A Lagos based Celestial Church prophet, Israel Oladele Ogundipe, has thrown a swipe at pastors of the Pentecostal flock, calling them ‘marketers.
Ogundipe, the Shepherd-in-Charge of ‘Genesis Model International Parish’ of the Celestial Church of Christ, said this on Sunday September 11, 2016 at the Grand Ballroom of Oriental Hotel, Lekki, while hosting the Excel 2016 event in Lagos.
Ogundipe popularly known as ‘Genesis’ said while giving his speech at the occasion; “I see lot of Nigerian pastors as marketers. If you want to know a true pastor, he or she would be working on promoting the gospel not undermining the efforts of others.”
Sources said that Ogundipe’s address was made against the backdrop of a blackmail set against him and the Celestial Church allegedly by some Pentecostal pastors.
The famous pastor was said to have invited an American preacher, Dr. Mike Murdock, to be part of Excel 2016. Murdock reportedly agreed to the invitation and the promotional advert to that effect was reportedly aired on the television on the eve of the event.
However, according to sources, Murdock, on his arrival in Nigeria, would not show up at Ogundipe’s event and the incident was allegedly traced to a Nigerian Pentecostal pastor who runs a big church in the UK.
Sources said that the said Nigerian pastor, perhaps working in concert with others, warned Murdock to stay away from Ogundipe’s event or ‘risk soiling his reputation.’
Ogundipe, still speaking, noted that the opulent lifestyle of some so-called men of God is uncalled for and against the commandments of God.
“When I see a true pastor I know and when I see a marketer I also know,” he stressed.
While berating certain pastors who he said confuse preaching the gospel with marketing themselves for worldly riches, Ogundipe commended pastors such as the RCCG’s Pastor Adeboye and some others who he noted are contributing immensely to the spread of the gospel.
-Folorunsho Hamsat
