‘They say you have to buy blessings’: the London women who gave everything to a controversial church
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<p>Regulator rules Universal Church of the Kingdom of God did not protect vulnerable donors, including woman who says she gave life savings</p><p>“Sometimes you’re seeing God as a genie, where if I give him all this money, He will bring me what I want,” Sarah says.</p><p>The 27-year-old spent years in the grip of “prosperity gospel”, whose followers believe cash donations to evangelical churches unlock divine blessings of health and wealth. So did Jennifer*, 29, who
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‘They say you have to buy blessings’: the London women who gave everything to a controversial church Regulator rules Universal Church of the Kingdom of God did not protect vulnerable donors, including woman who says she gave life savings “Sometimes you’re seeing God as a genie, where if I give him all this money, He will bring me what I want,” Sarah says. The 27-year-old spent years in the grip of “prosperity gospel”, whose followers believe cash donations to evangelical churches unlock divine blessings of health and wealth. So did Jennifer*, 29, who says she handed over her life savings. Both women are professionals from London and former members of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God , an international evangelical movement and UK-registered charity whose cases have recently been investigated by the Fundraising Regulator . The regulator found in February that, in Jennifer’s case, UCKG had breached the fundraising code as it was “aware” of previous mental health difficulties she had experienced when it took a “large donation” from her and “could not show that it had otherwise considered” her needs or circumstances. UCKG did not have policies in place regarding vulnerable donors, the regulator found, and urged them to consider paying back Jennifer’s donation, which she says was £15,000. Jennifer said: “Every service they showed videos of how people had given their all, how people had given money, sold things or slept on the floor, and then they received the Holy Spirit and that gave them peace. “I considered my all was everything I had: my savings, my current account, change I had collected. I had a help-to-buy Isa, I closed that to give them that money, and filled up an envelope with 1ps and 2ps. “I was not in the right state of mind. I do believe I was financially coerced and controlled.” Jennifer says she hoped the £15,000 donation would prove she “had received the Holy Spirit” and help her ascend through UCKG volunteer ranks to the “best position” of pasto...
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