HARARE – One of the beneficiaries of Prophet Uebert Angel’s miracle money who had promised to reveal all , including her bank statements confirming the transactions has chickened out at the last minute.
The woman developed cold feet and was now demanding, among other things, that her name and picture should not be revealed. No-one else at Spirit Embassy was willing to provide proof of miracle money by way of bank statements.
But the church insisted that miracle money existed.
“Just like Jesus shared five loaves and two fishes among five thousand congregants, the same applies to this phenomenon for the scriptures say, if the thief is found, he will be made to repay seven fold,” said Spirit Embassy in a statement.
“It is not money you can use to enrich yourself but these are mystical heavenly blessings protected from misuse orchestrated by the devil and evil spirits,” said the church.
Prophet Angel (35) who was only a penniless pastor only a few years ago in the UK has said that large sums of miracle money have been credited to his bank account. Angel expressed shock that some people seemed to be alarmed by the “miracle money” mystery, which was nothing but a tip of the iceberg.
A visit to Spirit Embassy during one of its services reveals the glitz and glamour associated with the gospel of prosperity.
Immaculately groomed ushers and security men shepherd the worshippers to the sitting set-up, which is organised around what seems to be a caste system, where the seemingly well to do occupy the inner sitting rows of the 4 500-capacity conference centre.
“Since every sermon is captured on the Miracle TV, one has to be extra-ordinarily smart to occupy the front rows, to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment when the programme is aired,” said one congregant identified as Julia.
The church sermon can easily pass for a fashion show as clothes from the world’s top designers are on show. The exhibition of flamboyance will be incomplete without mentioning the car park, packed with top-of-the-range cars.
The entrance of the main man, known as papa, or simply VaMudzanire from his native Zaka, is another eye popping event.
As the booming voice from a high-definition public address system readies the congregants for the arrival of the major prophet, piercing screams, whistles, ululations and shouts of “hail the holy one, and the anointed one of the Lord” can be heard reverberating from the congregants.
According to the Bible, the only known praise of that magnitude to an individual was last reserved for the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, a week before he was crucified.
The man, smartly clad in a designer suit, matching shoes, well-shaved head and a fair skin that exhibits results of application of an assortment of skin care creams, takes the podium as security personnel, also in designer suits, maintain their ground near the prophet.
Not to mention the equally magnificent praise and worship team comprising of current and budding gospel musicians also donning garments made of expensive fabrics. After delving into the scriptures the prophet announces to the fervent crowd: “Can I prophesy?”
To which the call is met by a unison of approval. Then a host of prophesies which can equally fill the pages of the Bible begin. Among the prophesies, Pastor Angel said some satanic forces had invaded the venue and planted objects in one of the restrooms.
After a while ushers could be seen bringing an assortment of objects alleged to have been planted in the restroom to which the followers further hail praises for the prophet.
However, many in Zimbabwe are sceptical of the miracle money prophets. Bishop Morris Nyamandi of The Anointed Waters Ministry said Spirit Embassy practised middle-class theocracy, hence the absence of branches in the remote areas, where the majority of the people are poor.
“If they are sincere, let them go and open branches in Neuso, Mushumbi, Madziwa or Chimusimbe in Karoi, where I am convinced that they have to be good enough to win short sprint track events at the Olympics, if they are to survive there,” he said.
Bishop Nyamandi said the problem with some of the modern prophets was that, they were in pursuit of personal glorification rather than giving credit to the Almighty.
He cited the case of Moses, In Numbers 20:9-11, which says: “So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as He commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and stuck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
Bishop Nyamandi said the Lord responded in Numbers 20:12 by saying to Moses “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
He said for the very reason Moses was barred from entering the Promised Land for glorifying himself instead of the Lord, it was the same problem being replicated by these prophets.
Spirit Embassy, according to its official website, is situated at number one Pennefather Avenue, at the HICC, but when The Sunday Mail In-Depth visited the location during the week, it was, however, met with a different version by the hotel security.
“We have had problems with their (Spirit Embassy) visitors. They do not have offices here. They only book the HICC (Harare International Conference Centre) on Sundays from 2pm to 6pm,” said the security personnel who declined to be named before availing mobile number details to one of the senior pastors who resides in Highlands.
But many people fear that the operations of the church are clandestine and events are stage managed to hoodwink the mostly middle-class followers, who are known to be ambitious and in need of solutions to get rich in a possible shortest way.
