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Pastor Sam Adeyemi: How not to criminalise selfie

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Sam Adeyemi

The blogosphere and social media are awash with pictures of Pastor Sam Adeyemi, the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, and a couple who were accused of scamming investors of billions of naira.

 

It is certain that this picture in circulation was intentionally posted to whip up sentiments and tarnish the image of Pastor Sam, who is reputed to be one of the foremost preacher that promotes accountability and probity in ministry.

Pastor Sam founded Christian Financial Accountability Association (CFAA) to ensure that ministers of the gospel keep abreast of best practices in the area of managing church’s finance in line with global best practice.

Also, CFAA seeks to become an influential anchor organisation for the stewardship of resources – human, spiritual and financial, and a benchmark for credibility and trustworthiness in ministries.

Not only that, Pastor Sam is a strong advocate of good character. His teachings on success are laced with the necessity of achieving success with a strong foundation on good character.

How then can such a man endorse a scam or a ponzi scheme?

My guess is that those who are circulating the pictures are trying to paint a narrative that Pastor Sam endorsed the ponzi scheme and that the accused is related to him.

What a bunkum! How does a picture now equate endorsement or close relationship? Do you know how many people jostle to take pictures with Pastor Sam everywhere he goes?

Pastor Sam is one of the easily accessible man of God. For a church that counts over 30,000 people attending physically every Sunday pre-Covid era and over 100,000 watching online, one would think that Pastor Sam would go around town with bouncers.

Pastor is readily available to take pictures with everyone. If you attend Daystar and your intention is to take pictures with Pastor Sam after the service, I can assure you that you will succeed. No one will shove you aside.

So how does a picture equate endorsement? In this age of selfies and with the way most people not just Nigerians love to take selfies with celebrities and people of influence, I do not see anything that the Pastor has done wrong in this instance just because he allowed himself to be photographed with the couple.

He can’t be said to be guilty or be an accomplice until I see video clips or proofs of where he used his influence or platform to canvass for this couple.

I have been a member and worker of Daystar for years and I never knew this couple were Daystar members until today when I saw the news and picture circulating. This is just to tell you that I personally haven’t even seen them being publicly associated with the Daystar brand until now.

What am I trying to say? Anyone could be in this position and this doesn’t make people take a swipe at Pastors once things like this come up. It has become the culture.

If you have issues with pastors, please come directly and stop going through the corners.

Pastor Sam should never be crimilalise for taking pictures with people!

Let’s go after the culprits and leave my innocent pastor alone.

I love to read, write and TRAVEL!!! The media space is my canvas to paint the truths of our brands and the stories of our Nigerian culture. I love a good book any day because with them I can travel to spaces that are perfect in their frame.

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