The General Overseer of Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has disclosed that he neither collects tithes nor teaches about tithing in his church.
He made this known during an appearance on the Honest Bunch Podcast, in an episode uploaded to YouTube on Monday.
Odumeje explained that his ministry prioritises the demonstration of spiritual power rather than teachings on tithing and giving. He also criticised churches that, according to him, place excessive emphasis on collecting money from their members.
He said, “Those people that collect tithes and teach tithes every day when you come to church, they will be interested in making sure that they clear your pockets. And there is no practical evidence and miracles that you will see. The only thing is stories. That is not the kind of church I run.”
Explaining the central mission of his ministry, the cleric added, “My mission on earth is demonstration of power. All the teaching of tithe and teaching of giving, I am not in that area.”
However, Odumeje clarified that he does not consider tithing wrong, stressing that the decision to pay should be a personal choice between an individual and God.
“I don’t collect tithes. Nobody pays me tithes. I am not saying that tithe is bad. It’s a decision between you and God if you want to pay tithe. Tithe is real. But it is something that you must decide. Not something that somebody will be brainwashing you, forcing you,” he said.
He also criticised the practice of making church members believe that failing to pay tithes would prevent them from gaining entry into heaven.
“Give it to you that if you don’t do it, you will not go to heaven. That is not from God. So that is a decision between you and God,” he added.