Ike Wigodo

 

A religious body known as the ‘Godist Church’ has decried what it termed ‘unwarranted’ public criticism of its programmes and their leader by some prominent Christian clerics within and outside Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Church, Yashua Darah who disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and made available to the Tide explained that at the establishment of the church, its leader, Prophet Ofuoma Bernard made it clear that the church was interested in the spiritual and material wellbeing of the society.

Darah further said that the church is committed to sound theology, character development and the material success of its members, friends and the general public.

The statement however said that over the last few years the church and its presiding bishop have been subjected to ‘systematic persecution’ fueled by ‘innuendos and hate’, as a result of misunderstanding of the facts.

The statement reads, “In pursuant of core mandate of the church in April, 2015, we initiated a wholesome midweek meeting tagged ‘I can make you rich, happy and popular with our Bishop, Ufuoma Bernard as a speaker and facilitator and all hell broke loose.

“The banner of the program became a subject of public attention, mostly negative both online and offline. Prophet Bernard and the Godist Church never gave the methodology or technology of the program on the banners and billboards that advertised it and a viral reactions and feedbacks suffered a multiplicity of misunderstanding and opprobrium,” it said.

It further said that over 15 of the billboards the church leased to advertise the meeting in Port Harcourt were pulled down by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), “causing us a loss of over a million Naira.

 

“Prominent pastors in Port Harcourt and elsewhere spoke negatively of the program. Facebook, Instagram, twitter and blogs mostly made a caricature of the program.

“The Godist Church and Prophet Bernard suffered societal disapproval because of the program,” it said but noted that the meetings are positive and constructive, focusing on three thematic areas of ‘Rich, Happy and Popular’.

 

“Our detractors will stop at nothing to brand the program fetish, smear the image of Prophet Ufuoma Bernard, dissuade the public from attending the meetings,” it stated, even as the body urged all its attendees and faithful to remain strong and steadfast in righteousness and godliness.

“To a society that seems to be conservative, anything out of the ordinary is bound to elicit suspicion and misunderstanding,” the statement stated, insisting that the program is designed to help people become rich, happy and popular’, as motivational  sermons are designed and strong prayers offered.