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The Post Newspapers Attack Bishop Imakando’s Bread Of Life Church Indirectly, Describes It ‘Big Without a Heart For Widows & Orphans’
One very important thing the Christian church brought to this part of the world is education.
The church started the early schools in all parts of our homeland. And to this day, we still have many schools that are run by the church. The Catholic Church, the Seventh Day Adventist, the United Church of Zambia and other church organisations have made a very huge contributions to education in this country. And these churches are still making great contribution to education and health services in our country. This is commendable. Our country will eternally be grateful to these churches and their early missionaries. We also need to commend them and support them for their continued commitment and contribution to education and health services in this country. Today, we do have a number of universities, albeit small, that have been started by church organisations. This deserves respect for the church and its organisations.
Bishop Joe Imakando
And most of these churches that are building gigantic church structures are churches that have no social programmes whatsoever. For instance, in Western Province today, the biggest and most expensive church structure is owned by a church that despite having a very large membership in the area has never built a single school or clinic.
But today, this church prides itself in having the largest church structure in the province. What is the wisdom behind this? This would look foolish even in the eyes of the Pharisees.
Today we have churches that have turned themselves into business organisations. Of course there is nothing wrong with churches running businesses. But what matters is how the money from such businesses is used. We have churches owning guesthouses and all sorts of businesses all over the country. But what do they do with the money they earn from such businesses? Most of it is spent on the church leadership’s allowances and all sorts of expenses, including the education of their children abroad.
A church which values its congregations affords the highest priority to providing education for all its young members and for all the young people in the areas it is serving.
There is need for our churches to be responsible in the use of the money they receive from their members and other donors. Building gigantic and very expensive church structures in areas where poverty is at its highest is certainly not being responsible. This will certainly not please Christ. It may please the Pharisees but not Christ. The church cannot call others to virtues which itself does not make an effort to practice. We ask our churches to be exemplary and make best use of the resources they collect from their members.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Christ’s entire doctrine was one of humility. His entire doctrine was devoted to the humble, the poor; his doctrine was devoted to fighting against abuse, injustice and the degradation of human beings.
We believe that we have come to a time when religion can enter the social, economic and political sphere with regard to man and his material needs. We respect convictions, beliefs and explanations. Everyone is entitled to his own position, his own beliefs. But we must work in the sphere of these human problems that interest us all and constitute a duty for all.
How can any spiritual guide of a human collective ignore its vital problems? Christianity can now be a real rather than a utopian doctrine, not a spiritual consolation for those who suffer. Christ spent his time addressing social problems of people. Those who were ill, he cured; those who were hungry, he fed. That is, man’s material need, the basic foundation of life, was the most sacred thing for Jesus. Idolatry deprives human beings of sacredness, transferring it liturgical observances and to the material of the cult, such as the temple. For Jesus, it was impossible to speak of spiritual life apart from the material conditions of existence. There is nothing more sacred than man, the image and likeness of God. A religion that cares for the supposed sacredness of its objects but turns its back on those who are the real temples of the spirit is worthless. To Jesus’ way of thinking, there is nothing more sacred than the right to life.
A church that places its patrimonial interests ahead of the demands of justice, life and the people among whom it is inserted is certainly a church that considers man less important than the Sabbath and, like the Pharisees, reverses evangelical priorities.
There is need for our church to invest in people and not in huge and very expensive church structures when people have no food, good schools and health facilities, when their members do not even have a solid roof over their heads. There is still need for our churches to pay attention to education and health and help government increase its effectiveness in those areas.
A new approach by the church to the social problems affecting our people is needed. There is need to review some pastoral practices and establish new lines of evangelising.
We understand how the old churches were built. These expensive old structures, for most of our churches, were built at a time the church was in league with the rich, the aristocrats in the exploitation of the poor. That history should not be repeated.
This is why today we respect those churches that are taking a correct position on the most serious social problems of our times. It is painful to see very influential Christian churches squander money in the way they are doing when their members are wallowing in poverty, ignorance and disease. And it’s even worse that some of this wastefulness is being perpetrated by church leaders who are products of church education – of course by other churches and not the churches they are today leading.
The PostNewspapers
Posted by
malwa
April 29, 2013 at 10:43 am
The Post is right. So many widows and the poor have lost in the name of planting a seed in order to increase there fortune. One widow gave the only sewing machine she had as planting a seed. She lost everything she had and came back to UCZ in emmasdale to seek for help to help her sustain life. For any help they give, they make sure cameras are there to capture. That is not the doctrine of Jesus. His was for the poor, the disadvantaged etc, and not pomp. Shame shame.
Amai Busa
April 29, 2013 at 11:03 am
i once met this bishop at fringilla where he was buying sausages ,he was driving a black hummer. bought from the offerings of the poor . shame,shame .
Danje Lacky
April 29, 2013 at 11:09 am
Yes these chaps steal from the poor daily. They even demand to see your pay slip. They take advantage our desparation for blessings
Loose Canon
April 29, 2013 at 11:15 am
Its quite sad really that these churches are built right next very poor communities which never even step into them. What Gospel are we preaching? Not even one day the whole church visiting the poor across the road. Can these churches please respond so we see what their plan is? Truelly can we try to impress God with our structures and not hearts? lets hear from Miracle Life, and Bishop Imakando so that the world can be put to shame that indeed there is more money going to the poor.
Leon Davies
April 29, 2013 at 11:19 am
In the name of God!!!
isaac
April 29, 2013 at 11:23 am
They encourage their members to plant a seed which in return not yielding anyhing. We know these bishops, reverands,pastors in the early 1990s, they were cycling when going to church but today all not most are driving big cars. Their followers remain poor even more pooerer.The bishop is telling his members that he is not on pay roll but is driving hammres his children are schoolling abroad. Shameon them, the post are just hammering the nail at the head.
CALLED WISE
April 29, 2013 at 11:33 am
FOR SURE THE SELF-PROCLAIMED PASTORS ARE ALWAYS AFTER MONEY.
THAT IS WHY THEY ALWAYS STAND AGAINST WHEN THEY HEAR THAT SOME OTHER POWERFUL MEN OF GOD OUT THERE WOULD LIKE TO COME TO SET THEIR BRANCHES IN ZAMBIA BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR COFFERS WILL BE AFFECTED.NOW SOME OF US WILL GIVE REASON TO THAT WHITE COUPLE THAT WAS GOING ROUND THE CITY OF LUSAKA DENOUNCING THE INJUSTICE OF THESE GREEDY SO-CALLED PASTORS.NONE OF THE PASTORS SUPPORTED THE COUPLE (THOUGH KNOWING THAT WHAT THOSE 2 POOR PEOPLE WERE SAYING WAS TRUE) BUT THEY WERE IN THE FRONT LINE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT THEM.
likaku nyau nyau
April 29, 2013 at 11:35 am
I hear he has body guards or is it disciples and he is revered if not feared by his congregants. Am not sure about his humility….His brother Dr. Imakando is a humble man though!
Blessedness
April 29, 2013 at 11:36 am
The Post’s observations are spot-on. Of course they haven’t mentioned the name of Bread of Life but their observations are true for most of the charismatic/Pentecostal churches in Zambia. These churches have lost their mission, vision and passion for their existence. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but fails to follow God’s word? What satisfaction do these pastors get from owning hammers, mansions, huge cathedrals and even jets when widows and orphans in their churches have no food on their plates? When orphans they know in their churches can’t afford to pay for school fees? It’s time for the church to change and follow the teachings of Christ before Jesus says ‘Away from me…I never knew you’.
kapuli wa ng'ongo
April 29, 2013 at 11:38 am
Yes @linear you should see how they give him way
as he walks to his office after mass!!!!
Catholic
April 29, 2013 at 11:54 am
its so sad to see how the the church has turned to be nowadays. Most of these pastors are either criminals or thugs name em. They move with guns in their vehicles and offices and their sermons are never about salvation but riches,blessings,planting a seed. bla bla bla. They are the ones God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against in Ezekiel chapter 34.
To my fellow Christians i say arise and know what God requires and demands of you.Lets not these corrupt and compromised church leaders still from you. Focus your eyes on Jesus
Pharisee
April 29, 2013 at 11:59 am
Ba Fikala aba niba kabolala. On top of stealing , they even shag the church members’ wives. Shame.
deacon
April 29, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Everyone has raised good concerns in one dimension. Christianity is not a church building. Each of us that has so far contributed ought to look at ourselves and ask a question: what do i do to help my neighbor??
1. some among us have blackberry phones, why not buy the 50pin ones, and give the 1.4m to the poor???most of us condeming these churches, lets check our homes, why not stay in a shunty, paying 150KR, than living in areas costing way above 1.5m, for the sake of the poor ???we send our kids to medium-expensive school, why not send them to welfare, so that the money you save in doing that is used on the poor…kaili these pentecostal churches are failing….
2. Church is supposed to be concerned on the livelihood of humanity, especially its members. Now its NOT the responsibility to build schools, and hospitals, if the church used to govern the country..yes, then they would do that. Most churches struggle to even pay their demanding pastors, to open a school without teachers would be too much, as you know they are non profit making. Government needs to be probed..the churchs mission is to PREACH christ, and bring the lost to Him. Christ didnot build schools, nor did he open hospitals, but the sactuary, is a place of refuge for all people of the faith.
3. what is the Pastors/bishops expected revenue and life styles kanshi??we need a standard before we pour scorn
Minister Without Portfolio
April 29, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Body Guard? Abomination!!!
Mr Wise
April 29, 2013 at 12:16 pm
BA Minister Without Portfolio, WHATS WRONG WITH HAVING BODYGUARDS?
Conspiracy
April 29, 2013 at 12:21 pm
What about the expensive Post Offices???? and your expensive homes???
Mr Wise
April 29, 2013 at 12:25 pm
PIPO STOP EXPOSING EXPOSING YO SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE AND LEAVE THIS MAN ALONE….
THE POST MAKES MONEY, HAVE THEY BUILT A SCHOOL BEFORE? DOES BISHOP IMAKANDO NEED TO REPORT TO THE POST WHENEVER HE HELPS THE POOR? WHO IS THE POST?
————–LEAVE HIM ALONE——————-
malwa
April 29, 2013 at 3:48 pm
he carries cameras, what a cheat.
onlooker
April 29, 2013 at 12:51 pm
interesting…………kaya kwamene tiyenda. They want to be like TB JOSHUA am told they are planning to have a radio and tv channels. Kaya………mwandi
Frans
April 29, 2013 at 1:01 pm
We may talk about alot of things on the standing of the men of God.No one is forced to plant a seed or make a pledge.What is importaant is our standing before the Lord.
KA GELO
April 29, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Ba Tumfweko, the Post has not mentioned any name of a church here. Please avoid being personal. In my view it is up to a congregant to read between the lines and choose which church to join.
Gigi
April 29, 2013 at 11:38 pm
I conquer with you,the editor did not mention Bread of Life.He that has eyes to see let him see.
eneli simuchimba
April 29, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Meebe doesn’t support widow and the fatherless so he does not qualify to criticise breads of life church and is better than Meebe.
Jack Malama
April 29, 2013 at 1:16 pm
It’s human nature to want more. Christian or otherwise we are all just the same. It’s a rat race.
The son of Truth
April 29, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Reporters please the Bible says, “Touch not mine anointed and do my prophet no harm” according to psalm 105:15. If he wrongs God will Judge him and not you. Have ever Judged your own father who used to give you a small piece of chicken and yet him was eating the whole lot? Go and judge their wrongs first, if you will manage come back and then you can judge the man of God. Cause less a curse shall not come!
KASABULA
April 29, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Please can someone tell me why the heading is so? I cannot see anything about BoLC here. Do I need glasses? Please help.
sobongo
April 29, 2013 at 1:48 pm
BISHOP IMAKANDO IS A GREEDY PERSON,A HYPOCRITE.REAL MEN OF GOD SHOULD EMULATE JESUS.IF JESUS CAME,WOULD YOU IMAGINE THAT HE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO DRIVE A HAMMER?HE WOULD HAVE LED A LIFE OF LUXURY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR?CERTAINLY NOT SO BAZINAMA CHABE.NI MA PHARISEES WHO WANT TO BE SEEM.
Cheelo
April 29, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Mmembe drives a 1 billion dollar car,bullet and bomb proof..money which can build 5 secondary schools,HIPOCRITE.
Mundia M
April 29, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Iwe Cheelo Mmembe is not a priest, nor is he a pastor nor reverend. In the bible he is more like Zacchaeus the Tax Collector, while Imakando should exemplify the lives of Paul & Peter, who are some of the great followers of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. Do not compare apples & bananas.
Mr
April 30, 2013 at 8:51 am
Mundia stop reasoning like a fool. In the eyes of God no human being is greater than the other. The two are both in leadership.
Lisa
April 30, 2013 at 9:46 am
@Cheelo, yes Mmembe drives a 1 billion dollar car wich he bought frm his business of selling newspapers, nt collecting money frm th poor & mak yoself rich! u evn buy a hammer!! wat Imakando do its nt right!!
Sunita
April 29, 2013 at 2:11 pm
He’s the Zambian TBJoshua as in partner in swindling the vulnerable brainwashed victims.
I will never ever be one of their prey!
New Zambian Messiah
April 29, 2013 at 2:17 pm
If you are a poor Zambian then you are not welcome in that so called Bread of Life church! Its a “Satanist Millioniares Club” sugar coated with the jesus name!
love
April 29, 2013 at 2:20 pm
please leave the man of God alone..i beg…lf God HAS BLESSED HIM WHAT IS IT TO YOU? HAVE U EVER MADE THE SACRIFICE HE HAS MADE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Magazi
April 29, 2013 at 2:22 pm
We love to see men of God suffering and begging everytime. A man of God who does well with a nice house and driving a powerful car we start condeming. The post makes a lot of money selling newspaers. Membe lives in the state of the art morden design house along Nangwenya road. Why didnt he build a cheaper house and use the remaining money to build a scool a clinic for the vulnerable. Leave Imakando alone!!!!!!!!!!!!! if he was poor, you will be laughing at him. look at these men of God! so poor and begging all thr time. You people must grow up
Shortcake
April 29, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Ba Zambia ubuchushi. You guys fail to use your brains and realize that these mushroom churches are just after your money. You are so gullible open your eyes. Plant a seed? you can plant a seed by even giving a street kid. Why do these pastors lie so much
ck
April 29, 2013 at 2:53 pm
First remove the LOG in your eye then remove the speck in your brother’s eye.Do you want the annointed men of GOD to be footing? You hypocrites!
Abashanti
April 29, 2013 at 3:09 pm
I haven’t not read anyway where you have written about bread of life.However,its true that some of these churches are after money which is contrary to what Jesus Christ preached about.They will pay the heavy price when judgement day comes
Anna
April 29, 2013 at 3:17 pm
This is typical zambian way of thinking.Jealousy Jealousy jealousy thats what motivates zambians.Whats wrong with building such a beautiful structure as a church as opposed to ramshackles which when it collapses you the same pipo start condemning as with the case last month.learn to appreciate that Christians do not need to beg for them to be called such.Kudos bishop imakando.you are doing a great job.I am told the owner of the Tabloid that carried the story is an atheist or satanist.
identity
April 29, 2013 at 3:39 pm
whether cikubabe or not i will continue giving at Bread of Life. is it your money i give may God punish you for exposing your spiritual redundancy…..
Tableb4myenemies
April 29, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Critics are just envious & jealous
Viva viva Bread of life
may you prosper that all your enemies be ashamed.
Narrant
April 29, 2013 at 4:11 pm
To emulate the American mega churhes, to be like TD Jakes! Pole sana!
ndalama
April 29, 2013 at 4:31 pm
please leave the man of GOD alone. he is sure are blessing to many who know and trust him. as for me i will forever be for bread of life.
Pemps
April 29, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Post is right, I hear the man is buying a plane in the name of Jesus, Shame on them and the all those saying men of God men of God. Hope you burn in hell with TB and Imakando kabwalala
bob
April 29, 2013 at 6:37 pm
“BEFORE U START POINTING FINGERS MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN”
tonga bull
April 29, 2013 at 7:08 pm
ITS COMMON KNWOLEDGE PASTOR IMAKANDO AND HIS FRIENDS ARE IN CHURCES COS OF MONEY,I ATTENEDED HIS SERVICE AT EMMASDALE,THAT IS THE TIME HE WANTED A PRIVATE JET,BUT THE MOVE WAS CANCELED COS IT WAS FEARED PEOPLE MAY LINK HIM TO SATANISM,HE IS ONLY INTERESTED IN MONEY NOTHING MUCH,THIS IS NOT PERSONAL,LOOK AT OTHER ZAMBIANS,THEY EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF WORKERS YET WE GO AND CALL THEM NAMES..
Kambanyere
April 29, 2013 at 7:29 pm
purposes of giving to the church:
-to feed & take care of the pastor and his family/ & other church workers n full time ministry
-to redistribute the offering 2 other believers n need and
-4 administration of the church
if there4 a church is mssng any of de 3, look @ it wth suspicion
NB: There is really nthing wrong n building a morden church structure; remember God n bible complaned tht pipo were n good houses while z house wz n ruin. the point z let there b a balance and accountability n the way church offering is used
stephen masiye
April 29, 2013 at 7:41 pm
What ever u have written here may God forgive u.The New Apostolic Church has been assisting the vunerable in society in many occations and its only dat it doesnt want to publicly show to the world because it believes that its God who can bless them for whatever they do in secrecy,May God forgive u,why showing off!
castro
April 29, 2013 at 7:43 pm
We can get sense even out out of the senseless.
Samson
April 29, 2013 at 9:13 pm
The most ****** are their church followers. These ‘Born Again’ freaks just get your money and spend it on building their mansions & screwing your foolish wives! There is nothing wrong with the ‘original’ churches like the Catholics, Free church (now called UCZ) but today’s young chaps even talk about ‘Satanism’! What the hell, theey just get brain washed. Wake up you idiots! I’ll register a church this June and call it ‘Ubufi Church’ and you’ll see how many idiots will join me easily. Idiots!Idiots! Something is missing in their lives and they just follow blindly. Ba koswe!
Kwathu
April 29, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Even though Mmembe is not my friend but I think on this one I will support him. There is much extravagance among men of God today. He may not be talking about Joe Imakando, mind you there was a big occasion in Mongu were the New Apostlic Church (NAC) were opening a cathedral which is now the largest church building possibly not just in Western, it may be among the top few in Zambia. The NAC is equally not that good in the social gospel apart from womanizing.
What Mmembe has said calls for retrospection instead of jumping to defending ourselves as a church. Of course soul searching is not as an easy task, it’s painful and looking at the way we are responding, it clearly shows that even our own hearts are condemning us and God is bigger than our hearts. Pentcostal men of God need to church and put the resources into good use, it may not be building schools and hospital as Mmembe puts it, we are failing to take the gospel into the rural areas. If you can’t go yourself, use that money to sponsored minsters in the villages and the dream of Zambia as a Christian nation will be realized.
Titii
April 30, 2013 at 12:37 am
We have really lost the reality. Even building a decent place to worship God our Father, other forces are extremely against it. Lets us not judge because judgement comes from God and He will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.The contention here is more like when Mary took expensive oil and anointed the feet of Jesus. Judas son of Simon who betrayed Him said “why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 hundred KR and given to the poor?” The Lord’s response answers our concern if we read the scripture in the book of Mark 14: 3-8, John 12:3-8.
chichi
April 30, 2013 at 2:37 am
when you ask them if they help the poor they say if u have that gift just do it. but they have to know that what goes around comes around, lesa mukulu.
og
April 30, 2013 at 7:26 am
Churches exist in poverty stricken areas coz that’s where ignorant people are found.
Politicians also use the same formula and indeed they achieve their goals. If you want to be rich just open your business in compounds look at Mayela coz poor people will not need taxi
AccuGrade
April 30, 2013 at 8:47 am
I didn’t know that Bread of Life has a big church building in Western Province? I know of one in Lusaka’s Emmasdale area. Maybe the New Apostolic Church have one in Mongu, not the Bread of Life.