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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Jesus Fed 5000 people, now 5000 people are feeding a single pastor,pathetic
Baseless talk Just listen to him calling himself executive pastor...Oh my God. Have mercy on these criminals. God will punish u all.
These are just con-men using the Bible to deceive and enrich themselves. In other jurisdiction ha? So why don't you go there for them to sign the millions of dollar check for. Your attempt to calm tempers is even so annoying! May the almighty God forgive us all. Some of us luckily saw the incarnation of the church called ICGC. Come again with better explanation next time.
Executor pastor! Jesus Christ title was humbling. Wow. Heaven ab3y3 d3 s3. Politicans & some pastors lavishingly living the earthly treasures dream & quoting God's word with all the confidence do not build treasures on earth. Hmm. Study the word of God & pray for divine wisdom so nobody takes advantage of you.
hmmm end of the age is near. whole pastor telling lie?
Pls, I beg you man of God and ICGC, never allow these carnal small fraction of Ghanaians stop you from bringing these great men of God from Nigeria and other places around the world to come and bless our land. My sincere prayer is that next year the special seed or offering he will raise will start from any 10,000 dollars and even more. After 10,000 dollars plus as starting point he can come down to whatever. Pls, Rev.Dr. Otabil. I'm not an ICGC member, you're a father on the land so we are seriuosly love n are blessed to have u in these country. Never fellow or listen to these carnal christains and unbelievers. Don't waste your precious time responding pls. We need an opportunity to be bless, raise more money pls. I was praying for Papa Enoch Adeboye to raise money. I was watching live from Germany and such great men of God if lead they should kindly raise money and give us opportunity to be bless. Dr. Otabil God bless you for availing yourself, majority of Ghanaians loves you. Only 0.0000000001% are against u. Ignore them pls, we can't be sure their father
Masa lets face fact,this is not ICGC style and we are so so sorry. it wont happen again.Please lets stop inviting Nigerian Pastors, slowly they will collapse our beloved ICGC. Shalom Peace
Am not sure what miracles he personally had: miracle of power to deceive? easy picking in life? Life is all about choices and i pity those that avail themselves to these so called men of God. To me my man of God is the farmer, a janitor, a mechanic, civil servants etc that toil daily to take care of their families. That is what God wants in a man.
I find the pastor's attempt of justification shameful.
Executive Pastor??? What does that MEAN??