Money, power struggles split church

Nhlalwenhle Ncube
TWO pastors proved that the love of money is the root of all evil when they failed to resolve their differences and destroyed the house of God.

Pastor Joseph Zambuko and Pastor Patrick Mpengesi proved that there cannot be two heads in the same house and one cannot serve two masters which are money and God.

The pastors merged their two churches Spiritual Apostolic Faith Ministries and Voice of Prophetic and Deliverance Ministries after the former had failed to build a church of their own.

The leader of Spiritual Apostolic Faith Ministries Pastor Mpengesi then agreed with Pastor Zambuko to unite and become Voice of Prophetic and Deliverance Ministries. This was to bring together their followers and capital bases.

Under the new name, they built a shed which became their church from January to June.

This meant that tithes and offerings would be administered by the two men of God.

But within six months, there arose power struggles and the two pastors decided to part ways.

a�?They merged the two churches in January. We were successful but later on, money and power struggles began,a�? said a source.

The source said Mpengesi, the owner of the stand then suggested that they part ways so that Zambuko and his congregants could rent from him.

In his proposed plan, Mpengesia��s flock was going to have their services in the morning while Zambukoa��s would take the afternoon session as lessees.

a�?Pastor Zambuko turned down the offer citing that there was no way they could be made to pay rentals at the church because they also contributed in building it,a�? said the source.

Harsh words were exchanged between the two pastors and this resulted in some congregants leaving for other churches.

After that, Pastor Zambuko and his aides destroyed the church to fix Pastor Mpengesi leaving him without a place of worship,a�? said the source.

Zambuko defended what they did.

a�?We destroyed the shed because it was ours. We dona��t see any problem with that,a�? he said.

Pastor Zambuko and his congregants now rent at Entabeni Primary School for Sunday services.

Mpengesi was left with no option but to also pack up and now holds services at his home in Entumbane.

He said the idea to split came from him.

a�?I had suggested that we part ways and they rent Sunday afternoons while we take morning sessions,a�? he said.

The matter was not reported to the police. .