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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Executive Pastor ?? why such a title huh , chale the problem is people hate to believe in themselves and to read the bible. these people read the bible and pour it out to the lazy ones who refuses to read and practice the word. anyways many are ***barred word*** whereas the wise are few . i will rather go donate to widows and orphans than give out some ***barred word*** amount to a pastor . Giving should come from the ''heart and not mind'' think about that line . A pastor wakes up and says, i need people to sow $1000 or cedis 5000 and u want me to get up and give it out like am a ROBOT. Don't please society, just please the creator from your heart n not mind. be wise n read people.The bible says be wise my son. #God bless
all ghanaian pastors must return all the poor people monies they have collected, god will not take them to heaven if they dont return the moines they have cleverly taken from poor people and they must pay tax as well from poor people of ghana,
Those of you giving negative comments should ***barred word***. Where you part of those who gave the money. ***barred word*** don't you give money in you church.
please on the items where perfection is captured,i am sorry perfection can not be guaranteed through any amount of offering,not in this fallen world,with satanic soverignties
This, for me is a Great piece. I agree with the writer
Executive pastor paaa!! i laugh enter towing levy headquarters
Yes, God loves a cheerful giver. you shouldnt change the point. fund raising has been done in churches for ages. The problem is apportioning specific rewards for the amounts of money people give....Thanks is where the deceit lies... God is not a human being.
interesting....what at all do we have that we did not receive from God? what do u understand when the scripture says ' through prosperity shall the Kingdom Fluorish? u believe some parts of the scriptures and yet u act as though other scriptures are extint...if you think the man of God is distorting ones money to enrich his life, leave him, its between him and God. besides u didnt give because you were asked to, but u gave because you believed the word of God that u heard concerning giving....the truth is that not eveyone in the church understands giving let alone those outside, that is why am not surprise that even church members are criticising it, quite disappointing though. giving should be a sacrifice and therefore should cause u a lot, each one is to give according to his / her abilities. the fact that someone gives 100,000 doesnt mean the one giving 10 cedis wouldnt be blessed. as long as its a sacrifice, God would recognise it and bless u. someone can give 100,000 cedis and might not even be blessed depending on the heart and intent with which he or she is giving. you dont expect to be blessed if you only giving to show off maybe....A true giver doesnt only give to church, but they fulfill the various dimensions of giving thus giving to the poor, needy, helping the less priviledged etc... do you know when u give towards the Kingdom u lending to God? anyway I dont expect you to know cause you not a giver and therefore not ready to search the scriptures to know...READ THE BOOK OF JOB and find out what his giving did for him. if you know what giving does, you wouldnt be here criticizing....u dont just stand up to give, its a Grace and not everyone has that Grace to give period. u think there weren't people who have more but never stood up because of their mindset and belief....there are a lot of scriptures to back this whole idea but time wouldnt permit me, is it not written in the scriptures ' what have you given to God that He would not repay'?, its not about who is gathering but who is scattering....kindly search the scriptures...GIVING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BLESSED, ITS AN OPPORUNTIY TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT....WHAT DO U UNDERSTAND WHEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS SHARE IN ALL GOOD THINGS WITH THEM THAT TEACH US THE GOSPEL....GIVING IS A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE AND THEREFORE CAN NEVER BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE CANAL MIND, SUCH THINGS ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.....
HT
can you imagine mr kibakiman...we now have a executive pastor eiiii hmmmmm. Anyone right or wrong why the long essay in justifying this Mr. Executive Pastor...we re blinded by Self righteousness not objectiveness, fairness, scriptural or moral.