The world is in a crisis right now, with the high inflation, the Covid-19 pandemic that is yet to be tamed, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the never-ending politics. People all over the world have turned to religion to offer solace during these tough times. Unfortunately for some, it appears that their safe haven has been compromised, as Christians are now faced with a new challenge, the prosperity gospel.

The term is described as a religious belief among some protestant christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth.

The phenomenon originated in the 1990s from Western churches and has now spread out throughout Africa and Asia,  where pastors in these churches tend to make their congregants believe that the key to bettering their lives lies in their faith, but also add that their belief has to be accompanied by monetary donations in order to see a positive change in their lives, with the claim that it is transactional, to give in order to receive.

Most of these preachers usually minister through televised events, which often appeals to their audiences as they are made to see the 'Hand Of God' at work through miracles and testimonies by churchgoers who are in attendance of the church services, which further cements their belief in the prosperity theology.

Benny Hinn, an Israeli Christian televangelist, best known for his regular "Miracle Crusades"—revival meetings or faith healing summits that are usually held in stadiums in major cities, is among the many who have managed to amass a large following of Christians, propelling him to be one of the richest preachers in the world today.

It is as clear as day what Hinn and the others including Kennedy Copeland, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, and Kenya's own Victor Kanyari have in common. Their message is often centered on how one can improve their lives, in terms of wealth and health, but often require what they term as a 'seed', that will help their followers attract a change in their lives.

These seeds are monetary donations that are channeled to the preachers' accounts, as their followers remain optimistic about the miracles that are about to happen in their lives. The irony is that as the congregants continue to drain their finances in search of these miracles, the richer the spiritual leaders become, raking in millions with just a single word; believe.

The preachers go to extreme extents to ensure that their teachings and miracles are believable, hiring actors to appear sick in a bid to hoodwink Christians into believing that the preachers possess the power of healing, and other times in those mass crusades, they hire screeners tasked with separating the seriously ill from those who seem healable before the congregation. Those whose ailments cannot be helped such as amputees are asked to go back to the crowd.

Looking at the net worth of some of these preachers, it does not come as a shocker that they can afford the most expensive houses, cars, clothes, and even sometimes private jets to help traverse from city to city spreading the gospel. Pastor Kanyari blatantly faked miracles through the use of potassium permanganate and used the "Kshs310 seed money' acquired from the plot to erect a mansion and build his multimillion church in Umoja in Nairobi.

The challenge arises when it comes to the sanctioning of such preachers, as many of their followers are so attached to their belief that faith cannot be interfered with by external forces hence efforts to expose the preachers are often met with resistance.

In Kenya, plans by the government to regulate these kinds of churches have hit a snug, as motions introduced in parliament proposing such regulations are not supported by legislators.

“Unfortunately, the motion did not receive enough support from my fellow legislators,” Kangema MP Clement Muturi Kigano stated after introducing a motion in parliament in 2019 that would have made spiritual leaders in Kenya accountable and transparent financially.

“Had it been passed into law, it would have tamed religious leaders who are extorting their followers, rendering them poorer and hopeless,” he added, saying that most religious leaders con their congregants publicly with false promises of a better life.

“We have pastors who stage miracles to attract more followers. They tell their followers to “panda mbegu" (sow a seed by giving a certain amount of money as an offering) for them to get a breakthrough in life. This has to stop.” he noted.

It is hence a sad state of affairs for the majority who live in the darkness of the prosperity gospel, as it continues to reduce believers into penury,  adamant that they hold the keys to an unbelievable transformation as they have been promised by their trusted clergymen.