Pastor Paul Enenche: The Spiritual But Mortal Man

The recent drama that played out in the largest church in Nigeria, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, reinforces those human frailties domiciled in the most spiritual entity on this side of eternity. This assertion runs true despite the gymnastics of a few Pentecostal pastors with overrated egos and cult-like following, but it cannot diminish the sincere work of others establishing God’s kingdom on earth.

Veronica Anyim Nnenna, the presumed victim at the center of the saga last Sunday, gave her testimony in front of the 100,000-member church to the glory of the Almighty as she thanked God profusely for making her the first graduate in her family despite the huddles on her part to such a rare feat. Paradoxically, becoming the first graduate in her family in 21st-century modern Nigeria tells a lot about a country indeed lost, but that’s not the matter in view right now.

The woman, later discovered to be a police officer, not gifted in oratory, told the bemused congregation and to the chagrin/dismay of pastor Paul that she got a BSc degree in Law.

A BSc degree in Law? The pastor queried, but she repeated her glad tidings with so much joy. The rest is history as the pastor walked out of the pulpit and branded her before his global and national audience a liar.

Did Vera let herself down with her claim of obtaining a BSc degree in Law? Certainly yes. Was she nervous or overwhelmed? Probably yes. Did she deserve the treatment melted at her? Maybe yes or no- depending on your side of the divide. Was pastor Enenche justified, another yes and no, given the possible consequences on the image of the church he laboured to build all his life and with his integrity at stake?

The pastor’s reaction, no doubt, is borne out of accusations that rubbish some churches in the country today – where fake miracles and testimonies are stage-managed to deceive the gullible. Stories abound of people contracted to fake testimonies as precursors for charlatans in pastors’ garbs to fleece innocent people of their hard-earned resources or stimulate numeric church growth. There are countless cases where these fake pastors caught in these acts or their shameless business partners in crime exposed the secrets.

So, imagine an averagely intelligent person watching live across the world and confronted with Vera’s testimony of obtaining a BSc in Law. How, where, and from what school in the world? So, it is either the church had recruited an act that forgot her script or one intellectually lazy graduate from a Nigerian public institution of higher learning goofed. But unknown to the pastor and Nigerians, the institution published the program as BSc in Law on its website at some point – what a shame!

Putting yourself in the shoes of pastor Enenche- a successful medical doctor, his wife also a medical doctor, children well-schooled in some of the best institutions around the world (Deborah, his daughter, is a lawyer), and boast of having thousands of successful pastors, professionals, and workers under him in one of the most urban and cutting-edge technologically driven church with a member testifying she had a BSc in Law was too much for the man to bear.

His reaction was impulsive, and the anger was palpable and understandable, but the damage may be irreparable for Vera. If such had been allowed to slip and later discovered that she was a layabout or con artiste trying to catch Cruise, trust the social media would roast pastor Enenche and caricature his ministry for a long time.

For those of us who had encountered pastor Enenche a few times, that reaction was not necessarily a hate for Vera but a holy indignation for anything outside the confines of righteousness and integrity associated with him. From his teachings and positions on national issues- politics or the health/security of the church, pastor Enenche, one of the frontlines second-generation fathers of faith in this country, cannot be mistaken for a coward who will suffer an erring member in wrongdoing.

My first encounter with this fiery man of God was at Jos in 2000. He mounted the rostrum, and his audacious mannerism left an indelible mark. I never got to see him again until after over a decade in Abuja, but he had not rescinded in vigor and fervor. Indeed, very few you can find like him in this Christian circle almost turned into a circus by some charlatans that go with the big titles.

However, there are profound lessons from that encounter between the pastor and the police officer. No matter how sophisticated a church is like Dunamis, there is still a remnant of people who are innocently naïve, poorly educated, slow in understanding, uncivilized, or lack communication prowess, yet are ruggedly committed to the path of Christ. So, deciphering the mixed multitude requires Christlike patience, discernment, and temperance, but not forgetting that Jesus Christ, our model in defense of his father’s house, wiped traders at the temple.

From stories and pictures circulating on social media, the pastor and his flock had mended- the man of God had apologized, and the daughter of Abraham accepted, but this is a valuable lesson for both the pulpit and the pew. The pastor could have called the woman aside and interrogated her with the spirit of meekness such that she may have recovered from her error on the spot and saved the day. All her excitement and glory washed down on global TV, and the family name she was trying to give some shine suffered near irreparable damage. I think pastor Enenche should not end this saga with a private meeting in his office, but as a righteous and just man, bring that woman to the altar and honor her for breaking the jinx of becoming the first graduate in her family in a failed country like ours.

If this country supports the possibility of realizing our dreams, testimonies like this would not go beyond her sitting room but imagine what that feat meant to her, her children, her husband, and close relatives. She deserved some celebration before the same global audience, blessed, and sponsored for a Masters so that others with similar situations may see the lights at the end of the tunnel.

And for Madam Vera and everyone who cares to listen, we must apply rigor to anything we do. It is unpardonable to go through a law program for five years and still say you had a BSc Law degree even when the offering institution shamelessly goofed. Although she deserves some strokes, the great Master Jesus Christ would always say who have not made a mistake in his life should cast the first stone. QED!

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