Bushiri: I never said South Africans love our church because they believe in magic and miracles
The charismatic prophet says his church is being punished based on 'outright falsehoods' from 'faceless groups' of people on social media.
Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church leader Shepherd Bushiri testified at the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights (CRL Rights Commission). Photo: Jonisayi Maromo / ANA
Enlightened Christian Gathering Church founder Shepherd Bushiri took to social media yesterday to clear the air on what he called “speculations” that have been aimed at destroying his church. The Malawian-born pastor said he would be sharing submissions made to the CRL Rights Commission by his church following a stampede that killed three members of his church. The commission found today that the event held at Bushiri’s church was “compliant”.
“From the beginning, we have always reiterated that we have nothing to hide and want the truth to prevail. Lies have very short legs but the truth sets everyone free. I am thankful to God for redeeming our name despite the false media reports. I am thankful that the truth has been found through this investigation. We have been victimised as a church, called all sorts of bad names and, sometimes, punished based on outright falsehoods advanced by faceless groups of people mostly on social media,” said the church’s leader.
Bushiri accused the media of reporting that he told “the public” that South Africans loved his church because they believed in magic and miracles, unlike Malawians who believed in God.
“I have never said that. It is all lies. I challenge everybody out there who has such a recording of me saying that to come forward and face me.”
Also read: Prophet Bushiri blames Tshwane for deadly stampede
He further said his church did not sell “the blood of Jesus”, and that his wife, Mary, was not “pregnant of the Holy Spirit”.
“They are all lies. Come to our church and inspect the church materials we sale [sic]. We are open and accessible.”
Despite people taking to social media to share how they paid the pastor money for prayers, Bushiri said the reports were “shocking”.
“Why don’t you the media come to church, disguise yourself as a congregant and find out if we charge people for prayers? We don’t do that!”
He said his church never held a gala dinner that charged people R25,000 to sit next to him either.
“The church doesn’t even know who created the poster and the church has never had such a gala dinner.”
Also read: Bushiri: I’ve never performed a miracle in my life
(Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde)
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