Executive Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC); Christ Temple, Albert Ocran has waded into the controversy surrounding the special offering collected by the church during its Greater Works conference last week.
ICGC and its senior Pastor, Mensa Otabil courted controversy when a snapshot was taken of a special offering that was taken during the Greater Works conference. A section of the critics did not understand why the amount was quoted in dollars, while others felt the amount was too high.
Giving his personal take on the subject, Pastor Ocran said: "the banner making the rounds on social media was not put out to solicit for funds from the public as was originally being speculated".
According to him, "the preacher who raised the funds is based outside Ghana so he mentioned the amounts in dollars. It was naturally deemed helpful to convert them to enable donors pay in local currency"
Read his full response below;
Some clarity from Executive Pastor of ICGC Christ Temple, Pastor Albert Ocran.
Blessings my friends. What a week this has been. An absolutely phenomenal Greater Works conference and a very thorny side issue.
Let me clarify that this is a personal perspective and not a statement by ICGC. As you know, the church does not respond to these matters.
The banner making the rounds on social media was not put out to solicit for funds from the public as was originally being speculated.
As you probably might know, in its 33 years of existence, ICGC has refused to solicit for or accept funds from outside the church.
By God’s grace, the church supports 15 charities (educational, health and Christian missions) on a monthly basis. This includes the children’s cancer unit of Korle Bu which has publicly indicated that our monthly donations for the past 5 years, which are the largest they receive, have allowed children from poor families all over the country and West Africa to receive life-saving treatment for free. This is verifiable.
The amounts listed on the graphic circulating are various categories of pledges made by members in a conference fundraising by one of our guest ministers. I presume that people pledging different amounts at fundraisers are standard practice.
I attended a book launch last year by one of our nation’s sporting legends at Alisa Hotel. The chief fundraiser started the pledges from GHc100,000 and came all the way down till everyone could contribute their widow’s mite. Those who gave the top amounts were even given special privileges and photo sessions with the author. No one was offended because each one gave as they could afford.
I have also attended church harvests where Chairmen, Vice chairmen and Supporters were required to contribute role-specific amounts some in excess of the highest amount on the list currently circulating. Would that qualify as exploitation? I don’t think so.
I believe that if we want to hold large Christian events and conferences that seat over 50,000 attendees and where the number of new converts alone is over 7,000, we mustn’t shy away from big contributions. In other jurisdictions, individuals are known to sign $5 million cheques to underwrite the entire cost of a single crusade.
Currency & Conversion
The preacher who raised the funds is based outside Ghana so he mentioned the amounts in dollars. It was naturally deemed helpful to convert them to enable donors pay in local currency.
Categories
The issue most people seemed to have was with the categories the amounts were tagged with. These were simply prayer points he provided for each giver to base their faith and prayer on. Once we put it into context, you will agree that the more you commit to something the greater your expectation is likely to be. Everyone in the conference had the chance to give according to their strength.
I have personally experienced a 24-hour miracle more than once. I believe in giving and in financial miracles but it doesn’t make me a lazy person. I work extremely hard but I am also a firm believer in the grace of God. In my humble opinion, a balanced combination of God’s grace plus hard work is the key to success.
SO WHERE DID THIS GO WRONG?
The preacher finished preaching the next morning and asked people who were ready with the various categories of donations to come forward with their pledges. Thankfully, many responded positively and willingly.
However, as you can imagine, some people had made more than one pledge and kept asking ushers for the various amounts in cedis as well as banking details.
Our hardworking projection team therefore took the initiative, summarized the various categories and projected them for the benefit of contributors as they came forward.
At that point, the screen snapshots were taken by viewers of the live streaming service on the internet. The rest, as they say, is history.
We can continue having an informed discussion about the scriptural or moral dimensions of this issue based on the actual facts that I have provided as accurately as I can. Informed debate is healthy and no one must insult a person who genuinely inquires about the scriptural basis or appropriateness of our actions.
Official Response
The church as a practice does not issue statements on issues in the media. The video circulating about Pastor Otabil purportedly responding was definitely not a response to this issue.
CONCLUSION
The snapshot was not an advert for funds. The gospel is definitely not for sale and will never be. Many have visited ICGC Christ Temple, where Pastor Otabil pastors, and been surprised or even objected to how little fuss is made about giving and fundraising. It’s just not our focus or style.
We are grateful to the well meaning Christians from all over the world who have reached out in love in a genuine quest to confirm that the highest standards of excellence and integrity of ministry ICGC is known for remain intact.
Be assured that ICGC remains resolute and unreservedly committed to raising leaders, shaping vision and influencing society through Christ.
I hope that this information helps throw a bit of light on the issue. (Sorry it ended up being much longer than I intended).
Thanks once again for asking and God bless.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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It is very shameful that people purporting to be Christians speaking against ICGC regarding the fundraising.None of you took notice of the amount of money people paid for a book, GHS100,000,at the book launch he referred to. What would you have said if these happened in our time: 1. Abraham telling the world that God has asked him to sacrifice his only son Isaac 2. Elijah asking a very poor woman to give him her last meal to eat, and expect blessing later 3. Church members selling their property and giving the proceeds to the Church for the Gospel, as done in Acts 4. How will one say Jesus is against fundraising when he praised Mary Magdalene for, not only, pouring expensive oil on him but also using her hair to clean his feet. It is the greediness of Church leaders that he is against. But Dr. Otabil and ICGC's intergrity does not put them in that category. 5. Apostle Paul taking offering and others for the support of the Gospel.He even said that your blessing or harvesting is dependant on how much you give/ sow (Gal.6:8,9). Our Kingdom is Spiritual and Faith based,and every Christian should accept this and not be part of those who say all kinds of foul things against the Church and Men and Women of God for what they do. Unlike other Religions, our God is able to fight for himself so those who are exploiting others we should leave them to Him to deal with them. But where Dr. Otabil and other Pastors like him are raising moneys to support the Kingdom work, as Christians we should support them!
they are all criminals playing on the brains of gullible people. the late dr.paa bobo described all these criminals.
Is the church now turning into a business organization? What is the role of an Executive Pastor in a church?
Is an Executive Pastor among the list of gifts God gave to his children? By the way what is the role of an Executive Pastor in the ministry?
AMOAKO AND ERIC YOU ARE RATHER DOING A DISSERVICE TO ICGC AND CHRISTIANITY AS A WHOLE. SOME OF THESE EFFUSIONS FROM THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY MAKES CHRISTIANINTY UNATTRACTIVE MAKING OUTSIDERS AND SOME INSIDERS SEEKING SOLACE IN OTHER RELIGIONS. INFACT AND INDEED IT HAS MADE WE CHRISTIANS A LAUGHING STOCK. TO SAY THAT NOBODY IS COERCED TO PAY WHAT HE/SHE PAID IS UNCHRISTIAN. eRIC TO BE HONEST, YOUR TONE IS ALSO UNCHRISTIAN AND I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME BUT IF YOU DON'T AGREE, IT IS OKAY WITH ME FINE. I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST (COP) AND THIS CLAMOURING AND YEARNING FOR MONEY HAS BECOME TOO MUCH IN OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP. THE COP WAS NEVER KNOWN FOR COURTING AFFLUENCE BUT OVER THE YEARS IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BECOME ONE. THIS IS THE SON OF AN ELDER AND PRESIDING ELDER WHO ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE COP. IT SADDENS ME. I SPEAK TO MY CONTEMPORARIES IN THE CHURCH WHO I KNOW ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL IN COP AND ARE STILL MEMBERS AND THEY SHARE THE SAME VIEWS. WE HAVE APPROACHED THE LEADERSHIP OVER THESE MATTERS BUT ARE TREATED AS PARIAHS AND SOMETIMES THE ACCUSATION IS THAT WE ARE TOO EDUCATED AND THAT WE ARE NO MORE DOING THINGS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. HOLY SPIRIT? WHAT DOES IT SAY. WHY IS IT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT DIRECTING CHRISTIAN TOWARDS FASTING, PRAYER, SALVATION AND SO ON ANYMORE BUT ONLY MONEY. THIS IS TOO MUCH. I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS THAT PASTOR SAFO DIDN'T HAVE A NICE ABODE BUT SERVED THE LORD WITH HIS WHOLE HEART AND MIND. I AM NOT SAYING THAT PASTORS SHOULD NOT LEAVE IN SOME LEVEL OF COMFORT BUT YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT IT HAS BECOME TOO MUCH. WHAT HAPPENED IN ICGC SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.THIS IS THE VERY THING THAT CHRIST WAS ANGRY ABOUT AND FLIPPED OVER THE TABLES OF THE GAMBLERS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. IT IS THE IDEA I AM TALKING ABOUT. PLEASE DO NOT START SAYING THERE WAS NO GAMBLING IN ICGC. CHRIST WAS APPALLED BY THE DESECRATION OF THE CHURCH WITH THE LOVE OF MONEY. LETS UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE. AMOAKO IN PARTICULAR QUOTED SOME BIBLE VERSUS WHICH IS GOOD BUT HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE VERSUS IN THE BIBLE WHERE THE LOVE FOR MONEY IS ABHORRED? WHEN YOU TAKE THEM IN TOTALITY, YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN ICGC SHOULD'T HAVE OCCURRED. HONESTLY THERE IS SOME ARROGANCE ABOUT ICGC WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. I USED TO LISTEN TO CASSETTES BY OTABEL WHEN HIS CHURCH WAS IN BADEN POWELL HALL BUT STOPPED AT A TIME WHEN I REALISED THAT HE HAD NO HUMILITY WHATSOEVER. ONE OF MY COUSINS JOINED THE CHURCH SO SOMETIMES I ATTENDED BUT THE SUB CULTURE THERE WAS SURPRISING TO ME. IT REFLECTED IN THE LIFE OF MY COUSIN AND HE STARTED BEHAVING IN A FUNNY WAY TOWARDS OTHER FAMILY MEMBER IN PARTICULAR THOSE ATTENDING OTHER CHURCHES. IT IS NOT ONLY HIM BUT IT IS THE SUBCULTURE IN THE CHURCH. ARROGANCE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. FROM A CONCERNED CHRISTIAN.
We at ICGC give according to our abilities. We have been taught how to give to help spread the gospel around the world. Those masquerading as ICGC members, must know that we ICGC members are responsible for programs that the church organizes, and are ever ready to sacrifice our income to make such programs successful. This is how we have come to know it; we continue to give and we keep receiving back in multiples, good measure, shaken together and running over. We have some friends too, who decide to hoard and yet keeping losing. Pastor, thank you for your invention. I know we ICGC as a corporate, do not respond to such issues.
I thought this pastor has rather belted out the worst response to the crisis. Why can't people learn to manage crisis rather than create the basis for more suspicions? We are the none the wiser by these explanations. Money, money, money... I believe Jesus would not have condoned this act.
hmmmmm... so we have a pastor and an executive pastor? can s'one help me with the difference pls
I have been a member of ICGC for over 30 years. Hardly do you hear Pastor Mensah Otabil raise funds from the pulpit. A church member gives as an when he wants to and they give them when offering baskets are passed around. In a special programme like Greater Works expenses incurred have to be paid and paid by who? I believe it should be paid by the beneficiaries. Even that, nobody is coerced to pay what he gave. Giving for God's work is ordered by God. Giving is a SACRIFICE (Phillipians 4:18)acceptable unto God. With God the sacrifices are 1)Giving 2)Praises and worship 3)Our bodies. Do not be offended by people giving. You can keep you if you want to and leave Pastors alone.
Masa you pastors have disappointed us period. This is just ***barred word*** the poor for the rich.bam