"Churchpreneurship": An Analysis On The Trending Special Offering ($5,000 - $70)

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son and of the holy ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you to do and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world. (Mat. 28:19-20 KJV)

The above was the last statement of Jesus Christ to the disciples. With this as a reference quote, can we now envisage what our modern churches are turning into? If you are still not getting the imagery let me help with the trends.

In the colonial days, the early preachers conditioned our minds through the gospel to be obedient to our masters (Colonial) and endure earthly suffering in other to enjoy a promised heaven which comes without suffering. At the end of the day, those who suffer here on earth are entitled merry in heaven . This I must say facilitated their (Colonial masters) long rule and the unfortunate slave raiding in Africa.

After the colonial days, the Gospel then turned into "JESUS IS COMING, SINNERS WILL GO TO HELL", and HELL became popular than the promised HEAVEN. Everyday, you would get a series of stories, from Christians about their visit to hell and chucks of report on people that were already in the lake of fire. Very interesting series of Hell stories were told daily. Then from the early 2000s, the Church changed from gospel preachings into prophesying and miracles and in Ghana, it was like witch hunt, no day passed by without a witch or wizard story.

We were then exposed to technology and internet from 2005 and people were for a better word sinning more. People were exposed to pornographic websites, hiphop music videos and sensitive movies and this made them guilty to attend Churches and people were not going to church and few going were shaky in their faith. The next trend was that, we live by GRACE and so God was not looking at our way of life but by his grace and mercies, we are saved. One should just professed that Jesus Christ is Lord and he or she has attained salvation. A lot of people were saved and then the Gospel then turned into Prosperity tips. A typical Sunday sermon would be themed, 10 ways to become successful and a whole lot of economics themes. You could hardly differentiate between a church and a business consulting organization.

So after Church members were initiated to prosperity thinking and becoming prosperous, the gospel was then on how to give and sow seeds in the Church of God. Seeds sowing, offerings were tagged with salvation, prophecies, miracles and even the prosperity lectures preached were all tagged with paying money at Church for a full realisation of it.

And now we are here pricing miracles ($5000 - $70) and selling anointing oils, handkerchiefs, calendars, water, fruits, soaps, and a whole lot in churches. This is the current trend and if we referenced the Bible quote above, the actual work of God has been innovatively changed selfishly by some Men of God. We are now in "Churchpreneurship". An entrepreneur is a person who thrives for success and takes on risk by starting his own venture or service. Some modern churches have started their own ventures and services and what will the end be. We must note that every entrepreneur is after the income and profits. If churches are now turning into Churchpreneurship, where do you think we are heading towards?

Jesus Christ said, He will be with the Church till the end of the world meaning he is watching. Christianity has a reconciling mandate assigned by Jesus Christ to us, are we on course? Or we are being divided my riches and financial gains.

The Church needs money to grow, that is very true but should we manipulate and conditioned members to give? That is a big NO.

Church members pay tithe, pay regular offerings and contribute towards church projects and activities. Have we forgotten about harvests and gifts we give to our men of God and Pastors. Are all these not enough to usher us into that miracle or blessings God has prepared for us? Then I ask, what's the need for a SPECIAL OFFERING? The worst part is that these offerings have been commodify into miracles ranging from high to low based on amount and we see nothing wrong with that? Church of God, no matter how we defend seed sowing and offerings in Churches, let's not forget that the actual work has been shadowed. We should preach, teach and baptize with the holy ghost.

Churches are changing and it's time we wake up as followers of Christ and fight. We are not saying sowing seeds or paying offerings are bad, or the church doesn't need money to grow, but the means in which we are getting them is problematic. You may argued that, those prices are not compulsory but should paying offerings in the church of God reach that stage? A stage where miracles are priced for sale? Don't quote me Malachi because it has been misconstrued. Anybody who gave in the bible gave out of what they have and could sacrifice.

I want to state it clear that I am not against any Church but I am against the narratives Churches are using to get monies from members. If such concept is encouraged and supported by church members then it is time we view churches as any organization and tax it. Churchpreneurship generates a lot of income and profit and taxing it should not be difficult for any government.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

Arise true worshippers for change!!!
Arise overcomers of Christ!!!
Arise Church, let's have conginitive transformation!!!

Ebenezer Owusu Acheampong
(Mr. Powerful)
( [email protected] )