By King Amoah
The integrity of the Christian Ministry is under fire as commercialization of spiritual services continue to permeate the religious landscape.
For this reason, Apostle Isiah Ameyaw- Amankwah the fouder and leader of the Universal Faith Church in Kumasi has issued a stern warning against the rising trend of “spiritual extortions” disguising it as direction giving (Akwankyire).
In an exclusive interview with the Correspondent, Apostle Ameyaw- Amankwah expressed deep disappointment about how individuals who operate under the titles of Men of God have been strayed from the Biblical ethics and turning the Ministry into a profit making entities.
The man of God reiterated that for the fact that he does not condemn pastoral support, drew a sharp line between receiving a free will offering and the systematic exploitation of the vulnerable congregants and the public.
He said the huge sums of money charged for prayers and spiritual directions (Akwankyere) tarnish the image of the noble profession of the priesthood.
He indicated that the power of God is not a commodity to be auctioned to the highest bidder.
Citing instance about spiritual directions and what it accompanies, the clergyman pointed to the life of Jesus Christ who healed the blind and fed the hungry without ever demanding a fee.
Similarly, he referenced Prophet Elisha who through spiritual direction also purified the bitter waters at Jericho without seeking for personal gain.
The Apostle stated that the power of healing and deliverance was given to us freely and therefore it must be administered freely.
Debunking the transactional gospel,
Apostle Ameyaw addressed the common justification used by some clerics who claims that spiritual work requires a sacrifice or payment.
He acknowledged that in the Bible a widow once provided food for Prophet Elijah before giving her spiritual directions for abundance, but stressed that such instance has been twisted to cover up the predatory behavior.
Using the Biblical concept of an offering as a shield for extortions, Apostle Ameyaw said is a dangerous deception which has no basis to defend.
According to him when pastors demand a specific payments before praying for a person, they are no longer operating in the spirit but in commerce.
The Apostle further criticized the repetitive trend of daily directions where pastors demand single items like fruits, oils or large sums of cash for generic spiritual advice.
He noted that while certain traditions have existed in the past, the current obsession with demanding objects and money for every minor concern is a departure from genuine spiritual counseling.
A Call for Discernment:
As the religious landscape in Kumasi and beyond continue to see a mushrooming of prayer centers, Apostle Ameyaw-Amankwah has urged the public to exercise extreme caution.
He strongly advised those who seeks for spiritual directions to not allowed themselves to be led astray by charismatic figures who prioritize wealth accumulation over the spiritual well being of their followers.
Do not be blinded by the promises of quick miracles. A man of God who truly represents Christ will not demand a fee to show you the way to Go or your breakthrough, Apostle Ameyaw observed .
He concluded his remarks by calling upon the clergy to return to the foundational principles of the faith, humility and selfless sacrifice, warning that the name of God should not be used as a tool to defraud the public, but rather should be used transform lost souls as Jesus Christ thought in the scriptures.
Attached is Apostle Isiah Ameyaw-Amankwah’s image
