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Olumide Emmanuel, Senior Pastor of Calvary Bible Church holds a firm belief that discussions around tithing are often misguided and that true entrepreneurship demands unwavering commitment. In this interview with Tessy Igomu, he advocates for a holistic approach to both faith and business, asserting that the role of the church extends beyond spiritual guidance to encompass the financial, mental, and social well-being of its members
What challenges do businesses and entrepreneurs face in Nigeria, and how do they overcome them?
A lot of businesses and entrepreneurs face all kinds of challenges. There are myriads of challenges, especially because of our economic climate. People face challenges associated with finance, staffing, government policies, the economic environment, and the challenge of inconsistency in policy.
They face the challenge of a lack of infrastructure and an enabling environment. So the challenges are numerous. Entrepreneurship is all about being resilient and indulgent. So regardless of the challenges, true entrepreneurs must continue to push because they know that if they give up, they will not achieve their goals.
The challenges are there so any entrepreneur should just do what they need to do to ensure that they are not buried by the challenges.
As the Senior Pastor of Calvary Bible Church, What common mistakes do you see people make on their path to success?
Well, the major mistake I have seen a lot of people make is not being committed to personal development. Like I have said over and over again, if you know better, you will do better.
A lot of people are not committed to developing themselves and knowing what they need to know.
The second major mistake is not acting on what they believe in. A lot of people don’t do what they are supposed to do. And you see in the world that we live in today, action is what produces results. It’s not what you know that helps you; it is what you do with what you know.
When people don’t do what they are supposed to do, they won’t get results. So my commitment has been to inspire and challenge people to pursue personal development and to encourage them to ensure that they act on what they believe and do the needful. That’s why I always say that one thousand good intentions are not as powerful as one action
Why is it important for leaders to understand and apply success principles?
What I have learned is just that life is governed by principles, so whatever you want to achieve in life, find out the principles that govern that aspect of life and then work with it. This is because I realised that many times, we just assume that things will work without finding out what it takes for things to work, and that’s one of the reasons why we have seen a lot of deficiencies in leadership.
To be a successful leader, there are many laws, principles, and ingredients involved, and if you don’t identify and put them to work, you won’t be able to produce results.
How should the church address all aspects of a person’s life—spiritual, mental, financial, and social?
Well, the church is supposed to be a place for the empowerment of the total man. A man is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body.
A man has a spiritual, financial, mental, social, and psychological life. Therefore, the church is supposed to minister to the total man. I believe very strongly that the church will be missing its purpose if it only focuses on the spiritual aspect of man without considering his mental, relational, and financial aspects. The church should continue to do what it can to ensure that it nurtures the total man, and that is what we have done, as well as what many other churches are doing. We will continue to do what we can.
What legacy do you hope to leave, and how do your personal experiences shape this?
I hope that when I’m gone, people will remember that I made a small impact with my presence on earth. As a young boy growing up many years ago, I read Philippians 1:3. This passage of the bible says, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” I pray that God helps me to live life in such a way that anyone who comes in contact with me will remember me after I’m gone.
That is why I aspire to be someone who leaves a legacy for anyone who has encountered me to be thankful to God.
How do you balance work and home life while applying the right principles in marriage?
As I’ve said, life is governed by laws and principles. Whether you’re a pastor, a Christian, a Muslim, or an herbalist, the law of marriage is the law of marriage, and the principles of marriage are universal. If you apply the right principles, you will succeed. For me, we have identified the laws and principles that guide marital unions and have committed to doing our part because a great marriage takes two people; one person alone cannot make it work. A great marriage requires time, and we are dedicated to navigating everything together and helping each other succeed. When it comes to managing pressure, we live by the principle of quantity time at work and quality time at home. This means that when we’re at work, we focus on work, and when we’re at home, we focus on home.
Tithing has generated significant controversy in Nigeria, with some questioning its biblical basis. What is your perspective on the importance of tithing for Christians today?
As a child of God, everything you have belongs to God—the entire 100 per cent. So, discussing 10 per cent is actually an insult.
The 100 per cent belongs to God, and He wants you to be a steward of the resources He has given you. If you have 10 per cent to give to God when 100 per cent belongs to Him, you should understand that this 10 per cent is merely a point of contact. I believe that tithing is an act of worship that enables those who serve God and are served by Him to give in honour of Him. Tithing is giving to God as an act of worship to acknowledge that He is your source. If God is not your source, then you don’t need to tithe. You only tithe because you believe that God is your source, and that’s how it works. The discussion around tithing is an unnecessary debate for unserious people. If you don’t believe in God, keep your money, because if you are a child of God, the entire 100 per cent belongs to Him.
As a pastor, how do you advise Christians facing financial difficulties yet feel compelled to tithe?
Well, as I said earlier, if you don’t understand, you just don’t understand. If someone is struggling and believes that the 10 per cent they give to God is what will keep them in poverty, that is their personal opinion. Let them keep their 100 per cent and remain in their poverty.
With growing scepticism around the use of tithes in churches, how can churches ensure transparency and accountability in managing tithes?
You don’t go to a fake mechanic when you have a problem with your car. You go to a mechanic that you trust, and when you want to go to a salon, you go to one that you trust as well. So anyone attending a church where they don’t trust the leadership is making a poor decision. If you cannot take your car to a terrible mechanic, why would you entrust your destiny to a church where you don’t trust the pastor and the leadership? Ministry, according to organisational management and accountability, is part of organisational management. Every well-run ministry has an income and expenditure account, among other things. If they don’t have it, they will encounter problems. However, for every ministry that operates properly, accountability must be evident. If you know that there is no accountability and trust in a ministry, then what are you doing there? Go to a place where you can trust the people.
How do you address concerns from people who feel pressured to give tithes without understanding its significance?
Now we have come to the way things are supposed to be, and this is why I said at the beginning of this tithing session that 100 per cent belongs to God. We should be teaching people the stewardship of their finances.
Since 100 per cent belongs to God, once you acknowledge that He is your source, you will receive His wisdom on how to manage that 100 per cent. Part of financial management is becoming generous by bringing the first 10 per cent to worship and acknowledging Him as your source. Then you will receive the wisdom to manage the remaining 90 per cent so that you can continually do what needs to be done. From that 100 per cent, there should be personal savings, upkeep, feeding, and other expenses. It is about receiving wisdom from God to manage it effectively.
Some critics argue that certain churches misuse tithes for personal gain rather than for the growth of the church or support of the needy. What is your stance on handling tithes responsibly?
There are critics, and they exist to criticise because that is part of their role. The church will ignore the critics and focus on doing its own job. The church is an organisation, and tithing is one aspect of its income. When income comes in, the church will manage it with accountability according to its assignments. Once the church is doing that, it won’t mind the critics.
