In a bold stand for spiritual independence and integrity, the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has made headlines after reportedly rejecting a ₦30 million donation from the Kebbi State Government during a recent Christian crusade held in the state.
According to eyewitness accounts and sources close to the event, the Kebbi State Government initially offered the donation directly to Dr. Enenche, who politely turned it down. The funds were subsequently offered to the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). However, after the officials departed, Dr. Enenche urged CAN to return the money, vowing to personally provide the ₦30 million instead.
“The body of Christ and the church should never be silenced by money,” he reportedly said. “Government money is meant for the people, not for the church.”
The cleric emphasized that spiritual leaders and churches must maintain their moral authority and avoid financial entanglements that could hinder their prophetic role in society.
“When the church begins to collect money from the government, it loses the moral ground to speak against oppression and injustice,” he said. “Church money is for church work, and government money is for government projects.”
Dr. Enenche also cited the construction of the internationally renowned Glory Dome in Abuja, stating:
“As small as the Glory Dome is, not one kobo of government money was used to build it.”
His firm stance has reignited discussions about the relationship between faith-based institutions and the state, particularly in an era where financial patronage is often used to gain influence or silence criticism.
