馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Pastor Abel Damina challenges tithing as a path to wealth, emphasizes education and labor for prosperity
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Pastor Abel Damina, founder of Power City International, has publicly stated that there is no biblical scripture guaranteeing wealth in exchange for giving to God. He described the belief that financial prosperity is linked to donations to pastors and institutions as a dangerous and unscriptural mindset prevalent in Nigerian churches. Damina argued that giving leads to lack, not riches, and that recovery requires work and time. He recounted an instance where a man donated all three of his cars to his church, expecting divine financial reward, only to be left with nothing. The pastor, known for his unorthodox theological views, asserted that wealth is a result of education, labor, and enterprise, not religious offerings like tithing. He stated that he has never witnessed anyone become a billionaire solely due to tithing, attributing the success of those who claim otherwise to their jobs and businesses. Damina concluded that God's blessings are inherent in the earth, and individuals must use knowledge and hard work to access these resources and convert them into commercial property.
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A coroner's court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, died by suicide. Ms. Solomon, who moved to the UK in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, was found unresponsive in her Stanfield home. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her upon returning home from work. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Police investigators ruled out any third-party involvement. During the inquest, Mr. Butler stated that his wife had struggled with her mental health for the past year, attributing it to issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also revealed that Ms. Solomon had made two previous attempts to take her own life. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as oxygen deprivation. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Ms. Solomon died by suicide, noting that she had researched and planned the act. Ms. Solomon, a caregiver, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.
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