“Read my book or lose your blessings” – GOFAMINT pastor tells church

A Nigerian pastor has told his church members continually reading his book is one of the ways to retain God’s blessings.

“For you to retain your blessings from the just concluded convention and record a lasting joy, listen and heed these suggestions,” the pastor said in a letter sent to members, and published online, this week.

Pastor Dr. Elijah O.Abina. — *Pastor Dr. Elijah O. Abina says members must pay tithes before paying tax.*

The message was directed to members of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) worldwide. General Overseer, Elijah Abina, published the book titled “The God Of All Blessings” to mark the denomination’s 60th Anniversary.

Abina launched the book during the church’s recently concluded week long convention at Igbo-Oloyin Ibadan.

First on the list of the “suggestions” is: “Ensure that you read our convention 2016 teachings over and over again as many times as possible until you become like Christ.”

The pastor, who taught from the book throughout the convention, told his members they would have to continually read the N150 book to keep the blessings received at the convention.

Abina, 81, also “suggested” members “pay the tithe of your gross income regularly.” That means church members should surrender 10% of their earnings to the church before any deduction (like tax) is made.

He also told his members to “redeem your vows and pledges as at when due”, and to “support church projects and not be stingy”.

"God Of All Blessings": The convention teaching booklet Abina told his members to "read until you become like Christ". — *“The God Of All Blessings”: The convention teaching booklet Abina told his members to “read until you become like Christ”.*

It’s unlikely GOFAMINT members would consider the words of their general overseer “mere suggestions”. It’s no secret Christians, and adherents of other religions, don’t take their leaders’ words fro granted.

GOFAMINT members declined commenting on the story when asked for their opinion about Abina’s “suggestions”.

“A man of shouldn’t tell people they have to continually read his book,” Pamilerin Adebayo who attends another church told NewsroomNG.

“And the church policy on tithing? Why should members tithe from their gross income? Is God the one making these decrees? Where are we going?”

Abina gave 16 suggestions in all. Here they are:

Ensure that you read our convention 2016 teachings over and over again as many times as possible until you become like Christ.
Fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl 12:12,13).
Imbibe the culture of faithfulness and integrity (II Kings 12:15).
Pay the tithe of your gross income regularly (Mal 3:10-12).
Get involved in preaching the gospel regularly. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel (Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16,17, II Tim 1:7-9).
Be diligent in your work, don’t be lazy (Prov 22:29).
Be willing to serve in humility within the church and outside the church (Prov 22:4; Matt 20:27,28).
Be generous to God, church’s projects, the poor etc. Don’t be stingy (Prov 11:24). Riches are a blessing only to those who makes them a blessing to others.
Have strong faith in God, His word and His true servants (II Chron 20:20, Mark 11:22).
Read your Bible and pray without ceasing (Ps 1:1-3), Lk 18:1-8).
Redeem your vows and pledges as at when due (Deut 23:23; Eccl 5:4,5).
Always remember the child of whom you are. You are in the world but not for the world (John 17:16; I John 2:14-17).
Believe that you are now the blessed of the Lord and claim your right as a child of God (Rom 8:16,17).
Always confess that you cannot belong to Jesus, the only begotten Son of the God of all blessings and remain poor either spiritually or materially (II Cor 8:9).
Ensure that you read through all the scriptures references in this message.
Plan as if the coming of our Lord were many years away, but live as if it were today (I John 3:1-3). Remain blessed in Jesus name.