”.
You think it doesn’t happen?
I have seen a church where many members have big cars but they all drive home without anyone offering to drop pastor and his family home first, not to talk of buying him a car.
Do you know that majority of pastors are actually struggling financially, taking multiple jobs and even menial ones to survive?
But they won’t tell you, especially the ones who probably deserve it more.
See let me tell you, if you see a pastor doing different jobs while in ministry, let your heart be moved favourably toward them and treat them honourably especially your pastor.
They’re sacrificing a lot.
Instead of you quoting scriptures to teach that pastors should work (as if pastoring is not hard work), it should be your desire to be able to care for them to the point where they won’t have to do other jobs to survive.
Don’t join the bandwagons of those who dislike pastors and do all they can to defame them”.
This post made me weak.
God bless every Pastor.
– HMETRO