Nigerian megachurches practise the prosperity they preach
God wants his servants to be rich
“THE LORD loves a cheerful giver,” proclaims a preacher as she warms up the congregants for Bishop David Abioye’s third service of the day in the 15,000-seater Living Faith church near Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. “As you drop your offerings today, your financial captivity will be turned around for good,” she promises. Slipped in among the Bible verses are instructions on how to pay by cheque or online. What the Lord thinks of your correspondent’s reluctant gift is left unsaid.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Sum of a preacher man”
From the September 25th 2021 edition
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