Ilori Ogunmola With Agency Report
A pastor in a local church in Uganda, Africa, has reportedly abandoned his flock, shutting down his church after winning Ush100 million equivalent of N12, 274, 700 in sports betting.
The pastor, simply identified as Tim, invested a Ush1 million as a stake to win over Ush 100 million, declaring that God has remembered him.
The congregants and neighbours were reportedly shocked when the pastor, rather than plowing the largesse back into his ministry, which name and location not given, decided to close it down.
Neighbours who’s knew the man of God said he had held several outdoor crusades in the area in the past, where he narrated how he had a divine encounter with the Almighty God.
“Pastor Tim gave very big testimonies and shared big visions, saying God had appointed him a representative of Heaven on earth,” one Miss Martha quipped.
However, after winning the big money, the pastor perhaps caught another calling and decided to close shop.
He’s said to have disclosed his real intention for starting the ministry.
The overjoyed pastor revealed that the lottery was God-sent and a quicker way to leap out of the poverty line.
He further revealed that he actually started the church as a source of income and not by divine calling.
“I must admit I opened this church due to greed but not anointing.
“I saw how several pastors make money by having large crowds and making false prophecies to attract more,” he opened up.
According to the cleric cum gambler, his expectations of raking in millions from the church were not met, something that pushed him to seek alternatives.
“All along, I had plans to close the church, but I decided to take everything slowly since I wholly depended on the offerings for food.
“I started gambling about four years ago. I would place bets on several platforms using the money I got as offering and tithes in church.
“Sometimes I would come up with a fake church project to get some money for bets over the weekend,” he narrated.
Pastor Tim is, however, now planning to use his fortunes to expand his ministry.
“I am a businessman. My passion all along was business. I am planning to start a big shop in a town far from here.
“I will also get a nice car. God has remembered me,” he enthused.