From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The founder of John 3:16 Ministries, Aba, Abia State, Bro. Samuel Okonkwo has blamed the current hardship the nation is passing through on church leaders whom he accused of deviating from the original path of God.
Speaking on the state of the nation, Okonkwo said church leaders of nations who knew their onions, were supposed to stand in the gap for the people before God as to receive His blessings and turn things around for them.
“The church and her leaders are supposed to stand in the gap for the people in time of any trouble as we have in Israel of old, in the United States presently and other countries, but in Nigeria, it’s not so.”
Citing the roles early prophets including Elijah played to save the nation of Israel in times of trouble, Okonkwo regretted that such noble men of God who could speak truth to power and save their people from the wrath of God, are lacking in Nigeria.
“If Elijah in the bible could tell Ahab and his wife, Jezebel God’s mind concerning them, what prevents our church leaders here speaking truth to our political leaders, instead of hobnobbing with them and the people are suffering on daily basis in the process.”
Okonkwo said it was unfortunate that over 70 percent of pastors in Nigeria today are fake, and their only stock in trade were to deceive the people.
He accused many of them of going overboard to acquire power and get members, stressing that such pastors have their own agenda and God has left them in their lust.
“I would like to reiterate this, over 70 percent of the so called men of God go overboard to acquire power and get members, such pastors have their own agenda and the Lord is not with them.”
The John 3:16 Ministries founder said things have gone so wrong that the so called men of God in the country are now competing with politicians in the use of police escorts for protection.
“Sin has so permeated the church that their leaders are now competing with politicians in using police escorts for protection, forgetting that if God does not watch over the city, in vain do the guards.”
He cautioned church leaders to refrain from their present lifestyle and genuinely seek the face of the Lord, that God will hear them and cleanse the land.