THISDAYonline

When I first read on the Internet the story of the stolen thirty-nine thousand naira from the coffers of Sheraton Hotel Lagos by the general Cashier of the Hotel, I did not give it much attention. Like many other people who read the news, I felt it was just one of those usual occurrences which have earned Nigeria the unenviable position of the second most corrupt nation in the world. There are too many cases of fraud and stealing of greater magnitude occurring every day in both official and unofficial circles here in Nigeria. Why then would anyone pay any serious attention to another story of theft in a company.

However, Newswatch in the March 31, 2003 edition sub-titled; "Oyakhilome's Church in N39m Theft Scandal" actually brought a twist to the whole episode. The publication was able to establish that the general cashier of Sheraton Hotel who claimed responsibility for the stolen money is a leader of sort in "Christ's Embassy". During preliminary police investigations, the hotel cashier (whose name is given as Lawrence Agada) revealed that he stole the money and expended it all to meet some of the needs of the church; to support some of her numerous outreach programs and satellite branches. To mention a few among other programs that Agada supported, he gave in millions on different occasions to sponsor Christ Embassy's popular "Night of Bliss". He also donated to the regular "Prosperity Convention" which is held regionally by the most senior Pastor. Agada supported likewise various branches of the church like the Agege, Ogba, Oke-Ira, and Ashade branches in rent payment, purchases of musical instruments, and chairs.

There was no indication that the cashier used part of the stolen money for anything else apart from giving it in different forms of donations to the Church. Up till the time of this publication there has been nothing to show that the young man did anything for himself or his family out of the N39m he stole. It seems Agada is now beginning to realize that he was under some kind of a negative influence of a mysterious spirit. Something came upon him and kept pushing him to go and carry the hotel's money to the church whenever there was any call for money in the church. Elizabeth (who is Agada's wife and an administrative staff of the Church) confirmed been privy to the whole deal. She says she was worried at a point knowing the money does not belong to her husband and that one day they may be required to pay it back to the hotel. They have no business of their own beside, but she was sure 'God' was the one talking to her husband to steal the money for the Church.

He also have a commendation letter from Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (which contain some prophecies) to show for all his "generosity". In the letter of commendation the Pastor acknowledged the donation of a generator said to be valued at over N4m. Among other things stated in the letter which was signed by Oyakhilome, it reads; "I trust you are both fine and experiencing the glory of God in a greater measure laughing your way through...." The prophecy therein says; "In your life, God will do mighty things. He will cause you to excel and lift you up so high that the world can't but take notice of you, in Jesus' name. Amen". With this type of acknowledgment, commendation and prophecy from "the ultimate man of God," Agada didn't need to think twice in responding with more millions from the Hotel's coffer to meet the various demands of the Church. It is most amazing that while the man of God hoped that Agada and Elizabeth were "laughing their way through" he did not border to find out how a mere cashier was getting the millions of Naira he was laundering on the church.

The Pastor of the Ifako branch of Christ Embassy confirmed that Lawrence Agada is their right hand man in the church. Everything Agada claimed he bought for the church and all the money he donated were confirmed to be true. Most of these things were found in the premises of both the headquarters and branch churches of Christ Embassy. It is on record that Agada sponsored some of his Pastor's trips abroad some costing as much as N400,000 : 00. Despite all these, the overall leadership of the church is seeking to affirm the legitimacy and legality of all they received from Agada. It is disturbing that the Church through her legal representative is so concerned with the fact that Agada is "a mere Cell or Unit leader in the Church" and not a Pastor. The Church Lawyer also seems satisfied with the fact that from his investigations, Agada only spent about N22m on the church and not the whole N39m. These are just extracts from the shocking developments and the ungodly attitude of the Church authority in their response to the whole matter. I will advice you obtain a copy of the said Newswatch magazine for more details.

The issues arising from all these are both fundamental and weighty. It is not first a matter of legality but of morality and integrity. What kind of Pastor will be collecting millions of Naira regularly from a church member (who is just a company cashier) without wanting to know how the member was getting the money? What kind of gospel is the likes of Agada and his wife hearing that made them believe that God can ask them to be stealing to support his work? A church that says (through her attorney) that it is not her business to know how members of her flock is doing their work in their various offices definitely gives herself away as an irresponsible church. A church that does not care about how her members come about large sum of money given as donation (which is far beyond the regular earnings of such members) is fraudulent. Such an organization can easily take blood money as donations even from armed robbers just to promote "God's work". Every God fearing person ought to be weary of such churches. I wonder how members of Christ Embassy will feel now knowing that some of the money used to power their programs, the generating plants and even chairs used in their services are bought from stolen money.

It is not difficult to get to the root of why people like Agada and his wife initially believed it was God asking him to steal hotel money for church work. There must be a different type of spirit propelling them to take such money for the church; it definitely cannot be the Holy Spirit. Someone must be under some kind of very strong spell or might have been seriously bewitched to steal millions of naira without even building a house, buying a car or even buying shoes for himself. What kind of spirit is really at work in Christ Embassy? Not too long ago, before Chris Okotie was swept away by the delusion of political ambition, he raised an alarm about the fraternity of Oyakhilome and the man in the Synagogue: T. B Joshua. He indicated that there were evidences that Oyakhilome have been initiated to the cult of the Anti-Christ (the Beast). He warned that true Christians who worship in Christ Embassy should leave the church lest they come under the spell of the man in the Synagogue under whose influence Oyakhilome was already operating. Many people interpreted all these warnings in different ways and did not take serious.

Soon after all these, Oyakhilome began to openly pattern his healing and miracle services after the mystical style of T. B. Joshua as if to further confirm his initiation into a cult. The man in the Synagogue is not only the person of questionable character and negative spiritual antecedents that Oyakhilome keeps company with. There is the case of one so called 'Apostle' Gbenga Igbafen (who unknown to many people is actually Oyakhilome's brother in-law). They now go about conducting what they call "Prosperity Convention". At such conferences, people are cajoled and sweet talked into some kind of "seed sowing" so as to have "some breakthrough and prosper miraculously.

The Sheraton cashier is said to have given at least twice in millions on such occasions before being caught. (This is a practical case of the promise of breakthrough becoming total breakdown). This same Gbenga Igbafen now being paraded about by Oyakhilome as an 'apostle' is a discredited preacher who specializes in immorality and in making people empty their wallets wherever he preaches. He actually became bankrupt and have to literally sell his former church to another denomination before joining Oyakhilome as his "apostle of extortion". These kind of apostles are described in 2 Cor . 11:13 -15 thus; "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

It is necessary to examine a little further the prophecy contained in Oyakhilome's letter to Agada. This is because the predictions seem to have come to pass so accurately in a way. Agada has indeed 'excelled' in the art of stealing in the name of God to support the ministry of the likes of Oyakhilome. As one that played the fool (because he was being bewitched by dubious preachers) he has been so lifted up for the whole world to notice the atrocities been perpetrated in the name of the Lord just as Oyakhilome said it would be. The bible says the promotion of fools is their shame. The question however is what kind of a prophet is Oyakhilome who wouldn't see that the man he was sending such written prophecy to was actually stealing the money that provoked the prophecy? Which God did the Pastor say will do those mighty things in Agada's life. It certainly cannot be the God of truth and justice that we know. It must be another kind of god: the one that was compelling Agada to steal for the church. Based on all these, the types of Oyakhilome fall to the category of those who preached another Jesus, another gospel and make people receive another spirit contrary to the one the early apostles of Christ presented. (See 2Cor. 11:3-4)

Somebody must be courageous enough to tell Oyakhilome and his cohorts to repent of all their atrocities. There is no form of bravado that can help them out of this mess. The church and her leadership must openly repent, apologize to the management of the Sheraton Hotel and the general public. All the money traced to the coffer of the Church (as donations in cash and kind) out of the stolen money should be refunded back to the hotel management. If the leadership of the church refuses to hearken to this voice of reason, they will not only remain discredited, but the law should be made to run it's full course on the matter at hand. And subsequently God will reveal his wrath on all those who are misrepresenting him. I believe there are still many similar cases like the one stated here. There are many more Agadas in other churches like Christ Embassy that are being deceived. Everyone should examine himself \ herself and set the house in order. Romans Chap. 1:31 says "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." The time has come that judgment is beginning in the house of God!. Repent and be converted less you perish.