A man on the X app with the handle @Kingdavidgift_ recounted his disappointing experience in a Redeem Church parish he attended as an instrumentalist.
The young man had shared his story when another user had stated: “As a christian if you’ve never billed your pastor before you have no right to bill anybody else. You cannot be okay with receiving empty prayers from your billionaire pastors and asking struggling people for money.”
He disclosed that he had been an instrumentalist in the church since his teen and never asked for help, neither did the church make provision of any kind, however, when he needed fund to buy JAMB form, the pastor told him the church does not was in want.
He went further to state that he was accused of stealing the church instruments, when the church was broken into and they refused to help when the mother almost had stroke. @Kingdavidgift_ had to leave the church for his peace of mind to start worshipping online.
His post read: “Asked my pastors to help me with money so I can pick Jamb Form years ago, and they said they will get back to me. the church wasn’t small, a zonal headquarter. I was the only drummer, started drumming from teens department and was drumming for the main church at 16.
“2 years after WAEC I decided to take JAMB but no cash, I went to the church, they said “we will get back to you”. After 3 Sundays they gave me 1,500 and said they don’t have money. That’s what the parish pastor said and the rest of the pastors smiled in agreement.
“I wasn’t doing any work, the church wasn’t paying me, I don’t miss any church activity or program that requires me to be there, even the ones that don’t require my presence. I dey there. And this church did not pay my transport ones, buy me food or water ones.
“2020 they stole some of the church equipment, equalizer and the mic, the church accused I and the keyboardist(both of us were teens when we started playing, he is my close) We wanted to stop playing, but My Mom said we shouldn’t.
“Last quarter of 2020 my mom fell sick and almost had stroke, September-November I was sleeping in the hospital, nobody called or visited, including the choristers, just my friend the keyboardist. And I’d still go to church on Sundays to play.
“After the cross over to 2021 and first Sunday, I stopped playing drums and I haven’t played since then. I do all my worship online, in my house.
“After I and my friend(the keyboardist) left, they got a new drummer and keyboardist. They pay them every Sunday now.”
His story drew attention of the app users as some people related they have had similar encounter in their churches and had to leave to look for who could pay for their services.
While some opined the experience should not discourage him from serving God, as all churches are not the same.
@Em3rieNWA: “This one seems exactly like my story, the equipment that was stolen I found it, but somehow they framed me and i went to suspension for 6 months, my mum that has high BP caught a stroke after some months of begging and over thinking. She didn’t make it Sha.”
@RE_FLEX1: “Lol I stopped playing for our church the moment another pastor offered me money to play for his church, it was 3k then but I cherish am then because T-pain never b president that year. Naso my former pastor begin vex for me, the matter dey funny me till today but I no send am.”
@james_sinex: “Similar thing happened to me in one of a church branch back then in school,omo na so them turn me around because of #1500 to travel go see my parents. I finally went that day to play for a night vigil and got paid the sumof #5000. Since that day,if you no Dey pay me,no call me.”
@Manoffewwords16: “I was once a victim of this, so please don’t say this simply because it is not your life experience.”
@PillonGreen: “Thought to themselves that if you don’t have money for JAMB reg how will u get money to study in the university. Thought you’d call them every other day for school fees & upkeep. They handled it the wrong way though. Should have counselled u before giving the jamb money. Sad”
@Topboy1: “This story has RCCG written all over it.. only dem fit pull this kind stunt.. Faced a similar situation with my mom when she had surgery and my dad when he got wrongly arrested for a business gone wrong.”
@OyeDgr8: “Meanwhile, in Germany, I have never attended a catholic church but these guys gave me more than 1000 euros as support in 2016 when I was studying. Even Muslims benefited. This is what churches are all about. Just tell them you are struggling, they’ll find funding for you.”
@Pearlumie; “Sorry, you had to experience this. Not all churches are the same. My church bought WAEC and UTME forms for teens that were home for 2 years after school then. They didn’t even have to ask. Church was just concerned that they weren’t in any tertiary institutions after 2 years.”
@DedesVibe: “This is still one of the reasons I respect churches like Christ embassy, Daystar and a few others like that. When I was attending church regularly at Daystar, they even encouraged church members to pay school fees for children from their neighbourhood.”
@Truthster24: “This is a very sad and touching story. Look, ultimately, we are addressed the way we are dressed. If you had demanded payment and made things difficult for them, they would’ve been paying you and your friend. Most of these churches are just extortion houses.
By Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth
adeoye.o@thesubstancenews.com
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