MBOMBELA – Controversial pastor and founder of the Rabboni Centre Ministries, Past Lesego Daniel, is coming to Mpumalanga.

Daniel’s visit to the province comes shortly after hefty criticism from the general public following shocking revelations that he had instructed his congregation to eat grass and leaves.

Confirming his visit to Mpumalanga where he is scheduled to minister during a crusade from next Wednesday until Saturday morning at the Lowveld Showground, was a receptionist at the church’s headquarters in Pretoria, who told this paper that the pastor did not do interviews with journalists.

“Yes, there’s going to be a crusade starting from Wednesday until Saturday morning after an all-night prayer. Unfortunately, you can’t speak with the pastor,” he said.

Daniel was quoted in one of the national magazines saying he had turned down media requests for interviews because he’d prefer journalists to come to the church to witness his miracles and healing powers first-hand rather than “make up stories”.

He came under the spotlight about two weeks ago after worldwide media reported that he had commanded his followers to eat grass.

He told dozens of his congregation to eat grass because “it would bring them closer to God”. People were apparently drawn to Daniel’s church because of the miracles he had allegedly performed.

Local pastors who spoke to Mpumalanga News strongly condemned his ways and methods, arguing that it was unbiblical to have people eat grass.

Labourers Ministries’ Past Bongani Chawane said, “We cannot subtract or add what’s written in the Holy Bible.

“It says people should confess with their mouths and their sins shall be forgiven.

For any man of God to say people should eat grass and then believes it makes you holier or brings you closer to God, is completely unbiblical.”

“As a matter of fact, the Bible speaks of a king who was cursed by God to eat grass so, biblicaly eating grass is a sign of a curse. I don’t mean to judge or condemn the pastor in question, but I tend to differ with his methods.

“But we must understand that Scripture speaks of such prophets and what is happening these days around us is not a mistake, but a fulfillment of the scripture. We can now confirm the Word of God to be true.

“The Bible says that salvation comes from the blood of Jesus, not from eating grass,” he said.

Pastor Bob Matsebula, also a member of the Mpumalanga Council of Churches, said, “It’s a pity that the South African constitution allows for everyone to travel and go anywhere they want.”

He was totally against Daniel’s visit to the province.

“We are not just against his visit here, but his methods, which are completely not in line with the Bible. We are not saying people should not attend because we know that they will go anyway because they love bad things.

“They are going there to see other people eat grass. I have a meeting with the youth and I will mobilise them not to attend this crusade, because what is happening is not God’s work,” said Matsebula.