CAC GENERAL EVANGELIST URGES CHURCHES TO REJECT SUSPICIOUS DONATIONS, EMBRACE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
CAC GENERAL EVANGELIST URGES CHURCHES TO REJECT SUSPICIOUS DONATIONS, EMBRACE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
By Jerry Adesewo
The General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Nigeria and Overseas, Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola, has called on churches across Nigeria to strengthen financial accountability and reject donations suspected to be proceeds of corruption, fraud and other criminal activities.
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Ademola made the appeal in a statement titled “The House of God Must Never Become a Den of Thieves,” following the recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, concerning the decision of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to return billions of naira reportedly traced to illicit sources.
Describing the development as a lesson in spiritual integrity, the CAC General Evangelist said churches must not compromise their values in pursuit of financial resources, regardless of the amount involved or the status of the donor.
He maintained that the sanctity of the church and its altar must be protected from funds associated with corruption, fraud, exploitation and other forms of unlawful enrichment.
According to him, the reported decision by Adeboye demonstrates that spiritual integrity must take precedence over financial advantage, urging other Christian institutions to reflect on the implications for their own financial practices.
Ademola cited the biblical account in Matthew 21:13, in which Jesus Christ condemned the transformation of the temple into a den of thieves, arguing that the warning remains relevant to contemporary church administration.
He expressed concern that the growing emphasis on fundraising and material wealth could undermine the moral responsibility of religious institutions if donations are accepted without adequate scrutiny of their sources.
The cleric urged churches, irrespective of denomination, size or location, to examine unusually large donations, maintain transparent and auditable financial records, and reject gifts linked to criminality or unethical practices.
He also called on church leaders to resist the tendency to equate material prosperity with spiritual accomplishment, while promoting repentance, restitution, holiness and responsible stewardship among their members.
Ademola said the EFCC chairman’s reported warning against accepting suspicious donations should be viewed not merely as regulatory guidance but as an opportunity for moral reflection and institutional accountability within the Christian community.
He further warned that knowingly building religious institutions with proceeds of crime could damage their credibility and compromise their spiritual witness.
“Nigeria does not merely need bigger churches; Nigeria needs purer churches,” he declared, stressing that the credibility of the Christian faith depends not on the size of church buildings or donations received but on the integrity of those entrusted with spiritual leadership.
The General Evangelist called on church leaders to protect the reputation of Christianity by ensuring that their financial activities reflect the values they preach from the pulpit.
He also urged religious institutions to demonstrate that the Gospel cannot be manipulated or sponsored through wealth acquired by questionable means.
Ademola, who is also the founding leader of Digital Gethsemane Global Network, concluded that the future of the Church would depend on the purity of its devotion, the credibility of its public witness and the righteousness of its foundations.