Two South-African mega-churches have with prompt effect suspended their customary services till further notice.
The controversial Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) founded by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and Prophet Shepherd M Mesala’s Believers Family International of Christ Ministry issued a joint statement.
“The Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church International and Believers Family International of Christ Ministry would like to inform all its national offices‚ branch leaders‚ all stewards‚ church members‚ followers and visitors that our 2019 Open Doors Grand Entrance Service‚ which was scheduled for this Sunday‚ January 20 2019‚ is hereby postponed. A new date will be announced shortly.
“All members and followers are advised to continue in prayer and fasting as previously announced by the Apostle Magawa and therefore (an) extension of an extra 7 days is hereby implemented [sic]‚”
the church said in a statement.
According to international media, UK-based Zimbabwean flamboyant prophet and Spirit Embassy: The Good News Church leader Uebert Angel, who serves as the two young preachers’ spiritual father, directed his sons to immediately close their churches and head in the mountains for prayers.
Prophet Angel says his two spiritual sons must be prepared for the attacks ahead of them hence, the fasting and praying in the mountains for unknown days.
Prophet Mesala, albeit, stow away whatever his “spiritual dad” could have possibly told them.
“I don’t want to reveal spiritual things our spiritual father (Uebert Angel has directed us, – but it has nothing to do with the stampede that took place in South Africa,” said Mesala.
ECG church mouthpiece, Maynard Manyowa, however, shoot down in flames reports of the church’s immediate closure. Rather, he claims that his master Prophet Bushiri and his church members had gone on a seven-day prayer and fasting mission to a mountain.
“All the reports that the church has been closed are lies,” said Manyowa.
He announced that the calendar for their future services will be announced when they return. He went on to say the prayer and fasting were spiritual matters and had nothing to do with the tragedy that happened at the church in December.
According to cops, three people died, and many were injured during a stampede as congregants were running away from heavy rain.
A case of defeating the ends of justice was opened relating to the removal of the bodies before cops arrived.
Prophet Bushiri has been in the limelight recently, and not for all the right reasons. Some of his critics have gone as far as calling for his church to be closed.
Two weeks after the stampede‚ the City of Tshwane conducted an inspection at the church venue and found it to be non-compliant with safety standards.
Pretoria West police spokeswoman Captain Augustinah Selepe has since confirmed a probe was still underway but said it had made no arrests.
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