Ukraine's most prominent charismatic pastor, Sunday Adelaja, is at the center of controversy over his alleged involvement in a business venture that some claim bilked investors out of $100 million.
Adelaja, pastor of Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations in Kiev, was accused in November of being involved in the dealings of King's Capital, a financial group led by a member of his congregation. The company drew many of its investors from the church, also known as God's Embassy, promising as much as 60 percent returns on investments.
But last month, several church members went to authorities saying they were unable to recover the money they invested, which left many of them bankrupt. Police later arrested one of King's Capital leaders, Aleksandr Bandurchenko, on suspicion of fraud.
Speculation about Adelaja's involvement with King's Capital grew after reports surfaced that he was part of a bank in Nigeria known as GS Microfinance Bank Limited. Some speculated that Adelaja, a native of Nigeria, invested funds from King's Capital in the African bank and planned to leave the country.
Adelaja, however, said those accusations are unfounded. He said he has never been involved with King's Capital but denied that it is a Ponzi scheme, which uses later investments to pay dividends to earlier investors.
Adelaja said King's Capital is a legitimate business that failed under the pressure of the global financial crisis. He said because the company poured most of the investment capital into real estate, which has decreased in value, it has been unable to pay investors.
"When the [economic] crisis came, all the real estate is no more selling," Adelaja told Charisma. "The land is enough to pay back the money owed. ... The problem is ... everything is stopped in the country--nothing is selling now in Ukraine."
Adelaja said Interior Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko accused the church of involvement because he wants to undermine the evangelical movement in Ukraine. With several thousand members across the nation, God's Embassy is one of the most influential congregations in Ukraine.
"[Lutsenko] is in a very bad situation," Adelaja said. "He's got to prove now that [King's Capital] is a pyramid scheme, but he cannot."
Adelaja said he never encouraged his church members to invest in the company and cautioned them to invest in businesses that offer insurance. "Of course ... if you invest with insurance you get less percentage," he said. "What happened was many people said they didn't need insurance because the [King's Capital leaders] were Christians."
He acknowledged being affiliated with GS Microfinance, but said he invested his name and influence in the bank, not millions of dollars. He said GS Microfinance was formed to give small loans to poor Nigerians as a way of lifting them out of poverty. "It's not about what you can get, but the vision of the program [is] to elevate and get as many people out of poverty as possible," Adelaja said. "That is one of my lifetime passions ... because I grew up in poverty."
Although Adelaja has repeatedly denied any involvement in King's Capital, which has not officially been deemed a fraudulent business, Pentecostal and charismatic leaders across Ukraine are calling on him to repent, saying they heard him encourage church members to invest in the company on several occasions.
"He was not a president of this company, but he was the No. 1 spiritual leader, and he told them what they have to do," said Bishop M. S.Panochko, leader of the All-Ukrainian Union of Pentecostal Churches of Evangelical Faith, which is comprised of 1,500 churches across the nation. "He can do everything to tell them [he is] not involved, but all [the] leaders have a lot of facts, and we have a lot of video of when he was pushing people, and he encouraged people to invest in this business."
Panochko was one of 10 leaders who met with Adelaja on Tuesday to confront him about his alleged support of King's Capital and the negative impact some of his actions have had on the evangelical church in Ukraine.
The Pentecostal bishops, who together represent more than 2,500 congregations, listed seven items of concern and said Adelaja has a pattern of making exaggerated statements. They pointed particularly to his alleged claim that he led the 2004 Orange Revolution--when Ukrainian voters protested a presidential election many considered fraudulent--and his reports that God's Embassy has 100,000 members across the nation. The bishops say those and other statements are untrue.
After the meeting, Adelaja issued a statement saying he did not organize the Orange Revolution, though his congregation participated in the demonstrations. He also asked forgiveness for the negative impact the King's Capital scandal has had on Ukrainian churches, but he added that he did not personally have any involvement in the company.
Despite the statement, Panochko said the bishops would continue waiting for Adelaja to apologize for allegedly endorsing King's Capital. If he does not repent, Panochko said the bishops would issue a statement to Christians in Ukraine and abroad, and to the Ukrainian government, denouncing Adelaja and claiming no affiliation with him.
Moscow-based pastor Rick Renner, founder of the Good News Association of Churches and Ministries for Russia, Latvia and Ukraine, said Adelaja's claims are hurting Christians in the former Soviet Union. He said reports about God's Embassy's involvement in the Orange Revolution have led some governments to crack down on churches out of fear that Christians are political revolutionaries.
"Pastors and Christian leaders are now trying to maneuver through new restrictive laws that have been passed because of Sunday's claim that he and his church organized the Orange Revolution," Renner said. "He owes the body of Christ an apology, first for lying about the fact that he organized it and carried it out, and second, for creating this very difficult environment for which others are now paying a very high price."
Renner and other Pentecostal leaders say they have long been concerned about Adelaja's claims that God's Embassy has 100,000 members across Ukraine when they believe the church has closer to 10,000 members nationwide. But Renner said the King's Capital controversy provoked him to speak out.
"Thousands of people have been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, and many lives have been changed [through God's Embassy]," Renner said. "There was never a need for him to exaggerate on such a massive scale as he has been doing in recent years. ... I have never wanted to call Sunday a liar, so most often I tried to ignore the subject of Sunday's falsehoods when I heard them. Now in light of the lies being told by Sunday, denying that he ever recommended that his people invest in this company, I was taken to a new place of prayer and concern. It was in the midst of this that the Lord impressed me to speak out."
During a recent sermon, Renner told his congregation that the members of God's Embassy should leave the church if Adelaja doesn't repent.
"They are not obligated by God to sit up under deception," Renner said. " ... It's not the position of a pastor to say to his people, 'Sell everything you have and put all your money in this particular company,' especially if that pastor has an interest in that company. That is a very impure recommendation."
The challenge provoked a firestorm of response, pitting Christians on either side of the debate. Dmitry Kirichenko, pastor of World Harvest Church in Kiev and director of Brightstar Publishing House, issued an open letter expressing his support of Adelaja.
Kirichenko said there are no facts proving Adelaja's involvement in the establishment and operation of King's Capital. "The Ministry of Internal Affairs ... currently is investigating the case, but even this administration has so far not presented any formal charges against Pastor Sunday," he wrote.
However, Sergei Shidlovsky leader of the Seeking God movement and a former member of God's Embassy, said he attended many meetings during which Adelaja called on people to invest in King's Capital and "laughed over those who have not yet done that."
"I personally sat in the room when he explained to everyone how important it is to take the credit out of the house or apartment and invest precisely in this company," said Shidlovsky, who invested 1,000 Euros himself and encouraged his mother to sell her apartment in Belarus and invest the profit. "I became a contributor of King's Capital only by trust in Sunday Adelaja and his calls to invest in this company."
Adelaja said Shidlovsky's claims are "absolutely not true." He said he invited a church member to discuss investing as part of ongoing teaching on financial stewardship. He said the financial talk was not about King's Capital but may have been misinterpreted.
Alex Mykhaylyk, dean of History Makers Bible School, a Philadelphia-based ministry affiliated with God's Embassy, said those attacking Adelaja are looking for someone to blame for the collapse of King's Capital and Ukraine's economic woes. "Sunday never told people to invest in this," Mykhaylyk said. "He told them basic principles of business and investment. I know my pastor too well. He will give away everything and not take anything from anybody. The biggest problem is that the church is divided in opinions."
Source: Charisma
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It is true it is giving Christians and NIGERIANS a bad name.
the pastor should give the money back for the sake of the Lord as some Christians faith will be affected. The Apostle said that we must watch out for the faith of others and not be a stumbling block to their faith[1 Corinthians 10v 28-32]Then their is the added punishment of being a shepard causing the sheep to stumble. IT IS NOT GOOD....
He should take the shirt off his back[sell all his assets and stuff there and overseas] and give it to the flock esp at this time of global down turn and show a good example of HOw the LORDS SHEPHERD should be.
The Lord said to Peter 3 : Do you love me?
Peter said Yes Lord I do, Yes Lord you know I do, yes Lord!!!
Jesus said to him: FEED MY SHEEP not just the WORD but what they need...
MY ADVICE TO HIM AND ALL OF THE LORDS SHEPHARD; SOW YOUR SEED[GIVE TO THE SHEEP ]EVEN AS YOU ARE ALWAYS TELLING THE SHEEP[ TO GIVE TO YOU].
IT IS NOT JUST THE SHEEP THAT SOWS SEEDS YOU KNOW!!!SHO YOUR LOVE FOR THE LORD AND FEED HIS SHEEP AND THEREBY CHANGE THE DIALOGUE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT..- LORD WHEN WAS IT THAT YOU CAME TO US FOR.& DID NOT GIVE YOU..? NOT A GOOD DIALOGUE TO SAY TO HIM ON RESURRECTION MORNING
I personally know Sunday Adelaja and don't believe these accusations. He hs nothing to do with this company. Because I know personally the founders and directors of this company. All he did was teach people about financial freedom and how to manage finances, he wanted to help people to get out of poverty. He encouraged people to invest, but not in any particular company. No body gave money particularly to him.
The only connection between him and the company, is that one of the founders goes to his church. So why are we blaming his pastor???
It's a global crisis!!! SO many financial instutions went bankcrupt in Ukraine and the world. This one was one of them.
People are trying to find a human to blame, and pastor happened to be the one.
It's also very sad to see a christian magazine like CHARISMA, publishing such an articles with such dirt on Sunday Adelaja, that used to celebrate him before, they even visited him in Ukraine, they are looking for gossip and hot news. It's very sad that CHARISMA is like any other gossip magazine.
It is amazing what a single seed of gossip can produce. One accusation has blossomed into a national tree of lies.
It seems each lie blossoms into another sapling tree of lies.
In America, the church has had similar trials recently. The false movement of Todd Bentley (already gone) and Bill Johnson have risen up. This was and is a test for the American church. It is now obvious to those who are truly seeking to serve God through justice (Luke 11:42) and Love (John 13:34), who is really of God and who is NOT of God.
Because Sunday is honest, and we have never known him to be dishonest, we believe him. We have read several articles and see only vague accusations against Sunday. No one has yet produced any PROOF.
Through this trial - on the Ukraine CHURCH, not Pastor Sunday - we are seeing who lives by Godly principles and who has been harboring secret hatred, secret jealousy and other evils of the heart.
It is not Pastor Sunday alone who now discovers who his friends truly are. It is the entire global church now discovering who are our friends and the nature of the hearts of some in leadership position.
Many witnesses testified against Jesus, and no two testimonies agreed. What I see in the numerous articles being carelessly printed today is that no two testimonies against Sunday agree.
The Bible tells us to not believe any thing which we have not personally seen. However, some pastors now complain against Sunday. They quote the words of others who are not in position to know. Quoting others, they agree with accusations of false reports on church membership, number of people accepting salvation and other numbers. Pastor Sunday has been accused of "making exaggerated statements."
Which of these accusers has personally overseen the documenting of membership or repentance numbers? What kind of loving man is it, who, when his brother-in-labor is accused, lists complaints like "exaggeration"?
While all this irresponsible sucker-punching continues, no one has yet proved or even attempted to document Sunday's legal relationship to the businesses involved. Further, there is no proof it is a Ponzi scheme. So far, it seems to have been a legitimate business which now suffers along with most other investments in a shrinking global economy.
Why not blame America? If America had been wiser, the global economy would still be a thriving animal, feeding us all. It is easy to accuse when we fall. My heart suffers for all those who have lost their hope, homes and accounts. But, who could have predicted the sudden market 'downturn'? Only prophets of God have been predicting this for many years. But, it is clear most do not listen to them.
It is nothing new for unhappy people to blame others and leverage their hope in gaining back what was lost. However, the rhetoric and accusation in this case have far superseded professionalism, logic and proper procedure. What is new is the response of church leadership.
The attacks from leaders, many of them helped in their beginnings by Sunday, is shocking. I wonder at their motivation and what kind of heart speaks like they speak. I know what kind of heart they don't have: a heart of Christ.
I have known Sunday for more than 20 years. He is not the type of man to step on another to elevate himself. He is the kind of man who will give all his time to others. He is the kind of man who weeps for the condition of people he does not even know. Sunday would never lie or deceive another human being for financial gain.
These claims will fail, and when they do, we all will know who is and who is not working for the Kingdom of God.
Lord, I pray for your grace and mercy in this situation. Let your truth prevail, then bring forgiveness where it is needed. Have mercy Lord on your Church.
Wow. Thank God for Christians like you who can offer prayer, and not criticism at a time like this. God bless. My prayers go out to Pastor Sunday Adelaja and his congregation, as well as many others involved in this situation. May his grace continue to shine on his church, that we many bring light to this world, and not darkness
Love,
Praise Odigie
It is so sad for we the church(especially charismatics and pentecostals)that a lot of "issues" have surrounded leaders who have enjoyed heavy media exposure in the last two years,i think we should see it as an attack on the body of christ by the devil,mind you i am a very cerebral person and i can be very rational,but i employ even the most rational and logical believer to just pray for the church worldwide .We need to just yield to the holy ghost and pray as led.
I know a bit about the current global financial crises,in the last one year i have had to walk away from more than 10 properties,they were my properties,but assuming i had invested any money from church poeple i would have been in serious trouble(even though i know i am a person of integrity).The global economy is really bad,a lot of poeple can just talk about what they dont know but don t be too quick to judge harshly.
Recently i was in london in front of the lehman brothers building,it was tall and magnificent but empty. 3000 investment bankers used to work there (they were the 4th largest american investment bank)these are banks that graduates will give anything to work for,some of the uk banks now belong to the tax payers as billions of pounds of tax payers money was used to prevent them from collapse.The credit crunch is real,it is just so sad that anything like this could have pastor sunday's name attached to it,i pray God will clear his name.He has served so hard and i pray nothing will stop his good work.........I know what it is like to be business minded and to be a pastor(you just have to be very careful),i could not teach my church members to buy property because i was also selling property and they would think i meant that they should automatically buy mine...now that the properties have lost value i would have been in nigerian pepper soup.
If each of your churches established in the Church envoy Sandea Adelaja (in some ministries). Then all you have to sing differently. A lot of empty protection, at a time when his opponents are trying to communicate on the substance of the issues. A lot of manipulation of the scene, the main distortion of the doctrines of any denomination. Distortion of God's Word: the truth through a little false every time. The only situation that saves Sandea - is indicative assistance to former drug addicts and dependence. Sandea only praise, the grounds of Christ do not remember. Protecting Sandea forums are built: "Blessed Sandea; not strange at Great Hill." And other tricks from the truth. The last sermon Sandea - believe in the invisible reality of Noah, and does not accept reality, close your eyes to what you see.
/Russian/
Если бы каждая из ваших церквей определила посланника в церковь Сандея Аделаджа (на несколько служений). Тогда все вы запели бы по другому. Много пустых защит, в тот момент, когда его оппоненты пытаются общаться по сути вопросов. Множество манипулирования со сцены, искажения основных доктрин какой либо конфессии. Искажения Слова Божьего: сквозь истину немного фальши каждый раз. Единственное что спасает ситуацию Сандея - это показательная помощь бывшим наркоманам и зависимым. Хвалят только Сандея, основания Христа не вспоминается. Защита Сандея на форумах чаще построена: "благословите Сандея; не грейтесь на чужом горе". И другие уловки от действительности. Последняя проповедь Сандея - верьте в невидимую действительность как Ной и не воспринимайте реальной действительности, закрывайте глаза на то, что видите.
pastor Elijah, this is just another one and get ready for many more to come as long as you continue to stand and to pay the price-this is considered part of the price.
By the way the most bitter persecution is the one from those you consider to be from within.
blessings and love to you Pastor, I will even pray more for you as the Lord brings you to mind.
Daniel.
May the power of God destroy the spirit of division,strife,hatred and malice in ukrainain church that want to break the pillar of Gospel in the church.AMEN
This much I know about Pastor Sunday Adelaja: He is a giver; not a taker. In truth, one of the most selfless people i've ever met, and as a much sought after leader in the global scheme of things, a most unpretentious and accessible man. Knowing and associating with him has affected my life and ministry more than any other leader i've known and associated with. I believe I speak for thousands of people round the world.
This man (imperfect as the rest of us though he may be), has already made incalculable contributions to the body of Christ and given us a model of what the 21st century church can and should be. No doubt about it: God has raised him up for this! He is not the first well-meaning pastor to attempt to lift his congregation from the clutches of poverty, and he will not be the last.
Pastors please take note: There seems to be an overwhelming rush to judgment here. As leaders in the body of Christ our response should be entirely different. Unless someone has an axe to grind against Pastor Sunday, it makes no sense to come out and join the parade of critics and stone throwers. Whether you like Sunday Adelaja or not, he is a man of God, and as such, he deserves the benefit of a doubt from his brothers.
My firm belief and heartfelt prayer is that God will exonerate him. Even if everyone feels that Pastor Sunday exaggerates some of his claims, it's disgraceful to put him through this kind of public castigation. There is not a one of you who would enjoy your name and reputation being dragged through the mud like this, and on an international stage no less.
If we would only pray for God's justice to prevail, it would be enough! To see Pastor Sunday dragged of to prison in disgrace will benefit only the kingdom of darkness. Let the church arise!!!
What Sergei Shidlovsky says is NOT true
I have been a member in the Embassy of God church for 5 years and attended all services and I can say that what Sergei Shidlovsky said in this article (and other articles) is NOT true; Pastor Sunday has never told anyone to take a credit out of the house/appartment and invest the money in King's Capital.
Furthermore, I know that Sergei Shidlovsky attended very few services while he was a member of the Embassy of God church, I think because of traveling in his ministry, so in any case he cannot give an accurate picture of what has been going on in the church.
REASON!
For some years ago, i was listening to Pastor S. Adelaja at a summer(bible)camp here in Denmark, what i saw, was a man totally in love with Jesus!
Now, when i read all these comments and articles, one thing is comming to my mind!
NOTHING is for rearl proved about Adelaja, that he should have done all these things!
I can se alot of for and against in these articles/comments!
Let the COURT speak! Let the rearl psysical proofs get on the table! God will judge you, who have been too hasten to come with your (open) talk against this anointed man!
Instead, pRAy, for your political and spiritual leaders incl Pastor Adelaja, so "...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life....!" 1. Tim. capt. 2 vers 1 and 2 (NKJV in english)
We have some problems in DK too, and again, i see leaders, reacting to rumours, and postulations, instead of rearl proofs!
This is so sad! BODY OF CHRIST: GET MATURE!
My heart is for unity, unity is not about that, now we can pray together, worship or evangelise together, no, it starts with the new command that Jesus gave us! (That could mean to be the 11th. command?) John 13 vers 34 to 35 (NKJV in english)
Because, what is all our efforts worth (to the Lord and anyone) if we have no love (to each other) -Corinthians 13 (NKJV in english)
Maybe Pastor Adelaja, could have done something not so good, but, let us be slow to anger and fast to forgive/love!
Bless y all in Ukraine! and all who read this!
Keld
A well written analysis of the scandal can be found at
http://kingscapitalscandal.blogspot.com/
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