Founder and president of Abel Damina Ministries International (ADMI), Pastor Abel Damina, has sparked controversy by declaring that church offerings and tithes are not given to God but are instead spent by men.
In a viral video clip from a recent Sunday service sermon, Damina boldly stated: "No offering goes to heaven; men spend it every time we gather offerings in this church. All the offerings we give to God go to men."
Challenging Traditional Church Doctrines
This is not the first time Pastor Damina has challenged mainstream Christian doctrines. Earlier this year, in January 2025, he stirred controversy when he taught that smoking and drinking are not sins in Christianity.
During his recent sermon, Damina further suggested that some pastors distort the purpose of tithes and offerings to manipulate their congregants' thinking.
"Even those tithe mongers that say when you pay tithe, the doors of heaven will open, the doors have been opened since Jesus rose from the dead, the doors have never been closed. They are just working on people's minds," he explained.
Addressing Criticism
The pastor also addressed backlash he has received over his views on tithing. "I heard some of them saying I am evil because I said you should not pay tithe, that 'he and his children would pay tithe'. He has to talk like that to keep collecting from people," Damina remarked.
He further alleged that many pastors who demand tithes from their followers do not practice what they preach, suggesting a level of hypocrisy within church leadership regarding financial matters.
Pastor Damina's statements come at a time when discussions about church finances and transparency are increasingly prominent in Nigeria's religious landscape.
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