Nigerian actor and senior pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, Jimmy Odukoya, has addressed those who fault pastors of large ministries for living lavishly.
Jimmy pointed out that many of the same pastors facing criticism today once struggled to build their churches from scratch, yet no one paid attention during those difficult periods.
He said people only begin to complain once the ministry becomes successful and visible.
He said:“
Listen, it is very easy to talk about pastors who have mega churches and big, big crowds.
It is easy to talk about them when they are at that level. Where were you when they had no one?
“The reason you want to talk about what they are doing is because the church has grown to a size that you recognise.
But where were you when they started with two people in a living room?
Where were you when the pastor had no money and he was using his salary to rent a hall?
No one remembers those times, but now they want to get mad because the pastor is driving a nice car.
But when the pastor was walking to church, you had no problem.”
He also reacted to those who criticise pastors for handing over their churches to their children.
“All the big-time pastors, you too start your church and make it big if it’s easy. Go and do it.
All these pastors, they just do it, it’s just family business.
They just pass it to their children. You too start your church and pass it to your children if it is easy. What is the problem? I said what I said,” he added.
Jimmy Odukoya is the son of the late pastors Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya, founders of the Fountain of Life Church.
