The senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, Paul Enenche has cautioned members not to give false testimony on the altar of God noting that anyone who dares to share fake testimony will do it at his detriment.
The call was made during the service on Sunday after a lady named Anyim Vera came out to share her testimony. She claimed to have graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria with a B.sc in Law.
In a video that went viral, Pastor Paul was seen questioning the authenticity of the woman’s testimony at his church in Abuja. He noted that the testifier judging by the way she spoke didn’t sound like a Law graduate insisting that there is nothing like ‘B.sc in Law’. He demanded that Vera leaves the pulpit.
In his words “The testimony is a lie there is nothing like B.sc in Law. The testimony is a lie, is that how lawyers speak English? Anyone who comes to the altar to share a testimony that is not true will do it at the risk of yourself. We are not playing here. The Lord Doeth and maketh alive don’t come and make it look like the word of God is fake or what God is doing is not real. You do it at the detriment of yourself.”
Meanwhile Vera Anyim the testifier has taken to her facebook page to express her dissatisfaction as regarding the way she was treated and disgraced publicly by her spiritual father pastor Enenche.
In her words “It is disheartened because I couldn’t speak English like lawyers. I was labeled a liar for mistakenly saying B.sc instead of LLB.
Actually I graduated with a third class at NOUN. The rejected stone can become the cornerstone. We’re reminded not to look down on anyone. You can’t imagine what I endured throughout the service. How shattered I must have felt to be disgraced by my spiritual leader in such a manner.”
Also some Nigerian citizens have reacted to this viral video on their various social media platform with some calling on the clergyman to apologize for his actions, while others defend his stance.
Some argued that the woman being not eloquent enough might have caused the misunderstanding, while others believe his approach was too harsh.
According to an X user Soulmedika “The only thing pastor Paul Enenche needs to do to that woman is to apologize and it should be profuse! All the excuse of it’s not the pastor’s fault; the woman should have been able to articulate the name of her degree is lame! Ye, all should stop acting like Christianity is a cult.”
Another social media user notes “Being a law graduate does not mean you must be eloquent. She went through the programme to become a better person in the way she thinks and processes information.”
In defense of the pastor reallknoxy wrote “If you know you have stage fright and you can’t make a good sentence in English, why not write down your testimony for them to read it at the altar? That is why that option is there. Don’t come and disgrace the church, especially when you know it’s an international church.”
However a post with a picture that captured her dressed in her convocation attire was sighted on her face-book page alongside the list of graduates from the institution. Her matric number NOU133971176, qualification LLB Law.
Dunamis Makes A U-Turn
The Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, in a statement issued on Monday through his personal Assistant/, Sylvester Edoh, noted that the Senior Pastor Enenche had expressed concern and reached out to the lady after it was confirmed that she graduated with a degree in law. He added that it was not his intention to embarrass her.
The statement read: “A scenario was created on Sunday the 14th April, 2024 at the Glory Dome, the Global Headquarters of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, when Ms Anyim Veronica Nnenna came out to testify of how God helped her graduate from the University, thus making her the first person to attain that feat in her family.
“These were the immediate triggers for the said scenario: First, listening to the testifier’s expressions as it borders on basic spoken English, conveys the impression that the minimum standard expectation of a graduate, especially a graduate of Law was not met.
“Second, stating tha t she studied Law for 10 years begged the question of what her degree actually was.
“Third, she was unable to state exactly what the correct degree was for Law which is LLB, rather she said it was a BSc in Law which is largely unknown as a Law degree in Nigeria and possibly globally.
“These prompted the Senior Pastor, Dr. Paul Enenche to stop the testimony immediately as a product of a ‘lie.’ However, relief came when it was later confirmed that she actually graduated from a university.
“It must be pointed out clearly here that embarrassing the testifier publicly with the attendant media frenzy was never intended; whatever happened was under the spur of the moment.
“The action of the Senior Pastor was rather based on his and the church’s aversion to seeming mediocrity and any appearance of untruth.
“While we remain resolute in our passion for excellence, intolerance of mediocrity and falsehood, we wish to reiterate the fact that no harm or hurt was ever intended by the Senior Pastor against Ms. Anyim Veronica. The Senior Pastor feels deeply concerned and has already reached out to her.
“As a Commission, we regret every inconvenience, hurt and embarrassment this unfortunate scenario has caused Ms Anyim Veronica Nnenna. We remain committed to her physical welfare as well as her spiritual growth.
God bless us all.”
