Home | News | Pastor sells prayers for E1000

Pastor sells prayers for E1000

10/09/2012 00:00:00 SAMKELO NGWENYA

Font size:

MATSAPHA — A South African based Archbishop charges between E500 and E1 000 to pray for a business breakthrough.

Archbishop Godfrey Moyo of Disciples of Jesus Christ Church in Johannesburg, South Africa comes to Swaziland on weekends and has opened a new branch at Phumelele Private School.

Archbishop Moyo has prayed and performed miracles for the sick and testimonies of individuals who have received miraculous healing and breakthroughs are screened on Channel Swazi.

The Archbishop said God was healing the sick through him.

When this publication visited Moyo at his church yesterday, throngs of people were found queuing for prayer. "I don’t have powers to heal. I never ‘trained’ for the powers. They come from Christ. In fact, Christ uses me to perform miracles," he said.

The Archbishop said he was implementing what was in the Bible. "I charge E500 to people who have the passion to start a business, but don’t have the capital. For those who have struggling businesses I charge E1 000. Within four weeks the breakthrough happens," he said.

He justified the figures as ‘seeds’ of luck and breakthrough. Moyo said he used a special ointment called widows oil to pray for people.

He quoted 2 Kings 4:1-7 which is about the Widow’s Olive Oil. The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves."

Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"

"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil."

Elisha said "Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."

Archbishop Moyo said he had other ways of praying for the sick. "When a sick person comes, the spirit tells me what they need in order to be healed. Sometimes I sell them my ‘holy’ bottled water which sells at E25," he said.

Moyo said the reason for charging that amount was for bottling costs which was done by a certain company. "I just buy the bottled water and pray for it," he said.

He said sometimes the Holy Spirit tells him to use the special oil for protection from any demonic attack. Moyo said the ointment cost E60 upwards.

The archbishop said those who wanted breakthroughs could come to his services on Saturdays from 2pm till late and on Sundays from 9am.

Money from prayers should be taxed - SRA

MBABANE — The Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Vusi Dlamini, says the pastor has to surrender 15 per cent to the authority.

"If the person or pastor earning that income is a foreigner, then the church must withhold 15 per cent of the gross income earned and submit it to SRA," he said.

Dlamini said the Income Tax Order stated that income generated by the church was taxable if it benefited an individual. "In the case of the said pastor, all the income he earns from the church; be it from overall church offering or special offering related to special prayers is taxable," he said.

Historically Dlamini said the church complimented and supplemented the work done by government. He said a clear instance of this could be seen in the church through the building of schools and health facilities. As such, he said, such institutions ought to benefit from taxes.

He said monies generated by the church could be exempted as per the Income Tax Order, 1975 as amended. "In essence churches are exempted from paying income tax as long as they stick to their mandate," he said.

Dlamini emphasised that the exemption was not automatic as churches had to apply.

Comments:

- Jesus said, "Freely have you received, so freely give." "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10. Like Judas this man has had his reward on earth, and has sold his soul to the Devil for money
September 10, 2012, 4:37 pm, William

- Anyone who reads the scriptures, and whom the Holy Spirit is leading, will see through this abuse of popular belief. Christ never charged anyone for any miracle, even those He raised from the dead, paid nothing. This man, is not sent by Christ, for if he were, He would do as Christ did. Dont waste your hard earned R500.
September 10, 2012, 4:38 pm, Sidudla

- Gospel for sale, I rather stay with my problems than to buy a prayer. Please investigate the Swazi pastor on Dzeliwe Street (name deliberately witheld by the FinestSwazi)
September 10, 2011, 4:37 pm, Sydney S Maseko -Durban