In the documentary Millionaire Preachers, Dr. sign Fireman, a pastor from nigeria, says that he believes God wants him to be rich and denies that Jesus had a humble life.
　　“Jesus was rich and had an accountant who followed him around,” Fireman says in the film, which shows how millions of nigerians crowd into many churches around that country, seeking divine intervention to their problems.
　　The film shows Fireman doing miracle healing and claiming to have God-given powers that can raise the dead and heal the cripple and blind.
　　as the service closes, the crowd throws money at Fireman’s feet. The amount of money is so great that ushers have to collect it in bins. Worshippers here claim that God repays those who give money with good fortune.
　　When the service is over, Fireman leaves in his yellow hummer, an expensive vehicle by african standards.
　　Wealthy pastors
　　It all boils down to the giving of tithes. In Biblical teachings, it is believed that giving at least 10 percent of your wealth to God’s cause brings you more blessings and it’s a duty for every Christian.
　　But some sprouting Pentecostal churches are now using this provision to exploit churchgoers. It is no wonder that miracles, sleek cars, and bodyguards to protect the men of God are part of the lucrative business religion has become.
　　Fireman’s Perfect Christianity Ministry has over 40 branches in nigeria. and that is the result of his teaching that being rich is a sign of spiritual blessings.
　　In June 2011, Forbes magazine published a list of the five richest pastors in nigeria
　　Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel, worth $150 million, topped the list. he owns a private jet donated to him by the congregation and runs the Dominion Publishing house, which produces his books that deal with wealth and God. The Winners Chapel church has a presence in over 120 countries including nigeria, Uganda and Kenya.
　　Others on the list of wealthy preachers include: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of the Christ Embassy, the first african televangelist to broadcast globally 24 hours a day. Forbes could not quantify his wealth although it is estimated to be between$30 and 50 million. Joshua Temitope of the synagogue Church of all nations(sCOan), present in nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom, south africa and Greece, estimated net worth of $15 million, claims to possess powers to heal diseases such as hIV/aIDs, cancer and even polio. Mathew ashimolowo, a nigerian who heads the Kingsway International Christian Center, with businesses in media publication of gospel literature, estimated to be worth around $6 million.
　　Fund seekers
　　some scholars argue that the current situation of wealthy pastors resulted from churches trying to fend for themselves.
　　“It all started when the original missionaries left their african churches they had started on their own,” said Edith abike, a nigerian lawyer who is doing research for her book on the wealth of nigerian churches.
　　“When the gospel was brought to africa 150 year ago, it was the mother churches in Europe that handled everything,” she said. But after independence in africa this changed and churches were left to fend for themselves, she said.
　　“Over the years, churchgoers have been convinced that it’s their money that counts, and so they give freely even though they are being lured,” said abike.
　　In 2006, Lucy nduta, calling herself a“prophetess of the salvation and healing Ministries,” shot to fame by conducting false healing to attract a congregation. she spent days taking advantage of desperate churchgoers seeking spiritual healing. nduta claimed to heal diseases including aIDs, as long as after the healing process, your hIV test was conducted in a clinic of her choosing.
　　The police later found out that the clinics were her own creation to lure people.she was consequently sentenced to two years in prison.
　　Despite these revelations, thousands still fill churches each sunday waiting for miracles to happen in their lives.
　　CEO pastors
　　In a continent filled with fraudsters of every nature, it is hardly easy to convince a stranger to part with his money for your cause. Preachers have to go to great lengths, including misinterpreting the Bible to receive donations.
　　apostle Francis Irungu of the Glorious Family Church, nairobi, runs his services on a local gospel channel three times a week costing roughly $15,000 for 30 min-utes on air.
　　“We have three types of prayers, all you need to do is ask for one and see the miracle,” he declares. The miracle he claims includes the lame walking, financial recovery and deliverance from problems. But before any healing people need to send a minimum of $10 to a bank account number flashing across the screen.
　　In most East african countries, money can also be transferred through mobile phones.
　　On his church’s website, Irungu reckons that there is a flock of 15,000 members and “we are seeking to save more lost sheep out there.”
　　In Kenya, the Registrar of societies shows that there are over 4,000 church denominations, most of which sprung up just five years ago. On the african continent, the number is in the millions.
　　Churches are generally considered to be non-profit making organizations and they are therefore not taxed. But by promoting the message of hope from poverty(many poor africans believe the devil is the cause), they now run like corporations with their pastors as CEOs.
　　But in a world where CEOs of top multinationals are not so popular because of the salaries they earn, why is it that no one has raised a finger against this trend Opinion is varied.
　　“It is not illegal,” observes Charles Mokaya, a Kenyan sociologist. “These people are convinced that the more they give, the more they will get in return.”
　　In his Master’s thesis, Mokaya had earlier noted, “since the poor would always want to get rich, anything that brings hope lures them to give money, as long as they are promised to get returns.”
　　and in countries with freedom of worship, “it is difficult to stop this trend and governments just leave it to individuals to decide,” he says.
　　Zablon nthamburi, a lecturer of religious studies at the Kenya Methodist University, says the Bible does not allow people to do business in the church. he says however that the Church has become more of a business enterprise.
　　“The church must abandon these ills and walk in the highway of holiness,” says David Owuor who preaches for the Repentance and holiness Ministry, a church without any specific place of worship.
　　“It is wrong to ask people to contribute money before being prayed for and when you know the people will not even be healed.” This observation has caused friction with other pastors.
　　“I know there are some who say they can’t take money. how can you preach without money? The gospel does not run on water and I am not going to live in that denial,” says apostle Thomas Wahome of the helicopter of Christ Ministries.
　　however, apostle Wahome is currently at the center of a court case. a woman recently claimed he deserted her with children after marriage and she is demanding$5,000 for the children’s upkeep because“he is a rich man.”
　　(Reporting from Kenya)