From Moshood Karim
In a recent podcast interview with the Honest Bunch crew, Pastor Abel Damina made a shocking revelation about his ministry and the profound personal transformation that led to a mass exodus from his church.
The Nigerian pastor, who has been in ministry since 1984, confessed that half of his congregation abandoned him after he admitted to misleading them for years.
Pastor Damina recounted his journey from being a widely celebrated preacher to feeling an overwhelming sense of emptiness despite his success.
“I started ministry in 1984. I was all over the world. They were inviting me everywhere. I was the darling of all of them,” he said.
Despite his popularity, the pastor confessed that he was deeply unhappy, even as he amassed wealth and fame.
“I will raise the money, collect all the things, drive with convoy, entourage, policemen, everywhere, all over. But I wasn’t happy. A man of God. Yes. Feeling empty.”
This growing dissatisfaction led Pastor Damina to question the very foundation of his teachings, which largely revolved around prosperity theology. In search of answers, he took a break from his church and embarked on a journey of research and prayer.
During this period, he discovered the teachings of American preacher Andrew Wommack, whose gentle approach initially seemed off-putting to him.
However, after diving into Wommack’s books, Pastor Damina experienced a revelation. “As I was reading the first book, first eight pages, I knew what was wrong with what I was doing,” he shared.
Upon returning to his church, Pastor Damina bravely took to the pulpit to confess his past mistakes.
“I went to the pulpit. I said, ‘Church, I am apologizing sincerely. All the things I told you about tithes, seed, all that is not true. Please forgive me. If you allow me, I will make the record straight. But if you feel you can’t trust me anymore, you wanna leave, I understand. But those who can stay, I will make the record straight.'”
The response was drastic—half of his congregation left the church. Despite the painful loss, Pastor Damina remained resolute in his decision, committed to teaching what he now believes to be the true message of the gospel.
Pastor Damina’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of spiritual integrity and the courage it takes to admit when one is wrong.
