Jesus Prosperity Gospel, African Poverty, and Europeans' Doubts. Elijah Oladimeji

      Dedication

      Early April, 2020, I had what I thought was a flu. My throat was dry and I was coughing a little. I was a little tired but did not think much of it. I bought some off-the-counter flu medications and began to use. I also began to drink more tea with lemon. So, it was for about a week.

      Then, one afternoon as I was walking into the bedroom from the living room, my daughter observed that I had been walking very slowly. “Dad, are you sick? You are walking so slowly”. “Me, too, I have been looking at you, like you are sick or something, my wife added. “Well, I am ok, just some sore throat and some coughing.” I replied. A few minutes after, my wife showed up in the bedroom. “Can I take your temperature please, to make sure you do not have fever”. I barely muted “ok” My temperature read 101 degrees. “You have fever. You have a sore throat, and you are coughing, those are the symptoms of Covid19. We need to get the doctor right away”.

      For the next three days, we reached out to my personal physician, but he was not picking up his phone calls. We could not locate him at the hospital where he works, or his private clinic. He did not pick office or personal phone numbers. This was mid-April, the peak of Covid19 in New York City, when close to 1,000 people died per day. EMS and Fire Department vehicles raced all over the city 24-7 picking up dead bodies or very sick people. Hospital facilities were overstretched. My wife reached out to one of my brothers in Canada, a pastor of a local assembly of the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG and asked for prayers. The pastor in Canada also reached out to other pastors to join him in prayers for my recovery.

      By this time, I had become very sick, had lost considerable weight, could barely walk, sit or talk. Ihad lost sense of taste and smell. My tongue turned orange in color. My urine turned to a deep yellow color. My skin is black, but it began to turn tar black. I did not want to eat or see food. Many times, I fought my wife, over food. “I ate yesterday; I don’t have to eat today”. Then, out of the blues, my doctor called. My wife explained to him my sickness. I had fever, sore throat and was coughing. “You have Covid19”, my doctor declared. I am dealing with the same sickness at the hospital and my private practice. I am personally treating close to 21 Covid19 personal patients right now, apart from those at the hospital. I will recommend some medications (antibiotics and vitamins) and you should be ok. I will check up on you every few days or so.” Then, he hung up again. He gave about 7 different drug prescriptions, which we picked up at our local pharmacy.

      For the next one week, I was using pills, sometimes, as much as 10 per day. Some, every 8 hours, some daily, some weekly. After about 5 days, days, I began to get better and slowly regained strength. Eventually I was able to regain full strength and was back on my feet again.

      I was one of the few people that recovered from Covid19 and I thank God for saving me. The high, the mighty, senior government officials, celebrities, medical professionals, scientists, and people of all types of places and positions in life died through this global pandemic. Many that survived owed large hospital bills. Just before this book was published I read the stories of covid19 survivors who owed heavy medical bills. Some owed tens of thousands, some hundreds of thousands, and in a few cases, survivors owed about 1 million dollars in hospital bills. I survived without owing a cent. Hallelujah! Some survivors came down with different types of illness – paralysis, stroke, lung, liver kidney and heart diseases. Some survivors have issues with toes, fingers, eyes, and some the immune system. Because of the mercies of God, I survived without any additional ailment. Hallelujah! I know my God is awesome, mighty God, mighty good. Hallelujah!

      As soon, as I got off my feet, I was looking for a way to thank God for HIS goodness. I had wanted to write on the matter of prosperity gospel, tithes, offering, poverty, and how poverty affects church operation and services for a while. The assignment now took an urgent turn. Within 24 hours, the manuscript was ready. The editing for grammar, spelling, style, flow, and publishing took a little longer. I was almost dead, but the Lord brought me back. This book is my thanksgiving. It is a small booklet, but it is from my heart. Thank you, Jesus.

      Elijah Oladimeji

      Acknowledgments

      A work of this nature is never the effort of a single person. I have been privileged to learn from far too many people to mention so please forgive me if your name is not mentioned. I am indebted to many, but I will list a few, not in any particular order – T. L. Osborn, Billy Graham, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo, A. Dollar, Enoch A. Adeboye, T. D. Jakes, Leroy Thompson, David O. Oyedepo, Kenneth Hagin, Robert E. Coleman, John R. W. Stott, Oral Roberts, Francis Wale Oke, Dave Robertson, Andrew Murray, A. T. Pierson, Moses A. Aransiola, Charles Spurgeon, Marylyn Hickey, Kola E-Mathews, W.F. Kumuyi, Smith Wigglesworth, Loenard Ravenhill, E. W. Kenyon, E. M. Bounds, A. W. Tozer, Emiko Amotsuka, D. L. Moody, D. K. Olukoya, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Watchman Nee and Reinhard Bonnke, Julius Abiola, Samuel B. Jegede, the late pastor Phillip Ladokun, Pastor Wale Omotoso, Julia Jasanya, and Jack Minor for editing and manuscript improvement. Thank you for giving and sharing.

      Poverty, a big problem in Africa

      Poverty is a big problem in Africa, particularly black Africa. Basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter remain out of the reach of many. According to some statistics nearly 50% of all Africans live below or on the edge of poverty, earning only around $1.25 per day. Access to health care, education, and shelter remains a gigantic problem.

      Poverty is a complicated

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